Angelle's record streak is snapped in Pomona

Event: 38th Annual Auto Club of Southern California Nationals
Location: Pomona Raceway, Pomona, California
Date: November 10, 2002

Angelle Savoie and the Mohegan Sun Racing team looked to celebrate their 2002 POWERade Pro Stock Motorcycle championship by claiming their seventh win of the season at the Auto Club of Southern California Finals.  After unrelenting rains had forced the NHRA to set Sunday's field based on Thursday's solitary qualifying session, the Star Racing's pursuit of victory started from the second position against No. 15 qualifier Scott Lewis.

Unfortunately, Angelle's hopes of capping her championship season with a fourth consecutive national event win were dashed in dramatic fashion, as she was upset in the first round.  Although she posted the third quickest elapsed time of the round, an uncharacteristically slow start had given her opponent an insurmountable advantage.

This snapped Angelle's NHRA record 46-race string of successive first round successes dating back to August 22, 1999 in Brainerd, MN.  

"I'm more disappointed by losing in the first round than I would have been if I lost in the final.  That was an awesome streak we had going, and it was hard to win all those first rounds.  George (team owner Bryce) thinks it will never be broken, but you never know.

"This just seemed to be a weird weekend, with one qualifying run followed by two days of rain.  It was actually a freaky feeling to be staging for the first round of eliminations with only one run under our belt.  In fact, that was my first run of the weekend in the left hand lane. 

"I was comfortable enough, but it was just a freak accident.  My mind said go, but my hand didn't respond, and I ended up double-clutching the bike.  I'm disappointed for myself, my team and my sponsors.  We had some people here from Mohegan Sun, who came out to watch us win, and we end up going out in the first round for the first time in three years!"

However, Angelle was quick to point out that despite today's initial disappointment, it had been a phenomenal year for the Star Racing team.

"We're certainly not happy with today's results, but it makes it a little easier knowing we're the POWERade champions. It's been a great season for the Star Racing team. One benefit of today's race is that I actually got to do some things I normally don't do, such as working in the announcer's booth and hanging out with the fans earlier than I'm used to doing.  Of course, I plan on those being one-time experiences. 

"The year is now officially over, so we're going to take a little time to sit back and celebrate our championship, including heading up to Mohegan Sun.  But, knowing this Star Racing team, they'll start working on next season as soon as they get back to Americus (Georgia)."

2002 Season Highlights:

- Angelle won her third consecutive NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle Championship, which not only tied Matt Hines' mark, but also matched Shirley Muldowney's record for most championships by a female competitor.

- Angelle won six races in 2002, most by any competitor in the Pro Stock Motorcycle category, marking the fourth consecutive year she has accomplished this feat.

- Angelle's 28 career victories are the most by a female competitor in NHRA Drag Racing history, rank fourth on the all-time Pro Stock Motorcycle list, and tie her with Darrell Alderman for 12th on the all-time professional win list.

- Angelle captured seven No. 1 qualifying positions, equaling her previous personal best from 2001 to once again lead the Pro Stock Motorcycle category.

- Angelle recorded the quickest elapsed time in Pro Stock Motorcycle history at 7.049 seconds on May 18, 2002 in Englishtown, N.J., bettering the previous record by five hundredths of a second.

- Angelle set a new personal top speed at 192.52 mph on August 4, 2002 in Sonoma, California.

- The 2002 NHRA POWERade championship marks the sixth Pro Stock Motorcycle title for the Star Racing team, with Angelle Savoie and the late John Myers each earning three.

- Star Racing Suzuki owner George Bryce made his 107th career final round appearance as an owner at the ACDelco Las Vegas Nationals in Las Vegas, NV two weeks ago.  Bryce has accomplished this feat with six different riders: John Myers (56), Angelle Savoie (43), Jim Bernard (3), Steve Johnson (3), Fred Collis (1) and Bryce himself (1).


Final 2002 NHRA POWERade Pro Stock Motorcycle
Points Standings:
     
1. Angelle Savoie - 1345*
2. Craig Treble  - 1149   (-196)
3. Matt Hines -       1057  (-288)
4. Antron Brown -        982   (-363)
5. Shawn Gann -        979   (-366)
6. Geno Scali - 738   (-607)
7. Reggie Showers  - 657   (-688)    
8. Mike Berry - 571   (-774)
9. John Smith - 537   (-808)
10. Steve Johnson -  502   (-843)
*-2002 champion

2002 K&N Filters Pro Bike Klash Points Standings
(after 4 of 14 events):

1. Matt Hines -       670
2. Angelle Savoie - 670
3. Shawn Gann - 625 (-45)
4. Craig Treble - 585 (-85)
5. Andrew Hines - 515 (-155)
6. Antron Brown- 500 (-170)
    Reggie Showers - 500 (-170)
    Geno Scali -       500 (-170)
9. John Smith -       460 (-210)
10. Karen Stoffer -       435 (-235)

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