SPOILERS--Highlight to see
Reporter: Herb Cilantro, you just won the inaugural AERS race at McKinley Speedway. Can you take us through those last few laps?
Herb Cilantro: Well, I was just trying to clear all the lapped cars as we got down to five, four, three laps to go...I was nervous, obviously, but less about wrecking than Alex Jates beating us. I mean, he's a great guy, but I'm not too fond of his sponsor, and I don't reckon a lot of my fans are either...I did see some 42 hats up there is the stands earlier in the day. But yeah, when I headed for the line and got turned around, I thought, "Aw darn, this can't be good." So I headed for the pits thinking someone passed us, but I told my crew chief I didn't see anyone doin' no burnouts...I was wonderin' who won. That's when he came on and told me I was supposed to be doin' them. And I did."
Reporter: Your team just started up this year, and a lot of people didn't expect it to do too well. Are you yourself surprised at how well you've done?
Herb: Oh, absolutely. I mean, this win was really half luck and half skill, with people wrecking, like, every darn lap. I know Justin (Pisani) definitely could have won it, and I'm sorry he had to go out like that. But as for my success this year, I think it's really 'cause these cars are so equal. No one ever really gets a big advantage in this series when it comes to competition as a whole, and I think that's why it's so successful.
Reporter: Anyone you'd like to give a shout-out to?
Herb: Well, I gotta thank Chevrolet, NaturalCures.com, Dakota Beef, Vinny Manucci (team owner) for giving me this chance to race in the big time...uh, my pit crew...they were fast all day, and they're really a big part of this team. And Jen Smith, she helped us a lot with figuring out this track after she turned some laps in the Yung Guns car.
Reporter: Thanks for talking, Herb. Congratulations.
Thu May 09, 2024 12:54 pm by 
