Phoenix: Doug Herbert eliminations summary

Herbert loses in first round.

CHANDLER, Ariz., February 23, 2003 - The 70-degree weather in the Phoenix area is better than in his hometown of Cherryville, N.C., but that's not the reason Doug Herbert is staying an extra day or two.

Herbert and the Snap-on Racing Top Fuel team plan to spend Monday testing different racing combinations to improve their performances. And it comes at a good time because Herbert was eliminated in the first round of Sunday's Checker Schuck's Kragen Nationals at Firebird Raceway.

Herbert's racecar spun the tires and slowed to a 5.278 seconds at 264.62 mph while John Smith won with a 5.075 at 263.31 mph. The setback dropped Herbert from sixth to 10th in NHRA POWERade Series standings after two of 23 events.

"We made the adjustments we thought were necessary to get the car to leave the starting line the way we want it, but then the clutch setup wasn't in tune with what we did to the engine," explained Herbert. "We want to test to improve our consistency. We don't want to get too far down in points too early.

"We're going to analyze what we need to do before we test, and we'll stay here for two more days, if necessary, until we get it right."

Herbert has 85 series points while leader Larry Dixon has 210 points.

The team gets two weeks off before preparing for the Gatornationals, March 14-16, at Gainesville, Fla.

Qualified: No. 9, 4.604 seconds at 307.30 mph.

First round: John Smith, 5.075 at 263.31 def. Herbert, 5.278 at 254.62.

Pro Winners: Brandon Bernstein, Top Fuel; Ron Capps, Funny Car; Greg Anderson, Pro Stock.

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