Shields Ends Season with Quarter Final Finish at Auto Club NHRA Finals in Pomona

Shields Ends Season with Quarter Final Finish at Auto Club NHRA Finals in Pomona

Pomona, Calif. - The Auto Club NHRA Finals are now in the books which ends the 2009 NHRA Full Throttle and Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series season. Now that Champions are crowned the points will be reset to zero as teams get a fresh start in 2010. The end of the season also marks the final battle of the year for Duane Shields and the Shortline Express team.

It was truly a great season for Shields as he entered Pomona in third place nationally but could no longer earn points as he had already claimed the maximum amount of races for the year. The good news for Shields was that only Shawn Cowie could pass Shields in the point standings and he would have to win the event to do so.

Shields' weekend started a little rough as the team discovered that they had a bad fuel pump during the first round of qualifying. Once the pump was replaced the car ran consistently well all weekend as the team qualified fifth in the tough sixteen car field with a 5.30 at 271 MPH. This would set up a first round showdown with Division Seven racer Chris Demke. "We couldn't take Demke lightly as he ran in the 5.20's at the Winternationals" Shields explained.

At the light Demke got out of the gate first with a 0.017 reaction time to Shields' 0.059 and was able to maintain the lead until the Shortline Express horsepower kicked in and Shields flew by him. At the finish line it was Shields by a car length. Shields had a winning time of 5.21 at 268 MPH to Demke's 5.32 at 268 MPH. Shields' 5.21 was his third best ET and his best ever first round ET. "Chris had a great light as it was the third best reaction time of the round and it was just his luck to have been paired up with us when the car was running so well" Shields said.

In the second round Shields faced the man who he has been chasing down for the Top Alcohol Dragster Championship, Bill Reichert. Shields got out in front of Reichert at the starting line with an 0.055 to Reichert's 0.062. Even with the disadvantage at the starting line, Reichert had the momentum to get past Shields and take the stripe with a 5.28 at 267 MPH to Shields' close 5.31 at 273 MPH. "We had to race the champ and we over powered the track just a little bit and I had to pedal it. Still the car ran a 5.31 which was good so I wasn't to terribly disappointed, but I would like to have advanced to the next round. Bill and I always run good when we have to face each other" said Shields.

When asked what the team planned to do over the winter, Shields said they would likely not make any changes in the off season. "We have a great team and had a very good year, unless they (NHRA) make a major rule change we should stay competitive next season. So, we'll likely come back with the same combination we are running right now" Shields said.

Shields would like to thank all of his team members, fans and sponsors including NGK Spark Plugs and Hussey Copper for all of their support this season and wishes everyone a happy holiday season.

Courtesy of Rich Bailey