SONOMA CHAMP IN 2006, ELLIS LOOKING TO STAY HOT THIS WEEKEND
<img src="http://www.nitromater.com/gallery/files/5/c_ellis_814944.jpg" alt="c_ellis_814944"align="left"borders="0" />
BROWNSBURG. Ind. (July 22, 2008) – Schumacher Electric Suzuki Pro Stock Motorcycle rider Chip Ellis has been red hot this season and he looks to continue that trend this weekend at the FRAM-Autolite NHRA Nationals at scenic Infineon Raceway, the ninth of 17 races for the Pro Stock Motorcycle class on the 2008 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series tour.
Ellis is third in the PSM point standings with a victory in Englishtown, N.J., a runner-up finish in Atlanta, and one quarterfinal and three semifinal finishes in the first eight races of the year. He has also qualified the Schumacher Electric Suzuki in the top half of the 16-bike field at every event this season, including five No. 2 qualifiers.
The Florida native knows his way to the winner's circle in Sonoma, where he won the PSM title in 2006. Last season Ellis qualified No. 4 and reached the quarterfinals.
"I'm feeling real good about going into Sonoma," said Ellis, who joined Don Schumacher Racing this season. "(Crew chief) Steve Tartaglia has done really well there and I've done really well there, and the Schumacher Electric Suzuki is running awesome. I'm ready to have some fun.
"The fans at Sonoma really love the bikes and to go a tremendous facility like Infineon Raceway where they like the bikes so much is great. I think it'll be a good race for us.
"I'm ready for the challenge," Ellis added. "We've got a stable full of great engines, Steve has been doing a great job with the tune-up and I think we've got a bike that is capable of winning. We've just got to go out there and put together four good runs on Sunday."
CHIP ELLIS QUICK FACTS:
* Third in the point standings after eight of 17 events (one victory in two final rounds, three semifinal, one quarterfinal, and two first-round finishes)
* Won in Sonoma in 2006
* Qualified No. 4 at last season's event in Sonoma, advanced to the quarterfinals
* Has won six races in nine career final-round appearances
* Career round win/loss record is 81-52
* 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 57 NHRA races he has competed in Pro Stock Motorcycle since 2004
* A graduate of the Frank Hawley Drag Racing School at Gainesville Raceway
* Had two runner-up finishes and five No. 1 qualifiers in 2007
* 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/ProStar Formula Super Bike champion in 2003
* AMA/ProStar Funny Bike champion in 2002
<img src="http://www.nitromater.com/gallery/files/5/c_ellis_814944.jpg" alt="c_ellis_814944"align="left"borders="0" />
BROWNSBURG. Ind. (July 22, 2008) – Schumacher Electric Suzuki Pro Stock Motorcycle rider Chip Ellis has been red hot this season and he looks to continue that trend this weekend at the FRAM-Autolite NHRA Nationals at scenic Infineon Raceway, the ninth of 17 races for the Pro Stock Motorcycle class on the 2008 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series tour.
Ellis is third in the PSM point standings with a victory in Englishtown, N.J., a runner-up finish in Atlanta, and one quarterfinal and three semifinal finishes in the first eight races of the year. He has also qualified the Schumacher Electric Suzuki in the top half of the 16-bike field at every event this season, including five No. 2 qualifiers.
The Florida native knows his way to the winner's circle in Sonoma, where he won the PSM title in 2006. Last season Ellis qualified No. 4 and reached the quarterfinals.
"I'm feeling real good about going into Sonoma," said Ellis, who joined Don Schumacher Racing this season. "(Crew chief) Steve Tartaglia has done really well there and I've done really well there, and the Schumacher Electric Suzuki is running awesome. I'm ready to have some fun.
"The fans at Sonoma really love the bikes and to go a tremendous facility like Infineon Raceway where they like the bikes so much is great. I think it'll be a good race for us.
"I'm ready for the challenge," Ellis added. "We've got a stable full of great engines, Steve has been doing a great job with the tune-up and I think we've got a bike that is capable of winning. We've just got to go out there and put together four good runs on Sunday."
CHIP ELLIS QUICK FACTS:
* Third in the point standings after eight of 17 events (one victory in two final rounds, three semifinal, one quarterfinal, and two first-round finishes)
* Won in Sonoma in 2006
* Qualified No. 4 at last season's event in Sonoma, advanced to the quarterfinals
* Has won six races in nine career final-round appearances
* Career round win/loss record is 81-52
* 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 57 NHRA races he has competed in Pro Stock Motorcycle since 2004
* A graduate of the Frank Hawley Drag Racing School at Gainesville Raceway
* Had two runner-up finishes and five No. 1 qualifiers in 2007
* 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/ProStar Formula Super Bike champion in 2003
* AMA/ProStar Funny Bike champion in 2002
