Herbert ready to kickoff new season

Pomona, Calif. - Doug Herbert looks to kickoff the 2007 NHRA POWERade season with a powerful performance at the 47th annual CARQUEST Auto Parts Winternationals in Pomona, Calif. A southern California native, Herbert considers Pomona his home track.

“I can’t wait to get to Pomona," he said. "I have a pretty good history there, and would like to start the season off with more of the same. With the enthusiasm of Doug Kuch and the experience of Jim Brissette, I know the car will be dialed in right where it needs to be.”

After multiple test runs during the test session in Phoenix, Herbert is optimistic about the performance of the car. On several different passes, the incremental times posted by the Snap-on Tools dragster were better than any pass during all of last season.

With a disappointing 2006 season behind him, Herbert and crew are determined to put the Snap-on Tools dragster back in contention.

“Last season was disappointing,” Herbert said. “We finished sixth in points in ’05 and struggled last year. Now we’re determined to make sure this is a winning season. Our goal is to win rounds, win races and make the Countdown to the Championship.”

Herbert is no stranger to success at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona. The 1992 Winternationals crowd witnessed him make the quickest run in history, while the 1993 crowd saw him be the first driver to break the 300-mph mark at the track. A win in the summer of 2001 at the NHRA 50th Anniversary Nationals and a trip to the final round in 2005 are just a few of the reasons Herbert likes to visit Pomona.

“With all of the testing we have done and the hard work the team put in on the off season, we feel good about Pomona," he said. "We’re ready to race."