Daniel Herrington Houston exclusion overturned, awarded victory at Houston

May 25, 2006. Pacoima, California. Daniel Herrington, of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, was awarded the victory in Round Two of the Star Mazda Championship presented by Goodyear, held on the temporary street circuit around Reliant Park in Houston, successfully appealing his exclusion from the event for a non-compliant part to IMSA, while initial race winner Ryan Justice was penalized one position by series stewards for passing Herrington during a caution period midway through the event.

Herrington, driving the #3 Bluetooth AIM Autosport Mazda, was able to move into the lead during a restart on lap nine before the caution flag came out on the same lap when Gerardo Bonilla crashed on the front straight, before the cars made it back to start finish Justice had moved back into the lead. Review of the videotape following the event showed that his pass had come under the yellow flag but the penalty was mooted when Herrington was excluded following post race tech. With Herrington's reinstatement he was placed at the front of the field for his first series victory.

The reversal of the exclusion also shakes up the points chase as Herrington now assumes the points lead with 113 points to Adrian Carrio's 107 points. Justice and Michael Potekhen are now tied for third place in points with 98 points apiece.

The championship resumes on June 2-3 for the series' only oval event of the season, joining the Champ Car World Series on the famous Milwaukee Mile. Round Two of the Star Mazda Championship presented by Goodyear from Houston will be featured on Speed Channel on Sunday, May 28 at 5:00PM Eastern Time.