SCHUMACHER ELECTRIC PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLES IN TEXAS: TREBLE GOES OUT EARLY, ELLIS ADVANCES TO THE QUARTERFINALS
ENNIS, Texas (Sept. 21, 2008) – Schumacher Electric Suzuki Pro Stock Motorcycle riders Chip Ellis and Craig Treble were unable to make up ground in the Countdown to 1 playoffs standings today at the NHRA Fall Nationals at Texas Motorplex: Ellis remained in No. 6 and Treble in No. 9. Treble lost in the first round and Ellis advanced to the quarterfinals.
Ellis started off the day by defeating Joe Desantis with an elapsed time of 7.102 at 183.52 mph. He remained consistent in the quarterfinals against Matt Smith, posting a 7.112/183.19. Smith, however, claimed the win with a 7.090/187.21.
Treble left the starting line with a solid .027-second reaction time (.000 is perfect), but opponent Angelle Sampey was even quicker with a .003. Treble's 7.151/181.94 pass wasn't enough to catch Sampey, who took the win with a 7.116/182.08.
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CHIP ELLIS, Schumacher Electric/XXX Racing Fuels Suzuki Pro Stock Motorcycle: "Obviously things could have gone better today," said Ellis, who notched his third quarterfinal finish of the season. "I've changed up some things as far as how I hold the clutch lever and I only had one red light in six runs and that's pretty good for me. I think I'm getting a handle on things, reaction time-wise, and I just feel more confident, and that helps.
"We would have loved to have gone a couple more rounds today, but we'll get our turn and I'm very confident. The Schumacher Electric Suzukis are working great and all the guys on the team are working hard. We'll just go to Memphis next week and try it again. The main thing is that we're going to go out there and try and have fun and get these DSR Suzukis in the finals.
"XXX Racing Fuels has come on board and they're a great sponsor," added Ellis. "They're doing good things for us and for the fuel business as far as keeping it green. My teammate Craig Treble is helping me out with my reaction times and we're just going to creep up on it. I can't wait to get to Memphis because I know we had a good shot at it this weekend; we just came up a little short."
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CRAIG TREBLE, Schumacher Electric/Albrecht's Fast Track Suzuki Pro Stock Motorcycle: "The Schumacher Electric/Albrecht's Fast Track Suzuki didn't seem to pull as good on the top end as it has all weekend," said Treble, who is in his third race riding for Don Schumacher Racing. "I tried to go bracket racing and I squeezed the clutch lever just a little bit. I didn't want to kill the (starting line) tree but I didn't want to be .040 like I was last weekend in Carolina. We just came up a little bit short. Angelle had a .003 light and she just outran me.
"The upside is that every day gets a little bit better over here with this team," added Treble. "The crew guys, Tom Patsis and Jason Jones, are great guys to work with and I just try to lend a hand every now and then and try not to get in the way. These guys have everything under control. Crew chief Steve Tartaglia does an awesome job. He's always up in the engine room working to try and find us some more horsepower. He's a workaholic.
"It's been a great experience. I'm getting used to the bike and I'm looking for bigger things to come in the future. It's only our third race and things are coming around and I'm getting more and more comfortable with the team and the bike."
The next race for the Schumacher Electric Suzuki team will be the 21st annual NHRA Mid-South Nationals at Memphis (Tenn.) Motorsports Park, Sept. 26-28.
UNOFFICIAL PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE COUNTDOWN TO 1 POINT STANDINGS, after two of five events:
1. Matt Smith, 2213 (runner-up today)
2. Eddie Krawiec, 2184
3. Chris Rivas, 2183 (winner today)
4. Steve Johnson, 2166
5. Angelle Sampey, 2165
6. Chip Ellis, 2138
7. Andrew Hines, 2132
8. Matt Guidera, 2104
9. Craig Treble, 2054
10. Karen Stoffer, 2046
