Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series Round 8: Bandimere Speedway l I team owner Bryce, who won two other titles in Denver with the late John Myers on his bike. "This weekend was the best display of our team's ability. The preparation that l e- IraC e the boys at the shop performed and the work we did at the track, combined with years of experience, is paying off huge dividends in the amount of rounds won." After the final, Savoie celebrated more than just the win and the points lead. She was also honored for winning the 19th National event of her career, which moved her past Top Fuel legend Shirley Muldowney to claim the title of NHRA's winningest female racer. "When I started my Pro Stock Bike career five years ago, I never in my wildest dreams expected to have this kind of success," Savoie said. "This is such an amazing accomplishment. Shirley paved the way for women in motorports, and I have all the respect in the world for what s"he means to our sport. For some time, I've been trying to downplay chasing Shirley's record as not that big of a deal, but when I turned the corner at the finish line and there was a big banner with my picture on it, saying 'Congratulations Angelle, NHRA's winningest female racer' it hit me hard. I broke down in tears because I realized just what an accomplishment it was. I have to give all the credit to Star Rac- Team Winston's Angelle Savoie won for the fourth time this year and extended her lead in the points standings after beating second-ranked Antron Brown's Jurassic Park III Suzuki in the final round, 7.59 to 7.63. starting line. Underdahl, who recently began riding again after spending most of the year as a crew member on Brian Delong's team, made it to the semifinals for the first time since the 1999 season, but his bike jumped out of gear on the starting line. The final round was a classic, as Savoie and Brown left the starting line together and remained that way until half-track, when Savoie's Team Winston Suzuki nosed ahead for a 7.59 to 7.63 victory. Ironically, Savoie was able to maintain the lead STORY AND PHOTOS BY KEVIN McKENNA DENVER, CO, JULY 19-22 very year, Team Winston's Angelle Savoie heads into Denver's Bandimere Speedway, expecting the worst. Bandimere, which sits at the foot of the Rocky Mountains, more than 5,800 feet above sea level, is the home track of Savoie's archrival, Matt Hines. And, if there is one venue on the NHRA tour where Hines, and the many racers who use his engines, should have a distinct advantage against Savoie, Bandimere should be it. However, for the second-straight year, that wasn't the case, as Savoie extended her lead in the points standings after winning her fourth event of the season. Savoie also had the quickest bike on the mountain, setting low elapsed time of the race in the final round with a 7.59 to beat Team 23's Antron Brown, who was close behind with a 7.63, but had to settle for his third runner-up finish of the year. "leaving here for the secondstraight year with the trophy, in Matt's backyard, is a big deal," Savoie said. "Beating Matt and then Antron is a tough task. I wish I could have someone easier, bit I guess that's what makes winning so sweet; when you have a tough competitor in the other lane." Tuning a Pro Stock Bike for highaltitude racing is difficult, and during E qualifying, Savoie's Star Performance team, led by team owner George Bryce, struggled with their tune-up. The end results was the number-three qualifying spot, behind Brown, who set the pace with a 7.641, and Hines, who was just one thousandth of a second back with a 7.642. "We struggled in qualifying because that is natural in Denver," Savoie said. "We only race up here once a year and this is such a tough race to tune the motorcycle [for], it took us time to find what it wanted. Fortunately, I have the best team, best bike, best engines, and best coach." By the time race day rolled around, Savoie's team had found the sweet spot and she was barely challenged, particularly in the first two rounds as she rolled past opponents Joe DeSantis and G.T. Tonglet with relative ease. Against Tonglet, the impressive 18-year-old rookie who won the recent event in St. louis, Savoie delivered a crushing blow with a 7.61, a run that was to that point, the quickest of the event. Brown, whose bike and leathers featured a special Jurassic Park III paint scheme for the weekend, could muster nothing quicker than a 7.66 through the first three rounds. likewise, Hines ran a best of 7.67 in round two before eventually redlighting against Savoie in the semifinals. In the other semifinal heat, Brown kept pace with Savoie after Greg Underdahl broke his Suzuki on the even though her bike fell silent just before the finish line. "I broke an engine about 1DO-feet before the finish line," said Savoie, who now leads the points standings by 72 over Brown with five events remaining. "I was just hoping that I could hold on for the win. I know this ing because they were a championship-caliber team long before I came ·around. I just got lucky to be a part of it." eN points battle will be a tough race to the end. Antron [Brown] will not let up, and judging by the runs he made this weekend, Matt [Hines] is back. I believe the combination we have will give us the edge that we need. I just Bandimere Speedway Denver, Colorado Resuhs: July lB-22lRound 9 of 141 PRO STOCK FINAL: 1. Angelle Savoie (Su,) have to continue doing my job and I know it will work out in the end." "This is getting to be big fun, our 7.59. 171.012. Antron Brown (Su,) 7.63,177.04. Upcoming Rounds: Round 10 - Brainerd, Minnesota, August 17-19 Round 11 - Indianapolis, Indiana, August 3DSeptember 3 bike is faster than ever and Angelle is the best she has ever been," added With the win, which was the 19th of her career, Savoie passed Shirley Muldowney as the NHRA's winningest female racer. Muldowney won 18 national events and three championships in Top Fuel dragsters and funny cars. III U III • e n e _ S • AUGUST 8, 2001 37

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