Madison Makes it to Semi-Finals in Phoenix

Phoenix - Madison Payne returned to Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park the scene of her first-ever win in Top Alcohol Dragster. Madison driving the Muscle Milk A/Fuel dragster, started where she left off last season by qualifying second with a red-hot 5.21 at 271 MPH.

Madison's no. 2 qualifying position set up a first-round match-up with number 7 seed Mitch Myers in the Epha-sponsored entry from Oregon. At the starting line, Myers narrowly red lit giving the win automatically to Madison. Madison still made a race of it and recorded a 5.25 at 273 to his 5.42 at 265 MPH to advance to the next round.

In the semi-finals, it was a showdown between Madison and the reining five-time World Champion Joey Severance. At the starting line, it was Severance out first with a .030 to Madison's .048. But then Madison's car began to shutter and then went into a short wheelstand. Madison had no choice but to lift as Severance was long gone and recorded a decent 5.27 to take the win. Madison ran an off-pace 7.29 at 123 MPH as a result.

Car owner Duane Shields was surprised that the car didn't make a competitive pass. "It threw us a curve ball. Up until that moment, the car was running very well all weekend and we were confident going into the semis. But it was a good weekend overall and we are looking forward to Pomona. I also want to congratulate Toby Payne for getting his first win here in Phoenix where his sister Madison and father Jay also got their first wins" he said.

Duane and Madison would like to thank their sponsors Muscle Milk, GRP Rods, NGK Spark Plugs, Brad Anderson Enterprises, and Clean Boost for their ongoing support.