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Series spotlight - Buddy Dominque

Domingue makes splash in Pro Fuel debut Evans continues to loot and plunder in 'Black Pearl' NORWALK, Ohio (March 17, 2010) -- Heading into the second race of the 2010 Nitro Jam season earlier this month at State Capitol Raceway no driver was on ...

Published: Mar 18, 2010, 1:33 PM

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Domingue makes splash in Pro Fuel debut
Evans continues to loot and plunder in 'Black Pearl'

NORWALK, Ohio (March 17, 2010) -- Heading into the second race of the 2010 Nitro Jam season earlier this month at State Capitol Raceway no driver was on more of a roll than Pro Fuel star Bill Evans.

Having dominated the field at the season opening Palm Beach Nitro Jam, winning both events and setting a new world record for speed and elapsed time, Evans traveled to Louisiana as the clear favorite to continue his ownership of the class.

Cue Buddy Domingue.

After missing the first race of the season Domingue made his Pro Fuel debut at Mardi Gras Nitro Jam earlier this month and did so in spectacular fashion, making the finals both nights and claiming a surprising victory on Saturday.

Buddy Domingue reached two finals in his Pro Fuel debut

But it wasn't just the victory that had people talking. Domingue defeated two of the best in the business on his way to his first Ironman, claiming victories over Evans and another Pro Fuel newcomer Brandon Pierce.

"Winning in my first weekend out was a pretty neat deal. We were all very excited to make such a splash," Domingue said. "It was an exciting night. We beat Bill and then backed that up with the best run of the night. What more could we ask for in our first race."

After his win Saturday Domingue once again found himself in the final on Sunday, but this time it was not meant to be as Evans, piloting the famous "Black Pearl" machine, picked right up where he left off with another victory.

It was a tremendous race as Evans got a slight advantage off the line and used that margin to claim a narrow victory. Evans ran a 5.927 elapsed time at 252.03 miles-per-hour while Domingue cruised to a 5.986, 238.15.

Despite the solid numbers Evans admits that the car ran into trouble early in the run, but he was able to keep in it for the win.

Evans is the head of the Pro Fuel class so far this season

"I will tell you that car was on the pass of the weekend before it started to shake," Evans said. "I pedaled it four times in that round and we still came out on top. To be able to do that and still get the win is pretty awesome."

And Sunday's troubles weren't the only obstacle Evans and his team had to overcome.

"In the first round we burnt both heads off of it. We thought we had only hurt one so we changed one and when we started it up we realized the other one was dead and we didn't really have much time to get it fixed," Evans said. "My guys worked on the car until 3 a.m. Saturday night and we went out there first round Sunday and set low E.T. of the event and burnt both heads off again.

"We thrashed and worked on that car and got it back up for the final. You have to realize that this is really only the second race for this crew so to have the success we have had is very encouraging."

The crew of the 'Black Pearl' have earned their nickname as the "Scourge of the Quarter-Mile"

With three wins in four races Evans and his crew have dominated the Nitro Jam tour as Evans' "Black Pearl" machine has amassed a 44-point lead over Jeff Hamelink. Robin Samsel, Michael Manners and Domingue round out the top five.

Heading into next months race at Rockingham Dragway Evans hopes to continue his winning ways and hopefully take home an Ironman at the most prestigious event on the IHRA Nitro Jam Tour -- but after two events a target is most definitely on Evans' back.

Can another driver surprise Evans and his crew at "The Rock" or will Evans continue to dominate the series and further his reputation as the Scourge of the Quarter-Mile?

Find out May 1-2 at Spring Nitro Jam at Rockingham Dragway.

-source: ihra

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