Guerrero brothers ready to race

Mike Harris

Thursday, March 16, 2000 | 11:16 a.m.

Roberto Guerrero is a 41-year-old race car driver often searching for a ride.

Finding and keeping jobs in the IRL has been difficult for the native Colombian, now a U.S. citizen. So, like so many other open-wheel racers in recent years, the two-time Indianapolis 500 runner-up is looking to NASCAR for work.

He and his 28-year-old brother, Jaime, will share a ride this season in the Busch Series.

Roberto will drive in 11 events, beginning with the race on April 1 at Texas Motor Speedway. Jaime will drive in five events in 2000 and race for Busch Series rookie of the year in 2001.

The brothers will be driving a Chevrolet fielded by the new Hispanic Racing Team. It was formed by Rudy Rodriguez and Mike Vazquez, first generation Cuban-Americans.

Cuban-born Felix Sabates has owned a Winston Cup team in since 1988, but it will be the first go-round for Latin drivers in NASCAR's modern era.

"I'm very excited," Roberto said. "It's something different."

For Jaime, it will be his first big chance.

"I know I have a lot to learn," the younger brother said. "This is all new to me - the car, the tracks. But I'm going to work hard and get everything I can out of this experience.

"These people have a lot of confidence in me and I'll try to justify that confidence."

Having his brother on board is a big confidence boost, too.

"Roberto doesn't have a lot of experience in stock cars, but he has a lot of experience in racing and in life," Jaime said. "I know that is going to help both of us."

Jaime feels fortunate just to be part of the new team.

When Rodriguez and Vazquez formed their team, they contacted Colombian Pablo Montoya, the father of racing prodigy Juan, about signing his son. But the younger Montoya, now the CART series champion, already was committed to Chip Ganassi's team.

The elder Montoya, himself a racer of some note in his native country, suggested the new team owners get in touch with Jaime, who had competed with Juan in the past.

This led to a meeting among Roberto, Jaime and the owners at last fall's NASCAR race at Lowe's Motor Speedway.

"It came together right away. We were going to start in Daytona," Roberto said. "But NASCAR wouldn't let Jaime start on that track because he didn't have any experience."

When the deal was first offered, the elder brother was simply acting as an agent for Jaime. But the suggestion that he get in the car, too, didn't fall on deaf ears.

"I'm becoming a rookie at my old age," said Roberto, who still hopes to find a ride for his 16th Indy 500 in May.

He is the latest of many open-wheel drivers who have moved to NASCAR.

Among them are Tony Stewart, the 1997 IRL champion.

"Roberto is a very good driver, and I don't see why he wouldn't be competitive over here with a little time in the car," Stewart said. "A good race driver can pretty much drive any kind of car."

The focus of the Hispanic team will be on Jaime after this season, but Roberto isn't ignoring the possibility that his Busch Series venture could lead to other rides.

"I love to race and I think I can still get the job done," he said. "If it's in an Indy car, great. If it's in a stock car, OK. I just want to drive and be competitive."