Herberholz A Quick Learner, Quick Driver

When 17-year-old Dana Herberholz races his 4-cylinder engine 1995 Mustang on the Northwest Mini-Supers circuit, his family goes along for the ride.

Herberholz may be doing the driving. But his dad, Larry, built the stunningly appointed vehicle. His step-mom, Sheri, markets the enterprise. Younger brother Zack is the chief mechanic with an innovative mind. Sister Shaina is the team photographer.

They, asserts Dana, a sophomore at Central Valley High School, are at least as important as he.

Family involvement extends into the racing community at large. An uncle, Kirk Westburg, supplied the engine. Fellow competitors and social friends helped Larry Herberholz, Spokane Valley Fire District 1 paramedic division chief, with construction of the race car.

“I didn’t know he knew race cars,” said Dana Herberholz. “He struggled to figure it out but he’s learning pretty fast.”

Larry figured he’s put more than 1,000 hours into the project.

Last year was Dana’s first on the Northwest Mini-Supers circuit where he was named Rookie of the Year.

Races are weekends beginning in April and continuing through September at Spokane Raceway Park and State Line Speedway.

Herberholz had gotten his start in go-karts, finishing sixth nationally in 1992. It was the only time he raced in a national competition.

“I just remember being with a friend of mine at a race for something to do and took a test drive,” he said.

He became hooked. Last year as the youngest driver on the circuit, he competed and finished all 16 races, won a trophy dash and placed 11th in points to earn rookie honors.

With a new car and numerous sponsors, he’s hoping to improve. If nothing else, the vehicle will catch the eye. Accenting the black and blue motif are two large hockey players, representing major sponsor Play It Again Sports, on either side of the Mustang. The front is painted with the white netting of a hockey goal.

The car will be on display at a Spokane Chiefs game and at Auto, Boat and Speed Shows in Lewiston and Spokane this month.

Although he admitted to being nervous the first time he raced in a car, the hardest thing to adjust to was being strapped tightly into his roll cage.

“My very first race my goal was to stay out of the way and let them do their thing,” he said.

Now his goal is to find someone fast to follow and finish the race.

Racing a Mustang is similar to the go kart and probably safer, he said. Both top 80 miles per hour.

“You have to push both as hard as you can go without losing control,” said Herberholz. “The difference is you have a lot bigger car to worry about.”

Last year, although he finished all of his races, there were two times he nearly didn’t. In one, Herberholz was leading the race when he was clipped from behind, spun sideways and “T-boned” - hit flush on his door.

An ambulance raced to the scene, although Herberholz was all right and later got back into the race.

“You’re supposed to climb out and wave to say you’re OK,” he said. “I couldn’t get my safety net down and get out.”

The other time he was driving into the pits and slammed into a truck, which didn’t see him coming and was hauling away its race car.

For that he received a hand-made “Hot Lap Award” plaque commemorating the incident.

There are better days ahead for a youngster who likes the thrill of the race.

“If you race well and the car runs good it’s addicting,” Herberholz said.

Still, it’s unclear if he’ll pursue a career beyond the local level.

Herberholz is a 3.86 student who aspires to a career in medicine.

“Racing is tough to get into so you have to have an alternative,” said Herberholz. “That’s why school comes first.”

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo