Ellis aboard the G2/S&S Buell No. 5 at Atlanta
G SQUARED MOTORSPORTS OWNERS: GEORGE BRYCE & GEORGE SMITH NHRA POWERADE DRAG RACING SERIES PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE: G SQUARED S&S BUELL RIDER: CHIP ELLIS 25TH ANNUAL NHRA SUMMIT RACING EQUIPMENT SOUTHERN NATIONALS ATLANTA DRAGWAY - COMMERCE, GA. MAY 12-15, 2005 Session 1 Friday: 7.213 seconds at 187.03 mph (# 3) Session 2 Friday: 7.159 seconds at 184.65 mph (# 4) Session 1 Saturday: 7.267 seconds at 179.97 mph (# 5) Session 2 Saturday: 7.186 seconds at 184.22 mph (# 5) Ellis aboard the G2/S&S Buell No. 5 at Atlanta COMMERCE, Ga. (May 14, 2005) - Chip Ellis, aboard the G Squared/S&S Buell, finished No. 5 as qualifying ended for the Summit Racing Equipment Southern Nationals presented by Pontiac. Ellis' best of four qualifying runs down the Atlanta Dragway quarter-mile was 7.159 seconds at 184.65 mph. In tomorrow's eliminations, the Americus, Ga., driver will face POWERade Pro Stock Motorcycle point leader Steve Johnson in the opening round as Ellis goes for his first win of 2005. "Our times during qualifying were a good start for how conditions are going to be tomorrow. We feel ready for tomorrow. We tested before we got here and based on our testing and the conditions here Big George (Smith), Little George (Bryce) and Ken Johnson have given me a good bike to compete with during eliminations. I need to ride good and turn the win light on four times, one round at a time," said Ellis. His G Squared team owners, George Bryce and George Smith, know something about winning. As an owner and rider, George Bryce has accumulated 67 national event wins -- 33 with the late, great, three-time series champion John Myers, 28 with three-time series champion Angelle Sampey, one each with Fred Collis and Chip Ellis, two for himself as a rider and two as a crew chief for Reggie Showers. "It takes preparation to be a winner," said Bryce. "You can just come to the race track and hope to do well. All our wins come from being more prepared than the other teams. You've got to have the right people. You've got to have the right equipment. You've got to have luck. Our definition of luck is when opportunity and preparation come together." George and Jackie Bryce's seven year-old daughter, Julie, already know that Chip Ellis is a winner. She says, "I've been coming to the track with my mommy and my daddy since I was six-weeks-old. I think Chip (Ellis) is a great guy and a great racer. To me he is a winner every day." George Smith served as S&S Cycle president and vice president of research and development and engineering until 1993. In 1995, Smith formed Hubba-Hubba Racing which has since evolved into a consulting firm in which Smith has coordinated the S&S Street Pro and Pro Stock projects. Smith has accomplished much during his storied career. Notable among his drag racing accomplishments was putting together the Harley bike and team that broke the 200 mph barrier in 1995. During the same period, Smith also devoted time to running the Bonneville Salt Flats. "To be a winner takes a total commitment to excel," said George Smith as he reflected on what it takes to be a winner. "You must practice and prepare and then execute. On this team, Chip Ellis is a winner. So are the guys like Ken Johnson and guys from S&S Cycle that ready the G Squared/S&S Buell. This team has a commitment to win and we have made significant inroads toward our goals to be the best in the sport." This event is the first of five in seven weeks. Upon the conclusion of the Summit Racing Equipment Southern Nationals, the Pro Stock Motorcycles move to Columbus, Ohio, next weekend. After two weeks off, the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series then begins back-to-back-to-back races in Joliet, Ill. (June 9-12), Englishtown, N.J. (June 16-19) and St. Louis (June 24-26). ELIMINATIONS: With Smith, Bryce and Ken Johnson calling the tuning set up, Ellis begins his quest for the Pro Stock Motorcycle title on Sunday with eliminations for all classes beginning at 11 a.m. All times are EASTERN TIME (ET) and subject to change at anytime. TELEVISION: Qualifying highlights for the 25th annual Summit Racing Equipment Southern Nationals can be seen on ESPN2 this evening (May 14) from 7-9 p.m. ESPN2 will also air same-day television coverage of eliminations from 7 until 10 p.m. on Sunday evening (May 15). The elimination show repeats on ESPN2 early Monday morning, May 16, from 2 until 3:30 a.m. Television times are EASTERN TIME (ET) and subject to change at anytime. Check local listings. G SQUARED MOTORSPORTS: When Harley Davidson accelerated their effort in NHRA, S&S Cycle decided in 2002 to join the battle. Because of his vast R&D experience, coupled with his racing background, S&S asked George Smith to head their project to field a competitive S&S V-Twin bike on the NHRA circuit. Smith immediately asked George Bryce, who had been working with S&S Cycle on a similar project, to join the new endeavor and G Squared Motorsports was formed in 2003. Both Smith and Bryce knew if they collaborated on the project, joining the resources, knowledge and talents of S&S and Star Racing, they could produce a competitive bike to race in Pro Stock Motorcycle competition on the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series. The G Squared/S&S-powered V-Twin Buell debuted in 2004.