Howard Harriman, father of Richard Harriman, called me a couple days ago to give me an update on his son’s second NASCAR start in the Camping World Truck Series Race last weekend at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon, N.H.
Richard Harriman finished 27th after qualifying 28th out of 36 trucks in the strating field. He went 54 laps and was able to complete a complete pit stop cycle — fuel on one stop and tires on another — which was what the team had hoped for.
“(Richard) ran enough to do what we needed to do,” Howard Harriman said. “He should get his mile-and-half license out of the deal.”
A new rule in the NASCAR truck series this season prevents drivers from taking fuel and tires in the same stop, so with a limited budget Richard Harriman’s team arrived in Loudon not sure they would be able to do a complete pit cycle.
Fortunately, Harriman’s pit stall was next to that of veteran racer Dennis Setzer, so the teams were able to make a deal. Harriman agreed to pit off-cycle which meant Setzer, who usually runs on the lead lap, wouldn’t have to worry about getting around the rookie during pit stops.
In return, Setzer’s No.8 team agreed to change the tires on Harriman’s truck when he pitted, giving the Maltby native the experience of a complete pit cycle.
By going off-cycle Harriman also had the benefit of getting some TV airtime for his sponsors while following the pace truck around during caution periods.
Howard Harriman said he is collecting that footage into a highlight DVD, as well as some complimentary things NASCAR Cup driver and SPEED TV commentator Michael Waltrip said on-air about Richard Harriman during qualifying.
As he did for his first career NASCAR start in July at O’Reilly Raceway Park, the Monroe High School grad was driving for Andy Hillenburg’s Fast Track Racing Team in the No. 48 Chevy Silverado. His sponsors were Rockingham Speedway, which is owned by Hillenburg, and RH Motorsports, the team Harriman co-owns with his father.
The No. 48 has an older chassis and body, so Richard Harriman’s strong qualifying run around Loudon’s 1-mile track in less than state-of-the-art equipment caught the eye of Waltrip, a strong supporter of the truck series.
Going into Loudon Harriman’s goals were to get a pit stop in and to race well enough to get his NASCAR competition license upgraded to include 1.5-mile tracks. His strong run at ORP, where he finished 27th after going nearly halfway, led NASCAR to authorize him to run at 1-mile tracks.
Harriman’s goal for next year is to raise enough money to be able to run about 10 or more races. That’s around $350,000, according to Howard Harriman, who said he’s working on the highlight DVD and a package to hand out to potential sponsors.
Howard Harriman stressed that the team isn’t expecting to find a single big-money sponsor, but rather they are looking to get companies or individuals to sign up for single races or just to contribute what they can.
Harriman has been a longtime presence in the local racing community and can often be found under a car in the pits at Evergreen Speedway, but he said “I learn something new every time” by accompanying Richard Harriman to his NASCAR starts.
Richard Harriman began racing go-karts nearly 15 years ago, earning seven titles before moving up to Street Stocks and late models at Evergreen Speedway, and then earning a sprint-car touring series title. The 21-year-old moved to North Carolina, the heart of NASCAR, in early 2008 to pursue his dream of racing at the sport’s top levels.
He currently lives in High Point, N.C., and works as a mechanic in the shop of Johnny Davis’ JD Motorsports. Harriman serves as the tire manager for the team’s three Nationwide Series cars: the 01 driven by Danny O’Quinn, the 0 driven by Mike Wallace and the 04 driven by Kertus Davis.
To learn more about Richard Harriman, including Howard Harriman’s notes on the Loudon race, visit www.rhmotorsports.net
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
