ENGLISHTOWN, New Jersey – Schumacher Electric Suzuki Pro Stock Motorcycle rider Chip Ellis won his first race of the season at the NHRA SuperNationals at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park, his sixth in nine career final rounds and his first since Sonoma 2006.
Ellis had the quickest bike in all four eliminations rounds on Sunday and defeated No. 1 qualifier Chris Rivas in the final stanza for the 108th national-event victory for for Don Schumacher Racing. The victory also moved Ellis up to second in the point standings.
DSR teammate Tony Schumacher won the Top Fuel class today, scoring DSR's 109th national-event victory, and the winning pair claimed DSR's 15th double-up event win.
Ellis roared through the field, setting top speed of the event with a 192.88-mph pass in qualifying. He began the day by defeating Joe Desantis with a stunning elapsed time of 6.923 seconds, which tied for low ET of the event, at 192.49 mph. He followed with victories over Steve Johnson (6.976/190.81 to 7.081/189.50), reigning series champion Matt Smith (7.005/190.14 to 7.079/186.87) and finally Rivas in the money round (7.040/187.21 to 7.104/183.52).
The fact that he beat the team he raced for last season was not lost on Ellis. "To be perfectly honest with you, it was awesome," said Ellis. "I know what (co-owner/crew chief) George Smith is capable of. I rode his bike all last year and he's a great tuner and Chris Rivas is doing a great job for him. But, on the other hand, I think I'm with the best tuner in Steve Tartaglia. He's got a bike that everybody else says is not competitive, but if you knew how much that guy worked and how much dedication he's put into this program you would know why our Schumacher Electric Suzuki is so fast.
"My hobby is riding dirt bikes and going out with my family in the boat and Steve's hobby is working on those engines. If he's not at the shop working on engines he's at his house with all his paperwork scattered across the desk just looking at notes to try and find ways to improve. He's not afraid to work and I'm really, really proud to be a part of such a great organization such as Don Schumacher Racing. I just thank them for giving me this opportunity.
"We probably should have won another race or two already this year," continued Ellis, "but we haven't. We won today and that's all that really matters right now. It's been a long time since Steve's won a race. I think his last race win was at Houston last year and I didn't win any races last year. All of the guys on our team work very hard and it's just awesome to win on a Suzuki. I just can't say enough about Steve, that's the bottom line. He won rounds today. We had the fastest bike every round so we deserved to win."
"I've got mixed emotions," said Tartaglia from the winner's circle. "I'm happy about the victory, but with what happened yesterday with Scott Kalitta (fatally injured in a Funny Car crash), that's the overruling thing that we're focusing on this weekend, his family and his friends. Obviously we're happy to finally win one. We're looking for a sponsor so it can't hurt. I'm glad to get a win for Chip and the guys and for Don Schumacher."
The next race for Ellis will be next weekend at the NHRA Nationals in Norwalk, Ohio, June 26-29.
NHRA PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE point standings, after six of 17 events:
1. Andrew Hines, 556
2. Matt Smith, 460
3. Chip Ellis, 478 (winner today)
4. Chris Rivas, 407 (runner-up today)
5. Matt Guidera, 361
6. Angelle Sampey, 360
7. Eddie Krawiec, 325
8. Craig Treble, 292
9. Karen Stoffer, 240
10. Hector Arana, 234
