Charlotte: Doug Herbert final report

Weekend at Home Track a Success for Herbert Despite Loss

At the inaugural NHRA Carolinas Nationals from zMAX Dragway, Doug Herbert and the Snap-on team had a successful weekend racing at their new hometown track despite suffering a second round loss to Hillary Will in Sunday's eliminations. After Race 1 of the NHRA playoffs, the Countdown to 1, Herbert and the Snap-on team moved up one position in points to seventh-place.

Round 1:

Herbert, the No. 5 qualifier, was matched against No. 12 qualifier Morgan Lucas for the first round. With an impressive .032 reaction time, Herbert had a large lead off the line. As Lucas smoked the tires and struggled down the right lane, Herbert and the SnaponFranchise.com dragster logged a quick run and won the round, 3.920 to 5.251.

Round 2:

For the second round of eliminations Herbert was paired against No. 4 qualifier Hillary Will, whose dragster had been very consistent all weekend. After beating Will off the line it looked like Herbert had the victory but Will was able to overcome the SnaponFranchise.com dragster on the top end. She put Herbert out of the race, beating him by only .030 seconds, 3.944 to 3.974.

"I really wanted to win this weekend because it was so special for us," said Herbert. "The boys' pictures were on the car, we had a lot going on for BRAKES and it was our first race in my hometown of Charlotte, N.C. It would have been a great win but that's just how it goes."

"I have a lot of people to thank for their support this weekend, especially my family and friends. Speedway Children's Charities, Windstream Communications and Connie Kalitta all made huge donations to BRAKES. To every fan that put money in our BRAKES donation boxes and every fan that was in the stands pulling for me because I'm their hometown guy, thanks, it meant a lot."

Next weekend, Sept. 18-21, the SnaponFranchise.com dragster will compete in the second of six races in the Countdown to the Championship, the O'Reilly Super Start Batteries NHRA Fall Nationals presented by Castrol Syntec, at the Texas Motorplex near Dallas, Texas.

-credit: dhr

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