Topeka: Herbert falls in first round

TOPEKA, Kan., Oct. 1, 2000 - Doug Herbert saved his best run of the weekend for his first-round match against Larry Dixon but it wasn't enough to get the Snap-on Racing Top Fuel dragster into the quarterfinals Sunday in the Advance Auto Parts Nationals at Heartland Park.

"We really thought we had a good chance to get him but a fuel line broke two seconds into the run, that leaned out the fuel supply and the engine pushed out a head gasket," Herbert commented.

Herbert left the line first with a .458 reaction to Dixon's .499 only to see Dixon go by him when the engine malfunctioned. Even so, his 4.714-second, 303.16-mph run was very commendable. Dixon ran 4.663 at 301.00.

"I thought this would be our day to get by him. He'd beaten us four straight times, but I guess we'll have to wait until another day," added Herbert.

The Heartland Park track was a bit tricky. Herbert was forced to shut off early on his two best qualifying runs - 4.723 and 4.735 - because the car was spinning the tires as it got close to the finish line.

"We made some changes yesterday and I think they were working," he commented. "It was on a good run until the fuel line broke."

Herbert and the Snap-on team will be back in action later this week when they gather at Memphis Motorsports Park for the AutoZone Nationals, Friday through Sunday.

Qualified: No. 11, 4.723 seconds at 287.23 mph.

First round: Larry Dixon def. Herbert

Pro Winners:

Top Fuel - Gary Scelzi
Funny Car - John Force
Pro Stock - Jeg Coughlin Jr.

Next Event: AutoZone Nationals, Memphis, Oct. 6-8