Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Top Fuel driver Herbert hires new manager

Thursday, Dec. 11, 2003 | 9:59 a.m.

Brian Hilderbrand covers motor sports for the Las Vegas Sun. His motor sports notebook appears Friday. He can be reached at bh@lasvegassun.com or (702) 259-4089.

Doug Herbert, who finished ninth in the NHRA Top Fuel standings this season, has hired veteran drag racer Ed "Ace" McCulloch as his team manager and tuner.

McCulloch most recently worked for Don Prudhomme's two-car Funny Car team as Ron Capps' crew chief.

McCulloch said he was looking forward to concentrating on a single-car effort with Herbert.

"It's certainly a very welcome change for me to go from Funny Cars to dragsters and I am really excited to be going to a single-car team," McCulloch said. "It will be good to focus on just one car.

"I know everybody wants instant success whenever someone new comes on board, but Doug and I agree that one of the most important things we must do is concentrate on winning rounds. When you win rounds, then you win races, and when you win races, then you can win championships."

Herbert said that Ron Douglas would remain with the team as his crew chief.

"We are pleased to have McCulloch on our team," Herbert said. "I have always had the utmost respect for him as a driver and tuner. We both have the same goals -- winning races and championships -- and he is a great addition to our team. We believe he can take us to where we want to go, which is up in the standings."

McCulloch retired from driving in 1993 with 22 NHRA national-event victories (18 in Funny Car and four in Top Fuel) and six U.S. Nationals titles.

Bartone replaces Frank Pedregon, who resigned from the team before the season finale in Pomona, Calif. Bartone drove the car at Pomona and qualified 12th before losing to John Force in the first round of eliminations.

"Tony Bartone's credentials are impeccable," Dunn said. "He's a tremendously talented racer who can drive just about anything that has tires and a steering wheel. Tony's also an extremely personable individual who will help this team to be successful and we're glad to have him with us next season.

"Tony did a great job at Pomona to get the K&N Pontiac into the show and we're confident that he's the right driver to take this program to the next level."

Bartone won 23 national events and posted nine top-10 finishes in Alcohol Funny Car between 1992 and 2000 and competed in the Nitro Funny Car category with Jim Toliver's team in 2001.

"This is a tremendous opportunity to get back into Powerade Funny Car competition," Bartone said. "I'm looking forward to working with Jim Dunn and the rest of the team to give K&N Filters and Lucas Oil a Funny Car program they can be proud of.

"I've known Jim a long time and working with the team at Pomona was a great experience. Now we can focus on what needs to be done next season to get this Pontiac into the winner's circle."