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closeHerbert spares himself some Countdown drama
DAVID POOLE
The Charlotte Observer
Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2008
In 2007 Doug Herbert had to win the Top Fuel final at Maple Grove Raceway in Reading, Pa., to earn a spot in the National Hot Rod Association's Countdown to 1 - its version of NASCAR's Chase to the Sprint Cup.
Things were a little different this year.
First, the Pennsylvania race held last weekend was not the last one before the Countdown field is set. This year's NHRA playoff will be set after the U.S. Nationals on Labor Day weekend and then will begin with the inaugural Carolina Nationals at zMAX Dragway @ Concord, N.C.
Second, Herbert was in a better points position this time, so even though he lost in Sunday's first round he still wrapped up a Countdown slot. The Lincolnton-based driver was the eighth driver to clinch one of the 10 Top Fuel spots.
Ironically the driver who beat Herbert on Sunday, Dave Grubnic, is the one who needed that win this time. He's now ninth, four points ahead of Doug Kalitta. Morgan Lucas is 11th, just six points outside the top 10 going into Indy. Bob Vandergriff Jr. also has a mathematical chance of making the Countdown, but he's 93 points behind Kalitta with one race to go.