Las Vegas: Herbert's time, speed improve

Herbert'S Snap-On Dragster Runs Quicker, Faster And Reaches Quarterfinals Again

LAS VEGAS - Doug Herbert continued to lower his 2001 elapsed times and increase this year's speeds, but he still can't get his Snap-on Racing Top Fuel dragster into the semifinals.

Herbert's season-best elapsed time is now 4.582 seconds and his top speed is 319.14 mph following qualifying for Sunday's Summitracing.com Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

He did have some good luck in the opening round when his dragster slowed to a 5.043 at 218.51 mph. Herbert got the win light when his opponent, Tim Gibson, fouled away his chances with a red-light start. Gibson's time was 4.748 seconds.

In the quarterfinals against Mike Dunn, any chance of a Herbert victory vanished when the tires began spinning hard about 400 feet into the run. Dunn won with a 4.573 at 324.59 to Herbert's 4.659 at 312.06.

"The racetrack changed a lot from qualifying and we are still learning how to get down a slippery track," Herbert commented. "Larry Frazier, my crew chief, made a good tuning call before the run and he backed it down, but the car still spun the tires about 400 feet down the track. We're making headway."

Herbert is seventh in Winston Series points with 199 points.

Herbert and the Snap-on Racing team return NHRA competition in the completion of the rain-delayed Gatornationals, April 21, at Gainesville, Fla.

Qualified: No. 5, 4.582 seconds at 319.14 mph

First round: Herbert, 5.043 at 218.51 def. Tim Gibson, foul; Quarterfinals: Mike Dunn def. Herbert

Race winners: Kenny Bernstein, Top Fuel; Tommy Johnson Jr., Funny Car; Jeg Coughlin Jr., Pro Stock.

-J Sherk-