Duane Shields Makes it to the Semis in Both the Route 66 Nationals and JEGS All Star Race

Chicago - Duane Shields and the PEAK A/Fuel Dragster team had a good outing at the Route 66 NHRA Nationals. While they didn't come away with the win, they took the number one qualifying position and lasted through the semifinals in their sponsor's hometown. This event is also the home of the JEGS All Star race for the NHRA sportsman classes. It is contested during qualifying prior to the national eliminations. Duane represented the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series' eastern region. Prior to the race, the team was treated to a BBQ while displaying the PEAK Dragster at the Old World Industries headquarters.

JEGS All Stars Race:
In the first round of the All Stars, Duane defeated Josh Hart in a close race. Duane was out of the gate first with an 0.060 light to Hart's 0.074. Duane was able to take the win with a 5.31 at 275 MPH to Hart's competitive 5.38 at 273 MPH.

In the semis things got interesting as Duane faced Joey Severance. Shortly into the run the win light came on in Severance's lane which caused Duane to let off the throttle thinking he had just red lit. But Duane didn't red light. It turned out a moth had broke the timing beam at the top end which caused the win light to come on in Severance's lane before he even got to the finish line. The NHRA would not rerun the race which highly disappointed Duane.

Route 66 Nationals Eliminations:
In the first round of the national race, Duane was matched up with Marina Anderson. At the hit it was Anderson who got out of the gate first. However, she did not have the power to seal the deal and Duane took the victory with a 5.39 at 274 MPH over Anderson's slower 5.46 at 250 MPH.

In round two, Duane called on Oregon's Garrett Bateman. Bateman knew he would need the whole package including a good reaction time to beat the PEAK team but he went red in the process and automatically handed the win over to Duane. It would have been a close race had everything played out. Duane ran a stout 5.21 at 278 MPH to Bateman's close 5.23 at 274 MPH.

After Duane's 5.21 the PEAK team looked unstoppable in the semifinals when they raced Chris Demke. As the lights came down Demke was off the line first with an 0.039 to Duane's 0.090 and never lost the lead as he rang up a 5.22 at 275 MPH to claim the win over Duane's 5.30 at 275 MPH. "The car shuttered and I had to slightly pedal. Even so it was a good representative weekend for the PEAK team" Duane said after the race.

The PEAK team now takes a short three week break before heading to Norwalk, Ohio for the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals, June 20-23. Duane would like to thank 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 their support.