Norwalk World Nationals preview

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Anthony Vestal IHRA Director of Communications More information: (423) 764-1164

August 19, 1997

Herbert making typical late season Top Fuel charge

NORWALK, Ohio -- Don't look now, but here comes Doug Herbert. The four-time and defending IHRA Snap-on Tools Drag Racing Series World Champion is making his patented late season charge. In a season where the majority of attention has been swirled around the comeback of Indianapolis racer Paul Romine and Shirley Muldowney's quest to join 'Big Daddy' Don Garlits and Jeb Allen as the only Top Fuel drivers to win championships in three major sanctioning bodies, Herbert feels slightly ignored. But the Snap-on Tools dragster driver has been quietly going about his business. In the process, he's won two of four IHRA Snap-on Tools Drag Racing Series events and recently set a new IHRA speed world record (303.43 mph). After beating Romine in the Aug. 10 CARQUEST Northern Nationals at the Mid-Michigan Motorplex, Herbert is ready to build on that momentum. The Cherryville, N.C. racer, who has won IHRA Top Fuel titles in 1992, '94, '95 and '96, and boasts of 15 career victories moved into second in the championship point standings after the last outing. Herbert trails Romine by 320 points. "It seemed like everybody forgot about me in the last few races," Herbert said. "All I've been reading about lately is Shirley and Paul. That win put us right back incontention." He would like nothing better than to add another win at the Prolong Super Lubricants / Ohio Lottery World Nationals presented by Ethanol Performs, Aug. 21-24 at Norwalk Raceway Park in Ohio. A win at this race -- widely considered the marquee event on the IHRA circuit -- would be a huge confidence booster. "We were in the finals at Norwalk last year and we've won there before, so we're really ready," Herbert said. "That's one of our favorite racetracks." The Prolong Super Lubricants / Ohio Lottery World Nationals presented by Ethanol Performs kicks-off the final stretch for drivers in pursuit of IHRA World Championships, which also includes stops at Bristol's Autumn Chase Nationals and Darlington's Snap-on Finals. Each IHRA professional category has tight battles brewing, but Top Fuel could come to a boil before it's over. "Yeah, we're ready for the last three races," Herbert said. "Those are three of our best tracks. We've won at Norwalk and Darlington, and what can I say about Bristol? Bristol has always been good to us. It's going to be really interesting, and a lot of fun." In addition to Top Fuel, professional category titles will be up for grabs in Pro Stock, Pro Modified and Alcohol Funny Car. Special exhibition performances will be made by Top Fuel Harley bikes, two jet dragsters, the Hurst Hemi Under Glass wheelstander and the awesome jet Kenworth of Bob Motz. Eight classes of sportsman competition will complete the event. Norwalk Raceway Park is located on State Route 18, near the town of Norwalk. To get there take Exit 7 off Ohio Turnpike, then 4.2 miles on U.S. 250, then .6 miles east, then .7 miles south on Gallop, then 1.2 miles south on Old State Road, then 2.5 miles east on State Route 18 (east of U.S. 20).

GENERAL INFORMATION * Schedule: The Prolong Super Lubricants / Ohio Lottery World Nationals presented by Ethanol Performs will begin with sportsman qualifying only on Thursday, Aug. 21. Qualifying will resume on Friday, Aug. 22 with two rounds for professional categories (Top Fuel will only make one pass on Friday, at 7:30 p.m.). The first round of professional qualifying on Friday will begin at 1 p.m. Sportsman qualifying will also be held on Friday. On Saturday, professional qualifying will continue and reach a grand finale with the Northwestern College Night of Fire, the last qualifying session for all professional categories. Sportsman qualifying will end on Saturday and several classes will begin eliminations. Final eliminations will begin on Sunday at 12 noon.

* Tickets: Tickets are available for the Prolong Super Lubricants / Ohio Lottery World Nationals presented by Ethanol Performs. Thursday admission is $10; Friday $15; Saturday $ 25; and Sunday $25. Children 6-11 are $5 per day. A four day VIP pass is also available for $60, which includes a reserved seat for Saturday and Sunday. All tickets include free pit pass. For ticket information call RACETIKS at 419-668-5555.

*On TV: The Prolong Super Lubricants / Ohio Lottery World Nationals presented by Ethanol Performs will be televised tape delay by ESPN2. One hour coverage of professional category racing will be televised on Sept. 14 at 4 p.m., Sept. 16 at 4 p.m., again on Sept. 16 at 10:30 p.m. and finally on Sept. 18 at 3:30 a.m. Sportsman coverage will be televised on Sept. 14 at 3:30 p.m., again on Sept. 16 at 3:30 p.m. and finally on Sept. 18 at 3 a.m.