Angelle & Star Racing set sights on banishing Brainerd
demons
Event: 21st Annual Rugged Liner NHRA Nationals
Location: Brainerd International Raceway, Brainerd, MN
Date: August 16-18, 2002
Angelle Savoie
Star Racing Suzuki Pro Stock Motorcycle
2000 & 2001 Pro Stock Motorcycle Champion
1. Angelle & Star Racing welcome back Retail Fixture,
set sights on banishing Brainerd demons
In their six and a half seasons together, Angelle Savoie and the Star Racing
team have compiled a record that is the envy of the Pro Stock Motorcycle pit
area. In eighty-five races, they have scored twenty-five wins in forty final
round appearances, as well as earning twenty-nine No. 1 qualifying positions.
Entering this weekend's Rugged Liner NHRA Nationals, Angelle is not only the
two-time defending champion, but the current POWERade points leader as well.
However, Brainerd International Raceway, site of this weekend's event,
remains an elusive target for Angelle and the Star Racing crew, one of only
two tracks on the 2002 schedule where they have not yet won (Sonoma is the
other). In six previous appearances, their best finish has been a runner-up
performance in 1998, with various circumstances cutting short their drive to
the winner's circle.
"Brainerd is not a normal track for the Star Racing team simply because we
have yet to win there. Over the years, we've been tripped up by a
combination of bad luck, stupid mistakes or mechanical malfunctions that
don't seem to affect us at other tracks.
"For example, two years ago, we had the back tire pop off the wheel in the
middle of my run. We had been experimenting with a new wheel, and Reggie
Showers happened to walk up to George (team owner Bryce) just before I did my
burnout and told us we needed to screw the tire into the wheel or else it
could come off. George answered by saying that he hoped it would stay on for
that particular run, but it didn't. So we now make sure to screw the tire to
the wheel on every run."
But instead of being intimidated by the so-called "Brainerd jinx", Angelle
prefers to view it as a challenge, and looks forward to exorcising any demons
from the Minnesota quarter-mile this weekend.
"There's no reason we can't park our Retail Fixture Suzuki in the winner's
circle this weekend. The simple fact that we haven't won there yet offers me
all the motivation I need, but I also want to win one for the fans in
Brainerd.
"I know a lot of the same people come to a particular track year after year,
and as much as I want to win for myself, my team and my sponsors, I also want
to win for the people in the stands. Over the years, the Brainerd fans have
been very supportive, and I'd like to win it for them."
Delivering a winning performance in Brainerd takes on even more significance
for Angelle and the Star Racing crew this weekend. The past week has been a
difficult one for the Americus, Ga.-based team, as they parted company with
their primary sponsor, and have begun the search for a new marketing partner.
However, a new name will adorn the sides of the Star Racing Suzuki, as
Retail Fixture L.L.C. has rejoined the team, and will assume the primary role
for this weekend's event. Therefore, reaching the winner's circle at the one
track which has eluded them in the past would be even sweeter this time
around.
"I know it would tickle Curt Woodward to death if we could make it to the
winner's circle this weekend. He's been a friend of the Star Racing team for
a long time, and his company Retail Fixture has been with us in the past as
an associate. This weekend, however, he is the main sponsor, and it would be
nice to reward him for everything he's done. Unfortunately, he won't be at
the track this weekend because he'll be celebrating his son Joe's birthday.
Maybe we can give them a very special birthday present.
"But winning this weekend would also mean a lot for this Star Racing team
after everything we've been through. If we can end the day on Sunday with
the Retail Fixtures Suzuki in the winner's circle, it's going to be a heck of
a party."
2. In Angelle's Words -
On racing at Brainerd International Raceway -
"Brainerd is one of the more difficult tracks that we race on. Lane choice
is very important here - it's not impossible to win in the bad lane, but we'd
certainly prefer not to have to try doing it."
On the distractions provided by the sponsorship issues -
"I think it will be easier for me to focus this weekend than I've been able
to for the last few months. With everything that's gone on, from a couple of
my competitors making wild allegations to the sponsorship issues that we
couldn't talk about, I felt like I was being held under water. But with
everything out in the open I feel more relaxed now than I have in a long
time.
"People outside the team don't know the pressures we've been under. But the
bad stuff is over with, and it's almost like we're starting over again. We
are going to put that all behind us and move forward. Our goal is to win
races and find a new marketing partner for the remainder of this year and
many more to come."
3. Facts on Angelle & Star Racing entering Brainerd International Raceway -
- One year ago, Angelle qualified third in Brainerd, and advanced to the
quarter-finals, where she was upset by GT Tonglet.
- Angelle recorded the quickest elapsed time in Pro Stock Motorcycle
history at 7.049 seconds on May 18, 2002 in Englishtown, N.J., bettering the
previous record by five hundredths of a second.
- After nine of 14 Pro Stock Motorcycle national events, Angelle leads the
NHRA POWERade Series Points standings with 878 points, 82 points ahead of
second-place Craig Treble.
- Angelle's 25 national event wins are the most ever by a female driver in
NHRA Drag Racing competition, and is fourth on the all-time Pro Stock
Motorcycle win list. Angelle is also tied for 14th on the all-time NHRA
professional win list with Gary Scelzi.
- Angelle has qualified in the top half of the elimination ladder (eighth
or better) at every one of the 85 races in which she has competed in her Pro
Stock Motorcycle career.
- Angelle's twenty-five career victories have come at thirteen different
tracks. The only two facilities on the 2002 NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle
schedule where Angelle has yet to reach the winner's circle are Brainerd
International Raceway, site of this weekend's event, and Sonoma.
- Brainerd is the site of Angelle's last first-round setback, which
occurred on August 22, 1999. That 42 race winning streak is the longest in
the history of NHRA POWERade Drag Racing.
- Angelle has won 22 of her last 54 national event starts, has appeared in
30 final rounds and owns a 144-32 (.818) elimination round win record during
that span. In that same period, she has also recorded 24 low qualifier
efforts.
- Angelle's .775 (203-59) elimination-round win percentage ranks second
among all active drivers, trailing only Matt Hines (.786).
- Angelle's seven national event wins in 2001 are the most ever in a single
season by a female competitor in NHRA history.
- Star Racing Suzuki owner George Bryce made his 104th career final round
appearance as an owner at this year's Mopar Parts Mile High Nationals in
Denver, CO. Bryce has accomplished this feat with six different riders: John
Myers (56), Angelle Savoie (40), Jim Bernard (3), Steve Johnson (3), Fred
Collis (1) and Bryce himself (1).
- Angelle's fastest career pass: 192.44 mph, May 14, 2002, Englishtown, New
Jersey.
2002 NHRA POWERade Pro Stock Motorcycle
Points Standings (after 9 of 14 events):
1. Angelle Savoie - 878
2. Craig Treble - 796 (-82)
3. Matt Hines - 691 (-187)
4. Antron Brown - 674 (-204)
5. Shawn Gann - 621 (-257)
6. Mike Berry - 415 (-463)
7. Reggie Showers - 413 (-465)
8. Geno Scali - 411 (-467)
9. John Smith - 374 (-504)
10. Steve Johnson - 346 (-532)
2002 K&N Filters Pro Bike Klash Points Standings
1. Angelle Savoie - 2185
2. Matt Hines - 2085 (-100)
3. Shawn Gann - 1970 (-215)
4. Antron Brown - 1900 (-285)
5. Craig Treble - 1870 (-315)
6. Reggie Showers- 1625 (-560)
7. Mike Berry - 1605 (-580)
8. Geno Scali - 1470 (-715)
9. Steve Johnson - 1310 (-875)
10. John Smith - 990 (-1195)
Television Coverage:
Qualifying: Saturday, August 17, 8:00 - 10:00 p.m. (ESPN2)
Eliminations: Sunday, August 18, 9:00 - 11:00 p.m. (ESPN2)
In addition, the NHRA2Day weekly magazine show will air from 11:00 - 11:30
a.m. on Sunday, August 18 on ESPN2.
