Suzuki rider Ellis fights for PSM Championship in Texas

BROWNSBURG, Ind. Sept. 17, 2008 -­ Schumacher Electric/XXX Racing Fuels Suzuki Pro Stock Motorcycle rider Chip Ellis will be working hard to gain ground on the points leaders this weekend at the 23rd annual NHRA Fall Nationals in Ennis, Texas, the second of five races for the class in the 2008 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series Countdown to 1 playoffs.

Ellis endured a tough opening race of the playoffs at the Inaugural Carolinas NHRA Nationals in Concord, N.C., last weekend, losing in an upset-filled first round when he was disqualified for a red-light start. Five of the top 10 riders in the Countdown lost in round one, which helped ease the pain for Ellis, who is just 64 markers out of No. 1, despite the early exit.

"It's just going to be business as usual when we get to the Texas Motorplex," said Ellis, who is No. 6 in the points. "I'm just going to go out there and try and turn on some green lights. That seems to be pretty tough in Pro Stock Motorcycle these days.

"As always, the Schumacher Electric/XXX Racing Fuels Suzuki is running great. I just need to go out there and be 'race ready' on Sunday. I feel like I'm that way every Sunday, but it's just tough out there. I guess I need to try a different strategy in order to cut green lights on race day. My Schumacher Electric teammate Craig Treble said he was going to help me with that and I'm going to hold him to it. We'll work on a practice starting tree and on the actual bike."

Ellis was the No. 1 qualifier in Pro Stock Motorcycle at last yearıs Texas Motorplex event.