Doug Herbert Set to Unleash THE BEAST NextGEN at 2026 Bonneville Speedweek

Multi-time NHRA Top Fuel champion Doug Herbert will present THE BEAST NextGEN at Bonneville on Friday, July 31, 2026.

The visit centers on an SCTA technical inspection, not a Speedweek entry. Herbert wants formal approval before final assembly and a subsequent 500 mph record attempt.

The streamliner targets SCTA’s AA/BFS class, the pinnacle for piston-powered, supercharged streamliners. It measures 35 feet long and 36 inches wide, using four-wheel drive and twin Dodge Viper V-10 engines.

Each ProCharger-supercharged V-10 targets roughly 2,500 horsepower on methanol with FuelTech management. Twin 6XD transmissions feed custom B&J differentials, with Goodyear tires handling the load.

Limited-travel suspension uses JRI shocks for stability across the salt. Carbon bodywork is produced by Symmetrix with RevChem composites, emphasizing straight-line efficiency and serviceability.

SCTA scrutiny will focus on safety and compliance. The car carries a steel roll cage, a Randy Lajoie-built custom seat, and ESS restraints designed by Trevor Ashline. Herbert welcomes that process.

Herbert’s motivation is personal as well as competitive. His father, Chet Herbert, engineered earlier BEAST record-setters at Bonneville, shaping the project’s philosophy and ambition.

The original plan was a final father-and-son collaboration. Chet’s passing in 2009 ended that hope but strengthened Doug’s resolve to complete the streamliner.

Tragedy also struck with the loss of Herbert’s sons, Jon and James. He launched B.R.A.K.E.S. (Be Responsible And Keep Everyone Safe) in 2008, training more than 175,000 teens and parents.

The racing community has supplied deep expertise. Ray Evernham contributed engineering guidance, while Dr. Eric Warren, now GM Racing’s VP, led aerodynamic analysis to refine the vehicle’s operating window.

Greg Fornelli of Stock Car Steel & Aluminum helped source materials. Chassis work involved Jeff “Pancho” Weaver, with Sprint Car champion Brad Noffsinger supporting development and driver preparation.

Additional backing includes David Grubnic, John Force Racing, the Speed Demon team, Jesel Valvetrain, and NASCAR champion Mike Wallace, broadening the project’s technical bench.

The powertrain layout and four-wheel drive target traction consistency across varying salt conditions. Limited suspension travel seeks to control pitch and yaw, preserving aero efficiency through high-speed passes.

Class compliance in AA/BFS defines the envelope. Herbert’s bid could reset expectations for piston-powered streamliners if reliability and salt conditions align.

Beyond records, Herbert plans educational outreach. He wants the car to support STEM programs that encourage young people to explore engineering and racing technology, connecting classroom concepts with applied design.

Public displays at B.R.A.K.E.S. events are possible, along with broadcast partnerships to stream a future Bonneville attempt. The objective is inspiration as much as speed.

THE BEAST NextGEN therefore doubles as a technical project and a legacy statement. It aligns safety, community support, and competitive ambition under a clear regulatory pathway.

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Miles Carter

Miles Carter covers grassroots and regional drag-strip action, from bracket racing to street-legal shootouts. His event previews and performance-upgrade guides keep local racers up to speed on timing-slip trends, tire tech, and weekend race highlights.