For Angelle & Star Racing, a second U.S.
Nationals win would be twice as sweet
(Note: The following will be sent in text format in an e-mail which will
follow immediately.)
Star Racing Report Contact:
Jon Knapp
(704) 662-3121
J2Racing@aol.com
Event: 48th Annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals
Location: Indianapolis Raceway Park, Clermont, IN
Date: August 30 - September 2, 2002
Angelle Savoie
Star Racing Suzuki Pro Stock Motorcycle
2000 & 2001 Pro Stock Motorcycle Champion
1. For Angelle & Star Racing, a second U.S. Nationals win would
be twice as sweet
The 2002 NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle season is made up of fourteen national
events at racetracks across the United States. From Pomona to Englishtown,
and from Gainesville to Brainerd, drag racing's two-wheeled wonders battle
tooth and nail not only for the individual race wins, but to earn points
towards the coveted POWERade championship.
However, there is one race among the fourteen that stands above the rest.
Every Labor Day, drag racing's best converge in Indianapolis for the biggest
race of the year, the U.S. Nationals. As current POWERade points leader
Angelle Savoie explains, it is the one national event title, which
competitors place on a level with winning the championship, the one that
completes any drag racer's resume.
"The U.S. Nationals is the one race everyone wants to win. I explain it to
people who aren't avid drag racing fans by calling it our Super Bowl. You
can feel the excitement with so many things going on throughout the weekend.
"The one word I hear most often associated with this race is 'prestigious',
and there's no denying how important this single race is. You definitely get
a special notch in your gun belt if you can win Indy."
This year marks the forty-eighth running of the "Big Go", and Angelle and the
Star Racing team come in prepared to defend their title. After posting
runner-up finishes in the two previous years, Angelle and the Star Racing
Suzuki took Indianapolis Raceway Park by storm in 2001, starting by
establishing a new track record in claiming the No. 1 qualifying position.
In final eliminations, Angelle powered through the field, edging friend and
rival Shawn Gann in the final.
"Our win here one year ago was definitely the high point of my season. The
Star Racing team had given me a great bike to ride, and we were able to put
it in the winner's circle on Monday. After twice being the runner-up, it was
truly exciting to add my first U.S. Nationals win to my racing
accomplishments."
As befits an event of this stature, Angelle and Star Racing's assignment will
be even tougher the second time around. The road to Indianapolis has not
been a smooth one, as throughout the season the team has had to fend off
unfounded accusations from competitors, while quietly dealing with
sponsorship issues. In fact, they will arrive at the U.S. Nationals in
search of a primary marketing partner.
"I see all the trials and tribulations we've gone through this year as tests
to see just how tough we are. I know everything we've gone through on and
off the race track this year has made me a stronger person professionally,
spiritually and emotionally, and I've dealt with things better than I might
have four or five years ago.
"Back then I didn't know how to handle the stress, and it affected what I did
on the track. Now, no matter how bad things may be, I cannot wait to get on
my Star Racing Suzuki, because as soon as they start it up, my problems
disappear for those few minutes.
"We've also been fortunate to have the support of sponsors like Snap-On Tools
and Suzuki, who have been with us for a long time, and are the reason we've
been able remain competitive through these tough times."
In true Star Racing fashion, they have maintained their position as the
leaders in Pro Stock Motorcycle. For example, Angelle enters the U.S.
Nationals atop the POWERade points standings with three wins, the national
elapsed time record and six No. 1 qualifying efforts. But under the
circumstances, it is easy to see how winning this year's U.S. Nationals could
mean even more to Angelle and her crew.
"I thought the importance of winning here would die down after we did it
last year, but just like with the championship, the experience just makes you
want to do it again.
"This year our goal is to win both the K&N Pro Bike Klash and the U.S.
Nationals, not only for the honor of winning both races, but also because it
would really help our financial situation. We will have to work together to
make sure the bike is tuned for the track, and I plan to focus really hard on
doing my job.
"The importance of winning this weekend transcends even the U.S. Nationals.
Throughout my career, we've been fortunate to win one out of every three
races. This will be our fourth race since our last win, and we are really
hungry, and the entire team could use the boost that a win gives you.
"The Star Racing team has always celebrated a win like it's our first, but
with all that's gone on, this year's have been even sweeter. I guarantee
that if we win the U.S. Nationals, the celebration you will see will make you
think it really is our first win."
2. In Angelle's Words -
On racing at Indianapolis Raceway Park -
"As I recall, the Indianapolis track is pretty good. Although you can get
down both lanes, in either case you have to find the groove and stay in it.
If you don't keep it in there, you're in trouble. The surface is good, but
you have to be in the right spot to be fast. Fortunately, I know the Star
Racing team will give me the bike to beat.
On the POWERade championship fight -
"We're certainly in a tough fight. Craig Treble and his team are doing a
great job of staying close to us. At the beginning of the year when he was
running well, I wasn't' sure he could maintain that pace, and to his credit,
so far he has.
"I did expect Matt (Hines) and Antron (Brown) to run a little better than
they have so far, but Craig has done the best job of keeping us in his
sights. That's not a great thing for us, but I know it makes it more
exciting for the fans.
"Of course, we'd love to have a bigger points lead, and we could look back at
a few races where we had one problem or another, thinking what might have
been. But that doesn't help us move forward.
"The bottom line is that we are still in the points lead, and that is what's
important. At the last race, we only need to be one point ahead to win, so
we are going to keep fighting to earn every point that we can.
"Just as I have in the past, I've been counting points like everyone else.
The difference from previous years is that they don't bother me. I use it in
a positive sense now, motivating myself to do even better."
3. Facts on Angelle & Star Racing entering the U.S. Nationals -
- Angelle is the defending U.S. Nationals champion. After qualifying No. 1
with an Indianapolis Raceway Park track record 7.127-second elapsed time, she
defeated Sam Hurwitz, Todd Doege, Craig Treble and Shawn Gann en route to her
first U.S. Nationals win.
ü This will be Angelle's 6th appearance at the U.S. Nationals. In her five
previous races at IRP, she has one win, two runner-up performances, as well
as two semi-final finishes.
- Angelle has a 14-4 elimination round record at the U.S. Nationals, for a
winning percentage of .778.
- In twelve years of competing at the U.S. Nationals, the Star Racing team
has four wins (John Myers - 1989,1996, 1997 and Angelle 2001) in eight final
round appearances.
- Should Angelle capture the No. 1 qualifying position, it would be her
seventh of the 2002 season, tying her career-best single-season effort from
the 2000 season.
- 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 ten of 14 Pro Stock Motorcycle national events, Angelle leads the
NHRA POWERade Series Points standings with 956 points, 67 points ahead of
second-place Craig Treble.
- Angelle's 25 national event wins are the most ever by a female driver in
NHRA Drag Racing competition, and is fourth on the all-time Pro Stock
Motorcycle win list. Angelle is also tied for 14th on the all-time NHRA
professional win list with Gary Scelzi.
- Angelle has qualified in the top half of the elimination ladder (eighth
or better) at every one of the 86 races in which she has competed in her Pro
Stock Motorcycle career.
- Angelle has not suffered a first-round setback since August 22, 1999 in
Brainerd, MN. That 43-race winning streak is the longest in the history of
NHRA POWERade Drag Racing.
- Angelle has won 22 of her last 56 national event starts, has appeared in
30 final rounds and owns a 148-34 (.813) elimination round win record during
that span. In that same period, she has also recorded 25 low qualifier
efforts.
- Angelle's .772 (207-61) elimination-round win percentage ranks second
among all active drivers, trailing only Matt Hines (.786).
ü 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 104th career final round
appearance as an owner at this year's Mopar Parts Mile High Nationals in
Denver, CO. Bryce has accomplished this feat with six different riders: John
Myers (56), Angelle Savoie (40), Jim Bernard (3), Steve Johnson (3), Fred
Collis (1) and Bryce himself (1).
- Angelle's fastest career pass: 192.52 mph, August 4, 2002, Sonoma,
California.
2002 NHRA POWERade Pro Stock Motorcycle
Points Standings (after 10 of 14 events):
1. Angelle Savoie - 956
2. Craig Treble - 889 (-67)
3. Antron Brown - 750 (-206)
4. Matt Hines - 728 (-228)
5. Shawn Gann - 675 (-281)
6. Geno Scali - 526 (-430)
7. Reggie Showers - 465 (-491)
8. Mike Berry - 447 (-509)
9. John Smith - 408 (-548)
10. Steve Johnson - 378 (-578)
Final Standings heading into the 2002 K&N Filters Pro Bike Klash:
1. Angelle Savoie - 2360
2. Matt Hines - 2250 (-110)
3. Shawn Gann - 2105 (-255)
4. Antron Brown - 2055 (-305)
5. Craig Treble - 2000 (-360)
6. Reggie Showers- 1745 (-615)
7. Mike Berry - 1720 (-640)
8. Geno Scali - 1615 (-745)
Television Coverage:
Qualifying: Saturday, August 31, 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. (ESPN2)
Sunday, September 1, 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. (ESPN2)
9:30 p.m. - 12:00 a.m.
(ESPN2)
Eliminations: Monday, September 2, 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. (ESPN2)
4:30 - 7:30 p.m. (ESPN2)
In addition, the NHRA2Day weekly magazine show will air from 11:00 - 11:30
a.m. on Sunday, September 1 on ESPN2.
(Note: All times given are Eastern. Please check your local listings.)
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