This past weekend, Duane Shields debuted a new A/FUEL Dragster at the Kansas Nationals in Topeka and suddenly the future looks more promising for the former NHRA Top Alcohol Dragster Champion. The car made complete runs through out the weekend and never smoked the tires.
Duane’s last car did its by job winning a lot of races but it was getting tired so a new car was necessary to stay competitive. “The old car was no longer responding as well as it once did so we brought out a new car and it’s responding much better. Some how we are off on the fuel curve but once we get that sorted out we should be very competitive” Duane predicted.
Duane qualified in the 14th spot with a 5.51 at 248 MPH. In round one, he took on Monroe Guest and the new car delivered its first win even though the race was a squeaker at the finish line. Duane posted a 5.62 at 247 MPH to Guest’s very close 5.63 at 242 MPH. The margin of victory was only three feet. “We got lucky on that run. The car fell off because we went the wrong direction on the tune up” Duane explained.
In round two, Duane was matched up against Gord Gingles. Gingles risked a red light by deep staging but it paid off as he had an 0.002 reaction time to Duane’s safe 0.069. At the finish line it was Gingles with a 5.49 at 260 MPH to Duane’s 5.51 at 250 MPH. “We dropped some cylinders and Gingles had a great light. He did very well and I just got out ran” Duane said.
Duane would like to thank Freelance Graphics in Indianapolis for doing a great job on the car wrap. He would also would like to thank his sponsors PEAK Motor Oil, PEAK Antifreeze, Herculiner Truck Bed Liners, Blue DEF Diesel Exhaust Fluid and FINAL Charge Heavy Duty Truck Antifreeze, GRP Connecting Rods, NGK Spark Plugs, Molinari Race Products and Shortline Markets for their support.
Duane’s last car did its by job winning a lot of races but it was getting tired so a new car was necessary to stay competitive. “The old car was no longer responding as well as it once did so we brought out a new car and it’s responding much better. Some how we are off on the fuel curve but once we get that sorted out we should be very competitive” Duane predicted.
Duane qualified in the 14th spot with a 5.51 at 248 MPH. In round one, he took on Monroe Guest and the new car delivered its first win even though the race was a squeaker at the finish line. Duane posted a 5.62 at 247 MPH to Guest’s very close 5.63 at 242 MPH. The margin of victory was only three feet. “We got lucky on that run. The car fell off because we went the wrong direction on the tune up” Duane explained.
In round two, Duane was matched up against Gord Gingles. Gingles risked a red light by deep staging but it paid off as he had an 0.002 reaction time to Duane’s safe 0.069. At the finish line it was Gingles with a 5.49 at 260 MPH to Duane’s 5.51 at 250 MPH. “We dropped some cylinders and Gingles had a great light. He did very well and I just got out ran” Duane said.
Duane would like to thank Freelance Graphics in Indianapolis for doing a great job on the car wrap. He would also would like to thank his sponsors PEAK Motor Oil, PEAK Antifreeze, Herculiner Truck Bed Liners, Blue DEF Diesel Exhaust Fluid and FINAL Charge Heavy Duty Truck Antifreeze, GRP Connecting Rods, NGK Spark Plugs, Molinari Race Products and Shortline Markets for their support.
