Mon, 12 Nov 2001, 11:28 AM Angelle Savoie clinches second NHRA Winston Championship

Courtesy of Chad Willis, Sports Marketing Enterprises

POMONA, Calif. -- Team Winston Suzuki rider Angelle Savoie clinched her second consecutive NHRA Winston Pro Stock Motorcycle championship during today's 37th Annual Auto Club of Southern California NHRA Finals at Pomona Raceway. Savoie becomes just the fourth rider in Pro Stock Motorcycle history to win multiple Winston championships. She joins David Schultz (six titles), Matt Hines (three) and John Myers (three) on that exclusive list.

Angelle Savoie

Savoie clinched the title by defeating Jay Matthews in the opening round, coupled with a first-round loss by her closest pursuer Antron Brown. Savoie ran an event-low 7.165-second pass to Matthews' 7.364.

"This Winston championship means so much to me because this is the last race with Winston as a series sponsor and as a sponsor on this bike," Savoie said. "This was the only way I wanted to wrap up the season. They have been a family to me and this team over the years, and that make this all the more special."

Savoie went on to post her second victory of the season at Pomona Raceway when she defeated Shawn Gann in the event finale. The victory was Savoie's division-leading seventh in eight final rounds and her 22nd career win coming in her 35th final. Savoie's 2001 NHRA Winston championship adds another chapter to her growing list of accomplishments. Earlier this season, Savoie surpassed the legendary Shirley Muldowney as the winningest female driver in NHRA history when she scored career win No. 19 at the Mile-High Nationals at Bandimere Speedway. Her seven national event victories on the 2001 NHRA Winston Drag Racing circuit represent the most single-season wins by a female driver in NHRA history.

"Before the year started, I had two goals - to win six races and to defend our Winston Pro Stock Motorcycle championship," Savoie said. "This weekend was our seventh win and I'll forever be known as the last Winston Pro Stock Motorcycle champion. I never thought I'd win even one title, so to win two is more than I could have ever hoped for."

Savoie's championship is a fitting end to her four-year run with sponsor Winston. Since first donning the red and white Team Winston leathers at the 1998 Pennzoil Nationals at Virginia Motorsports Park, Savoie has recorded two Winston titles and a pair of runner-up finishes in the championship standings to Matt Hines. Her 54 starts on the Team Winston/Star Racing Suzuki have resulted in an elimination-round winning percentage of .804 (144-35).