CVEC Racing Report pre-race: Angelle
Savoie
CVEC Racing Report Contact: Jon Knapp
Pre-race
(704) 662-3121
J2Racing@aol.com
Event: 33rd Annual Matco Tools NHRA SuperNationals presented by Racing
Champions
Location: Old Bridge Township Raceway Park, Englishtown, N.J.
Date: May 17 -19, 2002
Angelle Savoie
Star Racing Suzuki Pro Stock Motorcycle
2000 & 2001 Pro Stock Motorcycle Champion
Angelle & Star Racing at Englishtown -
- This will be Angelle's sixth appearance at Old Bridge Township Raceway
Park. In her five previous Matco Tools SuperNationals, she has scored three
consecutive wins from 1998-2000 and was the No. 1 qualifier in 1999.
- Angelle is one of only four drivers to have won three straight events at
Englishtown. The others are Don "The Snake" Prudhomme (1980-82, Funny Car),
Kenny Bernstein (1985-87, Funny Car) and David Schultz (1994-1996, Pro Stock
Motorcycle)
- Angelle qualified No. 2 at Englishtown a year ago, and advanced to the
semi-finals.
- Angelle's overall elimination record at Englishtown is an impressive
15-2.
- Team owner George Bryce and Star Racing have seven victories and two
runner-up finishes at the Matco Tools SuperNationals.
- After three of 14 Pro Stock Motorcycle national events, Angelle leads the
NHRA POWERade Series Points standings with 292 points, nine points ahead of
second place Craig Treble.
- Angelle's 23 national event wins are the most ever by a female driver in
NHRA Drag Racing competition, rank fifth on the all-time Pro Stock Motorcycle
win list, and tie her for 16th on the all-time win list, one behind No. 15
Terry Vance.
- Angelle will be looking to win back-to-back races for the sixth time in
her career, having most recently accomplished this feat at last year's Mac
Tools U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis, Ind. and Pep Boys Nationals in Reading,
Pa.
- Angelle has not suffered a first-round setback since August 22, 1999 at
Brainerd, Minn. That span of 37 races represents the longest streak in NHRA
POWERade Drag Racing.
- Angelle has qualified in the top half of the elimination ladder (eighth
or better) at every one of the 79 races in which she has competed in her Pro
Stock Motorcycle career.
- Angelle has won 18 of her last 47 national event starts, has appeared in
25 final rounds and owns a 125-29 (.838) elimination round win record during
that span. In that same period, she has also recorded 17 low qualifier
efforts.
- Angelle's .768 (189-57) elimination-round win percentage ranks second
among all active drivers, trailing only Matt Hines.
- Angelle's seven national event wins in 2001 are the most ever by a female
competitor in NHRA history.
- Star Racing Suzuki owner George Bryce made his 101st career final round
appearance as an owner at this year's Summit Racing Equipment Nationals in
Atlanta, Ga. Bryce has accomplished this feat with six different riders:
John Myers (56), Angelle Savoie (37), Jim Bernard (3), Steve Johnson (3),
Fred Collis (1) and Bryce himself (1).
- Angelle's quickest career pass is the second quickest elapsed time in Pro
Stock Motorcycle history at 7.099 seconds, which she accomplished on October
7, 2001 in Reading, Pa.
- Angelle's fastest career pass: 191.05 mph, April 14, 2002, Houston,
Texas.
In Angelle's Words -
On racing at Englishtown -
"Englishtown is one race where we have done extremely well, including winning
three years in a row. Any time we've been that successful at a particular
track, I always look forward to going back. The track surface is great, and
the lanes are pretty equal. It's going to be a great event and I can't wait
to get there.
"We've had some bad luck with weather in the past, but the fans have been
fantastic, hanging with us through rain and freezing cold. Hopefully this
year, it'll be sunny and warm throughout the weekend."
Looking back at her win in Atlanta -
"Wow - what a weekend! From the very start, everything was almost perfect.
The only thing missing was resetting the national record, and we came pretty
close to doing that.
"I am absolutely crazy about our new colors. During the weekend I really got
to know Gary(Cornwell, Chairman and CEO of CVEC Power Systems), his wife and
his daughter, as well as all the people from CVEC who came out. I'm thrilled
with the family atmosphere that surrounds them and their products, because
that's the type of background I come from. I'm very proud to represent them.
"What really drove everything home for me was the realization that without
CVEC's support, Atlanta would have been our last race. I'm elated to know
that because of them we have three more years, and I think we found the best
way to show them our appreciation."
On being the POWERade points leader -
"I couldn't stand to see my name in second place. I've been spoiled by being
the points leader and champion for the last two years. Seeing it back on top
shows me what I've been working so hard to accomplish.
"I originally thought my desire to be on top would fade away after winning
the championship, because that's how I usually do things. Once I've mastered
something, I'll move on to something else. But I then realized you can never
really master drag racing - I guess that's why I love the sport so much."
On her competition -
"The level of competition in Pro Stock Motorcycle this year makes it
exciting, and I'm proud to be the points leader. It's getting harder and
harder to win. This year, we have Craig Treble stepping it up, and Shawn
Gann is knocking on the door to the winner's circle. Antron (Brown) may have
stumbled a bit in the first three races, but I know he'll be back on top very
soon.
"Of course, facing Matt (Hines) in the final round in Atlanta was just like
old times, when we were constantly meeting in the final. The competition is
so awesome right now that it takes an outstanding effort just to win a race,
and it's going to be a year-long dogfight for the championship."
2002 NHRA POWERade Pro Stock Motorcycle
Points Standings (after 3 of 14 events):
1. Angelle Savoie - 292
2. Craig Treble - 283 (-9)
3. Matt Hines - 210 (-82)
4. Shawn Gann - 209 (-83)
5. Antron Brown- 166 (-126)
6. Mike Berry - 159 (-133)
7. Steve Johnson - 157 (-135)
8. Geno Scali - 157 (-135)
9. Reggie Showers - 157 (-135)
10. John Smith - 116 (-176)
Television Coverage:
Qualifying: Saturday, May 18, 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. (ESPN)
Eliminations: Sunday, May 19, 7:00 - 10:00 p.m. (ESPN2)
In addition, the NHRA2Day weekly magazine show will air from 11:00 - 11:30
a.m. on Sunday, May 19 on ESPN2.
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