There's no question that Doug Herbert wants to be racing full-time on the NHRA's Top Fuel Dragster circuit.

Outside of the 2006 season, Herbert has finished in the Top 10 in the season points standings every year since 1999.

However, he has only run in one event this year - the Thunder Valley Nationals in Bristol, Tenn., in May, losing to Doug Kalitta in the first round. On The Sidelines, Herbert Is Never Out Of The Game

There's no question that Doug Herbert wants to be racing full-time on the NHRA's Top Fuel Dragster circuit.

Outside of the 2006 season, Herbert has finished in the Top 10 in the season points standings every year since 1999.

However, he has only run in one event this year - the Thunder Valley Nationals in Bristol, Tenn., in May, losing to Doug Kalitta in the first round.

"I'm just trying to get some sponsors to run at more races," the 41-year-old Herbert said. "I don't want to be spending money out of own pocket to race."

Herbert, who is based in Lincolnton, N.C., and owns Doug Herbert Performance Parts, is planning on competing at the Second Annual NHRA Nationals Sept. 17-20 at zMax Dragway in Charlotte.

"We're putting a couple of deals in place to race at Charlotte," said Herbert, who finished a career-best sixth in the NHRA Top Fuel Dragster standings in 2005 and 2007.

For 16 years, Herbert's primary sponsor was Snap-on Tools, but Snap-on chose not to come back in 2009.

"It was disappointing, but that's just the way life is," Herbert said. "The people at Snap-on weren't the same people who I started with and things were different."

Herbert, who has won 10 NHRA Top Fuel national events and is a four-time IHRA world champion, is keeping all his options open.

"NHRA is where I want to be because my friends are there and it's the premier series," Herbert said. "I haven't raced in the IHRA since Rockingham (N.C.) in 1999, but I wouldn't rule out racing in the IHRA if that's where the sponsor wanted me to go."

Although Herbert hasn't been racing much this year, his plate has been plenty full.

Herbert founded B.R.A.K.E.S. (Be Responsible and Keep Everyone Safe) in memory of his two sons, Jon (17) and James (12), whom he lost in a tragic car accident in January 2008 near their home in Cornelius, NC. And, the non-profit organization, which raises awareness among teen-agers and their parents about the importance of safe driving, has kept him busy.

What's more, to help overcome the sorrow of the deaths of his sons, Herbert wanted to start a new project with Chet Herbert, his father. Chet is a drag racing pioneer and Hall of Famer who developed some of auto racing's most significant speed components.

Doug and his dad were in the process of building a Bonneville streamliner which they hoped would achieve 500 mph, breaking the world speed record for piston-powered, wheel-driven cars.

Unfortunately, Chet passed away this past April at the age of 81.

"I've had to deal with a lot of tragedy recently with losing my two boys and my dad," Herbert said. "It has been tough, but I've tried to just keep myself really busy."

Doug is continuing the Bonneville project that he and his father started.

"Ray Evernham is friend of mine and he came over one day and saw what I was doing and he jumped onboard to help me and we also have had some help from Dodge," Doug said.

According to Doug, he plans to test his Bonneville machine in March or April of 2010 and then race at Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah, in August of 2010.

"We have some really good people behind this project and I know we can get this Bonneville car to go 500 mph," Doug said.

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