Herbert qualifies for the quickest Top Fuel field in history
INDIANAPOLIS, IN, qualifying: Doug Herbert qualified the Snap-on Tools Top Fuel dragster for the 52nd annual NHRA U.S. Nationals on Sunday, joining the quickest Top Fuel field in NHRA history with the effort. The two-time Indy Top Fuel finalist will be gunning for his first title at 'The Big Go' during eliminations on Monday.
Professional qualifying began Friday evening at the U.S. Nationals amid cloudy skies and cool temperatures. The 38-year-old Herbert made a great opening run, posting a stout 4.545 at 322.50 mph to move into the No. 5 qualifying position. After overpowering the track on his second qualifying attempt Saturday afternoon, Herbert returned for his third attempt later in the evening and made another strong run. The Snap-on Tools dragster roared to a 4.564 at 311.56 mph, recording the second quickest 60-foot time of the session and finishing the second day of qualifying in the No. 10 position.
The clouds disappeared, the skies were blue and the weather was ideal at O'Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis for Sunday's final pair of qualifying sessions. After overpowering the track on his fourth attempt Herbert remained qualified 10th. The hospitality area was full of Snap-on fans on hand to cheer on the hard working team as they quickly prepared the 7,000 horsepower dragster for 'Dougzilla's' final qualifying run. Herbert laid down a consistent 4.626 at 303.57 mph and finished qualifying in the No. 11 position for Monday's record-setting field.
"I think we learned quite a bit," Herbert said after qualifying. "The No. 1 qualifier is only five-hundredths ahead of us so I think we're looking pretty good for eliminations. I've went to the final here at Indy before being 16th, so I think it's just a matter of us sticking to our game plan. We've got to go up there tomorrow and get down the race track and we've got a shot at winning this thing."
Herbert and the Snap-on Tools dragster will square off against Cory McClenathan in round one of Monday's eliminations.
