Mon, 24 Nov 2014, 11:48 AM Shields, Harker Close Out Season with Big Wins in Pomona

Courtesy of NHRA Field Marketing Photo copyright 2014 Auto Imagery, Inc.

POMONA, Calif. --

Duane Shields celebrates win.

Duane Shields and Steve Harker closed out the 2014 NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series with wins at the 50th annual Auto Club NHRA Finals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona. Joining the pair in winner's circle was first time winner Gabe Torres along with Aaron Strong, Bobby DeArmond, Jeff Taylor and Trevor Larson.

Shields, former Top Alcohol Dragster Lucas Oil National Champion out of Bolder City, Nev., lined up with California racer Cameron Ferre in the final of alcohol dragster. The pair left the line together with Shields taking the early lead and the win in 5.412 seconds at 264.13 mph. Ferre slowed to a 5.625 second pass after running 5.20's and 5.30's throughout eliminations.

The win was Shield's 20th in national event competition. He took out Joey Severance, No. 1 qualifier Chase Copeland, and Aaron Olivarez on his way to the final.

Harker capped off his championship season with the Top Alcohol Funny Car win over John Lombardo Jr. The Gainesville, Ga., resident had a stellar reaction time of .002 seconds combined with a lap of 5.489 seconds at 266.21 mph. The win was his 10th national event win and his sixth this season having won his last 5 in a row including a pair of wins in Reading, Pa., to clinch the NHRA Lucas Oil Top Alcohol Funny Car National Championship.

Steve Harker celebrates win.

Gabe Torres comes from a family of racers, adding another win for the Torres family as he picked up his first national event win. Torres, Valinda, Calif., used a hole shot to beat veteran and former national champion Al Kenny, Kutztown, Pa., in Super Comp with a lap of 8.907 at 168.16 mph.

Strong, Auburn, Wash., closed the deal on Clint Neff, Arvada, Colo., in Comp Eliminator after scoring a runner-up finish two weeks ago in Las Vegas. Strong's '98 S-10 ran down Neff's '32 roadster posting a time of 8.116, 165.44.

DeArmond, who last won in Denver in 1994, grabbed his second win in Stock Eliminator as Taylor added his 44th NHRA national event win to his resume. DeArmond, Gallup, N.M., drove his '69 Camaro past Paula Cotton, Cave Creek, Ariz. Taylor, Sellersburg, Ind., won in Super Stock for the 30th time taking out Marion Stephenson, Williamsport, Ind.

Rounding out the winners at the historic track was Trevor Larson, Starbuck, Minn., who took home the Super Gas trophy. Larson pushed Tommy Phillips, Forney, Texas, to break out with a 9.894 on the 9.90 dial. Larson sent 9.917, 158.04 mph

The following are the final results from the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series and the 50th annual Auto Club NHRA Finals event at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona:

TOP ALCOHOL DRAGSTER
Duane Shields, 5.412, 264.13 def. Cameron Ferre, 5.625, 265.74.

TOP ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR
Steve Harker, Chevy Monte Carlo, 5.489, 266.21 def. John Lombardo Jr., Ford Mustang, 5.519, 263.36.

COMP
Aaron Strong, Chevy S-10, 8.116, 165.44 def. Clint Neff, Bantam Roadster, 10.668, 78.17.

SUPER STOCK
Jeff Taylor, Chevy Cobalt, 9.634, 124.03 def. Marion Stephenson, Pontiac Sunbird, foul.

STOCK ELIMINATOR
Bobby DeArmond, Chevy Camaro, 10.128, 128.18 def. Paula Cotten, Plymouth Duster, foul.

SUPER COMP
Gabriel Torres, Dragster, 8.907, 168.16 def. Alan Kenny, Dragster, 8.905, 170.08.

SUPER GAS
Trevor Larson, Chevy Corvette, 9.917, 158.04 def. Tommy Phillips, Chevy Camaro, 9.894, 160.63.