NHRA Carolina Nationals
zMax Nationals
September 18-20, 2015

SUNDAY

In Pro Stock Motorcycle, defending world champ Hines won this event for the third time, clocking a winning run of 6.880 at 195.11 on his Screamin’ Eagle Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson to Smith’s losing 6.910 at 192.49 on his Victory Racing Gunner. It was Hines’ 40th career victory in the two-wheel category.

“I won here in the spring at the Four Wide and that was my 39th win and it has taken us all this time go get back and get win No. 40,” Hines said. “That tells you how tough it is out here.” 

Hines outran Chaz Kennedy, veteran rider Steve Johnson and top qualifier Jerry Savoie to advance to the final and get a great start on defending his series crown. He moved into the points lead with the win, and is 20 points head of playoff top seed and teammate Eddie Krawiec heading to round two of the playoffs. 

“I’m not quite certain why, but zMax Dragway has been kind to me,” Hines said. “The first three or four times here I never got past the first round. My Harley V-Rod was running straight and true and putting up big speeds and it has done it consistently. We’ve had to figure out how to get a win on a tricky track but everything played out in our favor. We took a chance and changed a bunch of parts on our engine at mid-season looking for more power and consistency and it paid off.”

Elimination Round 1

W –  Jerry Savoie (Savoie’s Alligator Farm Suzuk 0.135 6.864 196.02
L – Shawn Gann (Pirana Z Racing Buell) 0.066 6.995 191.32

W –  Redell Harris (No Limit Record Buell) 0.013 6.982 191.40
L – Karen Stoffer (Big St Charles Motorsports/S 0.082 6.926 194.24

W –  Angelle Sampey (JoinTeamAngelle.com Buell) 0.023 6.927 192.58
L – Chip Ellis (PiranaZ Buell) 0.041 6.917 194.10

W –  LE Tonglet (Nitro Fish Suzuki) 0.036 6.880 194.97
L – Jim Underdahl (Bad Boy Buggies Suzuki) 0.059 7.000 194.46

W –  Andrew Hines (Screamin’ Eagle/Vance & Hines 0.076 6.900 193.90
L – Chaz Kennedy (UPI Performance Buell) 0.141 6.988 190.65

W –  Steve Johnson (Build Your Future Suzuki) 0.097 6.947 193.02
L – Hector Arana (Lucas Oil Buell) 0.091 7.027 193.52

W –  Eddie Krawiec (Screamin’ Eagle/Vance & Hine 0.054 6.914 193.68
L – Angie Smith (Kandy Racing Victory) -0.011(R) 7.008 187.50

W – Matt Smith (Nitro Fish Victory) 0.031 6.924 191.43
L – Hector Arana Jr (Lucas Oil Buell) 0.096 6.934 194.16

Elimination Round 2

W – Jerry Savoie (Savoie’s Alligator Farm Suzuk 0.016 6.872 195.56
L – Angelle Sampey (JoinTeamAngelle.com Buell) 0.020 6.973 190.97

W – Matt Smith (Nitro Fish Victory) 0.045 6.918 192.52
L – Redell Harris (No Limit Record Buell) 0.034 6.990 191.08

W – Andrew Hines (Screamin’ Eagle/Vance & Hines 0.041 6.888 194.86
L – Steve Johnson (Build Your Future Suzuki) 0.048 6.920 193.63

W – LE Tonglet (Nitro Fish Suzuki) 0.014 6.922 195.08
L – Eddie Krawiec (Screamin’ Eagle/Vance & Hine 0.055 6.920 194.58

Elimination Round 3

W – Andrew Hines (Screamin’ Eagle/Vance & Hines 0.020 6.928 193.10
L – Jerry Savoie (Savoie’s Alligator Farm Suzuk -0.001(R) 6.924 193.21

W – Matt Smith (Nitro Fish Victory) 0.030 6.961 189.68
L – LE Tonglet (Nitro Fish Suzuki) 0.025 7.145 162.96
Final Round 

W – Andrew Hines (Screamin’ Eagle/Vance & Hines 0.007 6.880 195.11
L –  Matt Smith (Nitro Fish Victory) 0.150 6.910 192.49

POINTS AFTER THIS EVENT

Defending world champ Hines won this event for the third time, clocking a winning run of 6.880 at 195.11 on a Harley-Davidson to Smith’s losing 6.910 at 192.49 on his Victory Gunner. It was Hines’ 40th career victory in the two-wheel category.

SATURDAY

Countdown playoff spoiler Clay Millican earned his first No. 1 qualifying position in more than two years Saturday at the NHRA Carolina Nationals at zMAX Dragway.

In Pro Stock Motorcycle, defending event winner and playoff top seed Krawiec took the top spot in the final session, powering his Screamin’ Eagle Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson to a 6.851 at 194.38. It is Krawiec’s third No. 1 of the season and 26th of his career. He will face Angie Smith in round one.

“The key out here is to get better every run,” Krawiec said. “I am definitely excited because I have a great Harley-Davidson going into tomorrow and that’s all I can ask for, is to start from the No. 1 spot and keep moving forward.”

Friday leader Savoie took the second spot on his White Alligator Suzuki with a 6.862 at 195.99 and he will race Shawn Gann. Defending world champ Andrew Hines qualified third with a 6.869 at 195.85 on his Screamin’ Eagle Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson and will race Chaz Kennedy in the first round. Countdown contender Scotty Pollacheck failed to qualify for eliminations.

FINAL QUALIFYING / SUNDAY PAIRINGS
1. Eddie Krawiec, Harley-Davidson, 6.851, 194.38  vs. 16. Angie Smith, Victory, 6.984, 188.44
2. Jerry Savoie, Suzuki, 6.862, 195.99  vs. 15. Shawn Gann, Buell, 6.980, 191.89
3. Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson, 6.869, 195.85  vs. 14. Chaz Kennedy, Buell, 6.963, 191.08
4. Karen Stoffer, Suzuki, 6.886, 195.00  vs. 13. Redell Harris, Buell, 6.959, 191.65
5. Matt Smith, Victory, 6.889, 192.58  vs. 12. Hector Arana Jr, Buell, 6.943, 193.35
6. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 6.902, 193.63  vs. 11. Hector Arana, Buell, 6.935, 193.82
7. Chip Ellis, Buell, 6.912, 193.57  vs. 10. Angelle Sampey, Buell, 6.928, 192.00
8. LE Tonglet, Suzuki, 6.920, 193.57 vs. 9. Jim Underdahl, Suzuki, 6.924, 194.94.
Did Not Qualify:
17. Scotty Pollacheck, 7.059, 190.92
18. Mike Berry, 7.149, 186.15
19. Andrew Patterson, 7.455, 165.76
20. Lance Bonham, 7.848, 183.92.

FRIDAY

SAVOIE RACE TO QUALIFYING LEADS AT NHRA CAROLINA NATIONALS

Louisiana alligator farmer Savoie was quickest in Pro Stock Motorcycle powering his White Alligator Suzuki to a leading effort of 6.862 at 195.59. Savoie brings momentum into this event as he closed the 18-race regular season by winning the prestigious Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals at Indianapolis.

“This is a great deal,” Savoie said. “Last year, we missed the Countdown by one point, and a lot of other riders said thank you because we peaked at the right time. This year, we peaked a little earlier. We just love the smudgy weather, and this weekend it is smudgy. Before we went up for that [second] round, I thought we might run a 6.87. Then we saw Andrew [Hines] run a 6.87, and I thought, ‘Oh, boy’. The temperature came down a little, and we made a good run. I get more excited to be No. 1 than I did when we won the race at Indy. I want to grab all those [bonus] points while I can.”

Defending event winner Andrew Hines is second on his Screamin’ Eagle Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson with a 6.876 at 194.10. Two-time season winner Karen Stoffer is third overall on her Big St. Charles Motorsports Suzuki with a 6.886 at 195.00. Former Carolina Nationals winner Steve Johnson is fourth on his Build Your Future Suzuki, posting a Friday best of 6.902 at 193.63. Playoff top seed Eddie Krawiec sits seventh after two rounds with a 6.927 at 192.82 on his Screamin’ Eagle Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson.

Final Friday Qualifying
1. Jerry Savoie, Suzuki, 6.862, 195.59
2. Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson, 6.876, 194.10
3. Karen Stoffer, Suzuki, 6.886, 195.00
4. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 6.902, 193.63
5. Chip Ellis, Buell, 6.912, 193.57
6. Jim Underdahl, Suzuki, 6.924, 193.96
7. Eddie Krawiec, Harley-Davidson, 6.927, 192.82
8. Hector Arana, Buell, 6.935, 193.82
9. Angelle Sampey, Buell, 6.941, 191.67
10. Hector Arana Jr, Buell, 6.943, 193.02
11. Redell Harris, Buell, 6.959, 191.65
12. Chaz Kennedy, Buell, 6.963, 191.08
Not Qualified:
13. Scotty Pollacheck, 6.974, 190.92
14. LE Tonglet, 6.987, 193.24
15. Matt Smith, 7.001, 190.97
16. Angie Smith, 7.002, 187.36
17. Shawn Gann, 7.048, 189.52
18. Mike Berry, 7.198, 186.15
19. Lance Bonham, 7.369, 183.92
20. Andrew Patterson, 9.618, 90.70′

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