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Memphis: Doug Herbert preview
Doug Herbert Seeking Race Win, Not Graceland Tour, at Memphis Snap-on Top Fuel Driver Enthused Following Semifinal Finish Sunday MEMPHIS, August 17, 2004 - There's no trip to Graceland on Doug Herbert's schedule this weekend. He's coming to Elvis ...
Published: Aug 20, 2004, 8:20 PM
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Doug Herbert Seeking Race Win, Not Graceland Tour, at Memphis
Snap-on Top Fuel Driver Enthused Following Semifinal Finish Sunday
MEMPHIS, August 17, 2004 - There's no trip to Graceland on Doug Herbert's schedule this weekend. He's coming to Elvis Presley's hometown looking for a Top Fuel victory in the O'Reilly Mid-South Nationals at Memphis Motorsports Park, Friday through Sunday.
"I'm definitely not going there for a tea party," said Herbert, driver of the Snap-on Racing dragster. "We're coming off a good race at Brainerd (Minn.), last Sunday and we want to keep building the momentum."
Herbert advanced to the semifinals at Brainerd and moved up a notch to eighth place in POWERade points. He also eliminated two drivers - Larry Dixon and Doug Kalitta - who have been tough for him to get around lately.
"We had a good weekend at Brainerd and it was nice to get to the semifinals," commented Herbert, "We did beat guys who have been hard for us to beat, so we are off to a good start. We want to win more rounds Sunday. I've won before at Memphis (1999), so we know our way to the winner's circle."
With seven races remaining on the 2004 docket, Herbert still believes it is possible to finish as high as sixth in points. Cory McClenathan is just ahead of Herbert with 856 points and Dixon is next at 893. Each round win is worth 20 points.
"We'll need to win a lot more rounds than we have been," added Herbert, "but it's not impossible."
The Snap-on team did get some satisfaction out of eliminating Dixon in Sunday's first round at Brainerd (4.878 seconds at 285.17 mph to 5.973 art 149.25 mph) and Kalitta in the second round (4.756 at 304.74 to 4.824 at 277.72). Herbert is 2-2 against Dixon this year after starting 3-17. His win over Kalitta was the first since the championship round at Sonoma, Calif., in 2002.
""Like I said, I think we're starting to come around. Ed made quite a few changes to our combination four races ago and then had to deal with new rules limiting the nitro percentage to 85 percent and less down force on the rear wing," Herbert concluded.
And what Elvis song would best describe Herbert's attitude going to Memphis Motorsports Park? "Treat Me Nice," of course.
For the first time in 16 previous visits, this race will start at 3 p.m. Sunday. Friday's qualifying schedule calls for attempts at 5:30 and 8 p.m. while Saturday's sessions are set for 3:30 and 7 p.m.
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