CVEC Racing Report: Angelle & CVEC Suzuki
team look to take control in Madison
CVEC Racing Report Contact: Jon
Knapp
(704) 662-3121
J2Racing@aol.com
(Note: The following will be sent as an attachment in text format in a second
e-mail.)
Event: 6th Annual Sears Craftsman Nationals
Location: Gateway International Raceway, Madison, IL
Date: June 27 -30, 2002
Angelle Savoie
Star Racing Suzuki Pro Stock Motorcycle
2000 & 2001 Pro Stock Motorcycle Champion
1. Angelle & CVEC Suzuki team look to take control in Madison
To her Star Racing teammates, she is "the champ". For the most part, her
competitors refer to her as "the girl". To her legions of fans, she goes
simply by her first name. But no matter how one chooses to address Angelle
Savoie, the fact remains that she and her CVEC Suzuki Racing team have been
one of the biggest stories of the 2002 NHRA season, as they battle to remain
atop the Pro Stock Motorcycle standings.
Although their record in the first six races is the envy of everyone in the
Pro Stock Bike pit area, Angelle and the Star Racing team's commitment to
excellence drives them to accomplish even more. Two wins in three final
round appearances, coupled with three No. 1 qualifying performances and a new
national elapsed time record is certainly something to be proud of.
However, with their sights squarely set on a third consecutive NHRA
Championship, these achievements are simply a foundation for Angelle and the
CVEC crew. This weekend, the current POWERade point leaders look to move a
step closer to their goal, and enter the Sears Craftsman Nationals determined
to reach the winner's circle.
"Naturally, our primary goal is to keep the points lead for the rest of the
year and successfully defend our championship. However, once we get to the
track, I am more concerned about winning that particular race than I am about
the championship.
"I'm actually disappointed in our season so far, and particularly in myself,
because at every race except for maybe the last one in Columbus, this Star
Racing team has given me the fastest bike, one that was capable of winning.
"We've had a few mechanical problems, and I've made my share of mistakes,
including the red light in Columbus, but I feel like the CVEC Suzuki should
have won more than two races so far.
"You have to understand the Star Racing team's mentality. George (team owner
Bryce) and I are not satisfied with winning a race, or simply taking over the
points lead. We want to dominate, from qualifying No. 1 to setting records
and winning races. It may sound greedy, but after all, that's why we're out
there - to win.
"We're hoping to go to St. Louis and get back on track, running like we did
in Atlanta and Chicago, with the CVEC Suzuki, myself and the team all
performing like we can."
Ironically, similarities can be drawn between Star Racing's history at
Gateway International Raceway and their 2002 season. With one win, a
runner-up finish and a 12-4 elimination round record, Angelle has clearly
been among the best in Pro Stock Bike in each of her previous five visits to
the Madison, Ill. speed plant. However, there is room for improvement,
providing more than enough motivation for the entire team.
"We've normally run well at Gateway because it's usually very hot, and George
(team owner Bryce) is absolutely awesome at tuning in the heat. I credit
that to his living in Americus, Georgia, where it's hot almost all the time,
which has allowed him to really get a handle on a warm weather tune-up. But,
just like this season, we're not happy with only one win there, and we hope
to correct that this weekend.
"When it's that hot, the driver has to make sure to not think about the heat
too much, especially when you're in the lanes with your leathers and helmet
on. Being so warm makes it harder to concentrate on doing your job, so you
have to put it out of your mind, and focus.
"That's why I appreciate the fans in St. Louis so much. Even in the
sweltering heat, they always come out and support us. I know how
uncomfortable that can be, so having them hang out throughout the day means a
lot to us. Hopefully we can pay them back with a win."
2. In Angelle's Words -
On the rivalries in Pro Stock Bike -
"I've had a rivalry with Matt (Hines) for years, and I know the fans like to
see us race. It used to be a competitive, friendly on-track situation, where
we had two strong teams battling every week for the win, much like John Myers
and Dave Schultz used to.
"Unfortunately, lately he has taken it to a more personal level, which I feel
crosses the line, so I no longer concern myself with him. What he says or
does has no affect on either myself or the Star Racing team, and we know the
best way to keep him quiet is to beat him, so that's what we focus on.
"Right now I think the better rivalry not only for us, but the fans is the
one I have with Antron Brown. He's a part of my family, and we are true
friends on and off the track, doing things together when we're home. For
example, last week I gave him a hard time because he hadn't shown me the
latest pictures of his baby.
"I enjoy racing Antron because both he and his team are so good, that if we
win, we know we've beaten the best. I get more pumped up for him than any
other racer, and fortunately, we're pretty even, trading off wins. He beats
me one week, and I come back to get him the next week. Best of all, no
matter what happens, at the end of the track, we pat each other on the back.
That in my mind is a good rivalry.
"Based on the beginning of the season, there seems to be another good rivalry
starting with Craig Treble. In the past, he wasn't a particular threat, but
he has really come on recently, which is great for him and our class. We
need more potential winners that just one or two bikes, and right now, we're
looking at four or five that could win at any moment."
On making it to the midpoint of the 2002 NHRA POWERade season -
"I like getting to the halfway point when we have a huge points lead, but
right now, with things so close, part of me want it to be earlier in the
season, while another part wants it to be the last race.
"Fortunately, I know this is the point of the year where the Star Racing
team usually starts to accelerate, while others may start falling off. In
some cases, it's due to not having the budget to keep up with the wear and
tear, which due to CVEC is not a problem for us. For others, it's just the
grind of the season, with all the travel involved, which I've learned to deal
with.
"For whatever reason, right about now we'll starting hitting on all cylinders
and having more fun while many of our competitors start nosing over. So,
while that has me excited at the halfway point, I certainly wouldn't mind
having a bigger lead in the points."
3. - Facts on Angelle & Star Racing entering Gateway Int'l Raceway
- This will be Angelle's 6th appearance at Gateway International Raceway,
where she and the Star Racing team will look to duplicate their winning
performance from 1999.
- One year ago, Angelle qualified 3rd in Madison, and advanced to the
semi-finals.
- Angelle has a 12-4 elimination round record at Gateway, with two
semi-final finishes (1998, 2001) and one runner-up performance (2000) to go
with her 1999 win.
- 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 six of 14 Pro Stock Motorcycle national events, Angelle leads the
NHRA POWERade Series Points standings with 585 points, thirty-six points
ahead of second place Craig Treble.
- Angelle's 24 national event wins are the most ever by a female driver in
NHRA Drag Racing competition, tying her for fourth on the all-time Pro Stock
Motorcycle win list with Terry Vance. Angelle and Vance are also tied for
15th on the all-time win list, one behind No. 14 Gary Scelzi.
- Angelle's twenty-four 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 and
Sonoma, where the bikes will race for the first time in 2002.
- Angelle has not suffered a first-round setback since August 22, 1999 at
Brainerd, Minn. That span of 39 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 82 races in which she has competed in her Pro
Stock Motorcycle career.
- Angelle has won 21 of her last 52 national event starts, has appeared in
28 final rounds and owns a 137-31 (.815) elimination round win record during
that span. In that same period, she has also recorded 22 low qualifier
efforts.
- Angelle's .772 (196-58) elimination-round win percentage ranks second
among all active drivers, trailing only Matt Hines (.785).
- 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 102nd career final round
appearance as an owner at this year's Chicagoland Dodge Dealers Nationals in
Joliet, Il. Bryce has accomplished this feat with six different riders: John
Myers (56), Angelle Savoie (38), 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 6 of 14 events):
1. Angelle Savoie - 585
2. Craig Treble - 549 (-36)
3. Antron Brown - 471 (-114)
4. Matt Hines - 399 (-186)
5. Shawn Gann - 396 (-189)
6. Geno Scali - 316 (-269)
7. Reggie Showers - 295 (-290)
8. Mike Berry - 279 (-306)
9. John Smith - 254 (-331)
10. Steve Johnson - 230 (-355)
2002 K&N Filters Pro Bike Klash Points Standings
1. Angelle Savoie - 1670
2. Matt Hines - 1580 (-90)
3. Shawn Gann - 1530 (-140)
4. Antron Brown - 1475 (-195)
5. Craig Treble - 1415 (-255)
6. Mike Berry - 1265 (-405)
7. Reggie Showers- 1245 (-425)
8. Geno Scali - 1235 (-435)
9. Steve Johnson - 985 (-685)
10. Joe DeSantis - 815 (-855)
Television Coverage:
Qualifying: Saturday, June 29, 9:00 - 11:00 p.m. (ESPN2)
Eliminations: Sunday, June 30, 8:00 - 10:30 p.m. (ESPN2)
In addition, the NHRA2Day weekly magazine show will air from 11:00 - 11:30
a.m. on Sunday, June 30 on ESPN2.
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