I sit here staring at my laptop, and somehow the words I had planned on typing struggle to make it all the way to my fingers. There are simply no words for what Doug and his family are going through.

When I asked him about posting this blog, he wanted to make sure each of you knows how much he and his family appreciate the overwhelming outpouring of support you have shown since Saturday. The emails and phone calls and text messages have meant the world to him during this horrific time.

Visitation for Jon and James will be held on Tuesday evening and their memorial service will take place on Wednesday. They are both open to the public. You can find details in the article on the NHRA.com homepage, and send your thoughts to condolences@dougherbert.com. They will all be read and passed on to Doug.



Please keep praying for Doug, his family, and every member of the Snap-on team. We all loved Jon and James. They were part of us.

Below you will find a blog written by our own Keith Stewart. He wrote this on Saturday, shortly after we learned about Jon and James. Before I turn it over to Keith, Doug wanted me to let you know he will write something for the blog soon. I told him not to worry about it for a while. We got you covered, Doug, you just take care of you.-LP



How do we heal from some of the traumatic experiences life can throw our way? How can we possibly go on after something has happened to us that for lack of a better term, rips our hearts right out of our chests, and throws it on the ground in front of us? Step number one has to be, to pick our hearts up, although heavy with pain and hurt, and work it back into our chest. Life will not stop for us to heal, so we have to find a way to do it and go on with life at the same time... That's something that some members of our Snap-On top fuel team know something about lately. I want to share with you blog readers some of the things I love about the team I'm on now, and some really strong willed people onboard that press onward even when life slams terrible blows our way...



By now everyone already knows about Doug's recent tragedy in losing his sons. I cannot possibly express what I feel for Doug and his family during all of this, but Doug knows that his team, friends, and racing family will be there for him, and we will all be there when he is ready to press on. How he will do that, God only knows, but he will... and we will all help him.



I had my own recent sharp blow from life, Dec. 21, when I lost my mother, Jean J. Stewart, unexpectedly. She was 66 and full of life, loved racing, and as I have learned in this short month following her passing, I leaned on Mom a lot more than I ever realized! I miss her. I have this Giant hole in my heart now, and I don’t think it will ever be repaired. I used to text message her the mile markers when I traveled to races and she made me check in, and folks I am 35 years old, but that didn't matter to her. My father, Bobby, now has to face life alone, something he hadn't done for 36 years. And I want to add that he is doing okay so far, and you will see him at some races with the Snap-On team this season. He's promised me that.



Losing my Mother came on the heels of losing a friend earlier in 2007, Eric Medlen. Eric, as you all know, passed away after a testing accident in Gainesville, Fla., back in March. “My partner in crime” as they call it Kevin Poynter, who I am co-crew chief with on Doug’s car, was very close friends with, and assistant crew chief on Eric's car when the crash happened. Kevin contemplated hanging it up, as far as racing after losing his friend, but instead his ultra strong will kicked in, and although it made some parts of him turn ice cold, and numb, he pressed onward, in honor and memory of Eric. I salute Kevin for that.

We all strap these guys in these cars, and take for granted they are going to be there at the top end when we pick them up, but that once in a while something goes wrong, and that doesn't happen. And John Medlen, you have given me inspiration like I can never tell you. Your spirit and will power are nothing short of amazing. I used to wonder how you pressed onward after losing Eric, your son, your driver, but now I know. Eric is right there by your side, and by Kevin's side, and my side, too. Just like my Mother, Brad's mother, and Doug's sons will be by our sides as well, and I'm sure they will all be nudging us, pushing us to go on, and press onward, pursue the goals we shared with them. When we accomplish those goals, it won’t take away the pain, but man, will it feel good, and we can all point up at heaven and know they are smiling down on us.



To pull a phrase I heard John Medlen say on an ESPN broadcast, he said Eric told him this after he had passed away, and he said Eric is after him constantly saying....



"Keep after 'em, Dad … I'll be here when you get here."



Eric, Mom, and Jon and James Herbert... We miss you and we will keep after 'em. Love you guys...

-Keith Stewart, co-crew chief, Snap-on Top Fuel team