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The Mac Tools NHRA US Nationals is not only considered the worlds biggest and best event the sport has to offer but it's perhaps one of the most difficult to win too. Just ask Duane Shields who finished fourth in the world last year. Shields was certainly one of the drivers favored to win in the Top Alcohol Dragster class but lost in the first round to Jeff Bohr in one of the closest and best races of the event. "That's Indy. It was a shame we were on the losing end. These A/Fuel cars are sensitive and you need to set them up just right. Too much power to the track and you will go up in smoke, not enough and you are going to slowdown and lose." Shields said.
In qualifying, Shields nailed the 6th spot with a 5.31 at 270 MPH which put him in the top half of the field and set up a first round match with Bohr who qualified eleventh. At the hit Bohr got out of the gate first with an ..074 to Shields' close .080. On top of that, Shields slightly spun the tires right off the line. Still, the race was on and what a dandy it was as the cars were separated by only ten inches at the stripe. To make it even closer, both drivers posted identical ETs. Shields ran a 5.490 at 264.03 MPH to Bohr's winning 5.494 at 262.39 MPH.
"We were confident but we knew the heat was going to be a factor as the track temperature was 123 degrees at the time we raced. We over compensated and spun the tires as a result. Jeff's a good racer and earned the win" Shields said.
Moving on to Bakersfield Shields, who is leading the points chase for the NHRA Division Seven crown is now switching gears and is looking for a win at the final Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event in the Pacific Division being held this weekend in Bakersfield. A win there will likely secure the title. "All we can do right now is look forward to Bakersfield. Our goal is to win it and the points will take care of themselves" Shields said.
Shields Indy Post Race
The Mac Tools NHRA US Nationals is not only considered the worlds biggest and best event the sport has to offer but it's perhaps one of the most difficult to win too. Just ask Duane Shields who finished fourth in the world last year. Shields was certainly one of the drivers favored to win in the Top Alcohol Dragster class but lost in the first round to Jeff Bohr in one of the closest and best races of the event. "That's Indy. It was a shame we were on the losing end. These A/Fuel cars are sensitive and you need to set them up just right. Too much power to the track and you will go up in smoke, not enough and you are going to slowdown and lose." Shields said.
In qualifying, Shields nailed the 6th spot with a 5.31 at 270 MPH which put him in the top half of the field and set up a first round match with Bohr who qualified eleventh. At the hit Bohr got out of the gate first with an ..074 to Shields' close .080. On top of that, Shields slightly spun the tires right off the line. Still, the race was on and what a dandy it was as the cars were separated by only ten inches at the stripe. To make it even closer, both drivers posted identical ETs. Shields ran a 5.490 at 264.03 MPH to Bohr's winning 5.494 at 262.39 MPH.
"We were confident but we knew the heat was going to be a factor as the track temperature was 123 degrees at the time we raced. We over compensated and spun the tires as a result. Jeff's a good racer and earned the win" Shields said.
Moving on to Bakersfield Shields, who is leading the points chase for the NHRA Division Seven crown is now switching gears and is looking for a win at the final Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event in the Pacific Division being held this weekend in Bakersfield. A win there will likely secure the title. "All we can do right now is look forward to Bakersfield. Our goal is to win it and the points will take care of themselves" Shields said.
