Tire Smoke Stops Shields in Finals

Tire Smoke Stops Shields in Finals

Atlanta GA - Duane Shields and the Shortline Express Team made yet
another final round appearance this season but were stopped for the
second race in a row by Marty Thacker who traveled from the Midwest to
compete at the Southeast Division race. "He beat me again!" Shields
exclaimed and then explained that Thacker likes the long tow to
Atlanta as he usually has good luck there.

Shields took the express route to the final round by first qualifying
in the top position with a stout 5.33 at 264 MPH. This lead to a first
round match up with Palm Bay Florida's Don Fiorelli. Fiorelli, rolled
thought the lights in staging which gave the win to Shields. "I took
my time leaving the starting line as I didn't want to jeopardize the
win after knowing what had just happened to Fiorelli" said Shields.
Still, Shields ran a 5.44 at 266 MPH.

In the second round, Shields raced unopposed and decided to try a more
aggressive tune up. "We went more aggressive and it only ran a 5.43 so
we put Saturday's tune up back in it for the final round" Shields
remarked.

In the final round it was a re-match from the US Nationals as Shields
took on the newly crowned Indy Champ. At the hit it was Thacker out of
the gate first with an 0.040 to Shields 0.060 but the race ended right
there as Shields blew the tires off the line. "I have no idea where
that came from as we haven't blew the tires off since Dallas. Thacker
was on his way down the track so I let up and idled the car down to
the finish line. Sure, we were disappointed as we were thrown a curve
ball and had no indication this would even happen but that's all part
of racing" Shields said.

Shortline Express team thanks their sponsors NGK Spark Plugs and
Hussey Copper for all of their great support this year.