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MEMPHIS, TN, post-race: Doug Herbert lost a first round tire smoker on Sunday at the 19th annual O'Reilly NHRA Mid-South Nationals in Tennessee. The driver of the Snap-on Tools dragster did an excellent job of driving when his car lost traction early in the run but he was unable to catch his opponent.
The heat and high humidity continued to be a major factor during the third and final day of racing at Memphis Motorsports Park. Herbert qualified in dramatic fashion, grabbing the No. 14 position on his final attempt with a 4.711 at 306.33 mph. His first round opponent was Brandon Bernstein.
Eliminations began at 3 p.m. in front of a huge crowd of quarter-mile faithful that filled the grand stands on both sides of the track. Herbert had the jump on Bernstein off the starting line with a .097 to .105 reaction time. Both cars started smoking the tires but Bernstein was able to reach the finish line stripe first with a 5.325 at 221.02 mph to Herbert's 5.531 at 257.63 mph. The Snap-on dragster ran over 35 mph faster than Bernstein but Herbert ran out of race track before he could run him down.
"Bernstein went about 100 feet farther and had about 100 mph more momentum built up before he smoked the tires and I just couldn't catch him," said a disappointed Herbert after the run. "It's unfortunate that we gave away a race that should have had a different outcome. Now we have a week off to prepare the Snap-on Tools dragster for Indy."
Herbert losses first round smoke-fest in Memphis
MEMPHIS, TN, post-race: Doug Herbert lost a first round tire smoker on Sunday at the 19th annual O'Reilly NHRA Mid-South Nationals in Tennessee. The driver of the Snap-on Tools dragster did an excellent job of driving when his car lost traction early in the run but he was unable to catch his opponent.
The heat and high humidity continued to be a major factor during the third and final day of racing at Memphis Motorsports Park. Herbert qualified in dramatic fashion, grabbing the No. 14 position on his final attempt with a 4.711 at 306.33 mph. His first round opponent was Brandon Bernstein.
Eliminations began at 3 p.m. in front of a huge crowd of quarter-mile faithful that filled the grand stands on both sides of the track. Herbert had the jump on Bernstein off the starting line with a .097 to .105 reaction time. Both cars started smoking the tires but Bernstein was able to reach the finish line stripe first with a 5.325 at 221.02 mph to Herbert's 5.531 at 257.63 mph. The Snap-on dragster ran over 35 mph faster than Bernstein but Herbert ran out of race track before he could run him down.
"Bernstein went about 100 feet farther and had about 100 mph more momentum built up before he smoked the tires and I just couldn't catch him," said a disappointed Herbert after the run. "It's unfortunate that we gave away a race that should have had a different outcome. Now we have a week off to prepare the Snap-on Tools dragster for Indy."
