Denver: Doug Herbert preview

Herbert Takes His "For My Boys" Tour West with Momentum; Driver Ready for Western Swing after Norwalk Win

Lincolnton, N.C. -- Doug Herbert is excited about heading to Morrison, Colo. for the Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals with the SnaponFranchise.com team. The Top Fuel team is riding high after their recent win in Norwalk, Ohio. Herbert's holeshot victory over Brandon Bernstein in the final round of eliminations in the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals two weeks ago was his 10th career victory and first of the 2008 season.

"The win was a really good one for me personally," said Herbert. "Everything I do this year is in honor of my boys and that win was for them. It was good for the team too because it's the first time we have won together. I think it's going to give us the momentum we need to do well during the western swing."

In addition to his victory, Herbert enters the second half of the season with two semifinal and three quarterfinal appearances. The veteran driver remains eighth in the Top Fuel point standings. His Norwalk victory brought him within 72 points of the seventh position.

"I'm looking forward to the three races on the western swing," said Herbert. "It comes at an important time in the season because we're getting closer to the cut-off for those who are eligible for the championship. It's a good time for the Snap-on team to head west because we're in that top-10 right now and I feel like we're going to keep moving up."

At the Denver-area event last year, Herbert qualified in the No. 13 position with a pass of 4.765 seconds at 291.01 mph but lost to J.R. Todd in his first match-up of the weekend. Todd went on to win that event with the help of Crew Chief Kevin Poynter, who is now the crew chief for Herbert and the SnaponFranchise.com dragster.

-credit: dhr