The White Alligator Racing team was out in force at the 48th annual NHRA Summernationals at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park as LE Tonglet held down the No. 1 Qualifier spot on Friday and Saturday with a Low ET of 6.800 seconds at 195.62 mph. But it was Tonglet's boss, WAR team owner and defending Pro Stock Motorcycle champion Jerry Savoie who emerged victorious with a 6.918-second pass at 192.85mph to defeat Hector Arana Jr.'s 6.862 at 195.62 in the final-round eliminator.
Savoie notched his seventh career victory and first of the season with a holeshot .031-second reaction time, which was enough to hold off Arana Jr.'s quicker ET but slower .111-second launch.
“I’ve had some struggles earlier in the season, but each win is special because you never know which one will be your last,” Savoie said. “This track has been good to me in the past and we were able to take this one home today and I’m extremely thankful for that.”
Savoie has now reached two final rounds in four events, defeating Cory Reed, Scott Pollacheck and Angie Smith on the day. Arana Jr. defeated Melissa Surber, Eddie Krawiec and Karen Stoffer to reach his first final round of 2017.
With his first victory of the season, Savoie now sits third in the Pro Stock Motorcycle standings, becoming the third winner in four events in the category. Arana Jr. is sixth in the standings following his best finish of the season.
Round One: Jerry Savoie, Suzuki, 6.854, 194.35 def. Cory Reed, 7.169, 182.65; Angie Smith, Buell, 6.942, 191.02 def. Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson, 6.960, 195.51; LE Tonglet, Suzuki, 6.817, 196.27 def. Kelly Clontz, Suzuki, 6.978, 192.74; Eddie Krawiec, Harley-Davidson, 6.870, 196.70 def. Chip Ellis, Buell, 6.859, 193.27; Scotty Pollacheck, Suzuki, 6.845, 194.30 def. Angelle Sampey, 6.858, 194.38; Hector Arana, Buell, 6.946, 195.56 def. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 7.014, 193.79; Karen Stoffer, Suzuki, 6.902, 191.51 def. Joey Gladstone, Suzuki, 6.947, 193.79; Hector Arana Jr, Buell, 6.816, 196.79 def. Melissa Surber, Buell, 6.894, 192.66
Quarterfinals: Stoffer, 6.894, 192.77 def. Arana, 6.874, 195.73; Savoie, 6.852, 195.45 def. Pollacheck, 6.938, 193.93; A. Smith, 6.942, 192.44 def. Tonglet, 7.257, 194.46; Arana Jr, 6.828, 196.02 def. Krawiec, 6.937, 194.38
Semifinals: Savoie, 6.878, 195.14 def. A. Smith, Foul - Red Light; Arana Jr, 6.854, 195.56 def. Stoffer, 6.899, 192.91
Final: Savoie, 6.918, 192.85 def. Arana Jr, 6.862, 195.62
Pro Stock Motorcycle Points Standings
1. Eddie Krawiec, 358
2. LE Tonglet, 356
3. Jerry Savoie, 322
4. Andrew Hines, 263
5. Scotty Pollacheck, 250
6. Hector Arana Jr, 234
7. Joey Gladstone, 223
8. Karen Stoffer, 186
9. (tie) Steve Johnson, 167; Angie Smith, 167