TOP FUEL DRAG RACER
Doug Herbert
Snap-on Tools

Questions and story by Dwight Drum
Photos by Gary Larsen and Dwight Drum
Web work by Gary Larsen

"Doug Zilla"

Doug Herbert is also known as "Doug Zilla" for his tall frame, outgoing personality and high speed skills, but Herbert is no monster. Herbert commands a monster machine that produces monster Top Fuel Dragster speed on the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series circuit, but Herbert is no beast. Herbert is simply a constant competitor, and has quick gentle words about his resolve. Follow Herbert's spirit in his words.

Doug Herbert chats with Dwight:

"I miss mostly being around all my friends. We spend so much time out here at the track. I'm friends with most of the other drivers and with a lot of crew guys, crew chiefs, car owners. Most important, I miss the fans."

"Probably when I was a little kid. I had a Big Wheel and that was my first thing. I thought, man, I could be a race car driver. I guess that's when I decided I wanted to be one. I'm still trying to figure out if I can be one! (laughs)"

"I think talking to people, communicating and getting to know people and talking with fans, talking with sponsors. That's what I've got inside that works that comes out well on the outside."

"The drive is...I do this because I like to. I want to do it. When you like to do something or you want to do something, you give it 110 percent because that's the only way you can do it. That's exactly what I do, 110 percent, all the time. We take loosing real hard. That's the only problem with putting 110 percent into it. When you don't succeed, you get aggravated, but then it makes you turn around and come back even harder."

"Since I was a little kid, playing a game, I've always wanted to win. It's something that I've had and getting out here is the competitive extension of the same thing. It continues to build all the time."

"Fans don't always see you with the family. One thing I like is doing stuff with the kids. That's something that gets set to the back burner sometimes. When the kids are out of school on weekends, I'm gone to the races. Luckily they can go to some of the races in the summer. I'm the kind of guy who likes doing family stuff."

"Yeah, I think at several different times things happen that's like a bright shot of sunlight. You think OK. We're really turning a corner now, and things are starting to happen. Several times that's happened. Right now we're seeing the light. You get excited and you see this bright ray of light that's in you. You think…this is it! This is the opportunity that we're looking for. I think right now I'm in one of those."

"It takes 100 percent dedication, 100 percent focus. Basically when you wake up in the morning you're thinking about racing, when you go to sleep at night you're thinking about racing. All during the day you're thinking about being a racer. When you're sleeping you're dreaming. When you're doing anything you're thinking about being a racer."

"I'm thankful that I've had Snap-on Tools to be with me for over 10 years as a product sponsor and being my major sponsor for the last 8 years. I'm just happy to be here and having the time of my life."