Wed, 4 Dec 2002, 02:33 PM Jim Brissette Named Tuning Consultant

Courtesy of Joe Sherk On Doug Herbert's Snap-on Racing Top Fuel Dragster

CHERRYVILLE, N.C. -- Doug Herbert believes his future success in NHRA Powerade Series racing will come from his past. To prove it, he's hired Jim Brissette to be his tuning consultant.

Brissette is an experienced tuner and consultant. He joins Herbert's Snap-on Racing team for the 2003 season and will work closely with new crew chief Ron Douglas.

"I raced with Brissette for seven years," said Herbert, "and he made racing a lot of fun. He was my crew chief in 1992 when I ran what was at the time the quickest elapsed time (4.880 seconds) and when I became the second driver to exceed 300 mph in 1993. I ran 301.60 (mph). Brissette also was my crew chief when I won four IHRA championships.

"We always gotten along, so now we are setting our sights on winning the NHRA Top Fuel championship. He will be good for our team and I think he brings the continuity that we need to be successful. We are all excited about Jim joining the team."

Brissette, Buena Park, Calif., admits to having been around drag racing for more than 40 years.

"I noticed when Doug announced Ron Douglas' hiring that he said he was looking for a gray-haired guy to be the team's consultant. I guess I'm that guy," Brissette commented. "This gives me the opportunity to be back racing with my friend. Our goal is to repeat the kind of success we had 10 years ago. One big difference is that his car was running good at the end of this season."

Although Brissette has worked in the sport for many years, he only began devoting all his time to racing in 1995. He has served as tuner and/or tuning consultant for Top Fuel champion Joe Amato, Joe Gibbs' race teams, John Mitchell's Top Fuel team and, most recently, with Don Schumacher's teams.

Brissette, Douglas and assistant crew chief Sam Shockley are busy preparing for the first 2003 test session, January 17-19, at Phoenix.

Herbert's Snap-on Top Fuel team and his performance parts business are based in Cherryville, N.C.