Doug Herbert Taps Larry Frazier as Crew Chief

INDIANAPOLIS - The last two times Doug Herbert raced at Indianapolis Raceway Park, he was runner-up, so it's no surprise the driver of the Snap-on Racing Top Fuel dragster says he has some unfinished business at IRP. Herbert returns this week for the 45th U.S. Nationals intent not only on winning the most prestigious race on the NHRA schedule, but getting back into what remains a very intriguing - and competitive - Top Fuel title chase. And he'll be attempting all that with a new crew chief. "Larry Frazier is taking over as crew chief, replacing Dick LaHaie," Herbert announced Monday. "We are concentrating on going forward and what we are going to be doing next year, so now's the time to get started." LaHaie, in his second year with Herbert's Snap-on team, had announced he would be changing teams at the end of season. "Larry's excited about the challenge. He wants us to move up in the standings," Herbert added. "I think this change is probably going to work better. Heck, we've lost in the first round at the last five races, how much worse can it be?" During that time, Herbert slipped from second to eighth in points. Ironically, his last round win came in the finals at Columbus, Ohio, June 13. Herbert has 857 points but is only 94 behind pacesetter Mike Dunn in the tightest battle involving the most drivers (eight) in Winston Series history. Herbert has two wins in 1999 (Columbus and Houston) and he was second twice (Gainesville, Fla., and Englishtown, N.J.). He's also registered his quickest (4.551 seconds) and fastest runs (321.65 mph) this year. He's had plenty of time to think about his two U.S. Nationals runner-up finishes. They came in 1992-93. "I didn't run at Indy for four years (1994-97) and we didn't qualify last year, so I still haven't raced at IRP since 1993," Herbert explained. "I've been waiting a long time." Frazier is a veteran drag racing crew chief and tuner. He joined Herbert this year and served as assistant crew chief and team manager. Frazier is experienced in tuning both Top Fuel and Funny Cars. Among those he's worked for are John Force, Cruz Pedregon, Randy Anderson and Connie and Scott Kalitta. "Doug runs a first-class operation and I'm looking forward to this opportunity," said Frazier. They'll be ready when U.S. Nationals qualifying begins Friday night at 7.