G Squared plays winning Chip at Vegas
G SQUARED MOTORSPORTS OWNERS: GEORGE BRYCE & GEORGE SMITH NHRA POWERADE DRAG RACING SERIES PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE: G SQUARED S&S BUELL RIDERS: CHIP ELLIS and MATT SMITH MEDIA CONTACT: Mickey Schultz PHONE: 770-476-8477 E-MAIL: mschultz@bellsouth.net FIFTH ANNUAL NHRA ACDELCO LAS VEGAS NATIONALS THE STRIP AT LAS VEGAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY - LAS VEGAS OCTOBER 20-23, 2005 G Squared plays winning Chip at Vegas Chip Ellis: Qualified: # 3 (7.224 seconds at 183.89) Eliminations: Round 1: Ellis (7.217/185.03) def. Matt Guidera (Red Light: 7.243/182.80) Round 2: Ellis (7.250/182.97) def. Matt Smith (7.335/179.78) Round 3 (semifinals): Ellis (7.304/182.43) def. Tom Bradford (7.327/182.43) Round (finals): Ellis (7.243/187.63) winner over Angelle Sampey (Red Light: 7.253/183.05) LAS VEGAS (October 23, 2005) - Chip Ellis aboard the G Squared-prepared and owned, S&S-powered Pro Stock Buell won the fifth annual NHRA ACDelco Las Vegas Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway when Angelle Sampey fouled her chance at victory. It was the second consecutive win for Ellis at this event, second of the season and his third win in three final rounds since joining G Squared Motorsports at the 2004 Mac Tools U.S. Nationals. This win also came on the fourth birthday of his daughter McKenzie. En route to the final round, Ellis defeated Matt Guidera (7.217 seconds to red light), teammate Matt Smith (7.290 seconds to 7.335 seconds) and Tom Bradford (7.304 seconds to 7.327 seconds). In the final, Ellis covered the quarter-mile in 7.243 seconds at 187.63 mph. Sampey, although she red lighted, ran an elapsed time 7.253 seconds. "I'm just having fun," said Ellis. "The bike ran good all day. Chip didn't win the race the bike and S&S power won the race. The guys worked real hard all day long and it paid off. We got two lucky breaks - one in the first round and one in the final. Lucky is better than good any day." "It was awesome," said George Bryce, who co-owns G Squared Motorsports along with partner George Smith. "Chip has made it to the finals every time he's been to this track, no matter the sanctioning body. "Green lights win races and we've been working hard on getting green light. Today it worked in our favor. It was very rewarding to win here today. "I would like to thank the guys at S&S for building such a reliable, super, powerful motor. "This is really exciting and satisfying," said George Smith. "I saw the red light but before celebrating our win I wanted to see was an elapsed time that was capable of winning without the red light and Chip did that and then I celebrated. "I got to thank the S&S guys and the entire G Squared crew. It's really great to have Ken Johnson back with us. He means a lot to this team and it puts a solidarity and continuity back in our program. We're very pleased with that." Ellis moved up two positions to No. 4 in the 2005 NHRA POWERade Pro Stock Motorcycle point standings. He leaves this event with 867 points. Ellis, along with three other drivers, Jack Beckman (Top Fuel), Erica Enders (Pro Stock) and Robert Hight (Funny Car), representative of all four pro categories, have been selected as the nominees for the 2005 Automobile Club of Southern California Road to the Future Award. The winner of the prestigious award receives a $20,000 monetary prize and sleek ceremonial trophy and will be announced during the NHRA's annual championship awards ceremony on Monday, Nov. 7 at the Westin Mission Hills Resort in Rancho Mirage, Calif. Matt Smith loses to Chip Ellis in round two Matt Smith: Qualified: # 6 (7.240 seconds at 180.09 mph) Eliminations: Round 1: Smith (7.290/176.65) def. GT Tonglet (7.303/183.92) Round 2: Smith (7.335/179.78) lost to Chip Ellis (7.250/182.97) LAS VEGAS (October 23, 2005) - G Squared teammates Matt Smith and Chip Ellis met in round two of the NHRA ACDelco Las Vegas Nationals, with Ellis coming away with the win. After Smith, from King, N.C., dispatched GT Tonglet in the opening round of eliminations and Ellis, from Americus, Ga., turned back Matt Guidera the pair went head-to-head in the second round Smith, aboard the G2 Red line Oil/Skull Gear/Torco Race Fuels Buell, got a jump at the green, but Ellis, on the G Squared S&S Buell, powered by him taking the win light at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in 7.250 seconds. Smith crossed slightly behind in 7.335 seconds. Regarding the loss to teammate Ellis, Smith said, "No matter who's in the other lane you don't want to lose. So it makes no difference if it's your teammate or not. It's still a loss. That said, I'm glad that G Squared has a bike in the semifinals and I'm pulling for Chip to win it all. "We had a good bike this weekend, but had trouble getting down the back half of the track. We haven't found the problem yet but need to get it corrected before the next race in Pomona." Smith remains in the No. 12 position in the NHRA POWERade Pro Stock Motorcycle point standings, with 567 points. *********************************************************************************************************************************** TELEVISION: ESPN2 will air three hours of same-day television coverage of eliminations of the fifth annual NHRA ACDelco Las Vegas Nationals beginning at 8 p.m. this evening, Sunday, Oct. 23. The elimination show repeats on ESPN2 early Tuesday morning, Oct. 25, from 3 until 5 a.m. Television times are Eastern Time (ET) and subject to change at anytime. Check local listings. NEXT RACE: The final event, the 15th of 15 races for Pro Stock Motorcycles, on the 2005 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series schedule will take place at Pomona Raceway, on the grounds of the LA County Fairplex in Pomona, Calif. The 41st annual Automobile Club of Southern California Finals gets underway with qualifying, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, November 3-5, and eliminations on Sunday, November 6. 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.