Not bad for a guy who's goal in drag racing was to win one race.

Now, with a Pro Stock Motorcycle championship already on his resume, Jerry Savoie raced to his second win of the 2017 season and the eighth of his career when he defeated teammate and points leader LE Tonglet in the final round Sunday at the Lucas Oil Nationals at Minnesota's Brainerd International Raceway.

Savoie’s 6.846 pass at 194.80 on his White Alligator Racing Suzuki bettered Tonglet’s 6.910 at 194.02 on his Nitro Fish Racing Suzuki.

“The season has been really good," Savoie said. "I’ve had some misfortune a couple times and my riding hasn’t been like it should be. LE is solid as a rock so when you beat him it’s pretty rewarding. He’s taught me a lot and I’ve taught him some things and we thrive off each other. We bring out the best in each other and that’s what it takes to win races.”

Savoie, an alligator farmer who lives in Lafourche Parish deep in the bayou country of Louisiana, faced Mike Berry, Angie Smith and Matt Smith before lining up against Tonglet in his third final-round appearance of the season. Tonglet, who is also a native of Louisiana and has five victories this season, raced past 2016 Rookie of the Year Cory Reed and five-time world champ Andrew Hines before facing his teammate.

Savoie gives crew chief Tim Kulungian much of the credit for the success that he and Tonglet enjoy, and having both bikes in the final round was a great accomplishment.

"Tim is a very humble man who takes everything to heart and never takes anything for granted. He always wants to do better and it's never enough. He shoulders the responsibility and pressure of preparing two bikes for each race, and does an outstanding job."

Drag racing is not only a very satisfying experience for Savoie, but it also effects him on a very emotional level as well.

"When you drag race and everything is clicking it shows on the track. That is my family away from home and I love them all."

This family connection is even deeper in a very personal way for Savoie.

"Every time I make a pass I talk to my father, who passed away from cancer years ago. I talk to him every time I put the bike into gear. You'll see me take a deep breath between first and second gear because that's when I say 'come on Daddy, come on and ride with me.' He loved drag racing and he's always with me."

Savoie's dad was surely riding with him at Brainerd, because it takes a lot to defeat his young teammate, as he'll readily admit.

"He does a great job, and when you can run with him that says a lot, The boy is good, man, and you can't take that away from him. He's my partner and if he wins a championship or I win a championship or neither of us wins a championship I'm so humbled in life that it really doesn't matter. It's cool."