Duane Shields of Boulder City, Nev., reached the No.1 qualifying spot
in Top Alcohol Dragster with Saturday’s run at the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag
Racing Series event at Gainesville Raceway. Claremont, Calif.,
resident Jay Payne wheeled his ‘08 Mustang to the No.1 qualifying seed
in Top Alcohol Funny Car.
Shields posted a 5.259 second, 270.59 mph run, which was enough to keep
him ahead of Shayne Lawson, Broken Arrow, Okla. Shields, who also
claimed the top spot at last weekend’s Bradenton event, is hoping to
take the lead position all the way to the winner’s circle.
Payne, Gainesville’s 2008 event champ in Top Alcohol Funny Car,
returned to the head of the class posting a 5.7 second pass. Last
year’s Division 2 champ locked up the top spot which placed him in
front of Frank Schuster from Chesterfield, N.J.