<img src="http://www.nitromater.com/gallery/files/5/c_ellis_814944.jpg" alt="c_ellis_814944" align="right"borders="0"/>
INDIANAPOLIS (April 30, 2008) – After watching Chip Ellis ride the Schumacher Electric Suzuki during the first three Pro Stock Motorcycle events this season, you get the feeling that his first victory of the year is just around the corner. With one runner-up and two semifinal finishes, Ellis enters this weekend's NHRA Midwest Nationals at Gateway International Raceway in Madison, Ill., just over the bridge from St. Louis, with a legitimate chance of taking home the PSM title. This event is the fourth stop on the PSM 17-race 2008 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series schedule.
Ellis is coming off a stellar performance in Atlanta last weekend where he set low elapsed time and top speed of the event en route to a runner-up finish against Andrew Hines. It was his first final-round appearance of the season and eighth of his career and it gave the Florida native a jolt of confidence heading into St. Louis.
"I wish we could go there tomorrow," said Ellis following the Atlanta event. "We just want to continue the performance that we've had during the first three races. I just want to go out there and make good laps; we have a fast motorcycle. Maybe we can get our first win there."
Ellis' last PSM victory came at Gateway in 2006, where he defeated Michael Phillips to earn his fifth career victory. The track installed a new starting-line racing surface during the off-season, but Ellis isn't concerned with what this change might bring.
"It's going to be the same for everybody," he said. "(Crew chief) Steve Tartaglia had a great handle on the clutch tune-up in Atlanta. I think our worst 60-ft. time was 1.06 seconds and in the final round we had a 1.042, which is pretty much unheard of, so I think we'll be fine.
"We went back to the DSR shop in Indianapolis and worked on the bike and we'll be ready to go when we hit the track in St. Louis on Friday."
CHIP ELLIS QUICK FACTS:
* Enters St. Louis fourth in the point standings after three races (two semifinals, one runner-up)
* Runner-up in first final round of the season in Atlanta, eighth career final
* Qualified second at the 2007 Midwest Nationals, lost in the semifinals to Angelle Sampey
* Won 2006 Midwest Nationals, defeated Michael Phillips
* Career round win/loss record is 74-48
* 2008 is first season with Don Schumacher Racing
* Recorded second 6.8-second run (6.892) in Memphis in 2007
* Finished career-best third in the points last season, just eight points shy of winning the championship
* Went down to the final round at the final race to decide the 2007 championship
* Qualified for all 53 NHRA races he has competed in
* A graduate of the Frank Hawley Drag Racing School at Gainesville Raceway
* Competed in 53 NHRA national events since 2004
* Third in 2007 point standings, with two runner-up finishes and five No. 1 qualifiers
* Won five races in seven career final-round appearances
* Qualified No. 1 12 times
* Won first national event at Las Vegas 2 during his rookie season in 2004
* Qualified No. 1 in his NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle debut at the 2004 U.S. Nationals
* Ran an abbreviated 2004 rookie season with a No. 1 qualifier at U.S. Nationals, No. 4 at Reading, No. 2 and event win at Las Vegas and No. 1 qualifier and semi-final appearance at Pomona
* Born in Daytona Beach, Fla., on 2/20/70
* Lives in Brownsburg, Ind., with wife Kathy and daughter McKenzie (10/23/01)
* AMA/Pro Star Formula Super Bike champion in 2003
* AMA/Pro Star Funny Bike champion in 2002
WEEKEND SCHEDULE:
FRIDAY, May 2 - PROFESSIONAL QUALIFYING SESSIONS at 3 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.
SATURDAY, May 3 - Sportsman eliminations begin at 8:30 a.m.
PROFESSIONAL QUALIFYING SESSIONS at 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.
SUNDAY, May 4 - Pre-race ceremonies, 10 a.m.
FINAL ELIMINATIONS begin at 11a.m.
TELEVISION:
Saturday, May 3, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise two hours of qualifying coverage at 9 p.m. (ET).
Sunday May 4, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will air NHRA Race Day, at 11 a.m. (ET).
Sunday, May 4, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise three hours of final round eliminations at 7 p.m. (ET).
SATELLITE:
Friday, May 2, 10-10:30 p.m. (ET) - Horizons 2, Transponder 19 K (12140 MHz, vertical)
Saturday, May 3, 7:30-8 p.m. (ET) - Horizons 2, Transponder 19 K (12140 MHz, vertical)
Sunday, May 4, 7-7:30 p.m. (ET) - Horizons 2, Transponder 19 K (12140 MHz, vertical)
ELLIS TARGETS FIRST VICTORY OF SEASON AT MIDWEST NATIONALS
INDIANAPOLIS (April 30, 2008) – After watching Chip Ellis ride the Schumacher Electric Suzuki during the first three Pro Stock Motorcycle events this season, you get the feeling that his first victory of the year is just around the corner. With one runner-up and two semifinal finishes, Ellis enters this weekend's NHRA Midwest Nationals at Gateway International Raceway in Madison, Ill., just over the bridge from St. Louis, with a legitimate chance of taking home the PSM title. This event is the fourth stop on the PSM 17-race 2008 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series schedule.
Ellis is coming off a stellar performance in Atlanta last weekend where he set low elapsed time and top speed of the event en route to a runner-up finish against Andrew Hines. It was his first final-round appearance of the season and eighth of his career and it gave the Florida native a jolt of confidence heading into St. Louis.
"I wish we could go there tomorrow," said Ellis following the Atlanta event. "We just want to continue the performance that we've had during the first three races. I just want to go out there and make good laps; we have a fast motorcycle. Maybe we can get our first win there."
Ellis' last PSM victory came at Gateway in 2006, where he defeated Michael Phillips to earn his fifth career victory. The track installed a new starting-line racing surface during the off-season, but Ellis isn't concerned with what this change might bring.
"It's going to be the same for everybody," he said. "(Crew chief) Steve Tartaglia had a great handle on the clutch tune-up in Atlanta. I think our worst 60-ft. time was 1.06 seconds and in the final round we had a 1.042, which is pretty much unheard of, so I think we'll be fine.
"We went back to the DSR shop in Indianapolis and worked on the bike and we'll be ready to go when we hit the track in St. Louis on Friday."
CHIP ELLIS QUICK FACTS:
* Enters St. Louis fourth in the point standings after three races (two semifinals, one runner-up)
* Runner-up in first final round of the season in Atlanta, eighth career final
* Qualified second at the 2007 Midwest Nationals, lost in the semifinals to Angelle Sampey
* Won 2006 Midwest Nationals, defeated Michael Phillips
* Career round win/loss record is 74-48
* 2008 is first season with Don Schumacher Racing
* Recorded second 6.8-second run (6.892) in Memphis in 2007
* Finished career-best third in the points last season, just eight points shy of winning the championship
* Went down to the final round at the final race to decide the 2007 championship
* Qualified for all 53 NHRA races he has competed in
* A graduate of the Frank Hawley Drag Racing School at Gainesville Raceway
* Competed in 53 NHRA national events since 2004
* Third in 2007 point standings, with two runner-up finishes and five No. 1 qualifiers
* Won five races in seven career final-round appearances
* Qualified No. 1 12 times
* Won first national event at Las Vegas 2 during his rookie season in 2004
* Qualified No. 1 in his NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle debut at the 2004 U.S. Nationals
* Ran an abbreviated 2004 rookie season with a No. 1 qualifier at U.S. Nationals, No. 4 at Reading, No. 2 and event win at Las Vegas and No. 1 qualifier and semi-final appearance at Pomona
* Born in Daytona Beach, Fla., on 2/20/70
* Lives in Brownsburg, Ind., with wife Kathy and daughter McKenzie (10/23/01)
* AMA/Pro Star Formula Super Bike champion in 2003
* AMA/Pro Star Funny Bike champion in 2002
WEEKEND SCHEDULE:
FRIDAY, May 2 - PROFESSIONAL QUALIFYING SESSIONS at 3 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.
SATURDAY, May 3 - Sportsman eliminations begin at 8:30 a.m.
PROFESSIONAL QUALIFYING SESSIONS at 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.
SUNDAY, May 4 - Pre-race ceremonies, 10 a.m.
FINAL ELIMINATIONS begin at 11a.m.
TELEVISION:
Saturday, May 3, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise two hours of qualifying coverage at 9 p.m. (ET).
Sunday May 4, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will air NHRA Race Day, at 11 a.m. (ET).
Sunday, May 4, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise three hours of final round eliminations at 7 p.m. (ET).
SATELLITE:
Friday, May 2, 10-10:30 p.m. (ET) - Horizons 2, Transponder 19 K (12140 MHz, vertical)
Saturday, May 3, 7:30-8 p.m. (ET) - Horizons 2, Transponder 19 K (12140 MHz, vertical)
Sunday, May 4, 7-7:30 p.m. (ET) - Horizons 2, Transponder 19 K (12140 MHz, vertical)
