Goodyear Racing Pomona summary

SHIELDS, COWAN RIDE GOODYEAR TIRES TO POMONA WINS

POMONA, Calif. (Feb. 10, 2008) -- Duane Shields and Jim Cowan used Goodyear tires to propel their cars to victory in NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series sportsman competition during the CARQUEST Auto Parts Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona.

All told, Goodyear won five times at Pomona, the best total among tire manufacturers. Shields victory came in Top Alcohol Dragster and Cowan won in Competition Eliminator.

Shields won his tenth national event and his second at Pomona. The Boulder City, Nev. resident was one of three Goodyear-equipped drivers to advance to the TAD semifinals. Cowan's victory was his first in national competition.

"It was an awesome race," Shields said. "We weren't even qualified going into the final round of qualifying.

But once he got in the field, Shields was consistent. Three of his four passes during eliminations ranged between 5.319 and 5.391 seconds.

"It's a new car and we're trying to figure out what it wants," in terms of the chassis setup, Shields said.

The TAD category is for dragsters, the most powerful cars of the Lucas Oil Series.

Cowan, of Dewey, Ariz., drove a 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt. A V-6 engine powers the car.

"This is absolutely wonderful," Cowan said of his first victory. "We've been working hard."

Cowan said he finished building the car Tuesday. The first round of qualifying at Pomona was Thursday. He won on Sunday, capping a long week.

-credit: www.racegoodyear.com.