Brandon Hermiller Looking At Quality Races For 2014 Season
H.S. Die/VISI-TST Ford Fusion Driver Prepared For “Bigger Event” Schedule (Special from H.S. Die/VISI-TST Ford Racing)
April 4, 2014
Walker, Michigan (April 4, 2014) – The approach young Michigan racer Brandon Hermiller
has for the 2014 season is a simple one: quality rather than quantity. The 21-year-old
charger and his H.S. Die/VISI-TST Ford Fusion Racing Team have a total of 20 races
penciled in on their slate for this year. Hermiller is extremely optimistic as the season
cranks up.
“We’re planning on running the bigger races, the more high-profile events, this season,”
said Hermiller, who is mixing his racing with a pursuit of a college degree in
Manufacturing Engineering Technology. “We want to go after the wins on the tracks
where we will get noticed the most. We’ve eliminated some of the shorter tracks where
it seems like it’s more survival than it is actual racing. The biggest thing about our
strategy for 2014 is that we are focusing more than ever on our preparation. We hope to
be able to perform at our very best every time we hit the track.
“Our confidence level is higher than ever entering a racing season,” said Hermiller, the
former Berlin Raceway Pro Stock Champion and Most Popular Driver said. “I think we
showed quite a bit of progress last year, especially if you compare it to how the 2012
season went for us. We’ve gotten stronger every time we make another visit to a track
and it’s our big goal to have our best runs yet week after week. We only have one track
on the schedule where we’ll be racing for the first time; it’s Kalamazoo Speedway. We actually have tested there before and I really like that track.”
The family-owned racing team will again be fielding Ford Fusion entries equipped with Port City Racecars chassis components and powered by engines from legendary engine-builder Ernie Elliott.
“We have one brand new Port City car that we just finished putting the Five Star body on,” said Hermiller. “We have another chassis that we’ve had for a few years now – it’s been sort of like our old reliable car. We’ve had new front and rear clips put on it, but the center section has remained as good as new. We’re extremely happy to continue our relationship with Ernie Elliott as for who is building our engines. He has been great to work with. We do have a McGunegill crate motor that we may race somewhere this year.
“Josh Slade will continue to be our crew chief this season and he brings so much to the table,” Hermiller said of the 25-year-old second generation racer whose late father (Brian Slade) was a noted engine-builder. “We worked together for the first time at Cordele (Watermelon Capitol Speedway). We got to know each other better as the season went along and I think we really started clicking by the time The Rowdy (251-lap Super Late Model race at Berlin Raceway) came around.
"Josh and I get along so well and I think our communication as driver to crew chief is great,” Hermiller added. “I am working on the cars personally more than ever these days and he likes that a lot. It’s cool to have that level of trust factor going with your crew chief. I think we’re working more than ever as a true team effort these days.”
After running a heavy schedule of Pro Late Model races in 2012, Hermiller shifted his focus to mostly Super Late Models last year. The team will be focusing on major SLM races during the 2014 schedule. Hermiller and crew have road trips to Toledo, Milwaukee, Indianapolis, Auto City, Kalamazoo, Winchester and Nashville in their plans for the year. They will also be competing in 10 nights of action at their home track, Berlin Raceway.
“I definitely like the direction our team is heading in,” said Hermiller. “I can look back and see how much we have improved since racing the supers for the first time. Last year we were very competitive in quite a number of races. We finished third in the race at Berlin. I will always look back on the race at Auto City as a big win that got away. We had such a strong run going until we got intentionally crashed. Man, we can’t wait to get back there this season. I can look at our schedule and say I honestly feel we can be competitive at each and every race.
“We’re hoping to be able to turn some heads during the 2014 season, that’s for sure,” said Hermiller. “The short-term goal is to get as many wins as possible. On down the road, I’d love to be able to have the opportunity to compete on the K & N tour (NASCAR K&N Pro Series). It would really be cool to race in the ARCA Racing Series. As far as race tracks go, I have always dreamed to be able to race at Atlanta (Atlanta Motor Speedway) someday.”
After running several races in black cars last season, Hermiller and team will stick with the familiar all-red color scheme during their 2014 campaign. It is the look made famous by Hermiller’s uncle, Tim Steele, in ARCA competition. Steele drove red H.S. Die-sponsored cars to 41 race wins and three series championships.
Hermiller’s No. 6 H.S. Die/VISI-TST Ford Fusion will also carry sponsorship from River Hills Lodge, West End Body Shop, Steuhower Frozen Foods and Beaver Research Company during the 2014 schedule.
For additional information on Brandon Hermiller and the H.S. Die/VISI-TST Racing Team, please visit his site at www.brandonhermiller.com
For the latest news and insights, we invite you to follow Brandon on Twitter: @bhermiller (www.twitter.com/bhermiller) and Facebook: Brandon.hermiller
