Tuhia he tohutoro mō tēnei wāhanga - I whānau mai ia ki Topton, Pennsylvania, i mate a Herman ki West Haven, Connecticut nā ngā wharanga i puta i tētahi tukinga waka ki te West Haven Speedway. I uru a Herman ki te tukinga o nga waka maha i te porowhita tuatahi o te whakataetae whakaaturanga ka huri tana motuka. I eke ia ki te American Automobile Association (AAA) me te United States Automobile Club (USAC) Championship Car series, i te whakataetae i nga tau 1955-1957 me te 1959-1960 me te 11 tiimata, tae atu ki nga whakataetae Indianapolis 500 i ia tau. I mutu ia i roto i te tekau tuatahi e toru nga wa, me tana mutunga pai i te turanga tuawhitu, i te 1955 Indianapolis 500
, i riro ai i a ia te Rookie o te Tau.