Topeka: Doug Herbert preview

Herbert Wants Round Wins to Start at Summer Nationals

TOPEKA, Kan., May 25, 2004 - Foiled by a broken fuel line one weekend and a broken blower belt the next, Doug Herbert and the Snap-on Racing Top Fuel team hope to keep everything in tact t during the O'Reilly Summer Nationals at Heartland Park Topeka, May 28-30.

Because both mishaps occurred in the first round, Herbert hasn't been able to win any rounds or gain any points on his fellow POWERade Series competitors, either.

"It's extremely disappointing," said a dejected Herbert following Sunday's setback in the Route 66 Nationals near Chicago. "We had two good runs during qualifying and I would've given anything to trade one of those for a good run during eliminations.

Rain washed out two Top Fuel qualifying sessions at the Joliet, Ill., track and Herbert's team wound up ninth. He met Scott Weis in the opening round. Then tire smoke and the broken belt took its toll.

Weis, who had tire smoke first, recovered and got the win in 5.565 seconds, 203.49 mph. A coasting Herbert came by in 7.528 at 93.66 mph.

"We need to get things going . . . it's no fun going out in the first round," commented Herbert. "We dropped out of the top 10, too. Our goal is to still finish in the top five. We have 15 races to go this season, so it's possible. But we need to start playing a catch-up right away."

Herbert has one win at Heartland Park (1999) and one wild ride. He crashed on a qualifying run in 1993 when a blown tire tore off the rear stabilizer wing and his dragster bounced over the retaining wall, eventually coming to a stop at the base of a television camera stand. Herbert was unhurt but the car suffered major damage.

Four qualifying runs highlight Friday and Saturday action this week, with Top Fuel sessions scheduled for 5 and 8 p.m. Friday and 1 and 4 p.m. Saturday. Sunday's competition commences at 11 a.m.

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