Treble’s Cautiously Eyes Chicago

Chicago, Ill. – Pre Race:

Craig Treble knows enough about drag racing to understand that making pre-race predictions is a dangerous game to play. At the CARQUEST Auto Parts Nationals at Route 66 Raceway, the only thing the Matco Tools / Lucas Oil Suzuki rider will say is "we're coming in smiling."

Following the last national event, Treble headed to the NHRA Division 4 Lucas Oil event in Memphis, TN. Stripping the motorcycle of all things electrical, the Matco Tools team re-wired the bike before participating in a Pro Stock Motorcycle exhibition, something that Treble found extremely beneficial.

"We fought this gremlin since the start of the season, and without predicting anything I'll say that if we can run like we did in Memphis, we could have a good weekend here in Chicago," said Treble.

So far in 2005, the Pro Stock Motorcycle class has had eight different riders in the four final rounds to date. No racer has been able to make a return trip to the money round, something Treble would like to change.

"Someone is going to break this streak and find themselves in their second final of the season. If we get the Matco Tools bike moving like I think we can, there's a chance it could be us."
 

Treble Saves Best for Last

 Chicago, Ill. – Qualifying Pit Note:

After three of four Pro Stock Motorcycle qualifying sessions at the CARQUEST Auto Parts Nationals at Route 66 Raceway, Craig Treble found himself outside of the 16 bike field, unsure of just what to try to get his Matco Tools / Lucas Oil Suzuki in the show. 

Treble has spent his NHRA career calling the shots on his team, and has been rewarded with 8 NHRA national event wins in his seven years as a pro, but sometimes, even veteran racers can be stumped and looking for a fresh approach for their team.

 As luck would have it, the very race the Matco Tools Pro Stock Motorcycle team needed a little extra help to make the field, would be the first race of a new partnership with Harry Lartigue.

 “Harry and I have talked about putting something together since last season, and fortunately for our Matco Tools / Lucas Oil Suzuki team, it has all come together,” said Treble.

 Lartigue’s guidance could be felt immediately, offering advice that Treble eagerly accepted.

 “Going into the last qualifying session and needing to put down a solid number is a tough position to be in,” said Treble. “Harry set a direction and we stuck to it, and it paid off with our best run of the weekend.”

 Trebles last session pass of 7.224 seconds at 184.22 MPH put the team in the No. 11 spot, setting up a round one race against Team Muzzy’s Ryan Schnitz.

 “Right now I am just happy that Harry was here. No question he saved us from a possible DNQ, and there’s not much worse than not racing on Sunday,” said Treble. “It’s great too have so much more experience on the team and that it can have an immediate impact.

  I said pre-race I would have a smile on my face this weekend and the way everything is working now it’s easy to be smiling on Saturday night. If we can find a good tune-up for tomorrow morning we may be smiling on Sunday as well.”

Matco Tools / Lucas Oil Suzuki Team Moving in Right Direction
 

Chicago, Ill. – Post Race: 

Craig Treble turned in his quickest run of the weekend in his round one loss to Ryan Schnitz, and keeping with the theme of the weekend claimed, “we are happy and smiling in Chicago.”

 The Matco Tools / Lucas Oil Suzuki put down a Sunday morning elimination run that had until recently been hard to come by in the Treble camp. “We consider this weekend a success. We know our season long electrical problem has been cured,” said Treble.

 The round one pass clocked at 7.195 / 188.36 was actually better than opponent Schnitz’s 7.207 / 185.82 run, but a slightly slower reaction time cost Treble the round win.

 “My .030 light wasn’t bad, but Ryan slapped a .014 on me and that put him at the stripe first by .004 seconds, that’s a flat out good race. We ran fourth quickest in the session, so it shows we are moving in the right direction with our program.

 The good news of course is that this is our first race with Harry Lartigue as part of the team, and combined with a healthy motorcycle, we are eager for the rest of the season.”

Chicago Photos 2005