Picture at I-76  Speedway

Derrick Ortega

#35

Derrick Ortega drives the #35 Sprint Class car.  His home track is Hollywood Hills Speedway.  He lives in Albuquerque, NM.

Team members helping Derrick are:  Joe & Johnny Hererra, Rocket Roush, Austin & Cody Mansfield, the Hodges family, Mark "Mac Daddy" Rosborough.  Manny & Annette Ortega are the car owners.

Derrick started racing in 1999 in the Quarter Midget class at Roadrunner & National QMA because his family was always involved in racing.  His first win was in 2000 in the Jr. Novice class at Valley of the Sun QMA.  Career highlights include 2005 New Mexico Modified Midgets Champion, '04 New Mexico Modified Midgets Rookie of the Year, '02 Senior Honda National Grand Champion, '02 Roadrunner QMA Champion, '02 Region 12 QMA Champion, multiple fast times and Track Records.

The thrill of racing for Derrick is going fast and turning left.  His most exciting racing moment was racing from the back of the E Main to finish 2nd in the A Main at the Gasoline Alley Nationals at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in '03.  He's most proud of winning the National Championship in Quarter Midgets at the age of 11 and getting to go to the Indy 500 Pole Day for the Awards Banquet and meeting Eric Gordon.

Derrick's racing heroes are his parents for supporting him in all that he does.

Of racing, Derrick says, "It is a lot of hard work and dedication so you have to love it to compete in this sport!".

His favorite racing website is www.ovalracin.com