Div 1 LODRS Wrap Up

Shields, Manzo capture victories

The NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event at Cecil County Dragway is in the books with Top Alcohol Dragster pilot Duane Shields of Boulder City, Nev., and Top Alcohol Funny Car driver Frank Manzo, Morganville, N.J., taking home the goods. This event completes the fifth of seven in Northeast division competition.

Shields worked his way from the No.6 qualifying spot all the way to the Top Alcohol Dragster final to pick up the win. Dan Mercier of Montreal, Quebec, the No.1 qualifier, had him off the line but Shields was able to reel him in by posting a 5.423 second, 272.12 mph pass to secure the win light.

Top Alcohol Funny Car was mastered once again by Manzo, picking up back to back wins and his third in Northeast division competition. He grabbed his 102nd divisional win of his career when Scott McNiece of Brick, N.J., fouled at the starting line. This marks Manzo’s 13th divisional victory at Cecil County Dragway.

TOP ALCOHOL DRAGSTER:

Round 1
4) John Finke, Selkirk, N.Y., 5.440, 264.08 def. 5) Arthur Gallant, Boxboro, Mass., 5.492, 261.78;
1) Dan Mercier, Montreal, Quebec, 5.440, 265.33 def. 8) Brandon Greco, Roscoe, Pa., 5.582, 256.36;
6) Duane Shields, Boulder City, Nev., 5.341, 272.89 def. 3) Darren Nicholson, Mission Viejo, Calif., 5.416, 260.76;
2) Bill Evans, Hialeah, Fla., 5.446, 253.71 def. 7) Rich McPhillips, Phoenixville, Pa., 5.613, 237.50;

Semifinals
Shields, 5.355, 272.78 def. Evans, 7.072, 130.75; Mercier, 5.462, 266.11 def. Finke, broke;

Final
Shields, 5.423, 272.12 def. Mercier, 5.582, 227.34.

TOP ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR:

Round 1
6) Scott McNiece, Brick, N.J., '08 Mustang, 5.747, 246.93 def. 3) Dan Pomponio, Berlin, N.J.,
'08 Monte Carlo, 5.967, 204.42;
2) Frank Schuster, Chesterfield, N.J., '02 Firebird, 5.694, 254.81 def. 7) Wayne Morris, Lincoln Univ, Pa., '09 Mustang, 7.081, 158.76;
5) DJ Cox, Whiteford, Md., '02 Firebird, 5.795, 246.03 def. 4) Paul Gill, Brockton, Mass., '08 Mustang, 5.778, 249.26;
1) Frank Manzo, Morganville, N.J., '06 Monte Carlo, 5.629, 255.48 def. 8) John Anderika, Pittson, Pa., '02 Camaro, 5.671, 249.49;

Semifinals
McNiece, 5.756, 320.20 def. Schuster, 5.710, 253.33; Manzo, 5.673, 255.24 def. Cox, 5.845, 234.49;

Final
Manzo, 6.158, 180.14 def. McNiece, foul.

Courtesy of NHRA Communications