CVEC Racing Report, Chicago: Angelle &
CVEC Suzuki team set sights on Route 66 w
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CVEC Racing Report Contact: Jon
Knapp
(704) 662-3121
J2Racing@aol.com
Event: 5th Annual Chicagoland Dodge Dealers NHRA Nationals
Location: Route 66 Raceway, Joliet, Ill.
Date: May 30 -June 2, 2002
Angelle Savoie
Star Racing Suzuki Pro Stock Motorcycle
2000 & 2001 Pro Stock Motorcycle Champion
1. Angelle & CVEC Suzuki team set sights on Route 66 winner's circle
In only six full seasons in the NHRA's POWERade Drag Racing Series, Angelle
Savoie has quickly established herself as one of the top competitors in the
sport. With two championships, twenty-three national event wins and
twenty-six No. 1 qualifying performances, the CVEC Suzuki rider has certainly
become a leading force in Pro Stock Motorcycle.
Despite these many accomplishments, Angelle and the Star Racing team have no
shortage of goals. Naturally, a third championship is their primary focus,
and they enter the Chicagoland Dodge Dealers NHRA Nationals as the points
leader.
However, an immediate priority is reaching the Route 66 Raceway winner's
circle. In this showplace speedplant's four years, Angelle has two runner-up
finishes, but is still seeking her first victory in Joliet. It is a small
gap in her racing resume that she hopes to fill in this weekend.
"At every race, I try to find some motivation beyond simply winning. This
week I'll be driven by the fact that we have yet to win at Route 66 Raceway.
I find going to two finals here and not coming away with the trophy pretty
frustrating.
"I really love the facility. I think the way the stands wrap around at the
starting line is really cool, almost like half of a football stadium. But
there are a couple of problems with the track that I'll have to deal with.
For example, I remember the racing surface was a little bit bumpy last year,
so it will be interesting to see how it is now.
"My biggest problem, however, is the lack of targets at the end of the track.
This is one of the racetracks where there is nothing but open fields at the
end, without any trees or other landmarks, and I need a target to shoot for.
"Last year we were able to get one of the race officials to duct tape a black
garbage bag to the wall at the end of the track, and that helped
tremendously. Hopefully, we can do something like that again this year, and
finally put our beautiful CVEC Suzuki in the Joliet winner's circle."
2. In Angelle's Words -
On setting the elapsed time record in Englishtown -
"The feeling is still awesome. Almost two weeks later, I'll run into people
and they'll congratulate me on setting the record. We are really proud to
have it back with Star Racing.
"The neat part about it is that the feeling lasts longer than when you win.
You only get about a week to enjoy a win before the next race, but with a
record, it's yours until it's broken, and hopefully, the next time it
happens, it will be the CVEC Suzuki doing it again."
On the tight POWERade points battle -
"A tight points race is great for the fans, and this race is going to get
even better. I think it's neat that I'm battling Craig Treble right now,
because it's not as exciting to continually have the same people fighting for
the championship.
"Besides, I'm pretty sure there is going to be more than two people in the
race very soon. Now that Antron (Brown) seems to have gotten over his bad
luck by winning in Englishtown, I'm sure he'll be in the thick of it, and
Shawn Gann is going to be knocking down the door pretty soon.
"On one hand, I'd love to run away with the championship. But I really don't
think that's going to happen. We're going to have to earn it, which I won't
mind, because it will make winning it even better."
3. Facts on Angelle & Star Racing entering Route 66 Raceway -
- This will be Angelle's fifth appearance at Route 66 Raceway. In her four
previous Chicagoland Dodge Dealer Nationals, she has been the No. 1 qualifier
and posted scored two runner-up finishes.
- Angelle was the No. 1 qualifier in Chicago a year ago (with an elapsed
time of 7.103 seconds), and was the runner-up to Antron Brown.
- 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
- Angelle's twenty-three career victories have come at twelve different
tracks. However, Route 66 Raceway is one of only three facilities on the 2002
NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle schedule where Angelle has yet to reach the
winner's circle. (The other locations are Brainerd and Sonoma, where the
bikes will race for the first time in 2002.)
- After four of 14 Pro Stock Motorcycle national events, Angelle leads the
NHRA POWERade Series Points standings with 390 points, eleven 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 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 80 races in which she has competed in her Pro
Stock Motorcycle career.
- Angelle has won 18 of her last 48 national event starts, has appeared in
25 final rounds and owns a 127-30 (.809) elimination round win record during
that span. In that same period, she has also recorded 18 low qualifier
efforts.
- Angelle's .767 (191-58) 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 fastest career pass: 192.44 mph, May 14, 2002, Englishtown, New
Jersey.
2002 NHRA POWERade Pro Stock Motorcycle
Points Standings (after 4 of 14 events):
1. Angelle Savoie - 390
2. Craig Treble - 379 (-11)
3. Antron Brown - 281 (-109)
4. Shawn Gann - 263 (-127)
5. Matt Hines - 247 (-143)
6. Reggie Showers - 230 (-160)
7. Geno Scali - 211 (-179)
8. Mike Berry - 191 (-199)
9. Steve Johnson - 189 (-201)
10. John Smith - 169 (-221)
Television Coverage:
Qualifying: Saturday, June 1, 8:30 - 10:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Eliminations: Sunday, June 2, 7:30 - 10:00 p.m. (ESPN2)
In addition, the NHRA2Day weekly magazine show will air from 11:00 - 11:30
a.m. on Sunday, Junue 2 on ESPN2.
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