Wed, May 27, 09:34 AM Team Winston Angelle Seeling

Courtesy of Rob Goodman, Sports Marketing Enterprises Fram Route 66 Nationals

JOLIET, Ill. -

Notes & Quotes

Angelle Seeling won the Mopar Parts Nationals at Englishtown taking her first NHRA Winston Drag Racing victory of the season. Seeling defeated C.J. Smith, Star Racing teammate John Myers, John Smith and Greg Underdahl on her way to victory. It was the third win of Seeling's career.

Seeling was the No. 3 qualifier at Englishtown. She covered the quarter-mile in 7.37 seconds at 181.50 mph. It was the first time this season that Seeling did not qualify either first or second.

During eliminations at Englishtown, Seeling set a new career-best e.t. when she covered the quarter-mile in 7.282 seconds in the first round. In the second round, she recorded a new career-best speed when she reached 188.73 mph. Her new career-best speed is also the fastest Pro Stock Motorcycle speed ever recorded, but it is not the national record because she did not reach a speed within 1 percent of 188.73 mph during the event to back up the speed.

Seeling is currently second in the NHRA Winston Pro Stock Motorcycle standings. She trails points leader Matt Hines by 105 points.

Seeling prior to Chicago:

"It was exciting. It's always great to win. I was proud to be able to say I drive the Winston Motorcycle. It was kind of like proof that Winston didn't sponsor me for nothing. Winning showed everyone at RJR that Star Racing is going to do a good job for them.

"Having a big sponsorship didn't intimidate me, but I do feel pressure to win because of Winston. I wish it had come sooner, but now I can relax and just focus on winning races.

"I was heart broken when I red-lit in Atlanta and dropped to seventh-place. I was feeling the Winston championship was out of reach even though it was so early. Now we've jumped to second, and there's almost a light at the end of the tunnel. If I keep doing my job and taking it round by round, the possibility of a Winston championship gets greater each race.

"One thing I learned at Englishtown is everyone looks at Matt Hines as the only driver in Pro Stock Motorcycle, but my semifinal race with John Smith was the toughest one I've ever had. There's a lot of competition out there, and I learned at Englishtown to stay focused on the next round. As far as Chicago, I hear it's a great racetrack, so I imagine it will be a fantastic race. Hopefully we can put Team Winston back in victory lane."