Joliet II: Doug Herbert final summary

HERBERT EARNS RUNNER-UP FINISH IN CHICAGO

JOLIET, Ill. (Oct. 2, 2005) -- In 2004 Doug Herbert and the Snap-on Tools dragster team went to one final round. They won that race, beating Tony Schumacher in the final at Route 66 Raceway

Herbert came close to repeating that victory Sunday during the Ameriquest NHRA Nationals back at Route 66 Raceway -- his third final round appearance of the season. Herbert earned another trip to the final round against Schumacher, but fell short in the rematch. Schumacher turned in a 4.535-second pass at 328.94 mph to beat a tire-smoking run of 9.877 at 82.52 for Herbert.

Herbert also has five semifinals as well, topping the three appearances in the semis the team made last season.

"They were beatable, but we went up there and smoked the tires," Herbert said. "We beat ourselves. Wayne (Dupuy, crew chief) thought we were going to need a run in the 4.40s to win and if had run that, we would have been heroes. It just didn't work out this time."

Herbert earned a first round victory over John Smith with a 4.581 pass at 323.74, topping Smith's 4.760 at 284.93.

In Round Two, Herbert turned in a 4.583 run at 324.44 to beat Clay Millican's 10.027 at 72.89. Herbert's semifinal round opponent -- Scott Kalitta -- fouled at the starting line before Herbert drove the Snap-on Tools dragster to a 4.544 pass at 317.57.

"The performance of the car today was great," Herbert said. "The entire weekend was great. I can't say enough about how this team has come together so well. The guys did their jobs today. Wayne is just amazing and the driver is coming around too. We're going to win. It's just a matter of time."

Herbert ran a 4.480-second pass at 325.30 mph in the Snap-on Tools dragster during the night session on Friday to qualify third for the fourth time this season. Herbert turned in a 4.541 at 325.06 and 4.511 at 326.95 during the final two sessions of qualifying.

"It was close to a perfect weekend," Herbert said. "We're knocking on the door of a win and I know we're going to win because the car is just running too well not to win. We're coming together at a really good time too. We couldn't win the championship this year because Wayne came on board too late in the season. But once Wayne has the entire winter to get this car ready, we're going to come out strong and we're going to battle for the series title."

Herbert had more good news than just numbers from the Top Fuel entry. Herbert and Snap-on Tools signed a contract extension, which will keep Snap-on Tools as the primary sponsor through the 2008 season.

"The whole weekend has been great on and off the track," Herbert said. "We had a lot of support here especially since the Snap-on Tools headquarters is right down the road in Kenosha, Wis. This is a great facility and I'm already looking forward to coming back next season."

ESPN2 will air coverage of today's eliminations starting at 8 p.m. (ET). The next NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series event is the O'Reilly Fall Nationals at the Texas Motorplex in Ennis, Texas. Qualifying starts Friday.

-dhr-