ROUND 6/JUNE 30, 2013
ROUTE 66 SPEEDWAY/JOLIET, ILLINOIS
DRAG RACING
P74
NHRA PRO STOCK SERIES
Star's
New Star
Michael Ray won his
second NHRA Pro Stock
final of the season with
this one coming at
Route 66 Speedway in
Illinois.
Sovereign/Star Buell's Michael Ray
picks up his second win of 2013
BY KEVIN MCKENNA
PHOTOGRAPHY BY MATT POLITO
F
ollowing his second win of
the 2013 season, it should
now be abundantly clear
that Sovereign/Star Buell's Michael Ray has established himself as a legitimate contender for
the NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle
Championship. Ray, who claimed
his first win in the class a year
ago and then switched teams to
join the George Bryce-led Sovereign/Star outfit, won the latest
round at Route 66 Raceway in
Joliet when he stopped former
teammate Matt Smith in the final
round. The win comes just a few
weeks after his most recent triumph at the Englishtown, New
Jersey round.
"Most people know that I rode
for Matt last year and we do have
a little bit of a rivalry," Ray said.
"When I moved to Star I think it
was the best decision I've ever
made. I've won two races so far
and it was especially nice to beat
my old crew chief. This was definitely a bit of redemption.
"After I won in Englishtown we
wanted to keep the momentum
going. Then we went to Epping
last weekend and I got beat on a
holeshot. I told myself coming in
Ray (far lane) beat former teammate
Matt Smith (near lane) in the final.