Norwalk: Goodyear Racing final report

HERBERT WINS NHRA TOP FUEL RACE AT NORWALK NORWALK, Ohio (June 30, 2008) -- Doug Herbert's emotional victory in the Top Fuel category topped four drivers who raced to victory on Goodyear tires at the Summit Racing Equipment ...

HERBERT WINS NHRA TOP FUEL RACE AT NORWALK

NORWALK, Ohio (June 30, 2008) -- Doug Herbert's emotional victory in the Top Fuel category topped four drivers who raced to victory on Goodyear tires at the Summit Racing Equipment Nationals at Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park.

Herbert's win was his first since the traffic accident that claimed the lives of his two sons earlier this season.

"It was an emotional day," Herbert said. "I'm just happy to get it done."

The other Goodyear winners included Tony Pedregon (in Funny Car), Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) and Tom Conway (Top Alcohol Dragster). In addition, Allen Johnson beat Anderson in the final of the K&N Horsepower Challenge for Pro Stock racers. Johnson's win was worth $50,000.

The weekend was the final time that the Top Fuel and Funny Car teams will have their choice between Goodyear's D2420 and D2550 rear drive tires. Starting with the next race in Colorado, the tiremaker will supply only the D2550 for those categories.

"We were pleased to gather more competition data from the additional cars running the new D2550 nitro tire in Norwalk," said Carolyn Ashbee, Goodyear's sales account manager for drag racing. "It was all very positive and we look forward to a smooth transition when both fields begin running the tire in Denver and beyond."

Several Top Fuel and Funny Car teams used the new D2550 during Saturday's qualifying sessions. Top Fuel driver Rod Fuller advanced to the semi-final round using the D2550. Three other Top Fuel drivers used the D2550 in eliminations. Funny Car pilot Gary Densham made use of the D2550 and advanced to the quarterfinal round.

Herbert beat Brandon Bernstein in the Top Fuel final, largely due to his .018-second reaction time. "It substantiates and justifies what we're trying to do," Herbert said. Herbert is eighth in the POWERade Top Fuel standings. Tony Schumacher leads the category by a wide margin.

Pedregon's victory came at the expense of Robert Hight, who qualified first, posted the best elapsed time of the weekend and had the fastest speed among Funny Car competitors. But Pedregon posted a quicker reaction time in the final and never trailed Hight. Tim Wilkerson continues to lead the category standings and Pedregon is second.

Anderson gave himself some breathing room in the Pro Stock championship hunt, edging 52 points ahead of Kurt Johnson. Anderson beat Larry Morgan, of nearby Newark, Ohio, in the final round at Norwalk.