Las Vegas - Duane Shields and the PEAK
A/Fuel Dragster team returned to the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, their home
track, for the Toyota NHRA Nationals.
Besides striving to win the event, the race also served as a test
session for the 2014 season.
A well attended memorial for PEAK crew
member Ralph Freeman also happened at the Vegas race on Saturday night after
qualifying. Many west coast racers showed their respect by gathering at the
PEAK Racing pit area to say goodbye to their friend and competitor. Some funny
stories were exchanged while racers and crew members enjoyed a BBQ rib dinner.
The Toyota Nationals field was stout as
21 cars were fighting to get into a 16 car field which ended up with a quick
5.57 bump spot. Duane had an opening run of 5.58 seconds to put him on the bump
spot but then improved to a 5.53 in the final round of qualifying to get him
into the field as the 15th qualifier.
In the first round, Duane faced the
recently crowned Champion and number two qualifier, Jim Whiteley. Unfortunately
for Duane, Whiteley saved his best run for round one and stopped the clock with
a 5.28 at 271 MPH to grab the win over Duane’s best pass of the weekend, a 5.48
at 256 MPH. “We made some progress since we started out with a 5.58 and ended
with a 5.48. We will continue to be in test mode as we look forward to the
regional event here this coming weekend” Duane said.
Fans who want a double shot of Las Vegas
drag racing action can go to any Shortline Market this week and pick up a free
ticket for Saturday’s qualifying action. There are eleven Shortline stores in
the Las Vegas metro area.
Duane would like to thank his sponsors
PEAK Motor Oil, PEAK Antifreeze, Herculiner Truck Bed Liners, Blue DEF Diesel
Exhaust Fluid and FINAL Charge Heavy Duty Truck Antifreeze, GRP Connecting
Rods, NGK Spark Plugs, Molinari Race Products and Shortline Markets for their
continued support.
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