SUNDAY – Eliminations
Hines took over the Pro Stock Motorcycle points lead by riding his Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson to a 6.682 at 194.63 in the final round to beat Hector Arana Jr., who redlighted on his Lucas Oil Buell. He earned his 47th career win, fifth of the 2016 season and second at Lucas Oil Raceway with the effort. The winningest Pro Stock Motorcycle racer in NHRA history beat rookie Melissa Surber, alligator farmer Jerry Savoie and Sonoma winner LE Tonglet in the earlier rounds.
“I’ve had a good motorcycle as of late, but it hasn’t been qualifying well,” said Hines, a five-time Pro Stock Motorcycle champion. “I knew the potential of my Harley. I knew I had a bike that could go rounds and we just had to pick on it here and there. We’re getting closer to something that will work for us in the heat. We got to the final round and figured out the tune-up that needed to be in there. I’m happy I made my best run of the weekend in the final round.”
Arana Jr. made his first final round appearance of the season by riding past Michael Ray, Chip Ellis and rookie Cory Reed in the first three rounds. The 2011 Indianapolis winner will head into the playoffs as the No. 7 seed.
LE Tonglet, Chip Ellis, Hector Arana Sr., Matt Smith and Reed all clinched spots into the Countdown to the Championship.
The 2016 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series will continue with the NHRA Carolina Nationals, Sept. 16-18, at zMAX Dragway in Charlotte, N.C. The event is the first race of the six-race NHRA Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship playoffs.
Elimination Round 1
(W) Jerry Savoie (Savoie’s Alligator Farm Suzuki 0.064 6.859 195.48
(L) Scotty Pollacheck (NitroFish Buell) 0.044 10.400 74.01
Savoie is 6 – 3 against Pollacheck in prior events. Jerry Savoie is the defending event champion. Only 4 motorcycle riders have won Indy in consecutive years. He is making his 74th first appearance and has over a 47% win record, He won five of the six prior first round matchups with Pollacheck. Pollacheck is making his seventh first round race and has almost a 54% win record. Pollacheck gets a starting line advantage and then is sitting up in the saddle. Strong pass for Savoie.
(W) Chip Ellis (PiranaZ Buell) 0.016 6.867 195.93
(L) Jim Underdahl (Bad Boy Buggies Suzuki) 0.025 6.922 193.16
Ellis has over a 60% first round win record. Underdahl won their only other first round match up. He already has over a 28% round one win record. Ellis is 2 – 1 against Underdahl in prior events. Two good lights and Ellis pulls steadily ahead for the win.
(W) Hector Arana Jr (Lucas Oil Racing TV Buell) 0.047 6.866 195.56
(L) Michael Ray (UPI Buell) 0.046 6.910 194.16
Arana Jr is 3 – 1 against Ray in prior events. Hector Arana Jr. was the 2011 champion here. This is his 88th first round race and has won almost 74% of those. Ray has almost a 43% win record in round one and has never met Arana in round one before. Just one thousands difference in RT’s and Arana is ahead before 60 feet and takes the twelve foot win. He will have lane choice over Ellis by 0.001.
(W) Cory Reed (Precision Service Equipment Buel 0.027 6.931 194.21
(L) Steve Johnson (Slick 50 Suzuki) 0.044 7.064 192.11
This is the first time Reed and Johnson have faced each other in eliminations. These two have never met in round one before. Steve Johnson won this race in 2005 & 2008. He has over 360 first round appearances and over a 42% win record. Reed has ten prior first round races and won over 66% of those. Reed is away first and pulls steadily ahead for the easy win.
(W) Angelle Sampey (Precision Service Equipment 0.031 6.865 195.76
(L) Hector Arana (Lucas Oil Buell) 0.018 7.044 194.44
Sampey is 6 – 2 against Arana in prior events. Angelle Sampey won Indy twice, 2001 & 2002. This is the 5th time that she has qualified #1 at Indy. Hector Arana’s first Indy was in 1990. He won here in 2009. He has only won two of their prior six round one matchups. Arana gets a starting line advantage, but Sampey is in front before the 60 foot lights. She will keep lane choice next round over Reed by a bunch.
(W) LE Tonglet (Nitro Fish Suzuki) 0.017 6.847 197.25
(L) Matt Smith (Victory Motorcycles Victory) 0.010 6.856 195.00
Tonglet and Smith have each won 9 times against the other in prior events. Matt Smith was the 2006 winner here. He has over a 65% first round win record. L.E. Tonglet won Indy in 2010. He has a 56% win record in the 1st round and has won four of their prior seven round one matchups. Great race. Only seven difference at the green and a super close finish. WOW!
(W) Eddie Krawiec (Screamin’ Eagle/Vance & Hine 0.033 6.835 195.93
(L) Karen Stoffer (Big St Charles Motorsports/S 0.025 6.892 194.58
Krawiec is 16 – 6 against Stoffer in prior events. Eddie Krawiec won here in 2014. He has 156 first round races and has won 82% of those. Stoffer has won almost 51% of her first round races, but only one of her prior matchups against Krawiec. Stoffer has the better light, but Krawiec drives on by about 100 feet out and pulls ahead for a fourteen-foot win.
(W) Andrew Hines (Screamin’ Eagle/Vance & Hines 0.060 6.875 193.13
(L) Melissa Surber (Kosman Specialties Buell) 0.067 6.916 193.49
Hines is 1 – 0 against Surber in prior events. Andrew Hines won this race in 2012. With his 4 rounds in Brainerd Andrew now has competed in 585 rounds and that moves him past Steve Johnson for the most rounds in class history. This is the 6th start for Melissa Surber and she only has one round win in her young career. Another seven difference at the green and Hines powers down the track and gets to the finish line with a fourteen-foot advantage.
Elimination Round 2
(W) Andrew Hines (Screamin’ Eagle/Vance & Hines 0.011 6.883 193.49
(L) Jerry Savoie (Savoie’s Alligator Farm Suzuk 0.000 6.897 195.11
Hines is 9 – 2 against Savoie in prior events. Savoie has won almost 48% of his prior round two match ups Hines has won two of their prior three round two races. Savoie is perfect on the tree and leads Hines to just before the 660 lights. Hines just slips on by and stays in front in the lights. Really close!
(W) Hector Arana Jr (Lucas Oil Racing TV Buell) 0.039 6.930 193.65
(L) Chip Ellis (PiranaZ Buell) 0.048 6.939 194.30
Ellis is 5 – 3 against Arana Jr in prior events. Ellis has won over 53% of his round two races and two of the three prior encounters with Arana. Arana has won over 66 % of his 64 round two match ups
Arana gets a small starting line advantage and rides on down to take the five foot win.
(W) Cory Reed (Precision Service Equipment Buel 0.013 6.883 193.68
(L) Angelle Sampey (Precision Service Equipment -0.015(R) 6.920 194.38
Sampey is 1 – 0 against Reed in prior events. Sampey has won over 66 % of her round two match ups and won their only other meeting. This is Reed’s fifth round two race and he is still looking for a win. A rare red light for Sampey and Reed gets the win and lane choice over Arana next round.
(W) LE Tonglet (Nitro Fish Suzuki) 0.023 6.883 194.69
(L) Eddie Krawiec (Screamin’ Eagle/Vance & Hine 0.028 6.879 195.19
Krawiec is 16 – 7 against Tonglet in prior events. Krawiec has won 70% of his prior round two match ups and six of the nine prior encounters against Tonglet. Just 0.005 difference at the green and 0.001 in the lights. A spectatular race and Tonglet gets the hole shot win.
Elimination Round 3
(W) Hector Arana Jr (Lucas Oil Racing TV Buell) 0.014 6.913 194.44
(L) Cory Reed (Precision Service Equipment Buel -0.001(R) 6.977 191.19
This is the first time Arana Jr and Reed have faced each other in eliminations. Arana takes the Lucas Oil Racing TV bike to the final round, as Reed misses the tree by just -0.001! OUCH!
(W) Andrew Hines (Screamin’ Eagle/Vance & Hines 0.030 6.918 192.85
(L) LE Tonglet (Nitro Fish Suzuki) 0.030 6.925 194.41
Hines is 11 – 10 against Tonglet in prior events. Identical RT’s and HInes gets there first for the win.
Elimination Final Round
(W) Andrew Hines (Screamin’ Eagle/Vance & Hines 0.011 6.862 194.63
(L) Hector Arana Jr (Lucas Oil Racing TV Buell) -0.033(R) 12.358 64.87
Hines is 13 – 8 against Arana Jr in prior events and Hines is 2 – 0 against Arana Jr in prior final rounds. Arana was the winner her in 2011, but has no final round appearence this year. He has a career win record of eleven with seven runner-ups. Hines won here in 2012. He already has four wins and two runner-ups this year. In his career, he has forty-six wins and twenty-eight runner-ups. There has never been a winner here from the number seven qualifying position. The drama ends immediately with a red light! Arana misses the green by -0.033 and throws away a chance for the win. He sits up on the bike and pounds on the tank in frustration. Hines nails the tree with a strong eleven light and makes his quickest run of the weekend for the win.
Pro Stock Motorcycle Points Standings
1. Andrew Hines, 1,026
2. Eddie Krawiec, 985
3. Angelle Sampey, 752
4. Jerry Savoie, 743
5. LE Tonglet, 631
6. Chip Ellis, 535
7. Hector Arana Jr, 526
8. Hector Arana, 505
9. Matt Smith, 449
10. Cory Reed, 410
SUNDAY – Qualifying Round 4 & 5
In Pro Stock Motorcycle, Sampey rode her Star Racing / Precision Service Equipment Buell to the 48th No. 1 qualifier of her career with a 6.812 at 196.62. She set the elapsed time track record with the pass. This is her third No. 1 qualifier of 2016 and fifth ever at Lucas Oil Raceway. Sampey won this race back-to-back in 2001 and 2002. She will go up against 2009 event winner Hector Arana in the first round.
“When they told me I ran an .81 I lost it down there like I had won the race,” said Sampey, who won earlier this year in Englishtown, N.J., to claim her first victory since 2007. “I was hootin’ and hollerin’ because I didn’t expect it. I was very proud of my team and very proud of myself because I did a very good job of driving it that run, which usually doesn’t happen every single run.”
Alligator farmer Jerry Savoie qualified second with a 6.841 at 195.19 on his White Alligator Racing Suzuki. The defending Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals champion is paired with Scott Pollacheck in the opening round.
Eddie Krawiec is third on his Screamin’ Eagle Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson and will race Karen Stoffer Monday morning. Chip Ellis is fourth and matched with Jim Underdahl while Hector Arana Jr. is fifth and will battle Michael Ray.
Eliminations for the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals will begin Monday at 11 a.m. at Lucas Oil Raceway.
Qualifying Round 4
1. Angelle Sampey Precision Service Equipment Bu 6.812 196.62
2. Jerry Savoie Savoie’s Alligator Farm Suzuki 6.841 195.76
3. Eddie Krawiec Screamin’ Eagle/Vance & Hines 6.852 194.77
4. Hector Arana Jr Lucas Oil Racing TV Buell 6.853 195.56
5. LE Tonglet Nitro Fish Suzuki 6.860 195.36
6. Andrew Hines Screamin’ Eagle/Vance & Hines 6.864 194.69
7. Cory Reed Precision Service Equipment Bu 6.868 194.41
8. Melissa Surber Kosman Specialties Buell 6.875 194.38
9. Chip Ellis PiranaZ Buell 6.876 194.46
10. Matt Smith Victory Motorcycles Victory 6.876 193.52
11. Michael Ray UPI Buell 6.901 194.49
12. Jim Underdahl Bad Boy Buggies Suzuki 6.912 194.16
13. Hector Arana Lucas Oil Buell 6.918 194.04
14. Karen Stoffer Big St Charles Motorsports/SEP 6.921 194.52
15. Steve Johnson racethevote.com Suzuki 6.923 193.90
16. Scotty Pollacheck NitroFish Buell 6.970 192.30
——— Not Qualified ———
17. Mark Paquette Suzuki 6.975 192.44
18. Angie Smith Victory Motorcycles Victory 7.038 188.57
19. Kristen Ashby RBR Racing Hayabusa 7.275 183.77
20. Lance Bonham Constellation Motorsports Buel 7.723 180.40
21. Joe DeSantis Team Joey D Suzuki 8.551 190.40
22. Joey Gladstone Awesome Engines Suzuki 16.296 191.73
23. Anthony Vanetti Lucas Oil/MAVTV Buell NT
Qualifying Round 5
1. Angelle Sampey Precision Service Equipment Bu 6.812 197.02
2. Jerry Savoie Savoie’s Alligator Farm Suzuki 6.841 196.85
3. Eddie Krawiec Screamin’ Eagle/Vance & Hines 6.848 195.00
4. Chip Ellis PiranaZ Buell 6.849 196.53
5. Hector Arana Jr Lucas Oil Racing TV Buell 6.853 196.04
6. LE Tonglet Nitro Fish Suzuki 6.860 196.44
7. Andrew Hines Screamin’ Eagle/Vance & Hines 6.864 195.31
8. Cory Reed Precision Service Equipment Bu 6.868 196.07
9. Steve Johnson racethevote.com Suzuki 6.872 195.56
10. Melissa Surber Kosman Specialties Buell 6.875 194.38
11. Matt Smith Victory Motorcycles Victory 6.876 193.52
12. Michael Ray UPI Buell 6.887 194.80
13. Jim Underdahl Bad Boy Buggies Suzuki 6.897 195.39
14. Karen Stoffer Big St Charles Motorsports/SEP 6.907 194.83
15. Scotty Pollacheck NitroFish Buell 6.913 195.34
16. Hector Arana Lucas Oil Buell 6.918 195.11
——— Not Qualified ———
17. Mark Paquette Suzuki 6.962 194.07
18. Joey Gladstone Awesome Engines Suzuki 7.018 193.49
19. Angie Smith Victory Motorcycles Victory 7.038 191.59
20. Kristen Ashby RBR Racing Hayabusa 7.275 183.77
21. Lance Bonham Constellation Motorsports Buel 7.606 180.96
22. Joe DeSantis Team Joey D Suzuki 8.551 190.40
23. Anthony Vanetti Lucas Oil/MAVTV Buell NT
SATURDAY – Qualifying Round 2 & 3
Savoie rode his White Alligator Racing Suzuki to a 6.841 at 195.19 to maintain his No. 1 qualifying position in Pro Stock Motorcycle. The Louisiana alligator farmer has five No. 1 qualifiers in his career. Savoie is the reigning Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals champion and claimed runner-up finishes at this event in 2014 and 2011.
“We’ve been struggling this weekend with a couple of issues and really haven’t made a clean pass yet,” Savoie said. “The first hit today, we bogged it a little bit. The second run was fairly decent but still should’ve gone .81. We just try to be consistent and consistency wins.”
Angelle Sampey, the winningest female racer in NHRA history, moved to the second spot with a 6.851 at 194.52 on her Star Racing / Precision Service Equipment Buell. Sampey, who claimed her first victory since 2007 earlier this year at Englishtown, N.J., is a two-time Indianapolis winner.
Points leader Eddie Krawiec and his teammate Andrew Hines, who is second in points, are qualified third and fourth, respectively, on their Screamin’ Eagle Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson. Krawiec and Hines both have one win here at the Big Go.
Rookie Cory Reed is fifth and LE Tonglet, who won earlier this year at Sonoma and secured his spot in the Countdown to the Championship on Friday, is sixth.
Qualifying for the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals will conclude Sunday with sessions at 11:15 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. and set the field for Sunday’s 11 a.m. eliminations.
Qualifying Round 2
1. Jerry Savoie Savoie’s Alligator Farm Suzuki 6.841 195.28
2. Angelle Sampey Precision Service Equipment Bu 6.851 194.52
3. Eddie Krawiec Screamin’ Eagle/Vance & Hines 6.852 194.77
4. Andrew Hines Screamin’ Eagle/Vance & Hines 6.867 193.85
5. Cory Reed Precision Service Equipment Bu 6.870 193.52
6. Chip Ellis PiranaZ Buell 6.876 194.46
7. Matt Smith Victory Motorcycles Victory 6.876 193.52
8. Hector Arana Jr Lucas Oil Racing TV Buell 6.890 193.96
9. LE Tonglet Nitro Fish Suzuki 6.912 194.52
10. Jim Underdahl Bad Boy Buggies Suzuki 6.912 194.16
11. Hector Arana Lucas Oil Buell 6.918 194.04
12. Michael Ray UPI Buell 6.929 193.99
——— Not Qualified ———
13. Steve Johnson racethevote.com Suzuki 6.929 193.40
14. Karen Stoffer Big St Charles Motorsports/SEP 6.942 193.52
15. Joey Gladstone Awesome Engines Buell 6.950 191.73
16. Mark Paquette Suzuki 6.959 192.38
17. Scotty Pollacheck NitroFish Buell 6.969 192.30
18. Joe DeSantis Team Joey D Suzuki 6.987 190.40
19. Melissa Surber Kosman Specialties Buell 6.997 191.92
20. Angie Smith Victory Motorcycles Victory 7.050 188.57
21. Lance Bonham Constellation Motorsports Buel 7.279 180.40
22. Kristen Ashby RBR Racing Hayabusa 7.338 181.11
23. Anthony Vanetti Lucas Oil/MAVTV Buell 7.653 186.33
Qualifying Round 3
1. Jerry Savoie Savoie’s Alligator Farm Suzuki 6.841 195.28
2. Angelle Sampey Precision Service Equipment Bu 6.851 194.52
3. Eddie Krawiec Screamin’ Eagle/Vance & Hines 6.852 194.77
4. Andrew Hines Screamin’ Eagle/Vance & Hines 6.867 193.85
5. Cory Reed Precision Service Equipment Bu 6.870 193.63
6. LE Tonglet Nitro Fish Suzuki 6.873 194.52
7. Hector Arana Jr Lucas Oil Racing TV Buell 6.874 194.10
8. Chip Ellis PiranaZ Buell 6.876 194.46
9. Matt Smith Victory Motorcycles Victory 6.876 193.52
10. Jim Underdahl Bad Boy Buggies Suzuki 6.912 194.16
11. Hector Arana Lucas Oil Buell 6.918 194.04
12. Michael Ray UPI Buell 6.929 193.99
——— Not Qualified ———
13. Steve Johnson racethevote.com Suzuki 6.929 193.40
14. Karen Stoffer Big St Charles Motorsports/SEP 6.942 193.52
15. Joey Gladstone Awesome Engines Suzuki 6.950 191.73
16. Mark Paquette Suzuki 6.959 192.38
17. Scotty Pollacheck NitroFish Buell 6.969 192.30
18. Joe DeSantis Team Joey D Suzuki 6.987 190.40
19. Melissa Surber Kosman Specialties Buell 6.997 191.92
20. Angie Smith Victory Motorcycles Victory 7.050 188.57
21. Lance Bonham Constellation Motorsports Buel 7.279 180.40
22. Kristen Ashby RBR Racing Hayabusa 7.338 181.11
23. Anthony Vanetti Lucas Oil/MAVTV Buell 7.653 186.33
FRIDAY – Qualifying Round 1
In Pro Stock Motorcycle, Savoie rode his White Alligator Racing Suzuki to the top spot with a 6.848 at 195.28. Savoie, an alligator farmer from Louisiana, has five No. 1 qualifiers in his career. He won the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals last year and posted runner-up finishes here in 2014 and 2011.
“When you come out of the box swinging like we did it’s a good thing because you’re not struggling to find that power,” Savoie said. “It really wasn’t that great of a run. We figured it had an .82 or .83 out there. We bogged it off the line but it gives you a good start to a good weekend. Tonight’s nothing to smile about yet but we did good.”
Points leader Eddie Krawiec is second with a 6.852 at 194.77 on his Screamin’ Eagle Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson. Krawiec, who won this event in 2014, has three wins this year in five final round appearances. His teammate and reigning Pro Stock Motorcycle world champion Andrew Hines is second with a 6.867 at 193.85 on his Screamin’ Eagle Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson. Hines is second in points with four wins in six final rounds.
Rookie Cory Reed is fourth with a 6.870 at 192.66 on his Precision Service Equipment Buell. Chip Ellis is currently fifth and Hector Arana Jr. is sixth.
Qualifying for the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals continues Saturday with sessions at 2:45 and 6:45 p.m.
Qualifying Round 1
1. Jerry Savoie Savoie’s Alligator Farm Suzuki 6.848 195.28
2. Eddie Krawiec Screamin’ Eagle/Vance & Hines 6.852 194.77
3. Andrew Hines Screamin’ Eagle/Vance & Hines 6.867 193.85
4. Cory Reed Precision Service Equipment Bu 6.870 192.66
5. Chip Ellis PiranaZ Buell 6.884 194.35
6. Hector Arana Jr Lucas Oil Racing TV Buell 6.897 192.47
7. Matt Smith Victory Motorcycles Victory 6.911 193.52
8. Angelle Sampey Precision Service Equipment Bu 6.912 193.32
9. Hector Arana Lucas Oil Buell 6.918 194.04
10. Michael Ray UPI Buell 6.929 193.43
11. Jim Underdahl Bad Boy Buggies Suzuki 6.935 191.21
12. Karen Stoffer Big St Charles Motorsports/SEP 6.942 191.81
——— Not Qualified ———
13. Steve Johnson racethevote.com Suzuki 6.948 191.92
14. Melissa Surber Kosman Specialties Buell 7.002 191.02
15. Angie Smith Victory Motorcycles Victory 7.050 188.57
16. Joey Gladstone Awesome Engines Buell 7.067 190.86
17. Mark Paquette Suzuki 7.213 153.25
18. Lance Bonham Constellation Motorsports Buel 7.454 180.40
19. Kristen Ashby RBR Racing Suzuki 7.501 173.76
20. Scotty Pollacheck NitroFish Buell 7.612 129.44
21. Joe DeSantis Team Joey D Suzuki 10.249 81.17
22. LE Tonglet Nitro Fish Suzuki DQ
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