Columbus: Herbert quarterfinalist

Snap-On Racing Report

Herbert Reaches Quarterfinals of Pontiac Nationals

KIRKERSVILLE, Ohio, June 17, 2001 - The positives keep on coming for Doug Herbert and the Snap-On Racing Top Fuel team.

Herbert advanced to the quarterfinals of the Pontiac Nationals at National Trail Raceway Sunday on another hot, humid Ohio day.  But Herbert's dragster did not smoke its tires during the competition and he gave Darrell Russell a good battle.

"The car was running OK.  I think we're close to getting a car we can race with," said Herbert, who remained eighth in NHRA Winston Series standings with 535 points, 30 behind Tony Schumacher.  "We're still learning our hot-weather tune-up, but (crew chief Larry) Frazier and I know we're going in the right direction."

Herbert began the day from the No. 5 position - the fifth time in 11 races he's qualified fifth - and beat a tire-smoking Rhonda Hartman-Smith in the opening round.  In the quarterfinals, Herbert's dragster slowed to a 4.733 at 292.58 mph while Russell won with a 4.689.

"We were thrown a curve in (Saturday's) last qualifying session when the engine blew up," Herbert commented.  "We didn't find out what caused it but we thought it was probably an electrical problem.  Obviously we didn't have the problem in eliminations."

Herbert continues his search for another career victory in the Sears Craftsman Nationals, Friday through Sunday at Madison, Ill., near St. Louis.

Qualified: No. 4.732 at seconds at 303.23 mph.

First round: Herbert, 4.717 at 291.26 def. Rhonda Hartman-Smith;

Quarterfinals: Darrell Russell def. Herbert.

Race winners: Larry Dixon, Top Fuel; John Force, Funny Car; Warren Johnson, Pro Stock.

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