|
 March
28, 2004 - Memphis, TN: Craig Treble's Team Scream arrived
in Memphis Tennessee, ready to race both the Matco Tools Pro
Stock Suzuki, and the Matco Tools Bracket Hayabusa at the NHRA
Division 4 Lucas Oil series event.
The event featured the Kerker
Sportsman Motorcycle Series, a bracket racing style dial-in
race where qualifying is based on each riders best reaction
time on a full sportsman tree, and a special
NHRA style Pro Stock Motorcycle race put together by PRO2
president and Pro Stock Bike Rider Steve Johnson.
The Kerker series is familiar
territory for Treble, having been the NHRA Division 7
motorcycle champion in 1994 and 1995. After 5 Kerker
qualifying sessions, Treble's .009 Reaction Time put him 13th in the 28
bike Sportsman Motorcycle field.
In the NHRA Pro Stock Bike race,
it was a slightly different story. The event had been
advertised as a race where anyone could attempt to qualify for
the 8 bike NHRA legal field, but had already been restricted
to 8 bikes that had committed earlier to attend, no more
entries were going to be accepted.
 "I was asked in Gainesville if I
was planning on running the Memphis race, but with work to do
Monday after the Gatornationals, I really didn't know if I
would have the Matco Tools Suzuki running like I need it to
for the upcoming Houston event. I had some work to do before
deciding on Memphis," explained Treble.
Instead,
the Matco Pro Stock Bike ran behind the PSB qualifying
sessions in Memphis, using the runs for testing, but not for
qualifying. "We ran the bike across the scales and had the
fuel checked just in case a spot opened up" said Treble.
During Saturday qualifying, what
looked like a lucky break for the Matco Tools team instead
just left the Pro Stock Bike show one bike short. An engine
problem forced one of the teams to pack up and head for home,
giving Treble and many others the belief that the NHRA, Steve
Johnson, and the fans would prefer a full 8 bike show, instead
of a partial field followed by a single run that was to be
taken as an exhibition pass.
 "I
really figured that an 8 bike race would have been better for
everyone, it made sense to me. I do want to thank NHRA
Division 4 Director Craig Hutchinson, and also track manager
Paul Cartwright for his help in trying to fill out the Pro
Stock Bike show" Commented Treble.
Sunday eliminations in Kerker
Sportsman Motorcycle opened with the Matco Tools Bracket
Hayabusa taking wins over Trevino, Durenberger, Latino, and Gentili before advancing to the finals to face Owatonna,
Minnesota, rider Dale Detlie.
In Pro Stock Bike, Michel
Phillips and Blaine Hale advanced to the finals with both looking
for the $4000 payday. In the Pro Stock Bike Final, Phillips
took the holeshot win, running 7.23 to a faster 7.22 from
Hale. The PSB final was run right after another Treble
exhibition / test pass on the Matco Tools Suzuki, which
recorded a great 7.12 @ 192 mph.
In the other motorcycle final of
the day, Treble again saved his best for last. Leaving with a
.005 reaction time, and running a winning 8.789 on a 8.79 dial
in the double break-out Kerker Motorcycle final.
"I finally hit the tree like I
was trying to do, and I felt like the light was a good one
when I left the line. Detlie was right there at 1100 feet,
just inches in front of me and wanting the stripe, so I let him
take it. Luckily, it was a double break-out that went my way,"
explained Treble.
Memphis
Division 4 Photo's |
