[coverattach=1]JOLIET, Ill. (June 5, 2010) - Riding the Valvoline Motorcycle Oils Suzuki, Craig Treble held on to pole position in the Pro Stock Motorcycle class following two more qualifying rounds for the 13th annual Route 66 NHRA Nationals.
After posting his initial pole-setting run on Friday evening of 6.960 seconds at 190.27 mph, Treble improved in today's second run with a 6.932/188.96 pass as he ran side-by-side against points leader Hector Arana. Arana came close to snatching No. 1 from Treble with a 6.948/192.30, but had to settle for second place.
Treble was also paired against Arana in the final session, where he pulled out a slower 6.983/187.23 pass, but Arana's 6.950/191.00 was not enough to overtake Treble as low qualifier.
This marked Treble's first No. 1 of the year, and the fourth of his career. His last No. 1 came in 2003 at the Pomona, Calif., season finale, where he won the event.
"It was a lot wetter last night and today it started drying out after the rain finally subsided," said Treble of the weather changes. "And you could ride the bike up there to the staging lanes and not have to dodge all the puddles all the way up there, so that was kind of nice. We saw the humidity dropping and this morning it was a lot better than last night, obviously. Everybody picked up a little bit and, man, I still can’t believe it.
“They just told me up on the top end this is my first [No. 1] in seven years. I had no idea it’s been that long, but, you know what, I’m with the right team and I've got the right crew chief to make that happen. So, Steve (Tartaglia, crew chief), I can’t say enough good things about that guy. He worked so hard from Atlanta to now - over 30 dyno pulls. He killed himself, but I guess that’s the fruits of his labor because he did most of the work. Evan (Ray, crew member) and I tried to do what we could to help and not get in his way and we prepared the bike, got the trailer packed and did whatever we could do to let Steve go in his laboratory and do what Steve does.
“We tried something in that last hit; changed the gearing a little bit just to see if it would like it or not. Obviously, it did not. So, it's better to learn in qualifying when you’re locked in there pretty solid with the ET."
Treble is also unsure of the fate of the Valvoline Suzuki team as the 2010 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing season continues. "We're kind of uncertain as to where this team is going because the Valvoline deal is just about wrapped,” he said. “We’re not sure if the rig is getting parked or not, so it’s kind of up in the air right now. We’re going to keep working hard and slugging away until Don (Schumacher, team owner) says park it.
“It’s not going to hurt! That’s for certain," he said when asked how important it would be to win this weekend.
Treble faces No. 16 qualifier Redell Harris in the opening round of Sunday's eliminations.
After posting his initial pole-setting run on Friday evening of 6.960 seconds at 190.27 mph, Treble improved in today's second run with a 6.932/188.96 pass as he ran side-by-side against points leader Hector Arana. Arana came close to snatching No. 1 from Treble with a 6.948/192.30, but had to settle for second place.
Treble was also paired against Arana in the final session, where he pulled out a slower 6.983/187.23 pass, but Arana's 6.950/191.00 was not enough to overtake Treble as low qualifier.
This marked Treble's first No. 1 of the year, and the fourth of his career. His last No. 1 came in 2003 at the Pomona, Calif., season finale, where he won the event.
"It was a lot wetter last night and today it started drying out after the rain finally subsided," said Treble of the weather changes. "And you could ride the bike up there to the staging lanes and not have to dodge all the puddles all the way up there, so that was kind of nice. We saw the humidity dropping and this morning it was a lot better than last night, obviously. Everybody picked up a little bit and, man, I still can’t believe it.
“They just told me up on the top end this is my first [No. 1] in seven years. I had no idea it’s been that long, but, you know what, I’m with the right team and I've got the right crew chief to make that happen. So, Steve (Tartaglia, crew chief), I can’t say enough good things about that guy. He worked so hard from Atlanta to now - over 30 dyno pulls. He killed himself, but I guess that’s the fruits of his labor because he did most of the work. Evan (Ray, crew member) and I tried to do what we could to help and not get in his way and we prepared the bike, got the trailer packed and did whatever we could do to let Steve go in his laboratory and do what Steve does.
“We tried something in that last hit; changed the gearing a little bit just to see if it would like it or not. Obviously, it did not. So, it's better to learn in qualifying when you’re locked in there pretty solid with the ET."
Treble is also unsure of the fate of the Valvoline Suzuki team as the 2010 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing season continues. "We're kind of uncertain as to where this team is going because the Valvoline deal is just about wrapped,” he said. “We’re not sure if the rig is getting parked or not, so it’s kind of up in the air right now. We’re going to keep working hard and slugging away until Don (Schumacher, team owner) says park it.
“It’s not going to hurt! That’s for certain," he said when asked how important it would be to win this weekend.
Treble faces No. 16 qualifier Redell Harris in the opening round of Sunday's eliminations.
