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NHRAIPowerAde Drag Racing Series Round 7: Gateway Int'l Raceway he publicly accused Savoie's Star Team of bending the rules. "I do have one question for that one competitor who made all those allegations in Columbus," said Savoie, obviously referring to Hines. "He made all those accusations and now he is running just as fast as we are. I'd just like to know why he is suddenly able to run as well as we are." Hines did qualify in the second spot with a 7.20, but his bid to claim his first win of the season came to an end in the semifinals when he slowed to a 7.28 and lost to Gann, who scored the narrow victory with a 7.27. "Beating Matt was candy for me," said Gann, who like Savoie has not enjoyed the best relationship with the former three-time class champ. Savoie's only miscue of the weekend came in the opening round where she gave up a tremendous starting-line holeshot to Sam Hurwitz. Down by STORY AND PHOTOS BY KEVIN McKENNA MADISON, IL, J(]NE 27 -30 f'(lot to overstate the obvious, but WAngelie Savoie has never been one of the boys. Since her first event more than five years ago, the reigning and two-time NHRA Pro Stock Bike Champion has been a fan favorite and a media darling, but acceptance by some of her two-wheel peers has been a little harder to come by. "I get real emotional about it sometimes because I don't want them to hate me," Savoie said. "They don't say it, but I can see it in their eyes when they look at me. They want me to go home and never come back. I wish that they could accept me as another racer." Respected or not, there is no denying the fact that Savoie has become one of the most successful racers on the NHRA tour, and she continued her drive toward a third-consecutive Pro Stock Bike Championship after riding her CVEC Suzuki to victory at the Sears Craftsman Nationals in Madison, Illinois. Savoie dominated the event from start to finish, qualifying in the top spot with a track record 7.17, and she was never challenged during 44 JULY 17. 2002' cue I • (Above) Angelle Savoie (near lane) extended her lead in the NHRA PowerAde Pro Stock Bike points standings when she rode her CVEC Suzuki to a final-round victory over Shawn Gann (far lane). (Right) Savoie celebrated her 25th career win and her second at Gateway Int'l Raceway. The reigning Pro Stock Bike champ heads Into the second half of the season with a 99-polnt lead over second-place Craig Treble in the points standings. eliminations. In the final, she won with a 7.18 after Oakley rider Shawn Gann red-lighted on his TLlOOO. "It's just like the first time we won - it never gets old," Savoie said. "We don't take it for granted; we will never take it for granted. "It was fun going to the final round with Shawn Gann," she added. "I feel bad for him, because he's due for a win at any moment. In fact, I was wondering if he was going to get it from us today. I know they really want to win, but at the same time, I know how hard my Star Racing team works to get each and every win." Throughout the weekend, the hot topic of discussion centered on Savoie's longstanding feud with Vance & Hines/Eagle One rider Matt Hines, who created a firestorm at the most recent event in Columbus when n e _ s