Shawn Reed, fresh from his fifth Lucas Oil Drag Boat Racing Series championship in 13 seasons, qualified 15th and will give No. 2 starter Clay Millican a run for his money in Round 1 of Sunday’s eliminations.

And the Seattle-area native said he plans to return next season for 10 races.

“We got funded for 10 more races next year, with Hughes Oilfield Transportation, my longtime sponsors in the boat. They’ve been helping me in the car. And we just announced that Global came on for 10 races next year, as well. So you know that, their help along with my sponsorship from Barbara Hughes, hopefully we’ll be having a car in the mid- to low-[3].70s next year and be able to compete more than we have this year at the 10 events that we go to.”

Reed said shifting mental gears back and forth between boat racing to drag racing can be a little taxing.

“That’s what’s tough,” he said. “This weekend I’m struggling on my lights here because just the change from me driving the boat last weekend, they’re just a completely different set of lights. These come up so fast, I’m just kind of behind it a little bit. But I get better as the weekend goes, so hopefully I’ll be OK for tomorrow.”

One major difference in boat racing is that competitors get a running start.

“You get a 125-foot running start. There’s a number clock that counts down and we leave on a portion of that number. So you know, I’ve been doing that for a long time, so I’m pretty used to that. Coming over here, sitting in the stands, everybody thinks that we’re the slowest mind-to-foot there is, but there’s quite a delay in a Top Fuel Dragster to when the car actually moves.”

Reed said he recognizes the danger of both endeavors but said he has a stronger sense of security in the dragster.

As for boat racing, he said, “I do know that’s dangerous, but anything that goes fast is dangerous. [Because of] the Safety Safari and all these guys, I really do feel safer in this car than I do in that boat.

“You know what? I’m just living the lucky life I’ve got going right now,” Reed said. “I mean, they’ll never take anything away from me. If I get hit by a bus tomorrow, my life’s been great.”