Following a four-year absence from competitors, Shawn Reed rejoined the NHRA High Gasoline area final season to embark on his first full-time season.
Whereas he was unable to make the 10-driver Countdown to the Championship, development was seen in the course of the latter a part of the yr with resetting his career-best velocity thrice within the remaining handful of races (331.69 mph at NHRA finals in Pomona, Calif.).
With a springboard to lean on, this yr could also be drastically completely different.
In Saturday’s PRO Celebrity Shootout at Florida’s Bradenton Motorsports Park, Reed made the eight-driver eliminations, the place he flexed his muscle tissue.
Reed knocked out No. 1 qualifier and reigning NHRA High Gasoline champion Antron Brown within the first spherical earlier than sending Brittany Drive packing through a holeshot in spherical two.
He’d full his first profitable weekend of his High Gasoline profession after topping Josh Hart within the finals with a 3.699 second run at 330.39 mph.
“I hope there’s extra to come back as a result of that is fairly cool stuff proper right here,” a smiling Reed mentioned. “I nearly mentioned the opposite phrase… That is cool s— proper right here, I’ll inform you what.
“I’m simply over the moon blissful proper now. It’s not even gonna sink in for some time. We received a visit deliberate to the Bahamas tomorrow, so what an important week developing. Going to be within the Bahamas for like 5 – 6 days… oh my gosh, I couldn’t even of wrote this script any higher than this,” Reed continued.
“To be right here with FloRacing and all the perfect drivers on the earth, and to come back out on high, what a dream come true. Takes just a little little bit of luck, however, we’ll take it.”
Whereas the 59-year-old’s highway to his first skilled victory was a protracted, grueling highway, his optimism by no means wavered.
“I’ve been to twenty races final yr in NHRA and I get up each morning and I’m like, ‘Yeah, as we speak’s my day, as we speak’s my day.’ what? I didn’t suppose something about it, I simply wished to have enjoyable,” Reed beamed.
“If you happen to push too exhausting on this sport, it simply goes the opposite method. You simply gotta let issues occur. Issues come to you and you concentrate on issues, however you push them out.
“Unexpectedly, I’m sitting right here. ‘How’d I try this?’ No matter, I’ll take it. we’re good.”
