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INDIANAPOLIS, IN, post-race: Doug Herbert was eliminated during the first round of eliminations on Monday at the NHRA U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis . Herbert qualified for the quickest Top Fuel field in NHRA history at the world's biggest drag race, but was unable to parlay his qualifying effort into a victory at the annual Labor Day event.
The weather was cool and the skies overcast at O'Reilly Raceway Park for Monday's eliminations at the 52nd running of the prestigious U.S. Nationals. Herbert qualified the Snap-on Tools dragster 11th for the quickest 16-car Top Fuel field in NHRA history with a 4.545 at 322.50 mph on his first run of the weekend. He added a pair of strong qualifying runs with a 4.564 and 4.626 and was eager for race day.
The two-time Indy finalist faced No. 6 qualifier Cory McClenathan in round one. Both drivers had almost identical reaction times but Cory Mac took the victory over 'Dougzilla' with 4.519 at 327.35 mph to Herbert's respectable 4.604 at 324.12 mph.
"We're disappointed," Herbert stated, "and we need to do better. We kind of inherited a bag of worms here but we're improving with each race. The Snap-on car is running better and more consistent all the time but it would have been really nice to win that first round unfortunately it just didn't work out. All we can do now is go back to the shop and analyze all of our data and continue to improve for the next race."
Herbert disappointed at the U.S. Nationals
INDIANAPOLIS, IN, post-race: Doug Herbert was eliminated during the first round of eliminations on Monday at the NHRA U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis . Herbert qualified for the quickest Top Fuel field in NHRA history at the world's biggest drag race, but was unable to parlay his qualifying effort into a victory at the annual Labor Day event.
The weather was cool and the skies overcast at O'Reilly Raceway Park for Monday's eliminations at the 52nd running of the prestigious U.S. Nationals. Herbert qualified the Snap-on Tools dragster 11th for the quickest 16-car Top Fuel field in NHRA history with a 4.545 at 322.50 mph on his first run of the weekend. He added a pair of strong qualifying runs with a 4.564 and 4.626 and was eager for race day.
The two-time Indy finalist faced No. 6 qualifier Cory McClenathan in round one. Both drivers had almost identical reaction times but Cory Mac took the victory over 'Dougzilla' with 4.519 at 327.35 mph to Herbert's respectable 4.604 at 324.12 mph.
"We're disappointed," Herbert stated, "and we need to do better. We kind of inherited a bag of worms here but we're improving with each race. The Snap-on car is running better and more consistent all the time but it would have been really nice to win that first round unfortunately it just didn't work out. All we can do now is go back to the shop and analyze all of our data and continue to improve for the next race."
