NHRA Pro Stock veteran Craig Treble captured the victory of his career on Labor Day by winning the world’s most famous and prestigious drag race – the NHRA US Nationals in Indianapolis, Ind. The win was Treble’s 11th of his career and second of the year, but by far the most meaningful.
Not only did Treble guarantee himself a spot in history alongside other legendary US Nationals champions, he also catapulted himself from eighth to second in the PowerAde point series. In a matter of days Treble went from nearly missing the cut for the new playoff championship countdown to becoming a serious threat for the season title.
Treble, who is eagerly in search of a marketing partner, defeated point leader Matt Smith’s stout 6.977 at 189.63 mph in the final when Smith fouled out by .003-seconds on his Torco Buell V-Twin. Treble, an avid and successful bracket racer in his spare time, ran 7.037 at 190.83 mph to capture the pivotal victory.
“I’ll take a win here however I can get it,” Treble said. “I was lucky three outta four rounds today, but all I know is that 20 years from now someone will look in the record books and say, ‘Hey, Craig Treble won in 2007.’ It’s there forever now.”
During his many thank-yous, Treble made sure to send a special thanks to Matt Guidera, who defeated Chris Rivas in the semifinals of the rain-delayed Reading race to guarantee Treble a spot in the countdown.
“I was one round-win away from not even making the Countdown to Four, but Matt Guidera beat Chris Rivas in Reading and saved my butt. He’s my hero because now here I am number two in the world. So what do I do to thank him? I beat him in the first round today. I owe him a beer. Heck, I owe him the whole brewery.”
