Treble Reaches Final In Englishtown For Third Season in a Row.
 

Englishtown, N.J. - Post Event: For the Third straight year, Craig Treble wheeled his Matco Tools Suzuki into the Pro Stock Bike final, again coming away with a runner up finish. At the 35th annual K&N Filters NHRA SuperNationals presented by Strauss Discount Auto, Treble did about all he could hope to do to be successful.

As the fastest non-Harley in Englishtown, the Matco Tools Bike started from the No. 3 position, and ran low or near low Elapsed Time in three of the four rounds of competition, excluding the Harley Davidson's.

"I would really like to be on a Harley myself, but until funding allows me to make a move like that, I will be doing my best with the two Suzuki's I have right now," explained Treble. "I have said the last few races they are about untouchable, and I gave it everything we had for the final."

Treble started the day with wins over Fred Camarena and reigning NHRA POWERade Pro Stock Bike champion Geno Scali.

"I was fortunate against Geno in round two because as I left the starting line, one of my wheelie bar wheels came off and the bike took a hard turn to the right. Luck was with us because to still get a 7.208 second 184.09 mph run from our bike after that was amazing," said Treble.

Luck would also come into play in round 3 when recent event champion Shawn Gann received a -.036 red light foul start, letting Treble escape after a bad .101 reaction time. "I was there for the taking. Almost any green light from Gann would have cost us the round," said Treble.

Waiting for Matco Tools Suzuki in the finals was No. 1 qualifier and current NHRA POWERade points leader Andrew Hines on his Vance & Hines V-Rod Harley Davidson. Hines had already lowered the National Pro Stock Bike Elapsed Time record once during eliminations, and was the only motorcycle in Englishtown running 7.0's.

In the Final, Treble was out of the gate first with a .013 to .028 reaction time advantage, but the Harley made that up early, reaching the finish line first, and lowering the national record yet again with a 7.016 / 192.28 blast. Treble matched his round one time of 7.138 in the final, taking the runner-up position in Englishtown for the third year in a row.

"The last two times I have raced that Hines kid, he has been busy setting either the track record, or the NHRA national record. His bike is fast and he is riding great. Even though it was a Harley vs. Suzuki battle in the final, both bikes were running Vance & Hines horsepower, so this is a good for the guys back at the V&H shop," said Treble.

The Pro Stock Bikes will be in action again next weekend at the 8th annual Sears Craftsman NHRA Nationals in Madison, ILL. It will be the 7th of 15 events on the NHRA POWERade Pro Stock Bike Drag Racing Series tour.

Best Start Of Season for Treble In Englishtown
 

Englishtown, N.J. - Saturday Pit Note: Still displaying the steady and calm attitude he started the weekend with, Craig Treble finds himself in the No. 3 position after final qualifying at the 35th annual K&N Filters NHRA SuperNationals presented by Strauss Discount Auto.

A 2004 season high mark, the No. 3 spot was captured after two strong passes from the Matco Tools Suzuki on Saturday.

"The bike is working really well, and I think we have a pretty good handle on the tune-up," stated Treble. "We were the fastest Suzuki in qualifying. I'm pretty happy with that."

Treble started Saturday with a great 7.188 / 184.85 mph qualifying run, temporarily taking the No. 4 spot. A final session 7.176 / 184.85 moved the Matco Tools bike up one position to No.3, their best qualifying effort of 2004.

"We were really strong on the back half of the racetrack on our two runs today. Our front half and 60 foot numbers are shy of what we normally run, so if we can get them right for eliminations on Sunday, we could possibly run even better. We will see," said Treble

Happy with the Vance & Hines power from their Suzuki engine, and confident in their bike and set-up, Treble may still have one insurmountable feat before him on race day. "I think the Harley's are just about untouchable right now. I plan on doing my job driving in eliminations, and if we get the chance to run one of the Harley's we will need to be on our game to turn on the win light."

Treble will pair up with No. 14 qualifier Fred Camarena in round one Sunday morning, something Craig finds slightly ironic. "I have been talking and helping Fred somewhat here in Englishtown, hopefully that won't come back to bite me in eliminations," explained Craig.

Another rider being helped this weekend by the Matco Tools team is Houston Pro Stock Bike champion Karen Stoffer. Karen escaped injury at the last event when her Gecko Cycle-Gard Suzuki went down at 177 mph, but wounding the bike badly enough to be without a ride for this event.

"Karen and I are both NHRA Division 7 racers who have known and raced against each other for many years. I had my '03 bike in the trailer so it only made sense to try to get her on it and in the show," said Treble. "She is still adapting to the bike, but they did pretty good by qualifying and hanging on to the No. 16 spot."

Treble Strong In Early Qualifying In Englishtown.
 

Englishtown, N.J. - Friday Pit Note: Craig Treble has the Matco Tools Suzuki resting in the No. 4 Qualifying position after two sessions Friday at the 35th annual K&N Filters NHRA SuperNationals presented by Strauss Discount Auto at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park.

Treble opened with a 7.248 second 185.33 mph pass, good enough for the No. 6 spot in the afternoon, then followed up with an improved 7.203 at 185.05 mph run in the hot and humid night qualifying session, landing in the No. 4 spot on the NHRA Pro Stock Bike qualifying sheet.

"That's just what we were looking for," said Treble. "We came out with a baseline run first, then ran within .011 of a second behind No.1 qualifier Andrew Hines on the last run today."

The Matco Tools Suzuki team improved in the afternoon weather, something that few teams were able to do.

"Our second run proved to ourselves that we know right were we are as far as our tune-up is concerned," explained Treble. "If we can make the right calls in Saturday qualifying and Sunday eliminations, this just might be our weekend to get our first win of the season."

Treble Hopes "Third Times the Charm" in Englishtown .
 

Englishtown, N.J. - Pre-race: After two runner-up finishes in the last two years, Craig treble is looking for a "third times the charm" ending this weekend at the K&N Filters NHRA SuperNationals presented by Strauss Discount Auto at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park.

The Matco Tools Pro Stock Bike team is approaching this race with a steady and calm attitude, and rider Craig Treble has a different kind of confidence as this race draws near.

"We did some testing in rather poor conditions last week, and we are happy with the results from that session," explained Treble. "I know exactly what I did wrong at last weekends race, and I learned more about this bike during the week. Together, those two things have me calm and confident that we have a bike that can win races, hopefully this one right here."

At a track that traditionally produces record runs nearly every season, this year's version will feature warm weather that will steadily get cooler as the weekend rolls along. All of this has the NHRA Pro Stock Bike riders positioned to attack the Englishtown racetrack with their best tune-ups, hoping for career best runs, and maybe a shot at re-setting the NHRA national speed and elapsed time records.

"I think we have a good set-up for what we are going to see here in Englishtown," replied Treble. "The Harley's should be tough again this race, but if we can make the right calls at the right time, it could be our 'third times the charm' weekend."

K&N Filters SuperNationals, is the sixth of 15 events on the NHRA POWERade Pro Stock Bike Drag Racing Series tour.

Englishtown Photos 2004