Treble reaches final round for second straight week.
 

Madison, Ill. - Sunday Post Race: Craig Treble's excitement of advancing to his second final round in as many weeks was subdued by the death of friend and fellow racer Darrell Russell.

Russell's crash during eliminations Sunday came as his Top Fuel car had just completed a 322 mph run. Darrell was air lifted to a local St. Louis hospital where he did not survive his injuries.

"Darrell was a genuine nice guy. He was a Nitro Fish teammate and a former Matco Tools teammate of mine, and I had just spent Saturday along side him signing autographs at the Nitro Fish trailer," said Treble. "He loved drag racing and driving a Top Fuel Dragster, it's a tragedy for his family."

Treble's trip to the final round of the eighth annual Sears Craftsman NHRA Nationals came after strong runs from his Matco Tools Suzuki, sprinkled with a little luck, some of it bad.

In the opening frame, a best of session 7.124 second, 191.35 mph lap from the Matco Tools bike along side Harley rider G.T. Tonglet, pushed Treble into the second round to face Josh Helvie on the Pete Briggs Kawasaki.

In his only wire to wire finish of the day, Treble grabbed the advantage at the starting line, then reached the finish line first, running a 7.178 second, 189.79 mph pass to advance to the semi finals.

Waiting for the Matco Tools bike in the semi finals was No. 6 qualifier Michel Phillips, who is quietly having a good season on his Phillips Racing Suzuki.

Treble again took the Matco Tools bike low for the round, laying down a 7.106 second, 191.70 mph shot to advance to his second final in two weeks.

"The only thing that I was concerned about for the final was how dark it was getting because the LED's are so easy to see," explained Treble. "I had a .010 reaction time in the second round which is great for bracket racing, but too close to a red light foul at a national event using a pro tree."

In the final round, Treble again was faster and quicker, 7.129 / 186.28 to Steve Johnson's 7.220 / 183.34, but a late light from the Matco Tools bike let Johnson take the stripe, winning his first event after 18 years, 191 starts, and 6 final rounds of trying.

"I felt that I had to hold on and not react right when I saw the yellow's flash. I am sure if I would have just let the clutch lever fly, I would have been red and I did not want to give it away like that," explained Treble. "I think I am going to go back to our '03 set-up for dealing with the starting line and that should eliminate the possibility of us fouling out of a race." 

Treble heads into eliminations from best position this season.
 

Madison, Ill. - Saturday Pit Note: Craig Treble improved on his Friday qualifying effort in St. Louis, running a 7.113 second 185.79 mph pass, that will award the Matco Tools Suzuki team it's highest qualifying position of the season.

Starting the day from the top spot, Treble was bumped into the second position on the NHRA Pro Stock Bike ladder during the initial Saturday qualifying session. Antron Brown's 7.099 / 187.05 run was good enough to take the No. 1 spot from Treble, and also set the track elapsed time record.

 "Even though we slipped one spot in that session, we had a good solid pass," said Treble.

"We decided to go after it in the final session under the lights and try to take back the leader position. We changed motors and got aggressive with our set-up."

 The aggressive tactics backfired as the Matco Tools bike clocked a 7.141 second 182.21 mph run, to qualify in the No. 2 spot at the eighth annual Sears Craftsman Nationals.

 "We were greedy but we thought we could pull it off. There are so many variables, and everyone is on their game. If you miss with your set-up just a little, it will cost you," explained Treble.

 "We're happy and confident heading into eliminations tomorrow," said Treble. "This is our best qualifying position of the season, my reaction times are right where I like them, and we seem to have a pretty good handle on what this bike likes.

Treble on top after Friday qualifying in St. Louis.
 

Madison, Ill. - Friday Pit Note: It was a 20 cent part that kept Craig Treble's Matco Tools Suzuki sidelined during the opening qualifying session today in St. Louis, but then the team came out swinging in the final session, taking the No. 1 position with a near track record run at the 8th annual Sears Craftsman Nationals at Gateway International Raceway.

 "We had a clip come off the shift shaft right before we attempted our first run today so we had to sit out. We couldn't put the bike in gear and that killed the run before it even began," explained Treble. "But it may have worked to our advantage preparing for the second qualifying session today."

 Without any track data to tune from, the Treble crew conferred with No.3 qualifier Michel Phillips and decided on a tune-up for the nighttime, under the lights, late Friday session. While most teams believed they could take advantage of the improved conditions offered in the night session, the Matco tools team could take no such chance and stuck to a measured approach. 

"Our misfortune on the first hit may be what helped us run strong on the second. We didn't have enough information to go out and overpower the track, something we may have tried if we would have had a decent pass earlier," said Treble.

 The Matco Tools Bike ripped off a 7.139 second, 185.87 mph pass, just .003 seconds off the Gateway International Raceway NHRA Pro Stock Bike track record set last year by Shawn Gann.

 "Do I need to say we are happy with that pass? The bike did just what we were trying to do, and if I would have rode it a little better we would have shaved off a little more elapsed time on that run," said Treble. "Tomorrow we will attempt both Saturday qualifying sessions and try to stay on top of the qualifying sheet. I think we have the bike that can get it done."

 Easily the main topic in the Pro Stock Bike pits is the new rule that adds 40 pounds to the Harley-Davidson bikes, effective starting this weekend in St. Louis. The Harley's led qualifying at the last NHRA event in Englishtown last weekend, but with the added weight finds themselves in the middle of the sixteen-bike field.

 "We are all surprised by the rule change that came out this week," replied Treble. "Most people thought that the Harley's would eventually get hit with 25 pounds, but not 40. No one saw this much weight coming this fast.

 "I think it was a severe hit, and the Harley's will probably be in the middle of the pack for the rest of the season like they are right now.

Treble Excited For Nighttime Racing.
 

Madison, Ill. - Pre-race: Even after seven NHRA Pro Stock Bike event wins, Craig Treble still has the heart and desire of the local bracket racer who loves to go out and compete under the lights on a Friday or Saturday night. 

"This race is one I have been looking forward to all year," said Treble about this weekends event in St. Louis. "Being able to make qualifying runs at night under the lights reminds me of racing my bracket bike at my local track back in Arizona. I love that feeling."

 At this weekends running of the eighth annual of the Sears Craftsman Nationals, Craig Treble and the Matco Tools Suzuki will get two shots at running under the lights at Gateway International Raceway. Friday and Saturday night will each feature qualifying sessions at 8 p.m. for the Pro Stock Bikes.

 "We are in great shape coming into this race," explained Treble. "Last weekend we kept refining our tune-up on every pass we made. In Englishtown, we made our best runs of the season, qualified No. 3, and made it to our first final of 2004. All of that gives us the confidence that we have a bike capable of winning races.

 "Just like at the last event, if we can be smart when we need to be, and lucky when we have to be, maybe we can run the whole mile Sunday in St. Louis."

 The eighth Sears Craftsman Nationals is the 7th of 15 events on the NHRA POWERade Pro Stock Bike Drag Racing Series tour.

St. Louis Photos 2004