Event: 2nd Annual ACDelco Las Vegas Nationals
Location: The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Las Vegas, NV
Date: October 27, 2002
Angelle Savoie and the Mohegan Sun Racing team hit the jackpot during Sunday's
final eliminations of the ACDelco Las Vegas Nationals, taking home both the
national event win and the 2002 NHRA POWERade Pro Stock Motorcycle championship,
which they accomplished in dramatic fashion, defeating rivals Craig Treble and
Matt Hines in the semi-finals and final.
"This championship will be very special for the entire Star Racing team
because of everything we've gone through this year both on and off the
racetrack. It has probably been one of toughest seasons that we've been
through, so even though it's hard to compare this year's to the other two, we
feel like we really had to fight to get this one.
"I can't say enough about this Star Racing team. They are so awesome,
and are such good people. They are honest racers, going back to our
trailer after every run and working to get better. We all get along, which
helped us through the difficult times this year. If we didn't gain any
respect in the past, this year should certainly do it.
"Mohegan Sun really came through for us in these last three races of the
year, and helped us get in a position to clinch this championship. I really
thank them for coming on board and hope we can convince them to stick with us
next year."
Coming into Las Vegas with a 173-point lead in the POWERade championship
standings, the Star Racing team knew the title was in their reach.
However, despite the temptation to count points, Angelle and crew simply focused
on one thing - winning the race.
After qualifying second, Angelle opened eliminations against Karen Stoffer in a
rematch of the Reading final. Running the second quickest pass of the
round, Angelle's 7.308-second effort easily eliminated Stoffer, who slowed to an
8.855 elapsed time. In the second round, Angelle paced the Pro Stock
Motorcycle field with a 7.293-second elapsed time to defeat Geno Scali.
This set the stage for a dramatic semi-final, as Angelle would face rival Craig
Treble, her closest pursuer in the points, and the only competitor with a chance
to catch her in the championship chase. The picture was now perfectly clear - a
win by the Star Racing entry would give them an insurmountable points lead, and
their third consecutive championship.
Throughout the season, Treble had been a worthy adversary, scrapping to stay in
contention. However, this time the contest was over before it even started, as
Treble left the starting line two hundredths of a second too soon, handing the
automatic win, and in essence, the championship to Angelle, whose winning
7.288-second elapsed time gave her lane choice over Matt Hines in the final.
"I was excited to race Craig in the semis because I just wanted to get the
championship over with. Craig pushes me to be the best, and what I had on
my mind going in was how good of a light he was going to cut, so I knew I had to
do the same. I was only able to pull out a .450, so when I saw his red light
come on, I was happy.
"I knew long before the finish line that it was over, and that was a big
compliment to see that he felt he had to push the tree as hard as he did.
He's such an awesome racer, and he was pushing it because he knew he had to, but
it's so unusual for him. When I saw that, I went into autopilot, and
really can't remember anything about the run, other than thinking 'Oh my God,
it's finally over.'"
With the championship in hand, Angelle and the Mohegan Sun crew now looked to
cap off the weekend with their sixth win of the season. However, they
faced a tough assignment, as they would be facing long-time rival Hines, who had
qualified in the No. 1 position. Once again, Angelle and the Mohegan Sun
crew were ready for the challenge as she used a lightning-quick .408 reaction to
leave the line three hundredths of a second ahead of her opponent, and used her
quickest pass of the day at 7.247 seconds, with a top speed of 183.99 mph
scoring a hole-shot win over a hard-charging Hines, whose 7.218-second pass at
190.65 mph was not enough to overcome Angelle's starting line advantage.
"There is nothing better than to win on a hole shot. Naturally, the
Star Racing team gets most of the credit and they should, because they build and
tune my Mohegan Sun Suzuki, but to beat Matt on a hole shot is such an awesome
feeling. I can't really explain it, but, as strange as it may sound, I
feel like I finally have something to do with our winning.
"We made our fastest run of the day in the final, and we needed it, because
from what I hear, he was catching us. I don't know what he did to pull up
a .21 - they must have had a great set-up. We did the same thing and had a
terrific 7.24.
"But the .408 light is what did it for me, and I'm really happy about it.
He took a little longer to stage, and that actually helped me, because it let me
zone in on the tree, and when the lights flashed, I was just outta there.
I heard him out there, and thank God they put those win lights on the wall, but
I don't think I could have waited until the top end to know if I won. It was the
perfect ending to a great day."
Fast Facts:
- With her third NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle championship, Angelle not only ties
Matt Hines for the most consecutive titles in Pro Stock Bike, but also equals
drag racing legend Shirley Muldowney's mark for most championships by a female
competitor.
- This is the 28th win of Angelle's career (and sixth of the 2002 season) and
second at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
- Angelle's 28 wins are the most by a female competitor in NHRA history.
- This is the first time Angelle has won three consecutive races in her career.
- Angelle has led the NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle standings following 43 of the
last 54 national events, dating back to the beginning of the 1999 season.
She has been ranked first or second an amazing 60 of the last 64 events, dating
back to the fourth event of 1998.
- Angelle has won 24 of her last 58 national event starts, has appeared in 32
final rounds and owns a 160-34 (.825) elimination round win record during that
span. In that same period, she has also recorded 26 low qualifier efforts.
- Angelle's .782 (219-61) elimination-round win percentage is the best among all
active drivers.
2002 NHRA POWERade Pro Stock Motorcycle
Points Standings (after 13 of 14 events):
1. Angelle Savoie - 1308
2. Craig Treble - 1094 (-214)
3. Antron Brown - 950 (-358)
4. Matt Hines - 941 (-367)
5. Shawn Gann - 901 (-407)
6. Geno Scali - 644 (-664)
7. Reggie Showers - 605 (-703)
8. Mike Berry - 540 (-768)
9. John Smith - 505 (-803)
10. Steve Johnson - 472 (-836)
2002 K&N Filters Pro Bike Klash Points Standings
(after 3 of 14 events):
1. Matt Hines - 515
2. Angelle Savoie - 505 (-10)
3. Shawn Gann - 450 (-65)
4. Craig Treble - 440 (-75)
5. Antron Brown - 385 (-130)
6. Andrew Hines- 380 (-135)
Reggie Showers -380 (-135)
8. Geno Scali - 360 (-155)
9. John Smith - 350 (-165)
10. Karen Stoffer - 310 (-205)
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