Angelle and the CVEC Suzuki Team scorch the competition in St. Louis
Angelle and the CVEC Suzuki Racing Team scorch the competition in St. Louis Event: 6th Annual Sears Craftsman NHRA Nationals Location: Gateway International Raceway, Madison, IL Date: June 30, 2002 Angelle Savoie and the CVEC Racing team scored their third convincing win of the season at this weekend's Sears Craftsman Nationals in Madison, Illinois. After blistering the Gateway International Raceway track record with a 7.171-second run in qualifying, Angelle again set the standard for the Pro Stock Motorcycle class during eliminations, recording the low elapsed time in each of the first three rounds. In the first round, Sam Hurwitz gave Angelle her biggest scare of the day, as his perfect .400 reaction time, left the two-time and defending NHRA champion needing an outstanding 7.201-second, 185.56 mph pass to overcome his starting line advantage and gain the round win. "When I got to the other end and picked up my time slip and saw that Sammy had that .400 light against my horrible .520, I knew it was a lucky win. I did my best to lose, but my Star Racing team did their best to win as always and we were fortunate to come out on top. Sam's a friend and I hated to put him on the trailer, but the friendship's over when they start that motorcycle. In the second and semi-final rounds, Angelle returned to form and claimed relatively easy victories over John Smith and Antron Brown. This set the stage for a final round encounter with No. 3 qualifier Shawn Gann. However, the race was over before it officially began, as Gann left the starting line early and handed the automatic win to the CVEC Suzuki. Even so, Angelle's 7.187-sceond elapsed time left little doubt as to who would have won should Gann not have red lit. "I feel bad for Shawn, because he's due for a win at any moment. In fact, I was wondering if he was going to get it from us today. I know they really want to win, but at the same time I know how hard my Star Racing team works to get each and every win. "I know I personally have twenty-five wins now, and Star Racing has fifty-nine, but every time we win, it's just like our very first one. I think that's why God keeps blessing us, because we don't take anything for granted. It's just too much fun." Underlining the Star Racing team's dominance was the fact that, despite battling oppressive and horsepower-robbing heat, their CVEC Suzuki's performance was never bested throughout the entire weekend, encompassing all four qualifying runs and each of the four elimination rounds on Sunday. In fact, in their three 2002 wins, the Star Racing entry has posted the quickest elapsed time in 23 of a possible 24 runs. For this, Angelle gave full credit to team owner George Bryce and her crew. "I was surprised, given the conditions, at how much traction we had in sixty feet. But all the credit goes to that CVEC Suzuki. George (team owner Bryce) has put together a wonderful TL-1000 that he says was built to sixty foot, and my size on that motorcycle is the best combination that you could ever ask for. "The heat today was almost unbearable, and the fans were unbelievable to hang with us throughout the day. But as I said when we got here, George knows how to tune in the heat, and we proved it today." The NHRA now heads into the second half of the 2002 season, with Angelle having a 99-point lead in the POWERade championship standings. Their next stop will be at the Mopar Parts Mile-High Nationals in Denver, Colorado, where Angelle and the Star racing team will be looking to score their third consecutive victory at picturesque Bandimere Speedway. Fast Facts: - This is the 25th win of Angelle's career (and third of the 2002 season) and second at Gateway International Raceway. - Angelle's 25 wins are the most by a female competitor in NHRA history, and ties her for 14th on the all-time win list with Gary Scelzi. - Angelle's win in the final was her 200th career elimination round win. - This is the 13th time Angelle has won from the No. 1 qualifying position. - By defeating Sam Hurwitz in the first round, Angelle scored her fortieth consecutive first round win, tying the NHRA record held by the legendary Bob Glidden. Angelle has not lost in the first round since falling to C.J. Smith in Brainerd, Minn. in August of 1999. - Angelle's 7.171-second elapsed time in qualifying was the quickest in Pro Stock Motorcycle for the weekend, marking the 23rd time she has set the low elapsed time of the event. It was also a new Gateway International track record. - Angelle had the quickest elapsed time in each qualifying session and elimination round for Pro Stock Motorcycle this weekend, and was the only bike to record an elapsed time in the 7.1-second range. - Angelle has led the NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle standings following 38 of the last 49 national events, dating back to the beginning of the 1999 season. She has been ranked first or second an amazing 55 of the last 59 events, dating back to the fourth event of 1998. - Angelle has won 21 of her last 52 national event starts, has appeared in 28 final rounds and owns a 141-31 (.819) elimination round win record during that span. She has also recorded 23 low qualifier efforts during that span. - Angelle's .775 (200-58) elimination- round win percentage ranks second among all active drivers, trailing only Matt Hines' .782. 2002 NHRA POWERade Pro Stock Motorcycle Points Standings (after 7 of 14 events): 1. Angelle Savoie - 703 2. Craig Treble - 604 (-99) 3. Antron Brown - 545 (-158) 4. Shawn Gann - 492 (-211) 5. Matt Hines - 476 (-227) 6. Geno Scali - 370 (-333) 7. Reggie Showers - 328 (-375) 8. Mike Berry - 311 (-392) 9. John Smith - 307 (-396) 10. Steve Johnson - 261 (-442) 2002 K&N Filters Pro Bike Klash Points Standings 1. Angelle Savoie - 1845 2. Matt Hines - 1745 (-100) 3. Shawn Gann - 1685 (-160) 4. Antron Brown - 1615 (-230) 5. Craig Treble - 1560 (-285) 6. Mike Berry - 1375 (-470) 6. Reggie Showers- 1375 (-470) 8. Geno Scali - 1370 (-475) 9. Steve Johnson - 1080 (-765) 10. Joe DeSantis - 935 (-910)