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Schumacher Electric Suzuki Pro Stock Motorcycle teammates Chip Ellis and Craig Treble qualified solidly for Monday’s eliminations at the 54th annual U.S. Nationals. Ellis qualified No. 8, the 12th time in 12 races he’s entered eliminations from the top half of the field this season. Treble qualified No. 9 in his debut with Don Schumacher Racing, clinching a spot in the Countdown to 1 and setting up a first-round match-up with his teammate Ellis in round one on Monday.
CHIP ELLIS, Schumacher Electric/XXX Racing Fuels Suzuki Pro Stock Motorcycle (No. 8): Chip Ellis entered Sunday’s final pair of qualifying sessions from No. 8 after recording elapsed times of 7.259 seconds at 180.07 mph (No. 7), 7.033/186.10 (No. 6) and 7.061/186.69 (No. 8) during the first three sessions. The Indianapolis resident made a pair of consistent runs in the heat today with a 7.028/186.92 (No. 8) and a 7.022/190.27 (No. 8) to qualify for his 62nd consecutive national event.
“We had a bracket bike today,” said Ellis, who is third in the point standings, having already clinched a spot in the Countdown to 1 before this event. “We went 7.02 seconds both rounds and I had excellent lights, so I think we’re ready for tomorrow. This morning the track conditions were great and this afternoon we actually ran better than we did this morning in worse conditions. It looks like we’ve got a good race day tune-up and both bikes are real equal.
“Unfortunately we have to run our teammate in the first round, but it is what it is. We’ll go out there and put on a good show for the fans and we’ll have fun. I want to turn on the win light as bad as Treble, but only one of us will do that in the first round.”
CRAIG TREBLE, Schumacher Electric/Albrecht’s Fast Track Suzuki Pro Stock Motorcycle (No. 9): Defending event champion Craig Treble went into today’s pair of qualifying sessions in No. 12 after runs of 7.259 seconds at 178.68 mph (No. 10), 7.052/186.67 (No. 10) and 7.057 (No. 12). The Indiana native improved with a 7.028/186.92 (No. 8) and a 7.022/190.27 (No. 8) to qualify for his 11th race of the season and, more important, clinch a spot in the Countdown to 1. Treble will face DSR teammate Chip Ellis during the first round on Monday.
“I’m feeling pretty good right now,” said Treble, who is making his first appearance in the Countdown to 1. “The past couple of weeks there have been a lot of changes and I’m just tickled that we got into the show and we got locked into the Countdown. The Schumacher Electric/Albrecht’s Fast Track Suzuki is a great bike and it’s a different ride than I’ve been used to. I just need a little seat time to get used to it. I hung pretty close to Chip with the numbers and so I’m pretty happy about that.
“However, we hung too close and we’re paired up first round as No. 8 and 9 qualifiers. The good part about that is there’s a Schumacher Electric bike going to the second round for sure. I’m just happy to be here.”
