HERD RACING TEAM PREPARES FOR 2012 AT APBA TEST IN DAYTON, OHIO

  DAYTON, OH - After more than six months of preparations, Herd Racing's tunnel boat program will hit the water May 19-20 in Dayton, Ohio, as powerboat teams from across the midwest gather to test their boats in preparation for the 2012 racing campaign.

  For the West Virginia-based Herd Racing program, the Dayton test weekend will be an opportunity to continue getting comfortable with a new boat in preparation for racing's biggest event when the season opens in Pittsburgh in just six weeks.

  "We learned so much at Hamilton last fall about our Miller Brothers boat.  I learned things as a driver that weekend that we could tell improved our lap times," said Herd Racing's Pilot Dana Tomes. "We have worked real hard during the winter to get our motor program where it needs to be and get our overall program better than where it was last year.  We are encouraged about our program and the improvements we have been making in the shop."

  Crew Chief Jeramey Wentz, who enters his third season calling the shots from the shore, says the team's main objective in 2012 is translating those improvements into better performances on the race course.

  "As as team, we are better than last year and we have better boats and equipment than we had last year," Wentz said.  "Our goal is to show that on the race course.  We hope that translates into better finishes on Sunday afternoons."

  Chief Engineer Eric Himes says the Dayton test weekend is an opportunity for the team to shake down the boat, break in a new engine and fix any shortcomings before the biggest event of the season kicks off the year July 2-4 in Pittsburgh, PA.

  "Starting the year with the North American Championships is like starting the season with the Daytona 500," Himes said.  "We want to make sure we go to Pittsburgh as prepared as we can be and getting some time on the water for our driver and our boat will help us make sure we are the best we can be."

 Herd Racing fans can follow the team May 18-20 as it tests in Dayton where the Herd boat will sport a new primary sponsor and a new boat number.  The team will post Facebook and Twitter updates for fans throughout the testing weekend.