G Squared Motorsports and Chip Ellis hope momentum continues
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE G SQUARED MOTORSPORTS OWNERS: GEORGE BRYCE & GEORGE SMITH NHRA POWERADE DRAG RACING SERIES PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE: G SQUARED S&S BUELL RIDER: CHIP ELLIS MEDIA CONTACT: Mickey Schultz PHONE: 770-476-8477 E-MAIL: mschultz@bellsouth.net 18TH ANNUAL NHRA FRAM AUTOLITE NATIONALS INFINEON RACEWAY - SONOMA, CALIF. JULY 29-31, 2005 G Squared and Chip Ellis hope momentum continues SONOMA, Calif. (July 27, 2005) - G Squared Motorsports, owned by partners George Bryce and George Smith, and Chip Ellis, driver of the G Squared S&S Buell Pro Stock Motorcycle, look to continue the momentum established at the last race in Denver at this weekend's 18th annual NHRA FRAM Autolite Nationals. At the high altitudes in Denver, Ellis advanced to the semifinals. George Bryce hopes to capture the same magic at Infineon Raceway. "Denver was an altitude race; Sonoma is a sea level race. So logically, we just have to tune the opposite of what we did at Denver at Sonoma," said Bryce. "Although we've never raced the S&S-powered Buell V-Twin at Sonoma, we should be able to use what we learned at Gainesville and Houston earlier in the year this weekend at Infineon Raceway. "My plan is to attack it the same way we did at Denver. We ran really good there. That race got our confidence level back up and gave us some much-needed momentum going into Sonoma. "I also should tell everyone that Ken (Johnson) is doing well and is currently in Ohio getting his prosthesis built and fitted by Tracy Slemker, of Prosthetic Design in Dayton. Ken has targeted a return to the track at Indy, so continue to remember him and his wife Kassi in your thoughts and prayers." Although Bryce has brought bikes here in both 2002 and 2003, for Ellis this will be his first trip to the wine country of the Sonoma (Calif.) Valley. Entering this event Ellis is No. 6 in points with 479 and is just 8 points behind fifth and 86 behind the NHRA POWERade Pro Stock Motorcycle point leader GT Tonglet. Prior to the race, on Thursday (July 28), Ellis will join other competitors from the Pro Stock Motorcycle class -- Steve Johnson, Geno Scali, Connie Cohen, Matt Smith, Craig Treble, Karen Stoffer, and Chris Rivas at GoKart Racer in Burlingame (Calif.) from 6-9 p.m., taking part in an NHRA racers versus LIVE 105-FM listeners indoor go-kart race. A special note regarding NHRA2Day, the magazine-style television show that gives you the latest news about the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series. The show, usually seen on Sunday morning, moves to prime time on ESPN2 HD on Sunday evening (July 31) at 8:30 p.m. (ET), immediately preceding the three-hour elimination show. (For full television times and information, please see below.) QUALIFYING: Qualifying gets underway for Ellis and the G Squared/S&S Buell with two sessions on Friday, scheduled for 3:45 and 6:45 p.m. Qualifying concludes with two additional sessions on Saturday, at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Ellis begins his quest for the Pro Stock Motorcycle title on Sunday with eliminations for all classes getting underway at 11 a.m. All times are local Sonoma time -- Pacific Time (PT): 3 hours behind the Eastern Time zone -- and subject to change at anytime. TELEVISION: Qualifying highlights for the 18th annual NHRA FRAM Autolite Nationals can be seen on ESPN2 HD on Saturday evening (July 30) from 8-10 p.m. The qualifying show repeats on ESPN2 HD early Sunday morning (July 31) from 3-5 a.m. ESPN2 HD will also air three hours of same-day television coverage of eliminations beginning at 9 p.m. on Sunday evening (July 31). The elimination show repeats on ESPN2 HD early Monday morning, August 1, from 2 until 4:30 a.m. Also, tune in to NHRA2Day on ESPN2 HD, the weekly show that gives you the latest information about the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series. NHRA2Day can be seen on Sunday evening, July 31 at 8:30 p.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. -30-