NHRA: Seeling Enjoying Ride Out Front in Pro Stock Motorcycle
8 June 1999
KIRKERSVILLE, Ohio -- Angelle Seeling is really enjoying the view from her spot atop the Pro Stock Motorcycle standings in the NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series.After finishing second in the NHRA Winston championship chase last season to the powerful Eagle One Suzuki of Matt Hines, Seeling has started the 1999 season with avengeance, dominating the category with three victories in four final round appearances. She has built a commanding lead in the Winston point standings, distancing herself from the competition.
Shell try to continue her winning ways at the 35th annual Pontiac Excitement Nationals, June 10-13, at the historic National Trail Raceway, near Columbus. The $1.6 million race is the sixth of 14 events for Pro Stock Motorcycles in the $40 million NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series.
"This season has been a dream come true, its been really awesome," said Seeling, 28, from New Orleans. "All the hard work during the off-season is paying off. Now we just need to keep the momentum going and keep winning races. Weve had a lot of fun this season."
Seeling, who has battled many times with arch-rival Hines, says her focus for the remainder of the season will be competing like shes in a close race for the championship.
"Having the points lead is great for Team Winston but we're not paying attention to who it's over or how many points we're up," Seeling said. "We're attacking each race like we're in a tight point battle because there's still a lot of races to go. This is where we always wanted to be, dreamed we would be and hoped we could be. On this team we have a rule that we will never say what we think will happen. We always hope it will happen, but we don't ever think about winning a number of races or beating somebody in the next round. We don't get into predictions."
Hines, the two-time defending bike champion, admits theres more competition this season, but feels certain when his team works out the bugs in his brand new Suzuki, hell be back stronger than ever. A recent victory at Chicago helped boost his momentum.
"The competition has stepped up," Hines said. "Angelle has been really good and that team has got off to a great start. Guys like Antron Brown, Tony Mullen and Greg Underdahl have really improved their programs. Its going to be an exciting chase for the Winston championship."
New Sponsor: Things just keep getting better for Greg Underdahl. After posting a runner-up finish to Angelle Seeling at Englishtown, Underdahl is fifth in the Winston point standings and proudly displaying a new major sponsor.
Underdahl reached an agreement with George Tamasi to become the newest member of his "TAS Racing" NHRA super team. Underdahl's previous major sponsor of five years, NCN Communications, will become an associate sponsor.. TAS Racing drivers include Super Comp driver George Tamasi Jr. and Super Stock driver Scotty Richardson.
"Tamasi has been looking to branch out into the professional ranks, and after a few serious discussions, we reached an agreement which was mutually right both of us," Underdahl said. "Were looking forward to becoming part of the team."
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