Duane Shields Seattle wrap up

Shields Makes it to the Finals at Seattle

Kent WA - After running flawlessly all weekend, Duane Shields driving his Shortline Express A/fuel dragster was poised to be one of the favorites to take the Schucks Auto Supply NHRA Nationals title beginning with an incredible 5.17 blast on Friday that would earn him the number one qualifying position.

Shields began Saturday’s eliminations by taking on Northwest Favorite Bill Edwards Jr. driving the NAPA Auto Parts car out of Sumas Washington. While Edwards was off the line quicker he was unable to overcome the Shortline Express dragster at the top end. Shields posted a winning 5.37 to Edwards’ valiant 5.60 effort.

In the second stanza, Shields faced the popular A/Fuel dragster driven by 21 year old Brittany Force and maintained by long time A/fuel mentor Jerry Darian. At the hit Force was out on Shields with a 0.056 reaction time to Shields’ 0.074. However, Shields was able to step it up from the previous round and ran a 5.21 at 274 MPH to get past Force’s impressive 5.35 at 268 MPH.

In the Semifinals, Shields matched up against Canada’s Shawn Cowie. Shields once again had a clean run as he defeated Cowie with a 5.24 at 274 MPH to Cowie’s respectable 5.36 at 269 MPH. Cowie got off the line first with a 0.053 light, but Shields who had a slower 0.086, was able to make up the deficit well before the finish line.

In the final round, it was a showdown between Shields and Arizona’s Mark Niver. With Shields’ outstanding performance over the weekend few people were expecting him to get off of his winning pace. But that’s exactly what happened as he smoked the tires right off the starting line which gave the Schucks Auto Supply NHRA Nationals title to Niver, who took advantage of the opportunity with a 5.41 over Shields’ much slower 6.11. “After running so well all weekend we didn’t change anything, so I’m really surprised that I smoked the tires. But I’m happy for Mark and if I have to lose a race I’d rather lose one to him” Shields stated at the conclusion of the event.