Sat, 8 Oct 2005, 12:31 AM Herbert, Capps, and Anderson Lead Qualifying at Texas Motorplex

Courtesy of NHRA Communications Photo copyright 2005 Auto Imagery, Inc.

ENNIS, Texas --

Doug Herbert

Doug Herbert rocketed to the provisional No. 1 qualifying position in his Top Fuel dragster during the opening day of action at the Texas Motorplex that was highlighted by record-setting times and a spectacular crash.

Ron Capps (Funny Car) and Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) paced their respective fields at the O'Reilly NHRA Fall Nationals. The $1.5 million race is the 21st of 23 events in the $50 million NHRA POWERade Series.

Herbert blasted his Snap-on Tools dragster down the quarter-mile in a track record time of 4.441 seconds at 328.06 mph.

"Wayne [Dupuy, crew chief] told me to hold on because we were going for the (No. 1 spot)," Herbert said. "He told me, 'Don't shut off early.' I said I'd drive it to the turn-off (end of the track) if he wanted me to. At 400 feet (the car) lifted the front tires and started scooting around and I knew I was on a run. I had to drive quite a bit but I wasn't gonna lift.

"This proves a fat boy can go fast. I probably have 60 pounds on the nearest driver but Wayne has this thing balanced just right and we were able to run a great big number. If it's overcast and cool again tomorrow we'll go for the record. Why not swing for the fences?"

Ron Capps

Capps also posted a track record for time with his pass of 4.694 at 327.82 in his Brut Dodge Stratus R/T. He is currently third in the tightest Funny Car points race in NHRA history, 45 points behind leader and teammate Gary Scelzi.

"(John) Force is only two (points) in front of me (in the standings)," Capps said. "We're getting down to it. There are so many little things going on right now that you never would even have imagined with three races left. It could be so important just to get one qualifying (point) or an oil-down penalty. There's a lot of weekend left."

Two-time defending series champion Anderson set both ends of the track record when he shut the clocks off in 6.654 at 207.18 in his Summit Racing Equipment Pontiac.

"Tomorrow is probably going to be a completely different day," Anderson said. "It's probably going to be 75 degrees and sunny, so it's going to be completely different conditions. It'll be more real-time, it'll be more what we're going to see on Sunday."

Greg Anderson

Two Pro Stock drivers escaped major injuries after a spectacular crash during the second round of qualifying.

The two cars made contact, with Koretsky's car driving through the rear end of Allen's car, resulting in a fiery explosion which sent debris across the track.

Both drivers were conscious and alert following the accident. As a precautionary measure, they were taken by emergency helicopter to Parkland Medical Center in Dallas.

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