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Pomona - While winning is the name of the game in drag racing, getting into the tough sixteen car field along with twenty three other teams is half the battle. For Duane Shields, the defending Winternationals Top Alcohol Dragster Champion, that portion of the event went well as Shields posted a
5.24 at 269 MPH to qualify second.
Where the trouble came was during the first round when an idle check valve malfunctioned causing the Shortline Express dragster to bog down and didn't respond initially at the starting line. Finally, the problem took care of itself as the car gained momentum but it was to late, as Shields ran out of race track trying to catch his opponent, Randy Eakins by about fifteen feet. "I'm certainly disappointed to have gone out early, but the car is running great other than the problem we encountered in the first round. It's just one race and we will rebound, there's no doubt about that." Shields said.
With his Shortline Express dragster out of the race, Shields is turning his attention to helping friend Brandon Johnson, who switched to A/Fuel this season. Johnson beat his first round opponent, so Shields will be sticking around to help him on Sunday.
Shields wants to thanks his sponsors Valvoline Motor Oil, NGK Spark Plugs, and Hussey Copper Gaskets for their renewed support in 2007.
Shields Experiences Mixed Results in Pomona
Pomona - While winning is the name of the game in drag racing, getting into the tough sixteen car field along with twenty three other teams is half the battle. For Duane Shields, the defending Winternationals Top Alcohol Dragster Champion, that portion of the event went well as Shields posted a
5.24 at 269 MPH to qualify second.
Where the trouble came was during the first round when an idle check valve malfunctioned causing the Shortline Express dragster to bog down and didn't respond initially at the starting line. Finally, the problem took care of itself as the car gained momentum but it was to late, as Shields ran out of race track trying to catch his opponent, Randy Eakins by about fifteen feet. "I'm certainly disappointed to have gone out early, but the car is running great other than the problem we encountered in the first round. It's just one race and we will rebound, there's no doubt about that." Shields said.
With his Shortline Express dragster out of the race, Shields is turning his attention to helping friend Brandon Johnson, who switched to A/Fuel this season. Johnson beat his first round opponent, so Shields will be sticking around to help him on Sunday.
Shields wants to thanks his sponsors Valvoline Motor Oil, NGK Spark Plugs, and Hussey Copper Gaskets for their renewed support in 2007.
