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After a runner-up finish at the NHRA Auto Club Finals in November, Duane Shields returned to the famous Pomona track with a new unproven car and this time took the brand new Shortline Express A/Fuel Dragster nonstop to the Winner’s Circle. “It’s great to start the season off with a big win at Pomona” Shields said after securing his second CARQUEST Auto Parts Winternationals victory.
The path to victory began with qualifying as Shields qualified in the middle of the pack with a 5.44 at 263 MPH. This set up a first round dual with Brandon Lewis who qualified eighth, one position better than Shields. Lewis was first off the line but began to lose ground at about 330 feet. Shields cruised by him and nailed a 5.39 ET at 270 MPH. Lewis stopped the clocks with a 5.53 at 256 MPH.
In the second stanza, Shields took on number one qualifier Morgan Lucas. Shields got off the line first with a 0.046 to Lucas’ 0.077 and then blasted down the track to a 5.31 at 268 MPH to take the win. Lucas recorded a respectable 5.48 at 261 MPH, but it wasn’t enough. On that pass, Shields and company demonstrated that they already found their sweet spot as the new Shortline Express had the best ET of the round.
In the semifinals Shields drew rising star Kate Harker, who like all of Shield’s opponents so far was driving an A/Fuel Dragster. Shields got off the line first with an 0.060 to Harkers 0.079. Harker then demonstrated just how finicky an A/Fuel car can be as she ran out of power and glided through the traps. Shields never looked backed and advanced to the finals with a 5.54 at 260 MPH as he dropped some cylinders along the way. The problem for Shields turned out to be related to the magneto which the team was able to diagnose and correct between rounds.
This set up a showdown with Northwest racer Joey Severance who is racing a blown alcohol car. Severance had beat Shields in their past two final round appearances which served as a motivator for Shields to be on his game. This time Severance was early with a -0.011 which automatically gave the win to Shields. The red light may not have mattered that much as Shields was back to full power and ran a very competitive 5.37 ET at 270 MPH to seal a well earned victory in a brand new car.
Shields Wins CARQUEST Auto Parts Winternationals
After a runner-up finish at the NHRA Auto Club Finals in November, Duane Shields returned to the famous Pomona track with a new unproven car and this time took the brand new Shortline Express A/Fuel Dragster nonstop to the Winner’s Circle. “It’s great to start the season off with a big win at Pomona” Shields said after securing his second CARQUEST Auto Parts Winternationals victory.
The path to victory began with qualifying as Shields qualified in the middle of the pack with a 5.44 at 263 MPH. This set up a first round dual with Brandon Lewis who qualified eighth, one position better than Shields. Lewis was first off the line but began to lose ground at about 330 feet. Shields cruised by him and nailed a 5.39 ET at 270 MPH. Lewis stopped the clocks with a 5.53 at 256 MPH.
In the second stanza, Shields took on number one qualifier Morgan Lucas. Shields got off the line first with a 0.046 to Lucas’ 0.077 and then blasted down the track to a 5.31 at 268 MPH to take the win. Lucas recorded a respectable 5.48 at 261 MPH, but it wasn’t enough. On that pass, Shields and company demonstrated that they already found their sweet spot as the new Shortline Express had the best ET of the round.
In the semifinals Shields drew rising star Kate Harker, who like all of Shield’s opponents so far was driving an A/Fuel Dragster. Shields got off the line first with an 0.060 to Harkers 0.079. Harker then demonstrated just how finicky an A/Fuel car can be as she ran out of power and glided through the traps. Shields never looked backed and advanced to the finals with a 5.54 at 260 MPH as he dropped some cylinders along the way. The problem for Shields turned out to be related to the magneto which the team was able to diagnose and correct between rounds.
This set up a showdown with Northwest racer Joey Severance who is racing a blown alcohol car. Severance had beat Shields in their past two final round appearances which served as a motivator for Shields to be on his game. This time Severance was early with a -0.011 which automatically gave the win to Shields. The red light may not have mattered that much as Shields was back to full power and ran a very competitive 5.37 ET at 270 MPH to seal a well earned victory in a brand new car.
