Championship Drag Racing

NHRA SummitRacing.com Nationals
Las Vegas, NV
(April 6-9)

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Driver Profile

Shaun Carlson Team Mopar/SRT Dodge Stratus R/T

Las Vegas, Sunday: Pro Stock rookie Shaun Carlson made his inaugural start in eliminations in the 2006 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series today at the NHRA SummitRacing.com Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, but lost first round to Jim Yates when the Team Mopar/SRT Dodge Stratus R/T veered hard to the right at the launch.

Carlson is unsure why the car reacted that way off the starting line, which resulted in an 11.659-second pass at 75.74 mph. "We'll have to look at the data to see if I turned the steering wheel that way," he said, "but now that I have my hand on the wheel where I need it, I don't think that was the problem."

It's a step in the right direction for the Southern California native who has only 27 professional qualifying and racing rounds under his belt in six events in his Pro Stock career. "I felt comfortable out there," he said. "I was less nervous today than any of the time when I was trying to qualify," he said of race day. "It felt good to race today, and it sucks to be out so early, but overall I'm looking at the positive things from the weekend.

"I thank the Team Mopar/SRT Dodge guys for sticking with me and getting this car in the field. I wish that I could have made a better pass for them, but, hey, it's baby steps. It was nice to be in the show, finally.

"As far as building blocks go, this was more than one block, more than a palette. I'll leave here with my head held high. I'll drive back to California with my girlfriend Apple with a smile on my face."

Carlson is 19th in Pro Stock points.

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