G SQUARED MOTORSPORTS: Chip Ellis wins at Route 66 Raceway
G SQUARED MOTORSPORTS OWNERS: GEORGE BRYCE & GEORGE SMITH NHRA POWERADE DRAG RACING SERIES PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE: G SQUARED S&S BUELL RIDER: CHIP ELLIS EIGHTH ANNUAL NHRA CARQUEST AUTO PARTS NATIONALS ROUTE 66 RACEWAY - JOLIET, ILL. JUNE 9-12, 2005 Qualified: # 3 (7.150 seconds at 185.66 mph) Eliminations: Round 1: Ellis (7.172/179.61) def. Matt Guidera (7.413/149.88) Round 2: Ellis (7.229/183.02) def. Ryan Schnitz (7.270/183.62) Round 3 (semifinals): Ellis (7.253/181.96) def. Angelle Sampey (7.227/188.02) Round 4 (finals): Ellis (7.203/180.70) winner over Gino Scali (7.343/179.30) Chip Ellis wins at Route 66 Raceway JOLIET, Ill. (June 12, 2005) - Chip Ellis, aboard the G Squared/S&S-powered Buell, defeated Geno Scali, aboard a Suzuki, to take the Pro Stock Motorcycle title at the eighth annual NHRA CARQUEST Auto Parts Nationals at Route 66 Raceway in Joliet, Ill.. This was the second final round in nine NHRA events for Ellis and his second win, the first of 2005. Ellis and Scali had never met prior to this final round. En route to the final round, Ellis defeated Matt Guidera in the opening round, Schnitz in round two and Angelle Sampey, on a holeshot, in the semifinals. The win moves Ellis to the second spot in NHRA POWERade Pro Stock Motorcycle point standings. He now has accumulated 332 points, just 28 points behind the leader. The Pro Stock Motorcycle class is tough out here," reflected Ellis. "You've got to cut good lights and you have to make a perfect job every time out because everybody is so competitive. You have to do your best every time and my guys give me the best bike today. "The win is awesome. All the team worked extra hard in Ken Johnson's absence. I'm finally back on track with my driving and this is a great win. "This is the first race that Ken has missed in 20 years. I really miss him, because he's not just my crew chief, he's my friend. I can't wait until he comes back. Team owner, who along with George Smith are partners in G Squared Motorsports, added, "This is the first win without Ken Johnson. It's a real special trophy. So Ken this win is for you. "We all had to work together this weekend and whatever we did, right or wrong, paid off. I never realized how much Ken did 'til he wasn't here. It took four of us to replace him. Thank God and my partner George Bryce for this S&S power. It pulled us through. Thank everybody who contributed to this win. Finally, let me say that Chip drove like a demon possessed. I'm really proud of the way he handle the job this weekend." G Squared Motorsports is without the services of longtime employee Ken Johnson, who seriously injured his left knee in an accident last weekend. In his place, G2 is tuning by committee with team owners George Bryce and George Smith, along with Chip Ellis and Rick Maney, contributing to readying the motorcycle for competition. The committee did their job. Ken would be proud. This was a fitting end to a trying week for the G Squared Motorsports team from Americus, Ga. Ken relayed to Jackie Bryce from his hospital room in Albany, Ga., that "this was the best medicine he's had since he's been in the hospital." Jackie also indicated that the team will present the "Wally'' (event trophy) to Ken on Tuesday. CHIP ELLIS CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: NHRA: * Won the NHRA CARQUEST Auto Parts Nationals (June 12, 2005), his ninth NHRA event * Won the NHRA ACDelco Las Vegas Nationals (October 31, 2004) in only his third NHRA event * Was No. 1 qualifier (7.115 seconds) at the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals, Indianapolis (September 5, 2004) -- the first NHRA Pro Stock Bike rookie driver to qualify No. 1 in his first NHRA event. Also, No 1 at Pomona 2 with track record time of 7.024 seconds, which, at the time, doubled as the fourth quickest E.T. in NHRA Pro Stock Bike history. AMA/PROSTAR: * 2004 AMA/Prostar 600 Supersport Champion * 2003 AMA/Prostar Formula Superbike Champion * 2002 AMA/Prostar Funnybike Champion * 2000 AMA/Prostar Rookie of the Year OTHER RACING: * 2004 AHDRA, Bristol, Tenn.: Aboard the G Squared S&S #46 Tribute Street Pro Bike, Ellis, in his first AHDRA (All Harley Drag Racing Association) race, not only set a new national record but won the Street Pro class. His run of 8.995-seconds in the semifinals and record run of 8.963-seconds in the final round were the first runs ever in the 8-second range in the AHDRA history books. He also went to the finals in the E.T. class at this same event. * Frank Hawley Drag Racing School graduate CHIP ELLIS PERSONAL INFORMATION: * Date of Birth (Age): February 20, 1970 (35) * Birthplace: Daytona Beach, FL * Residence: Americus, GA * Married: Kathy (1995); Children: McKenzie (DOB: 2001) * Enjoys boat drags NEXT RACE: The NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series moves to Old Bridge Township Raceway Park in Englishtown, N.J. next weekend, the fourth of five races in seven weeks for Pro Stock Motorcycles. The NHRA K&N Filters SuperNationals will be contested June 16-19. TELEVISION: Same-day television coverage of eliminations aired earlier today on ESPN2. The elimination show repeats on ESPN2 early Monday morning, June 13, from 2 until 4:30 a.m. Television times are Eastern Time (ET) and subject to change at anytime. Check local listings. G SQUARED MOTORSPORTS: When Harley Davidson accelerated their effort in NHRA, S&S Cycle decided in 2002 to join the battle. Because of his vast R&D experience, coupled with his racing background, S&S asked George Smith to head their project to field a competitive S&S V-Twin bike on the NHRA circuit. Smith immediately asked George Bryce, who had been working with S&S Cycle on a similar project, to join the new endeavor and G Squared Motorsports was formed in 2003. Both Smith and Bryce knew if they collaborated on the project, joining the resources, knowledge and talents of S&S and Star Racing, they could produce a competitive bike to race in Pro Stock Motorcycle competition on the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series. The G Squared/S&S-powered V-Twin Buell debuted in 2004.