Angelle & the Mohegan Sun team look for another
productive NHRA weekend in Reading
Event: 18th Annual Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals
Location: Maple Grove Raceway, Reading, PA
Date: September 13 - 15, 2002
Angelle Savoie
Mohegan Sun Suzuki Pro Stock Motorcycle
2000 & 2001 Pro Stock Motorcycle Champion
1. Angelle & the Mohegan Sun Suzuki team look for
another productive weekend in Reading
A team embroiled in a championship fight looks for any advantage they can
claim over their competitors. For example, they might look forward to those
races on the schedule where they have achieved success in the past.
Therefore, it stands to reason that a smile must be coming over the
collective faces of Angelle Savoie and the Star Racing team as they approach
this weekend's Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals in Reading, Pa.
In six previous races at Maple Grove Raceway, this talented team has amassed
three wins (including Angelle's first national event title in 1996) in four
final round appearances, as well as two No. 1 qualifying efforts. This year,
they arrive in Pennsylvania with a 111-point lead in the POWERade points
standings and fresh off their second U.S Nationals win in Indianapolis ten
days ago. Perhaps more importantly, Angelle and the Star Racing crew will be
sporting a new look, as they will unveil the colors of new primary sponsor
Mohegan Sun, the Uncasville, CT gaming resort that has come on board for the
season's final three races.
"Maple Grove Raceway is my most memorable track because I got my first win
there, and the fans always give me a warm welcome," said Angelle. "I really
like Reading because the weather conditions usually allow us to run fast and
set national records, which can be as exciting as winning a race.
"I'm not sure why I do so well in Reading. It's not a track where I've made
a lot of practice runs, so I have to attribute it to George's (team owner
Bryce) tuning abilities. He always finds a way to take advantage of the
great conditions there and get the best performance out of the bike.
"I'm really excited about Mohegan Sun's joining the Star Racing team. I'm
glad we'll be able to show our new colors, and I'm looking forward to having
everything match again. I'm also looking forward to visiting Uncasville often
for some R&R and taking advantage of the many amenities they have to offer,
from the spa to the shops. I may even take a chance or two at the black jack
tables."
Ironically, their most recent Reading success may have been their most
remarkable performance at this traditional speedplant. One year ago, the
team uncharacteristically struggled in qualifying, ending up eighth at a
facility where in the past they had fared no worse than second. However, by
Sunday's final eliminations they had regained their winning form, eliminating
a veritable all-star cast in the first three rounds before defeating surprise
opponent Steve Johnson in the final.
"Last year's win was the most difficult of my career, and a weekend I will
never forget," explained Angelle. "After qualifying eighth, which was lower
than I ever had, I had to beat three of the toughest competitors in Pro Stock
Motorcycle - Shawn Gann, Matt Hines and Antron Brown, just to reach the
final. But that win made me prouder of myself and my team than any other in
my entire career. Being able to beat the best is always the most rewarding
way to win."
As if the prospect of winning their fifth race of the 2002 season, or further
expanding on their championship points lead was not motivation enough, Maple
Grove Raceway's well-earned reputation for delivering high-powered
performance has added extra incentive for the NHRA's "sprocket rockets". The
Mickey Thompson Tire company has posted a $10,000 award for the first Pro
Stock Motorcycle to record a six-second elapsed time, which, given the right
conditions, could occur this weekend. Naturally, it is a historic
accomplishment, which Angelle and the Mohegan Sun Suzuki crew would like to
add to their racing resume. Despite the allure, however, the primary focus
will remain on the race and the chase for the championship.
"I think a six-second run is possible this weekend," stated Angelle, "but the
weather, the track and even the tail wind will have to be perfect. Even
though I know our Mohegan Sun Suzuki is fully capable to getting it done, I
hope our shot at Mickey Thompson's $10,000 doesn't disappear before we even
run.
"The qualifying order is first set by the points standings, and after that by
how well you performed on your last run. In either case, we are usually in
the last pair of bikes to run, and this will give our competitors, whether
it's Matt (Hines) or Shawn a chance to do it first.
"There are a couple reasons why this award is so important. Naturally, as
racers, we want to be first in everything, and this is no different. Second,
the prize money is very appealing to our team. It's an exciting prospect,
but I can't focus on it, because if I do, I run the risk of making a costly
mistake. Honestly, if I had to choose, I would rather win the race and the
championship than being the first six-second bike, although this Star Racing
team is going to try our best to do both."
2. In Angelle's Words -
On winning her second U.S. Nationals title -
"It was tremendous to win the U.S. Nationals again. The race has so much
history and tradition behind it that I am proud to be a two-time champion,
but I want to win every race as much as I wanted to win that one."
On marking the first anniversary of the September 11 tragedies -
"What can I say about that day that hasn't been said already? One year
later, it still seems like a bad dream, but the reality of it makes me very
sad. I really love New York City, and still look for the twin towers
whenever I go there. They were simply magnificent.
"When I think of the many lives that were taken that day, I have to ask God
for his help, because my feelings towards the people who committed this act
are not what He would want. I prefer to focus on the victims and their
families, and will keep them in my prayers."
3. Facts on Angelle & Star Racing entering the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals -
- Angelle is the defending Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals champion. After
qualifying an uncharacteristic No. 8 (her worst qualifying performance of her
illustrious 87-race career), she defeated Shawn Gann, Matt Hines, Antron
Brown and Steve Johnson en route to her third Keystone Nationals win.
- This will be Angelle's 7th appearance at Maple Grove Raceway. In her six
previous races, she has three wins, one runner-up performance, as well as a
single semi-final finish in 1997.
- Angelle has a 18-3 elimination round record at Maple Grove Raceway, for a
winning percentage of .857.
- Angelle has a 2.66 qualifying average in Reading, with two No. 1 and
three No. 2 qualifying performances. In fact, if you take away her No. 8
from a year ago, Angelle's qualifying average drops to a very impressive
1.66.
- In twelve years of competing at Maple Grove, the Star Racing team has
four wins (John Myers - 1995 and Angelle 1996, 1998 and 2001) in seven final
round appearances.
- Should Angelle capture the No. 1 qualifying position, it would be her
eighth of the 2002 season, setting a new career-best single-season effort.
Angelle tied her previous best of seven with her No. 1 qualifying effort at
the U.S. Nationals.
- Angelle will be looking to score back-to-back wins for the sixth time in
her career, having last accomplished the feat one year ago by capturing the
Mac Tools U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis, IN and the Pep Boys Keystone
Nationals in Reading.
- 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 eleven of 14 Pro Stock Motorcycle national events, Angelle leads
the NHRA POWERade Series Points standings with 1074 points, 111 points ahead
of second-place Craig Treble.
- Angelle's 26 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 87 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 44-race winning streak is the longest in the history of
NHRA POWERade Drag Racing.
- Angelle has won 23 of her last 57 national event starts, has appeared in
30 final rounds and owns a 152-34 (.817) elimination round win record during
that span. In that same period, she has also recorded 26 low qualifier
efforts.
- Angelle's .776 (211-61) elimination-round win percentage ranks second
among all active drivers, trailing only Matt Hines (.780).
- 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 105th career final round
appearance as an owner at the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis, IN
two weeks ago. Bryce has accomplished this feat with six different riders:
John Myers (56), Angelle Savoie (41), 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 11 of 14 events):
1. Angelle Savoie - 1074
2. Craig Treble - 963 (-111)
3. Antron Brown - 823 (-251)
4. Matt Hines - 785 (-289)
5. Shawn Gann - 771 (-303)
6. Geno Scali - 561 (-513)
7. Reggie Showers - 519 (-555)
8. Mike Berry - 498 (-576)
9. John Smith - 441 (-633)
10. Steve Johnson - 409 (-665)
2002 K&N Filters Pro Bike Klash Points Standings
(after 1 of 14 events):
1. Angelle Savoie - 175
2. Matt Hines - 165 (-10)
3. Shawn Gann - 155 (-20)
4. Geno Scali - 145 (-30)
5. Craig Treble - 140 (-35)
6. Reggie Showers- 135 (-40)
7. Antron Brown - 130 (-45)
8. John Smith - 125 (-50)
Television Coverage:
Qualifying: Saturday, September 14, 4:00 - 5:30 p.m. (ESPN2)
Eliminations: Sunday, September 15, 4:30 - 7:00 p.m. (ESPN2)
In addition, the NHRA2Day weekly magazine show will air from 11:00 - 11:30
a.m. on Sunday, September 15 on ESPN2.
(Note: All times given are Eastern. Please check your local listings.)
