G Squared Motorsports: Smith finishes No. 1, Ellis follows close at No. 3
G SQUARED MOTORSPORTS OWNERS: GEORGE BRYCE & GEORGE SMITH NHRA POWERADE DRAG RACING SERIES PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE: G SQUARED S&S BUELL RIDERS: CHIP ELLIS and MATT SMITH MEDIA CONTACT: Mickey Schultz PHONE: 425-557-8899 E-MAIL: mschultz@bellsouth.net 41ST ANNUAL NHRA AUTOMOBILE CLUB OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA POMONA RACEWAY - POMONA, CALIF. NOVEMBER 3-6, 2005 Chip Ellis: Session 1 Friday: 7.091 seconds at 187.60 mph (#2) Session 2 Friday: 7.079 seconds at 188.94 mph (# 5) Session 1 Saturday: 7.047 seconds at 190.30 mph (# 3) Session 2 Saturday: 7.129 seconds at 182.33 mph (# 3) Matt Smith: Session 1 Friday: 7.097 seconds at 189.82 mph (# 3) Session 2 Friday: 7.000 seconds at 189.71 mph (# 1) Session 1 Saturday: 7.126 seconds at 166.30 mph (# 1) Session 2 Saturday: 7.074 seconds at 183.42 mph (# 1) Matt Smith (R) No. 1; Chip Ellis (L) No. 3 Smith finishes No. 1, Ellis follows close at No. 3 POMONA, Calif. (November 5, 2005) - On the strength of a track record 7.000-second run on Friday, Matt Smith, from King N.C., who rides the G Squared Red Line Oil/Skull Gear/Torco Racing Fuels Buell, finished No. 1, as qualified ended today for the 41st annual NHRA Automobile Club of Southern California Finals. It was the first No. 1 for Smith whose run was the third quickest elapsed time in Pro Stock Motorcycle history. He will square of against Michael Phillips who qualified No. 16. Phillips best pass was a 7.218 second run. "I'm not in the point race. Even if I win I can't get into the top 10 so we're just focused on winning the race and that's it," Smith said, who is No. 12 in POWERade points. "There are three bikes fighting for the championship but if we run into them we're just going to treat them like anyone else and try to win. "I'm so privileged to be able to ride this bike. It's great just to be mentioned with the top riders but I feel like we deserve to be there. It'll be a tough road to the final because every bike in this field has to be considered really tough competition but we might have something for them all tomorrow." Smith's teammate Chip Ellis, from Americus, Ga., was close behind in the No. 3 spot. Ellis recorded a 7.047- second run at 190.30 mph down the fabled Pomona Raceway in today's opening session of qualifying. He will open tomorrow's first round opposite Geno Scali, who qualified No. 14, with an elapsed time of 7.190 seconds at 186.28 mph. ELIMINATIONS: Ellis and Smith begin their quest for the Top Fuel title on Sunday with eliminations for all classes getting underway at 11 a.m. Time is local Pomona time - Pacific Time (PT) - 3 hours behind Eastern Time (ET) -- and subject to change at anytime. TELEVISION: Two hours of qualifying highlights for the 41st annual Automobile Club of Southern California Finals can be seen on ESPN2 late Saturday evening (Nov. 5) beginning at 10 p.m. ESPN2 will also air three hours of same-day television coverage of eliminations beginning at 7 p.m. on Sunday evening (Nov. 6). The elimination show repeats on ESPN2 early Monday morning, Nov. 21, from 2:30 until 4:30 a.m. Also, tune in to NHRA2Day on ESPN2, the weekly show that gives you the latest information about the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series. NHRA2Day can be seen on Sunday morning, Nov. 6 at 11:30 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.