Doug Herbert has spent decades chasing speed, but his latest project is about far more than setting another record.
The multi-time NHRA Top Fuel champion will unveil THE BEAST NextGEN on July 31 at the legendary Bonneville Salt Flats in Wendover, Utah, introducing the world to a 500-mph land speed streamliner that honors the legacy of his father, hot rod innovator Chet Herbert, while carrying forward a dream that has spanned generations.
Although the car will not compete during the 2026 Bonneville Speedweek, its appearance is a significant milestone. Herbert is bringing the nearly completed machine to Bonneville so the Southern California Timing Association (SCTA) technical staff can inspect it before construction is finalized.
Once complete, THE BEAST NextGEN will compete in the AA/BFS class, Bonneville’s premier piston-powered, supercharged, fuel-burning streamliner category, with Herbert targeting the elusive 500-mph mark.
Continuing The Herbert Family Legacy
The Herbert name has long been associated with innovation in both drag racing and land speed racing.
Chet Herbert built a reputation during the 1950s through the 1970s as one of hot rodding’s pioneers, creating engines and race cars that pushed the limits of performance. Several of his Bonneville creations carried the name “THE BEAST,” making the latest project a direct continuation of that history.
Doug originally envisioned building THE BEAST NextGEN alongside his father as one final father-and-son project.
“I imagined this latest THE BEAST NextGEN as a final project for me and my aging father to do together,” Doug explains.
Those plans changed when Chet Herbert passed away in 2009. The project then became something even more personal.
Turning Tragedy Into Purpose
Herbert’s life was forever altered following the deaths of his teenage sons, Jon and James, who were killed in a tragic automobile accident.
Rather than allowing tragedy to define him, Herbert transformed that loss into one of motorsports’ most impactful safety initiatives by creating B.R.A.K.E.S. (Be Responsible And Keep Everyone Safe).
Since launching in 2008, the proactive teen driver training program has educated more than 175,000 teenagers and their parents, helping improve driving skills while making roads safer across the United States.
Today, Herbert says B.R.A.K.E.S. has grown into a self-sustaining organization thanks to an outstanding support team, allowing him to devote more time to completing another lifelong goal.
“B.R.A.K.E.S. growth has been driven nationally by both local and partner support that run their own calendars,” Herbert says. “We run weekend training sessions throughout the year in cities across the nation. I am pleased that it can now almost run on its own, because we have such a great team in place.”
As the safety program expanded nationwide, Herbert quietly continued developing THE BEAST NextGEN as a tribute not only to his father, but also to Jon and James.
The Racing Community Helped Bring The Dream To Life
Herbert says THE BEAST NextGEN wouldn’t exist without the support of the motorsports community.
Following the loss of his father and sons, members of the racing industry rallied around him, providing both emotional support and technical expertise.
“I was overwhelmed when so many reached out to me at the lowest point in my life,” Herbert recalls.
That support evolved into a remarkable list of contributors.
NASCAR championship-winning crew chief Ray Evernham assisted with engineering. Dr. Eric Warren, now Vice President of General Motors Racing, handled aerodynamic analysis. Greg Fornelli, President of Stock Car Steel & Aluminum, supplied materials, while renowned fabricator Jeff “Pancho” Weaver worked alongside Sprint Car champion Brad Noffsinger on chassis construction.
Herbert also credits Tim Rose and Rodger Comstock as instrumental in making the project possible.
“I am so fortunate to have many great friends and experts involved in my project,” Doug states. “It has been absolutely incredible to work with these extremely talented and dedicated folks. And this car could never have gotten to this point without the help of Tim Rose and Rodger Comstock; it just would have never happened.”
Built To Chase 500 MPH
THE BEAST NextGEN represents decades of engineering experience wrapped into one purpose-built land speed machine.
The streamliner stretches 35 feet long while measuring only 36 inches wide, maximizing aerodynamic efficiency across the Bonneville Salt Flats.
Power comes from twin ProCharger-supercharged Dodge Viper V-10 engines, each producing an estimated 2,500 horsepower while running on methanol through a FuelTech EFI system. Combined, the package is expected to generate roughly 5,000 horsepower.
That power is transmitted through twin 6XD transmissions to custom B&J differentials supplied by Mike Strasburg, creating a four-wheel-drive layout capable of handling the tremendous output.
Additional components include:
- Goodyear racing tires
- JRI limited-travel suspension
- Carbon-fiber body panels produced by Symmetrix using RevChem composites
- A custom Lajoie Seating driver’s seat
- Engineered Safety Systems restraints
- A steel roll cage built to SCTA safety regulations
The project also benefited from technical assistance provided by David Grubnic and John Force Racing, Steve Watt and the Speed Demon team, Wayne Jesel and Jesel Valvetrain, Keith and Jeff Dorton’s Automotive Specialists, and NASCAR champion Mike Wallace, who loaned the trailer transporting the streamliner to Bonneville.
Safety Remains The First Priority
Despite building a vehicle capable of 500 mph, Herbert remains committed to the safety-first philosophy that has defined much of his life after founding B.R.A.K.E.S.
That’s one of the primary reasons he’s taking the unfinished car to Bonneville before making any competition runs.
“Lee Kennedy (SCTA’s Car Technical Committee Chair) encouraged me to bring THE BEAST NextGEN here this week, even if we are not ready to race, to give it a proper inspection, before I got too far along,” he explains.
Receiving early feedback from SCTA officials allows Herbert and his team to identify any additional safety improvements before the streamliner is completed.
More Than A Record Attempt
Although THE BEAST NextGEN is being built to chase one of motorsports’ most coveted speed milestones, Herbert sees a much bigger purpose for the project.
He believes the streamliner can become a powerful educational tool that inspires future racers, engineers, and innovators.
“Perhaps it can contribute to a STEM program to educate young students, or to be displayed at B.R.A.K.E.S. training sessions across the country.”
Herbert is also seeking a marketing partner that can help bring the project to a wider audience, including the possibility of streaming a future record attempt live from Bonneville.
“I believe THE BEAST NextGEN project can have reach beyond just going fast,” he says. “I’m searching for ways it can be used to excite young people about racing and the technology of building things by hand, just as I was, by what my father did years ago.”
A New Chapter For An Iconic Name
The unveiling of THE BEAST NextGEN won’t include a 500-mph run, but it represents an important milestone in one of the most ambitious land speed projects currently under development.
The streamliner is more than a race car. It honors the legacy of Doug Herbert’s father, remembers his sons, celebrates the support of the racing community, and demonstrates that innovation and perseverance remain at the heart of motorsports.
When THE BEAST NextGEN eventually makes its first pass across the Bonneville Salt Flats, Herbert will be carrying forward a family tradition that began generations ago while inspiring the next generation of racers to dream even bigger.
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