DRAG RACE
NHRA PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE CHAMPIONSHIP
ROUND 9 / AUGUST 19-20, 2017
BRAINERD INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY / BRAINERD, MN
P84
made the quickest run of the event in the
second round when he dropped a 6.846
on Denso Buell's Angie Smith. Savoie
then reached the final round with a 6.869
when he raced Smith's husband, Matt,
on his Polaris Victory Magnum.
"We had some problems during quali-
fying; our bikes were not quite right but
Tim [Kulungian, crew chief] fixed it and we were
much better on Sunday," Savoie said. "Tim is a
one humble individual and he takes everything to
heart. He always wants to be better. Before the
final, he pulled LE and I in the trailer and asked
"The season has been really good,"
Savoie said. "I've had some misfortune a
couple times and my riding hasn't been
like it should be. LE is solid as a rock
so when you beat him it's pretty reward-
ing. He's taught me a lot and I've taught
him some things and we thrive off each
other. We bring out the best in each
other and that's what it takes to win races."
Savoie has indeed struggled at times during
his title defense, but in Brainerd, he was rock sol-
id. After opening eliminations with a 6.881 in his
win over MB Precision Buell's Mike Berry, Savoie
Hector Arana Jr.
appeared to be
the favorite in
Minnesota, but got
edged out in the
second round by
Andrew Hines.
