ENNIS, Texas - In a manner of speaking, Doug Herbert’s victory at Houston Raceway Park was the most lucrative "do-over" in the history of NHRA Winston Drag Racing.

    Herbert became the first-ever winner of the $100,000 Winston No Bull Challenge bonus when he piloted his Snap-On Tools Top Fuel dragster to victory over Tony Schumacher in the final round of the 12^th annual O’Reilly Nationals at Baytown, Texas.

Herbert

    Herbert’s record-setting payday occurred just one event after coming within one round of pocketing the bonus at Gainesville. "What a lucky break for the folks at Winston to pull my number out of that deal two weeks in a row," said Herbert. "I don’t know what the odds are on pulling my number at two straight events, but I think I’m going to go to Las Vegas."

    First, Herbert will have to make an appearance in Ennis, Texas from April 23-25 for the 3^rd annual Castrol Nationals at Texas Motorplex, the fifth event on the 22-stop, $40 million NHRA Winston Drag Racing schedule.

    His back-to-back final round appearances have enabled the 31-year-old Cherryville, N.C. resident to move into second place in the NHRA Winston Top Fuel point standings, a mere 32-points behind two-time winner Mike Dunn.

    "We’re looking more at making sure we qualify for every race than we’re looking at winning a championship," Herbert said. "It sure puts a lot more pressure on me being the car owner and the driver because I’m the only one to blame when things don’t go real well."

    That said, Herbert hasn’t had to shoulder a great deal of blame, but he’s reluctant to accept all the praise that’s come with his recent performances.

    "It’s hard to point at one thing that’s turned it around for me, but (crew chief and former Winston Top Fuel champion) Dick LaHaie is as big a reason as any," Herbert said. "He’s a sharp guy who’s helped our progress a lot. I think that he, along with Larry Frazier, is the reason that I have these great cars. We’ve had consistency so far. That was the first step. Now we’re aiming for great numbers."

    Herbert’s Winston fortunes weren’t limited to the $100,000 Winston No Bull Challenge bonus. His Houston victory - Herbert’s first in six seasons - guaranteed him a spot in the inaugural Winston Showdown to be held July 8-10 at the new Bristol Dragway.

    A four-time IHRA Top Fuel champion, Herbert is one of the most accomplished drag racers in the history of Bristol drag racing, claiming five consecutive IHRA victories from 1992-96. The Winston Showdown will be contested on a redesigned and resurfaced Bristol Dragway, but the Snap-On Tools driver still sees it as the same, Herbert-friendly "Thunder Valley."

    "I haven’t seen the track yet, but I’ve met Bruton Smith and I know his reputation for building great tracks," Herbert said. "It’ll be a new track, but we’ve got a good handle on the atmospheric conditions there and we’ll be ready. I’m glad NHRA, Winston and the folks at Speedway Motorsports International are bringing Thunder Valley back. That’s going to be one heck of a happening. I can’t wait."