December 1, 2008…Setting a goal of winning an A-Main, finishing every race in the top five and winning the 2008 ASCS Rocky Mountain Region Rookie of the Year seemed like a tall order to fill for 17 year old Derrik Ortega of Albuquerque, New Mexico. When the dust settled the high school senior found himself with not only the title of ASCS Rocky Mountain Region Rookie of the Year but also the Points Championship making him the youngest champion in ASCS history.
The Ortega Racing Team which consists of driver, Derrik Ortega, his parents, Manny and Annette and alternating crew members, John Stroud, Mark Matejka, Jack and Josh Hodges and Mark Rosbourgh had an unbelievable year, running twenty races at nine different tracks. The year started in April with an ASCA non wing race at Canyon Raceway in AZ with a 7th place finish the best laps came right at the end picking up three spots in the last two laps. “It was fun to shake off the winter rust and a top ten finish from the back was great”, remarked Derrik.
There was a month break after Canyon for Derrik and Manny to get everything finished for the start of the ASCS Rocky Mountain Series. Derrik was looking for a good start to the season at Thunder Mountain Speedway in Olathe, Co. but didn’t expect to head into the second weekend with the points lead. “We were hoping to get a strong first finish towards the rookie points, but having the points lead never entered my mind” the happy mother told the regional director, Jim Starr.
The Ortega Team posted three podium finishes in the first 4 races of the season that included a double header at Aztec Speedway in Aztec, NM. The team as well as the crowd was thrilled to see Derrik take his first win in a sprint car leading flag to flag on the preliminary night at Sweetwater Speedway in Rock Springs, WY. “I love this track, the car was great tonight and hearing the fans when I got out of the car was awesome” said a very excited Derrik Ortega. The A-main on the second night was just as exciting for the fans as Derrik battled for position with Chad Corken who spun flipping Derrik in turn 3. Luckily, there were several other crews who helped to replace the top wing during the red and get Derrik back out to a 9th place finish, but this also dropped him to 2nd in the point standings to Chad Corken.
The next weekend was the first trip of the year for the Rocky Mountain Series to Hollywood Hills. Derrik has always had a “hometown struggle” at the Hollywood Hills Speedway. The struggle continued with a 3rd place finish in the B-main to start 19th in the A-main. He made a charge to 7th in the feature, which matched his best previous sprint car finish at The Hills. The next night after making some changes to the car Derrik charged from 9th to 3rd in the heat race to be top points and start 6th in the A-main finishing 4th and regaining the points lead. Derrik remarked “This is the best finish I have had at my home track”.
At Lincoln County Speedway in North Platte, NE, Derrik got his second A-Main win of the season. “It is great to have a win before a summer break, we will send the motor to get a tune up from the boys at WESMAR” Derrik declared. During the break Derrik went to the Oklahoma Mini Sprint Nationals, Oskaloosa, and Knoxville Nationals to work on various teams and try and learn a few things.
It was back to Hollywood Hills in NM after the break where Derrik finally overcame his hometown struggles and led a few laps before chasing Johnny Herrera to the finish. Derrik expressed relief at the finish. “Johnny and Joe Herrera have helped me so much this year, I’m glad I had a great finish here with them and in front of my friends and family”.
Next was another trip to Wyoming, after a first lap crash in Casper, too many people to count thrashed on the car to get it back in the race. Derrik was patient and worked his way from the back to finish 2nd in his first race on a half mile track. The next night at Sweetwater Derrik “cowboyed up” and went four wheels over the cushion to take the lead and his third win of the season.
The longest journey of the year was to the Black Hills Speedway in Rapid City, South Dakota. Mother Nature won on Friday so the excitement of the first night was watching everybody try to leave the infield in the rain. Saturday night it was drizzling and cold all night but they got the races in. Derrik got his first laps on a big half mile, after struggling in the heat race he led every lap of the B-main to take the 17th starting spot in the A-main. After another first lap tangle and another first lap thrash to change tires, and a nose wing Derrik restarted 23rd. He was patient and made his way to a top 5 finish.
Going into the last weekend in Aztec, New Mexico all Derrik had to do to win the championship was start the preliminary A-main on Friday night. With a 2nd place heat finish Derrik did just that, but he wanted to do more, he was prepared to try for the $1000 bounty on Johnny Herrera after his domination of the New Mexico ASCS races. Derrik came up short running a close 3rd behind two veterans he grew up watching, Johnny Herrera and Ricky Hood. After drawing the pole for the A-main Saturday night, and a great hot lap session Derrik was ready to take another shot at the bounty. Two rain delays and many set up changes the A-main took the green flag at 1:15 AM. It was one of the best races of the season with Johnny Herrera and Ben Gregg putting slide job after slide job on each other. Derrik had the best seat in the house running another close 3rd after challenging Ben Gregg for 2nd many times to close out the 2008 season.
During the awards banquet in Denver, CO, Derrik expressed his gratitude to his competitors in the ASCS Rocky Mountain Series who made the racing fun each week. He thanked his sponsors, Ortega’s Appliance Service, Hodges Automotive, Keizer Aluminum Wheels, B&B Brakes and Suspension, Atlas Pumping, Herrera Motorsports, Lucky Stripes and Signs. He also thanked his crew, Mark Matiqka, John Stroud, Jack and Josh Hodges, Mark Rosbourgh, and Frank and Michael Fanelli. He especially wanted to thank his Dad who helps with the maintenance and always made sure we made it to every track this season and his Mom for her support and keeping the team fed.
At this point, Ortega Racing is in the same boat as many other teams awaiting the final schedules of the 2009 season in order to set their own schedule. Derrik is looking forward to continuing to learn and grow in his racing experiences in the winged sprint car next season. His website will be up and running in the next few weeks and will be updated with his 2009 schedule as it becomes available. We look forward to seeing you at the races.