Brainerd: Doug Herbert eliminations summary

Herbert reaches Quarterfinals at Brainerd

BRAINERD, Minn., Aug. 17, 2003 - Although he didn't go as many rounds as he'd hoped, Doug Herbert did advance to the quarterfinals of the Lucas Oil Nationals Sunday at Brainerd International Raceway as Wes Cerny returned as tuner on his Snap-on Racing Top Fuel dragster.

Starting from the No. 7 position, Herbert sent Bruce Litton home in the first round with a 4.817-second, 298.01-mph performance to Litton's 17.388 at 56.09. In the quarterfinals, Herbert was beaten by Doug Kalitta, who then went on to win the race. Kalitta won with a 4.733 at 312.28 to Herbert's 5.268 at 199.35.

"Wes changed things around and the car was going down the track, and it was a tricky track this weekend because it was very slippery," Herbert said.

Herbert, Cerny and the crew will continue working on the car's tune-up Tuesday and Wednesday during a pre-U.S. Nationals test session at Indianapolis Raceway Park.

Herbert remained in eighth place in NHRA POWERade Series standings with 735 points. However, he's only 74 points behind No. 5 Cory McClenathan (809) with seven races to go.

The U.S. Nationals is the next race on the docket, Aug. 29-Sept. 1, at IRP.

Qualified: No. 7, 4.763 seconds at 301.27 mph

First round:

Herbert, 4.817 at 298.01 def. Bruce Litton, 17.388 at 56.09; Quarterfinals: Doug Kalitta, 4.733 at 312.28 def. Herbert, 5.268 at 199.35

Pro winners:

Doug Kalitta, Top Fuel; Gary Densham, Funny Car; Greg Anderson, Pro Stock.

Top Fuel Points:

1, Larry Dixon, 1540; 2, Doug Kalitta, 1269; 3, Darrell Russell, 934; 4, Tony Schumacher, 934; 5, Cory McClenathan, 809; 6, Dennis Baca, 765; 7, John Smith, 738; 8, Doug Herbert, 735; 9, Rhonda Hartman-Smith, 630; 10, Brandon Bernstein, 629