Sat, 1 Oct 2005, 05:03 PM Snap-on Tools and Doug Herbert Extend One of Longest Sponsorships in Motorsports

Courtesy of Gabrielle Stevenson

JOLIET, Ill. -- Industry leader Snap-on Tools has extended its title sponsorship of Doug Herbert's Top Fuel dragster through 2008. The contract takes the race-winning relationship into its 16th year, making it one of the longest running sponsorships in all motorsports. The announcement was made today at Route 66 Raceway before the final two qualifying sessions.

"It means a great deal to me to know that Snap-on Tools has so much confidence in our team," Herbert said. "Over the past 13 years I've gotten to know so many people within the company that they feel like a giant extended family to me. I can't imagine racing without Snap-on.

Snap-on Tools Motorsports Marketing Manager Carl Johanson said, "for 13 years Snap-on has stood by Doug and his race team and the next three years are on track to be the best yet. Doug's been a great asset to Snap-on and completely dedicates himself to his country, racing, his fans and Snap-on's customers, dealers and associates.

In Johanson's words, "the extension was just a natural step in Snap-on's dedication to success and winning in motorsports."

The timing of the new contract extension coincided well with a series of successes on the track. Herbert and newly acquired Crew Chief Wayne Dupuy have been running career-best elapsed times and top speeds on numerous occasions and racing to several final four finishes, including at last weekends Toyo Tires Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway. Herbert is currently ranked seventh in the 2005 NHRA POWERade Championship Points Standings.

"The sponsorship extension gives us the opportunity to continue to improve this race team," Herbert said. "Having Wayne join us was one of the best decisions we've made in a long time and the fact we have strong backing from Snap-on Tools for an extended period of time put smiles on everyone's faces. It's a big relief. Now we can concentrate all of our attention on racing.

"We have a plan to compete for and earn a NHRA POWERade Top Fuel championship. We will accept nothing less. Snap-on is showing us they have confidence in our ability. I know Wayne and I and the rest of the crew will do whatever work is necessary to earn that championship title. It's just a matter of time before it happens."

The 37-year-old Herbert started his sponsorship relationship with Snap-on Tools in 1992, the owner of one of the country's most successful high-performance auto parts companies grew up in the sport of drag racing and admits to using Snap-onR tools his whole life.

"I believe in Snap-on and their products and it's a great feeling knowing we have such a long-standing partnership," Herbert said. "Snap-on is recognized throughout the world as the premier tool company and to be associated with that organization is tremendous. The relationship we have is a great one because I have the utmost appreciation for their product. I was a Snap-on Tools customer long before we got together. "Other than Kenny Bernstein (Budweiser) and John Force (Castrol Oil) I'm not sure who else out here has kept the same sponsor for this long. I'm extremely proud of that fact."

For nearly the entire history of the company, celebrating its 85th anniversary this year, Snap-on has been involved in racing and using its experience at the track to develop innovative new products for the vehicle service industry. In fact, some of the most innovative automotive systems were created at racetracks - disc brakes, hydraulic shock absorbers, turbo-chargers, fuel injection - and, consequently, so were the Snap-on professional tools used to service those systems.

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