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NHRA Powerade Drag Racing Series Round 5: Route SS Raceway Savoie f:rashes, then thrashes the field STORY AND PHOTOS BY KEVIN McKENNA JOUET,IL, MAY 29·JUNE 1 ess than two weeks after separate crashes sent a pair of Pro Stock Bike riders to the to the hospital, reigning NHRA Powerade Pro Stock Bike champ Angelle Savoie had her own close call at Route 66 Raceway. Heading toward the finish line at more than 180 mph, Savoie's Team 23 Suzuki was caught by a sudden gust of wind. Unable to avoid contact, Savoie locked the front brake and prepared for the worst. The bike hit the wall past the finish line, but Savoie managed to keep it upright. She was not hurt, and the bike suffered only superficial body damage. In the past, an incident like this one would likely have ruined Savoie's confidence, and she would have been ripe for an early round upset. Savoie is tougher than most people give her credit for, though, and she sucked it up and returned the following day to win her third race of the season and reclaim the points lead over Geno Scali. "I hit the wall a few years ago in Brainerd when I had a rear tire come apart, so I kind of knew what to expect," Savoie said. "Actually, I was l 60 JUNE 25, 2003' eye I .. Angelle Savoie won her third race of 2003 and reclaimed the NHRA Powerade Pro Stock Bike points lead at Route 66 Raceway in Joliet. After five of 15 races, Savoie now leads secondplaced Geno Scali by 10 points. n e _ s more upset that I scratched up the bike. I was pretty anxious to get back out there, and once eliminations started, I never really thought about what had happened. Losing that run probably cost us a shot at the Number One qualifying spot, though." After consecutive first-round losses in Atlanta and Englishtown, the last thing Savoie needed was another bad outing. NHRA's two-wheel class has become increasingly more competitive this season, and Savoie and her Team 23 crew have continued to find ways to stay ahead of the pack. Savoie qualified fifth in the 16-bike field and was late off the starting line in the opening round against Dave Feazell's S&S Harley, but she recov· ered to win with a 7.11, one of the quickest runs of the round. A 7.15 in round two was enough to get past Fred Collis, whose Area 51 Suzuki is the bike that Savoie rode to last year's championship. Savoie's win over Collis set up a crucial semifinal match against Scali with the winner not only moving into the final, but also taking over the points lead. Savoie outran Scali, 7.13 to 7.14, but the race was decided early after Scali left a red-light on the starting line. Another title contender, Shawn Gann, who snapped a year-long winless drought at the most recent round in Englishtown, New Jersey, was primed for a repeat after qualifying second, with a 7.14. Gann zoomed to the front of the pack with a 7.08 in the opening round, but his celebration was short-lived. During a routine post-race weigh-in, Gann's Suzuki weighed 595 pounds, five pounds less than the required minimum. Gann was disqualified, and his opponent, Joe DeSantis, who had redlighted, was reinstated. "We didn't weigh the bike this morning, and I guess we should j In the final round, Savoie rode her Team 23 Suzuki to her 31st career NHRA title with a 7.12, holding off the 7.23 of first-time finalist Reggie Showers.