Hebert Wins Top Fuel Event

The Associated Press

June 29, 2008

NORWALK, Ohio -- Doug Herbert raced to an emotional Top Fuel victory Sunday at the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals, a win he dedicated to the memory of his two young sons who were killed in a highway auto accident in January.

Herbert, who has titled his season campaign "For My Boys," powered his dragster to a 4.636-second run at 311.70 mph to beat Brandon Bernstein, who posted a 4.611 at 313.58. It was Herbert's 10th career victory and first of the season.

"It's such an emotional day and I'm just happy to get the job done," said Herbert, who beat Troy Buff, David Grubnic and Rod Fuller in earlier rounds. "Going up there (for the final round) I knew I was going to dig down and give it everything I had. I just wanted to do everything I could to win because I didn't want to have a mistake that I made cost us the race. Luckily I have my little lucky charm (daughter Jessie) with me, and we did a lot of thinking about her brothers (Jon and James) today, and I'm sure they were riding with me on that final-round win.

"Winning a race is important to me because that substantiates and justifies what we're trying to do. I set some real high goals for myself this year, and they haven't changed. I'm going to drive the wheels off that car every run, I guarantee you."

Tony Pedregon, Greg Anderson and Hector Arana also were winners of the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series event at Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park.

Pedregon drove his Chevy Impala to his third win of the season and moved to second in the POWERade Series points standings, by outrunning top qualifier Robert Hight in the final. Pedregon earned his 39th career victory with a performance of 4.882 at 306.26, while Hight trailed in a Ford Mustang with a 4.903 at 304.74.

Anderson earned his fourth win of the season and 55th of his career in a Pontiac GXP when local favorite Larry Morgan had a red-light start in his Dodge Stratus.

In Pro Stock Motorcycle, Arana won for the first time in his 18-year career with a performance of 7.027 at 187.60 on a Buell. He held off Suzuki rider Craig Treble, who finished in 7.061 at 187.83.

NHRA-Summit Racing Equipment Nationals Results Sunday At Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park Norwalk, Ohio Final Order Top Fuel

1. Doug Herbert. 2. Brandon Bernstein. 3. Cory McClenathan. 4. Rod Fuller. 5. Tony Schumacher. 6. David Grubnic. 7. Antron Brown. 8. J.R. Todd. 9. Larry Dixon. 10. Morgan Lucas. 11. Troy Buff. 12. Doug Kalitta. 13. Bob Vandergriff. 14. Steve Torrence. 15. Luigi Novelli. 16. Hillary Will. Funny Car

1. Tony Pedregon, Chevy Impala. 2. Robert Hight, Ford Mustang. 3. Cruz Pedregon, Toyota Solara. 4. Ron Capps, Dodge Charger. 5. Bob Tasca III, Mustang. 6. Tim Wilkerson, Impala. 7. Gary Densham, Impala. 8. Del Worsham, Impala. 9. John Force, Mustang. 10. Mike Neff, Mustang. 11. Ashley Force, Mustang. 12. Jerry Toliver, Charger. 13. Jack Beckman, Charger. 14. Tommy Johnson Jr., Charger. 15. Tony Bartone, Chevy Monte Carlo. 16. Jim Head, Solara. Pro Stock

1. Greg Anderson, Pontiac GXP. 2. Larry Morgan, Dodge Stratus. 3. Greg Stanfield, GXP. 4. Justin Humphreys, Stratus. 5. Allen Johnson, Stratus. 6. Jason Line, GXP. 7. Dave Connolly, Chevy Cobalt. 8. Johnny Gray, Stratus. 9. Jeg Coughlin, Cobalt. 10. Mike Edwards, GXP. 11. Vinnie Deceglie, Stratus. 12. Warren Johnson, GXP. 13. Kurt Johnson, Cobalt. 14. Rickie Jones, Stratus. 15. Ron Krisher, Cobalt. 16. V. Gaines, Stratus. Pro Stock Motorcycle

1. Hector Arana. 2. Craig Treble, Suzuki. 3. Eddie Krawiec, Harley-Davidson. 4. Steve Johnson, Suzuki. 5. Matt Smith, Buell. 6. Chip Ellis, Suzuki. 7. Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson. 8. Chris Rivas, Buell. 9. Matt Guidera, Buell. 10. Karen Stoffer, Suzuki. 11. Angelle Sampey, Buell. 12. Mike Berry, Buell. 13. Junior Pippin, Buell. 14. Joe DeSantis, Suzuki. 15. Wes Wells, Suzuki. 16. Paul Gast, Suzuki.

--- Finals Top Fuel

Doug Herbert, 4.636 seconds, 311.70 mph., def. Brandon Bernstein, 4.611, 313.58. Funny Car

Tony Pedregon, Chevy Impala, 4.882, 306.26, def. Robert Hight, Ford Mustang, 4.903, 304.74. Pro Stock

Greg Anderson, Pontiac GXP, 6.704, 206.04, def. Larry Morgan, Dodge Stratus, foul. Pro Stock Motorcycle

Hector Arana, Buell, 7.027, 187.60, def. Craig Treble, Suzuki, 7.061, 187.83. Top Alcohol Dragster

Tom Conway, 5.368, 260.26, def. Mike Kosky, 5.536, 247.52. Top Alcohol Funny Car

Bobby Martin, Dodge Charger, 5.624, 256.84, def. Steve Harker, Chevy Monte Carlo, 5.629, 256.60. Competition Eliminator