In Pro Stock Motorcycle at the Lucas Oil Route 66 NHRA Nationals presented by General Tire from Route 66 Raceway near Chicago, Chip Ellis grabbed the top spot on Friday night with a 6.856 at 195.68 on his Junior Pippen Trucking Company Buell. Ellis earned his third career top qualifying effort and second of the season. He will open eliminations against Angie Smith.
“To be as good as we are right now is pretty awesome,” Ellis said. “As a team, we’re gaining on it. Now we’re just trying to get consistent with the bike and improve on each run and get better each run. As a driver, I’m doing the same thing.”
Four-time and defending Pro Stock Motorcycle world champ Andrew Hines rode his Screamin’ Eagle Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson to the No. 2 seed with a 6.882 at 193.99, giving him a first round pairing with Eddie Reed. Louisiana alligator farmer and Englishtown winner Jerry Savoie qualified third with a 6.883 at 195.11 and will find Steve Johnson in the other lane on Sunday. Three-time world champ Eddie Krawiec and two-time world champ Matt Smith qualified fourth and fifth, respectively.
