JERRY SAVOIE, WHITE ALLIGATOR RACING SUZUKI
EVENT PREVIEW – NHRA SONOMA NATIONALS
SONOMA RACEWAY – SONOMA, CALIF.
JULY 27-29, 20122

Jerry Savoie’s White Alligator Racing Suzuki roared to life at last weekend's Mopar Mile-High Nationals in Denver as the second-year NHRA Pro recorded his best qualifying effort of the season. Now, Savoie will be seeking to build on that as the tour heads back to sea level for this weekend's NHRA Sonoma Nationals.

After qualifying fifth in Denver and running within three-hundredths of the class leaders, Savoie will once again race his Suzuki, electing to forgo the Buell V-twin he has raced for much of the season.

"We made some progress last weekend, and for now we are convinced that the Suzuki is the way to go," said Savoie. "We need to win some rounds, and this would be a good place for that to happen. I thought I was going to win a few last week, but I red-lighted against LE [Tonglet]. Thankfully, we get a fresh start here in Sonoma."

The Sonoma track is nestled in the middle of the rolling hills and serene landscape of California wine country, but anytime the cool air rolls in from the coast, it can yield record-setting elapsed times and speeds. If those conditions are present, Savoie believes he could easily improve on his career best elapsed time of 6.836-seconds, set at last year's Reading event, and his best speed of 195.31 mph, also set last year in Reading.

"We have the potential to make some of the quickest passes ever for a Suzuki in NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle competition and, if we get the right conditions, that's our goal this weekend," said Savoie. "Last year, I really enjoyed racing in Sonoma. I'm definitely looking forward to going back again."

With three races remaining before the field is set for the Countdown to the Championship playoffs, Savoie is currently ranked 13th in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series standings. He is 82 points out of the top ten.

SONOMA NATIONALS SCHEDULE
FRIDAY: 3 p.m. and 6 p.m., qualifying sessions
SATURDAY: 11:30 p.m. and 2 p.m., qualifying sessions
SUNDAY: 11 a.m., championship eliminations

ON ESPN
SATURDAY: 7-9:30 p.m. (ET), delayed

ON ESPN2
SUNDAY: 7-10 p.m. (ET), delayed

About White Alligator Racing
Pro Stock Motorcycle rider Gerald "Jerry" Savoie and his White Alligator Racing (WAR) team made their professional debut in NHRA's Full Throttle Series in 2011. Savoie – who owns and actively participates in the daily operation of his alligator farm in Louisiana – qualified for every race on the tour in his rookie season and reached the final round at the U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis. He was also a front-runner for NHRA's Road to the Future award and finished in the top 10 in the series standings. Team WAR's stable has included a Suzuki TL, a Suzuki Hayabusa, and an S&S-powered Buell. Savoie founded WAR with the hope of raising awareness of the eroding coastlines of Louisiana, hence the team's motto: "Racing to Save Our Wetlands."

Follow us on Twitter: @GatorJerryPSM
Like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/WhiteAlligatorRacing
www.WhiteAlligatorRacing.com