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Suzuki Rider Ellis Goes For A Double At The U.S. Nationals

BROWNSBURG, Ind. Aug. 26, 2008 -­ Schumacher Electric Suzuki Pro Stock Motorcycle rider Chip Ellis will attempt to reach the winner's circle twice this weekend at the 54th annual NHRA U.S. Nationals at O'Reilly Raceway Park in Indianapolis. He looks to win not only the biggest drag race of the season on Labor Day but also cash in by winning the $25,000 Ringers Gloves Pro Stock Bike Battle bonus race on Saturday.

The U.S. Nationals is the site of Ellis' first start in the Pro Stock Motorcycle class in 2004, where he qualified No. 1 in his NHRA debut. He also scored three straight runner-up finishes the last three years in the Ringers Gloves Pro Bike Battle. He is No. 1 in the standings for the bonus event this weekend. "Maybe this time we can seal the deal," he said.

Ellis has been busy since the last event in Reading, Pa., welcoming aboard new associate sponsor XXX Racing Fuels and a new teammate, Craig Treble. Treble will ride for Don Schumacher Racing for the remainder of the 2008 season aboard the Albrecht's Fast Track Suzuki, with Steve Tartaglia making the tuning calls on both bikes.

"I think bringing Craig aboard is going to help the team," said Ellis. "He's a good racer and he brings a lot of years of experience to the team. I'm excited to have him as a teammate and I think it's going to work out great. It gives us twice as much of a chance to win for Don Schumacher Racing."

Although he's already clinched a spot in the Countdown to 1 playoffs, the six-time national event winner feels the pressure to put his Suzuki in the winner's circle again.

"There is always pressure on us in some form or another, but the Schumacher Electric Suzuki has been running great and I'm feeling good and I'm ready to go," said Ellis, who moved to Indianapolis when he joined DSR during the off-season. "I just want to go out there and do a good job. This is the longest race of the year and it's going to be a new experience for me to be able to go home every night and sleep in my own bed. I think that will be a big benefit.

"To win at what is now my home track would be awesome, and the fact that it's the U.S. Nationals would make it even better,² added Ellis who is third in the point standings, with one victory in two final rounds so far this season.

Ellis has a stout record at the U.S. Nationals. Besides his three runner-up finishes in the bonus event, he was low qualifier twice, in 2004 and 2007. He also holds the elapsed-time track record there, of 6.948 seconds, set in 2007.