Topeka: Doug Herbert final summary

Herbert reaches the quarterfinals at the Summer Nationals

TOPEKA, KS, post-race: Doug Herbert advanced to the quarterfinals on Sunday at the O'Reilly NHRA Summer Nationals at Heartland Park Topeka in Kansas. The driver of the Snap-on Tools/Doug Herbert Performance Top Fuel dragster claimed one round victory and remains in the Top 10 in the POWERade Drag Racing Series points chase.

The weather was once again hot and windy on Sunday at Heartland Park Topeka. Herbert entered his 56th consecutive eliminations qualified 15th and was set to race Cory McClenathan in round one. The pair split their two head to head confrontations this season, with the most recent win going to Cory Mac at Columbus last weekend after Herbert exploded a motor while leading the race.

The outcome at the Summer Nationals was different. Herbert, who ranks as the sixth-best driver in reaction time in the class this season, left the starting line first on Cory Mac. With the motor eating itself up near the finish line, "Dougzilla' took the victory with a 4.981 at 282.13 mph to advance to the second round.

Herbert squared off against Morgan Lucas in the quarterfinals, the second time the pair has raced each other this year. Both cars left together at the flash of green, but Herbert dropped a cylinder just off the starting line and Lucas took the victory with a 4.785 at 261.93 mph to Herbert's 4.984 at 251.63 mph.

"The Snap-on Tools dragster is still not running like we want, but we feel fortunate to come away with a round win," said Herbert. "We plan to work hard during the off week to get the car to return to the consistent strong performance that we're accustom to running."

-dhr