Thu, 17 Nov 2011, 09:40 AM Shields Leads Final Champions for NHRA Lucas Oil Series

Courtesy of NHRA Field Marketing Photo copyright 2011 Auto Imagery, Inc.

GLENDORA, Calif. --

Standing: Frank Manzo, Duane Shields and Jackie Alley Sitting: Lou Ficco Jr., Gary Stinnett, Joe Santangelo Jr. and Peter Biondo

Duane Shields led the final list of racers for the 2011 NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series World Champions capturing the Top Alcohol Dragster Championship on Sunday during final eliminations at the Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals. The Boulder City, Nev., resident, came into the event leading the points but was being chased by Woodburn, Oregon's Joey Severance needing to win the event to overtake Shields. Severance fell in round 2 as Shields sat in his dragster watching from the starting line as he waited to make his second round pass.

Shields accumulated 755 points including six wins in nine final round appearances to knock off 5-time defending champion Bill Reichert, for his first NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series World Championship. Shields also won the NHRA Southeast Division Championship this year and is a 5-time divisional champion.

Lou Ficco Jr. would decide his own fate in the Comp Eliminator class as he trailed Sal Biondo in points coming into the season's final event. Ficco, Wheatridge, Colo., would need to advance to the fourth round to overtake Biondo, and did so in winning round three on Sunday evening. This is also Ficco's first World Championship as his picked up five wins this year including two at Heartland Park Topeka with a national event win in May followed by a Lucas Oil Divisional event win in August. Biondo, Maspeth, N.Y., held on for second with three wins.

Sal's brother Peter Biondo had his sites on a pair of championships leading the points in both the Super Stock and Super Gas classes late in the season. Jackie Alley had other thoughts in Super Stock as she grabbed a win in Medford, Ore., then a final round appearance at the national event in Las Vegas to end her season and move past Biondo and into the number one position. Alley was at home this past weekend in Boise, Idaho, watching the computer as Kearney, Neb., racer David Bogner was the one racer who could catch her. Bogner needed to win the race and fell a few rounds short giving the championship to Alley. Alley is the first female to win an NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series World Championship since Amy Faulk won Super Stock back in 1979, and the first to do so under the current point's structure.

Super Gas proved different for Peter as he racked up six wins in 2011, winning a pair of Florida races in Bradenton and Gainesville to start the season, then capping it off with a national event win here in Pomona for the Championship. The Mespeth, N.Y., racer secured his sixth NHRA Lucas Oil World Championship when he faced off with, and beat Mike Sawyer , Leominster, Mass., in round one on Friday. Sawyer finished in second just 43 points behind with a pair of wins in five final rounds.

The four Champions joined Frank Manzo-Top Alcohol Funny Car, Joe Santangelo-Stock, and Gary Stinnett-Super Comp who wrapped up their championships earlier in the season. Manzo leads all NHRA Lucas Oil World Champions with 15.

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