Duane Shields Continues to Go Rounds at Norwalk

Norwalk Ohio - Duane Shields continues to have a great season usually lasting well into the late rounds and the Summit Speed Equipment NHRA Nationals held at Summit Motorsports Park was no exception. Duane went to the semifinal round ending a great weekend where the car ran exceptional.

Duane qualified third with a 5.28 at 273 MPH which set up a first round pairing with long time alcohol dragster standout Mike Kosky. At the hit, Kosky was off the line first with an .042 light to Duane's .103. But Kosky's initial lead could not overcome the PEAK Dragster's quicker run and succumbed with a 5.57 at 254 MPH to Duane's 5.37 at 274 MPH.

In round two, Duane faced up and coming driver Krista Baldwin. Duane launched off the line first with an .092 reaction time to Baldwin's .115. It turned out to be a very tight side by side race as both cars ran nearly identical 5.28 elapsed times. Duane's better reaction time was the difference in the race which allowed him to take the win and move on to the semifinals.

In the semifinals, Duane took on newcomer Will Smith. As the lights came down Smith was out of the gate first with an .041 to Duane's .081. Unfortunately for Duane, he began to experience tire shake which loosened up a connector and activated an onboard electronic device called a Leahy system which shut down his car. Meanwhile, Smith ran an otherwise beatable 5.59 at 265 MPH. "Even when I have to pedal through shake I'm usually in the 5.30 range so it's likely we would have gone to the finals. Norwalk was a tricky track, either you could get down it without any problems or you would lose traction" Duane said.

Next, the team moves on to Lebanon Valley Dragway for a Lucas Oil Regional event, June 28-30. The team would like to recognize PEAK Antifreeze and Motor Oil, Final Charge, Blue Def, NGK Spark Plugs, GRP Connecting Rods, Brad Anderson Enterprises, Hot Wheels Car Care Products, SRI and Clean Boost for all of their efforts in supporting Shields Racing.