Thu, 17 Mar 2005, 12:41 PM Milestone Performance Up for Grabs As NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle

Courtesy of NHRA Communications Photo copyright 2005 Auto Imagery, Inc. Teams Take to the Track at MAC Tools Gatornationals

GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Already the site of the first 300 mph Top Fuel run in NHRA history, legendary Gainesville Raceway could add another important performance milestone to its legacy as one of NHRA's quickest and fastest quarter-mile drag strips during the 36th annual Mac Tools NHRA Gatornationals, March 17-20.

Angelle Sampey

NHRA's Pro Stock Motorcycle teams will be racing hard to achieve the first elapsed time quicker than seven seconds when the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series returns to action at the $2 million race, the third of 23 events in the $50 million tour. It is the season-opener for the high-revving two-wheelers, whose season consists of 15 events.

Kenny Bernstein is still heralded as the 'King of Speed' for his historical 301.70 mph pass from the 1992 edition of the Gatornationals. Just who will accomplish the first run of 6.999 seconds or quicker on a Pro Stock Motorcycle is the question category experts have been pondering during the offseason. That question may be answered during the first qualifying session on Friday, March 18 at 11:30 a.m.

With the right weather combination - preferably crisp, cool and overcast conditions - the barrier will likely be broken. With more than five bikes capable of achieving the performance, it may come down to luck of the draw in the qualifying order. NHRA rules determine qualifying order for the first session based on last year's final point standings, which means Rickey Gadson (did not compete), Ryan Schnitz (31st) and Chip Ellis (17th), all three predicted as leading top-10 points contenders for 2005, will have the first shot at a permanent spot in the NHRA record book and collecting the hefty $10,000 bonus offered by Mickey Thompson Tires. Overall, the first eight riders in the sixes will become members of the exclusive NHRA Mickey Thompson 6-Second Pro Stock Bike Club.

Andrew Hines

Defending NHRA POWERade world champion Andrew Hines will have the last shot, but that doesn't worry the 21-year-old rider of the Screamin' Eagle/Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson.

"When we get to Gainesville there might be several of us in the sixes," said Hines, who owns the current NHRA national record for elapsed time at 7.016 seconds. "I believe we have two six-second bikes right here in our shop. I'd like to be the first one to do it, but if I'm not, I can live with it."

During offseason testing three-time champ Angelle Sampey recorded the second unofficial run in the six-second zone on a Pro Stock Motorcycle. Her teammate, Antron Brown, clocked the first one at 6.995 seconds, while Sampey followed on her identically-prepared U.S. Army Suzuki with a 6.989 second run.

"It was awesome to run in the sixes, even though it didn't count for anything," Sampey said. "The weather was really great so we knew we'd run fast, and when Antron and I both ran 7.0 (seconds) on shutoff runs, we knew we could do it."

Sampey, who narrowly missed earning a fourth NHRA POWERade world championship title last year by 38 points, says the milestone would be nice, but she wants the big prize at the end of the season.

"This year my focus is on winning another championship," Sampey said. "There's a lot of pressure that goes with racing for a championship. Thankfully, I've learned how to deal with it."

With all of the excitement being generated around breaking the seven-second barrier, along with the addition of a couple of new riders and an expected break-out season for several others, this Pro Stock Motorcycle campaign could be one of the best ever according to veteran rider Steve Johnson.

"Every year I say this is going to be the most exciting and competitive season for the Pro Stock Motorcycle class, but I think 2005 really will be," Johnson said.