For National Hot Rod Ass’n fans, the weekend began in Charlotte, N.C., with a crescendo of hopefulness but ended there with a sense of helplessness that rippled all the way to Phoenix.
Bruton Smith unveiled Thursday his dream drag strip that has withstood inept interference from local politicians, ending speculation where the NHRA would race Sept. 11-14 for the 19th of 24 stops on the Powerade Drag Racing Series tour.
O. Bruton Smith, chairman and chief executive officer of Speedway Motorsports, Inc., fields three of the four most modern drag-racing facilities — at Las Vegas, Bristol, Tenn., and Sonoma, Calif.  Route 66 Raceway at Joliet, Ill., is not an SMI track but often is mistaken for one because of its first-class amenities.

But once again, tragedy hit the sport with word Saturday of the traffic-accident deaths of brothers Jon and James Herbert, sons of Top Fuel driver Doug Herbert. Jon. 17, and James, 12, were killed Saturday morning at Lake Norman, N.C., as their Mazda3 automobile collided with a second vehicle.

So naturally Smith inspired confidence by saying, “We’ve entertained more than 1.75 million fans at NHRA events at our tracks, and we expect nothing but tremendous things when the Carolinas Nationals comes to Charlotte. What a fabulous way to open the doors at what will be the world's premiere drag racing facility. I love to build things, and this is an exciting project because we are going to build the crown jewel of drag strips.”
And no one could argue with NHRA President Tom Compton when he said, “The fact that SMI is building yet another first-class facility to entertain our fans, sponsors, and race teams speaks volumes to the future growth for NHRA and the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series.”
The fact that Smith orchestrated the unveiling to be part of the NASCAR Sprint Media Tour that Lowe’s Motor Speedway hosted elevated the sport’s status. It also further fueled speculation that Smith will purchase the sanctioning body with the apparent collapse or perhaps planned dissolution of the HD Partners Acquisitions agreement. The intrigue has spiked to Red Alert status on the gossip meter.
But once again, tragedy hit the sport with word Saturday of the traffic-accident deaths of brothers Jon and James Herbert, sons of Top Fuel driver Doug Herbert. Jon. 17, and James, 12, were killed Saturday morning at Lake Norman, N.C., as their Mazda3 automobile collided with a second vehicle.
Racers quickly shared condolences and fans stopped by Herbert’'s locked-up Snap-on Tools Dragster hauler in the pit at Firebird Int’l Raceway, to leave bouquets of flowers and sign poster boards with messages to the Herbert family, which includes nine-year-old Jessica.
“No one could ever imagine or have a clue what he must be feeling right now unless you've been through such a tragedy yourself,” said a solemn Morgan Lucas. “It hurts. It hurts me to think of him having to go through something like this. He’s a really nice guy and a dedicated drag racer, and his children were drag racing fans themselves. It’s a terrible shame, and I send out my thoughts and prayers to him.”
Lucas’ teammate, J.R. Todd, who spent time in the Carolinas while working with Funny Car driver Bob Gilbertson,  knew both of the young men.
“It’s a terrible shame,” Todd said. “I knew James when I worked over there with Gilbertson, and he was real tight with his son, Jake. I feel very bad for Doug and his family. I can’t put into words and can't imagine what he’s going through. We all want him back out here with us, and I feel by far this will be the best medicine for any kind of healing among his racing family to get his mind off the heartbreak and get back in that race car. Right now, we’re all thinking about his family and just want to say I’m sorry about his terrible loss.”