SAVIOE WINS INDY PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE TITLE FOR SECOND TIME

Written by Tracy Renck, photos by Burghardt Photography, Roger Richards    Tue, 2019-09-03 04:00

 



Just when it seemed Andrew Hines was unstoppable on his Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson, Jerry Savoie did the improbable Monday.

Savoie, the 2016 Pro Stock Motorcycle world champion who is racing a limited schedule this year, captured the prestigious U.S. Nationals title when Hines recorded a red-light start. Savoie clocked a 6.851-second ET at 195.25 for good measure.

“When I dropped the clutch, I saw the redlight come on and I knew we had him covered,” Savoie said. “He was a little nervous. He has a lot of pressure on him. He’s won almost every race this year. I’m real surprised they didn’t run the numbers I thought they were going to run this weekend because this is their home track and they test here all the time. When Andrew throws up a redlight, you better thank God for it because it is not very often that happens.”

This was Savoie’s 10th career national event win and first since the Four-Wide Nationals in Charlotte in the spring of 2018. Savoie now has two U.S, Nationals victories on his resume, the first one coming in 2015 when he beat Chip Ellis in the finals.

“We came out victorious this weekend,” Savoie said. “At my age, I will be 61 in February, my days are coming. I only planned on being out here two or three years and I’ve been out here eight years. I know my time is coming and I didn’t know if I would ever win another one at my age. It is tough. All you armchair quarterbacks out that have their opinions and if you think this so easy come and get you some. I pray that you come and get you some because it is not easy.”

Savoie, who rides a Suzuki with Vance & Hines power and runs his own White Alligator Racing team, had only competed in six of the nine races this season before the U.S. Nationals.

“Suzukis have been struggling, and thanks to Vance & Hines, they have been working on a couple of combinations and it paid off,” Savoie said. “Tim (Kulungian, Savoie’s crew chief) found a sweet spot and I held my composure all day and we were able to maintain some good runs. The Harley guys, you can’t take away from them. They are not always the fastest, but they are the most consistent. People beat them up on the internet, but you have to give them props; those guys are good.”

The Cut Off, La., alligator farmer who came to Indy 10th in the season points standings now will run for another world championship.

“Somebody asked me if I made the top 10 if I was going to make all the races (in the Countdown),” Savoie said. “Let me tell you something people don’t know about me. I have a big heart and care about other people. For me to bump some people out of the top 10 and not compete for a championship would be dirty. I would never do that to anyone. I’m going to make all the (six Countdown) races and we are going to go for it and see what happens.”

Savoie qualified No. 8 with a 6.885-second lap, but his crew chief Tim Kulungian found something. Hines clocked identical 6.847-second runs in first and second round and was 6.864 seconds in the semis and then had a 6.851-second ET in the finals.

Savoie ousted Ryan Oehler, Joey Gladstone, Eddie Krawiec, Hines’ teammate, and then Hines in the finals. Hines has won seven national events this season and was runner-up once.

“We have some mechanical malfunctions and broke a (transmission) and we had to swap engines and when you swap engines in Q5, you’re looking for a tune-up all over again,” Savoie said. “Tim was able to do good in first round and from there we just kept going. It was a blessing, and everything worked out.”

Hines has been phenomenal since the debut of the FXDR body for the Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson team at the Mile-High Nationals July 19 in Denver.

Hines had a 14-0 record in elimination rounds with the FXDR body – four wins in Denver, three in the Mickey Thompson Bike Battle (in Sonoma, Calif., July 27), three more at the Sonoma Nationals (July 28) and three more at Indy before he handed Savoie the win with his redlight.

Savoie mentioned to Competition Plus earlier in the weekend he may step away from riding in 2020, but now he’s not so sure.

“I’m a guy who has goals in life and once I accomplish them, I’m fulfilled and my life is very much fulfilled,” Savoie said. “I have a lot of stuff going on. I have cattle and alligators and a deer ranch, and I have to sacrifice some things to be out here. I have a great group of people back home and when you have that you’re able to do the things you do. I’m a very spur of the moment kind of guy. I could quit today. I don’t plan on it. Next year we have some things cooking and we will see what happens.” 

 

 

 
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