NHRA

Las Vegas II: Doug Herbert preview

Herbert optimistic going to Las Vegas. LAS VEGAS, October 21, 2002 - Optimism could be Doug Herbert's middle name. And why not? It is, or should be, high on the list of values of anyone who drives a Top Fuel dragster in NHRA POWERade Series ...

Published: Oct 23, 2002, 12:20 PM

Copy link

Share on Viber

Add as a preferred source

Herbert optimistic going to Las Vegas.

LAS VEGAS, October 21, 2002 - Optimism could be Doug Herbert's middle name.

And why not? It is, or should be, high on the list of values of anyone who drives a Top Fuel dragster in NHRA POWERade Series competition.

Herbert is optimistic about his chances in the ACDelco Las Vegas Nationals, Friday through Sunday, at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. In the past two races, the Snap-on Racing driver has been the No. 1 qualifier (at Joliet, Ill.) and No. 2 qualifier (at Ennis, Texas). He comes to this Mecca of perpetual optimism with a solid streak of 12 consecutive races without a first-round loss.

Included is a race victory at Sonoma, Calif., to go along with two runner-up finishes (Atlanta and Columbus, Ohio) earlier in the 23-race campaign.

"We had the quickest time of eliminations (4.559 seconds) in the first round at Ennis, so we know we have something we can work with and make our car be real good at Las Vegas," said Herbert, from Cherryville, N.C. "I don't see any reason why we can't win at least one of the last two races this year."

Herbert has not, however, enjoyed much success at The Strip in four previous visits. He's gone home after the first round in three of the four. He won his only round in the April race here last season. But that is, as he says, history.

"Wes Cerny (tuning consultant) and Johnny (West, crew chief) have a good tune-up," Herbert noted. "We had a clutch problem in the second round at Texas that hurt us. I hope we can keep winning rounds - like four in a row on Sunday."

Herbert has qualified for all 21 races and has already secured a berth in the Nov. 9 Budweiser Top Fuel Shootout at Pomona, Calif. The elite field is comprised of eight drivers earning the most qualifying points awarded during the first 22 events. Herbert goes into Las Vegas in seventh place with 2850 points, 70 more than No. 8 Darrell Russell, and should secure the position by out-qualifying Russell or finishing within 12 places for Sunday's eliminations.

The Shootout winner will take home a $100,000 bonus, a sum that brings a smile from Herbert. It is the second-largest payout of the season, overshadowed only by the $400,000 going to the Top Fuel series champion.

He still has a flickering opportunity to climb into sixth place - a possible career high. Herbert, seventh overall, trails Russell by 70 points (1252-1182), roughly four rounds of racing, and only eight rounds remain. He did move into sixth place by 11 points (815-811) over Doug Kalitta in the finals at Sonoma in August, but Kalitta has won three of the last four events and moved into third overall.

-jls-

We want your opinion!

What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?

Take our 5 minute survey.

- The Motorsport.com Team

Read and post comments

Share Or Save This Story

Copy link

Share on Viber

Previous article Las Vegas II: Jeg Coughlin preview

Next article Las Vegas II: David Baca debut preview

Top Comments

There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?

View More & Comment

Latest news

Franco Colapinto urges fans to stop the abuse: “You’re not helping me or my future”

Formula 1

F1 Formula 1

Singapore GP

4 h

Franco Colapinto urges fans to stop the abuse: “You’re not helping me or my future”

Gresini: New MotoGP rules won't increase gap between factory and satellite teams

MotoGP

MGP MotoGP

Indonesian GP

4 h

Gresini: New MotoGP rules won't increase gap between factory and satellite teams

Tristan McKee joins JR Motorsports in 2027 with future plans for full-time ride

NASCAR O'Reilly

NOAP NASCAR O'Reilly

Phoenix II

4 h

Tristan McKee joins JR Motorsports in 2027 with future plans for full-time ride

Colton Herta eyes potential Indy 500 return and IMSA enduros as 2027 plans remain in flux

FIA F2

F2 FIA F2 4 h

Colton Herta eyes potential Indy 500 return and IMSA enduros as 2027 plans remain in flux

Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.

From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.

You have 2 options:

Become a subscriber.
Disable your adblocker.

Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here

Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page

Manage Alerts