Shields Scores in Sonoma
After a difficult weekend in Seattle, where wet weather played a major role in denying Duane Shields a second chance to qualify, luck turned around in a big way one week later in Sonoma where he found himself in the winner's circle. It was a dramatic turn around for the popular A/Fuel dragster racer from Nevada.
To kick off the weekend, Shields reminded everyone that the Shortline Express is still the car to beat as he qualified second with an impressive 5.24 at 272 MPH. In the first round, Shields met up with up and coming driver Lindsey Wood, who drives the latest Darien & Meadows entry. Both cars left together but something let go in Wood's car as she coasted at the top end while Shields stormed through the finish line with a 5.45 victory at 265 MPH.
In round two, Shields met up with Seattle winner Thomas Bayer. Once again, Shileds took care of business with 5.27 at 275 MPH to Bayer's close 5.30 at 267 MPH. Shields recorded the quickest pass in the second round which gave him lane choice against Utah's Aaron Olivarez in the Semifinals.
In the semis, Shields earned a trip to the finals by treating Olivarez to a good old fashioned holeshot. Shields had an 0.056 reaction time to Olivarez's 0.077. Shields crossed the line first with a 5.33 at 273 MPH to Olivarez's quicker 5.31 at 271 MPH.
In the finals Shields faced off with A/Fuel newcomer Brandon Lewis from Oklahoma. Shields got off the line first with an 0.030 to Lewis' 0.058. For Shields, it was straight down Broadway with a 5.34 at 272 MPH blast to Lewis' valiant 5.42 effort. The win put Shields back in the hunt after a short break for part of June and much of July.
