Thu, 14 Nov 2002, 05:03 PM Herbert Names Ron Douglas as Crew Chief

Courtesy of Snap-on Racing On Snap-on Racing Top Fuel Dragster

CHERRYVILLE, N.C. -- Doug Herbert officially began his quest for the 2003 NHRA POWERade Top Fuel championship Thursday when he named Ron Douglas crew chief of his Snap-on Racing Top Fuel dragster.

Douglas, 32, has been a crew member of Herbert's Cherryville-based team since 1998.

"We need some new, young crew chiefs in this sport and I believe Ron has the talent to be one of the best," said Herbert, adding that he released crew chief Johnny West following Sunday's Auto Club Finals at Pomona, Calif. "Ron has worked with Dick LaHaie, Larry Frazier and West when they were my crew chiefs. He is knowledgeable and very capable of doing the job.

"I do plan to add a tuning consultant to the team," continued Herbert. "I know he will probably have gray hair - because most of the tuners seem to be older and have gray hair - but I don't know who that will be."

Herbert equaled his career-best seventh place finish in NHRA competition this season. He wound up 10 points behind sixth-place Darrell Russell, 1343-1333. He won once and was runner-up twice. He was seventh in 2001 and 1999.

"We had high expectations at the beginning of the year, but our performance never really picked up until the last four races of the season when Wes Cerny, our tuning consultant, tuned the car," Herbert added. "I'd never qualified No. 1 in my career until the last four races, and then I qualified first twice and was second once.

"I wanted to sign Cerny, but, unfortunately, he had already agreed to go to Don Schumacher's team."

Douglas and the 2003 crew will debut in mid-January during annual pre-season testing. The Winternationals is the opening event, Feb. 6-9, at Pomona, Calif.

NHRA: 10 Most Recent Entries [ top ]

Feb 10- Wally Parks 75th Anniversary Appreciation Fund Part of $27 Million Overall Purse
Feb 08- NHRA Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League Releases 2026 Schedule
Feb 07- Huge List of Legends Set to Appear at Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals
Feb 05- NHRA and Legends Global Extend Merchandise Partnership Ahead of 75th Anniversary Season
Feb 04- Doug Foley Announces Addition of Ron Douglas as Consultant to Foley Lewis Racing Top Fuel Team
Feb 04- Tickets Now on Sale for NHRA's Debut at U.S. 131 Motorsports Park and Rockingham Dragway
Feb 04- Reed, Zetterström to Share Driving Duties of Reed Trucking & Excavating Top Fuel Dragster
Jan 29- NHRA to Honor Iconic John Force in 2027 with "50 Years Of Force"
Jan 28- Top Fuel All-Star Callout Returns to Open NHRA's 75th Anniversary Season at Gatornationals
Jan 28- John Force Racing Announces Crew Chiefs for NHRA's 75th Anniversary Season