Pro Stock Motorcycle racer and Alligator farmer, Jerry Savoie, rode to his first victory of 2016 with a 6.933 at 189.36 on his White Alligator Racing Suzuki, defeating Angelle Sampey’s 6.852 at 195.85 on her Star Racing/Precision Service Equipment Buell in an all-Louisiana final at the AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest .
Pro Stock Motorcycle is a drag racing class that is the two-wheeled equivalent of Pro Stock. It has been a feature of NHRA drag racing since the 1980s when it was added to the professional class structure and has since spread around the globe.
Angelle Sampey left the starting line early and red-lighted, giving Savoie the go-ahead victory. Savoie, who had not won a race since 2015 in Dallas, tallied his fifth career win and second in St. Louis. The victory moved Savoie up to fourth in the points standings.
“You go to the finals four times and win one, but out here, the competition is so strong, and it takes a little bit of luck,” said Savoie, who outlasted veteran Steve Johnson, Matt Smith, and rookie Cory Reed in the earlier rounds. “We got some luck in the finals. Losing hurts so bad, but winning feels so good. My team is a great team. Our bike is really consistent, and we’ve had some issues, but today was our day.”
Sampey, who won for the first time since 2007 earlier this year in Englishtown, made her third final-round appearance of the season by riding past Angie Smith,
Hector Arana Sr., and Charlotte winner Chip Ellis. She moved to second in points.
Andrew Hines remains the Pro Stock Motorcycle points leader, Ellis dropped to third, and Eddie Krawiec dropped to fifth.
Hines, Krawiec & Matt Smith Eliminated in Round 2
(W) Jerry Savoie (Savoie’s Alligator Farm Suzuk 0.016 6.889 194.60
(L) Matt Smith (Victory Motorcycles Victory) 0.024 6.897 191.81
Savoie gets away first, but Smith gets by before sixty feet. Smith keeps a slim margin until right before the 1000 foot light, where a faster Savoie just gets on by for the close win.
(W) Chip Ellis (PiranaZ Buell) 0.072 6.895 194.30
(L) Andrew Hines (Screamin’ Eagle/Vance & Hines 0.050 6.941 191.73
Hines is away first, but Ellis is too strong and drives on by at the 60 foot light, H-D power starts to pull and they are dead even at the 660 lights. It’s Buell power after that and Ellis just gets back out in front at the finish line.
(W) Cory Reed (Precision Service Equipment Buel 0.016 6.921 192.47
(L) Eddie Krawiec (Screamin’ Eagle/Vance & Hine 0.041 6.925 191.65
This is the first time Reed and Krawiec have faced each other in eliminations. Reed gets the starting line advantage, and Krawiec starts to slowly reel him back in. There isn’t enough race track and Reed gets the win.
About Alligator the Farm
Savoie’s Alligator Farm is a large operation, complete with helicopters and airboats, producing alligator skin and meat for a variety of customers. Every part of the alligators is used and conservation methods rigorously applied.
Everything on the alligator is used for some type of product. It’s really interesting. A lot of industries don’t use 100 percent of the animal. We use everything. We also return 12 percent of what we hatch to the wild. … Every year we’re not just replenishing the population; we’re multiplying it.”