Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Herbst's DQ throws points race up in air

BRIAN HILDERBRAND is a Las Vegas Sun sportswriter. His motor sports column appears Fridays. He can be reached on the Internet at [email protected]. For the latest in the world of auto racing, check out the Sun Racing web site at http://www.lasvegassun.com/sports/ racing/

All things considered, Troy Herbst probably would rather forget last weekend's SCORE Las Vegas Primm 300 off-road race -- if he remembers anything at all.

Herbst, of the prominent Las Vegas racing family, fell victim to carbon monoxide fumes and had to be airlifted to a Las Vegas hospital, where he was treated and released. But that was only the beginning of his problems.

Herbst's older brother, Tim, took over in the Ford Truggy and drove it to a second-place finish in Class 1. But a protest filed by a fellow Class 1 competitor was upheld by SCORE's Competition Review Board and Herbst later was disqualified from the race.

"SCORE rules clearly state that competitors may receive no assistance from a helicopter," SCORE president Sal Fish said. "We received a protest in writing from another competitor who said (Herbst) received assistance from personnel who got out of their helicopter."

The Competition Review Board convened Saturday night following the race and ruled that there was "sufficient evidence" that the Herbst team had violated the rule. Fish would not elaborate on precisely what assistance Herbst or his car received.

Troy Herbst did not return a phone message from the Sun seeking comment about the incident.

Fish said he was not completely satisfied with the CRB's handling of the matter because Troy Herbst was not present at the hearing. Although Herbst can appeal the CRB's ruling, Fish said he believed such an attempt would be in vain.

"There was a representative from Herbst in the meeting, but I thought it would have been a good idea to delay the hearing until Herbst was present," Fish said. "I would have liked to have suggested a little stronger to the (CRB) chairman to reconsider ... but he felt sufficient evidence was presented and there was no reason for an appeal."

Herbst's disqualification has thrown the race for the overall SCORE points title up for grabs. Herbst and Doug Fortin of El Cajon, Calif., now are tied for the points lead in Class 1 with 244 points each.

Ironically, Fortin also was penalized last week having his disabled truck pushed across the finish line by another vehicle. Fortin apparently had won the Class 1 race but SCORE rules prohibit a vehicle being pushed or pulled within a mile of the finish line. Fortin was penalized one lap and was credited with finishing only three of the four laps.

Henderson's Bekki Freeman, attempting to become the first female in SCORE history to win a class title, finished second last weekend and moved into a tie for the Class 1-2/1600 points lead with Jason Hatz of Laguna Beach, Calif., with 267 points each.

Freeman and Hatz also are tied for the SCORE overall points lead going into the season-ending Baja 1000 in November.

Freeman, who originally had planned to drive the entire 1000 miles in Baja by herself, has modified her plans now that she is tied for the class and overall points championships.

"My crew and I sat down after the (Primm) race and we agreed that this is not the time to prove a point," Freeman said. "We will not try to do Baja alone; we're going to do what is smart and what will benefit the team.

"This (points battle) is as exciting for my team as it is for me personally and we don't want to do anything to jeopardize our shot at a championship."

* NASCAR: Seven-time Winston Cup champion Richard Petty had a unique observation on NASCAR's "tire wars" controversy surrounding Jeff Gordon. "My experience is that if you ain't winning, you ain't cheating," Petty said. ... Steve Park has been cleared to drive the No. 1 Pennzoil Chevrolet Sunday following a testing accident earlier this week in Homestead, Fla.

* CART: With his victory last weekend at Laguna Seca, Bryan Herta became the seventh different winner of a CART event this season. Herta also became the second first-time winner in the past three races, joining Dario Franchitti, who won two weeks ago.

* IRL: The top 11 drivers in the IRL point standings are mathematically eligible to win the championship going into the final two races of the season. Kenny Brack has a 23-point lead on Las Vegan Davey Hamilton and a 25-point edge on defending series champ Tony Stewart.

* BACKMARKERS: Jet cars and funny cars will face off Saturday night when drag race action returns to Las Vegas Motor Speedway. In addition to a field of Federal Mogul funny cars, a highly-competitive field of Pro ET drivers also will compete in the 12th National Hot Rod Association/Craftsman ET points race of the year. Gates open at 4 p.m., with eliminations slated for 8 p.m. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for seniors, military and children ages 6-12.

Miss Budweiser and Dave Villwock already have clinched the Unlimited Hydroplane season boat and driver championships in the 1998 Ralphs UHRA Thunder Tour, presented by Las Vegas, heading into this weekend's race in San Diego. Las Vegas' new U-10 Wild Fire unlimited hydroplane, driven by Mark Weber, will make its debut this weekend. Results from the team's test session last week in Washington show that the Wild Fire is just as fast as the fabled Miss Budweiser. The UHRA Thunder Tour will visit Lake Mead's Boulder Beach for the Las Vegas Cup next weekend. Also featured will be the season finale of the 1998 Las Vegas Formula One PROP Tour. Tim Seebold and his older brother Mike Seebold each have two wins this season in identical Bud Light powerboats, but young Jason Campbell put himself in contention for the championship with his victory in St. Louis last weekend. Tim Seebold holds a 14-point advantage over his brother and Campbell, who are tied for second with 478 points.

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