A new season is dawning for GEICO Powersports Suzuki Pro Stock Motorcycle rider Karen Stoffer and the veteran competitor is excited at the possibilities the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series has in store.

"I can't wait to see how it's all going to turn out," Stoffer said as the season-opening 41st annual Tire Kingdom NHRA Gatornationals approach. "We're getting ready for a final test so we're fully prepared for Gainesville. Our bike will be ready for action and the team will be pumped."

Stoffer, a Nevada resident, is coming off one of her best finishes. She made the NHRA's version of the playoffs, the Countdown to the Championship, for the third straight season and finished seventh overall in the 2009 Full Throttle championship points, the sixth consecutive time she's finished in the Top 10 in points. Just was just one spot off her best career finish of sixth in 2006.

A new season is dawning for GEICO Powersports Suzuki Pro Stock Motorcycle rider Karen Stoffer and the veteran competitor is excited at the
possibilities the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series has in store.

"I can't wait to see how it's all going to turn out," Stoffer said as the season-opening 41st annual Tire Kingdom NHRA Gatornationals approach. "We're getting ready for a final test so we're fully prepared for Gainesville. Our bike will be ready for action and the team will be pumped."

Stoffer, a Nevada resident, is coming off one of her best finishes. She made the NHRA's version of the playoffs, the Countdown to the Championship, for the third straight season and finished seventh overall in the 2009 Full Throttle championship points, the sixth consecutive time she's finished in the Top 10 in points. Just was just one spot off her best career finish of sixth in 2006.

"I haven't been this excited to start the season in three years," she said. "I can’t wait to be able to turn the win light on for all of our great fans and for GEICO Powersports, because they've been so supportive of our program.

"It’s exciting see it all come together at the start of a new year."

Along with husband and crew chief, Gary Stoffer, Karen has made some changes to both her bike and her routine that she hopes will get her back into victory circle for the first time since 2007, when she won twice including Gainesville, a victory that put her atop the points for the first time ever.

"I did a huge change as far as how I ride the motorcycle," Stoffer said. "I'm excited to put that on the race track in real competition. I actually attended George Brice's class at Frank Hawley's Drag Racing School twice this offseason t work on some stuff."

Stoffer's best individual race last year came when she took runner-up honors in Charlotte. For her career, she has five victories in 11 final-round appearances.

"There's a lot of technical changes we made for this year too," she said. "They might not be easy for the public to see, but they'll make a difference with the ETs and turning that win light on.

"This is the first race for the bikes so it's always a bit of an anxious time because you wonder how you're going to stack up with everyone else. I'm sure the other top teams have been working hard this off-season as well and everyone will be in top form when next Friday rolls around.

"I'm also very anxious to get back out there with the NHRA fans. We have such a wonderful fan base and you can always count of the Gators having a packed house. Everyone is ready to get out there and soak up some sunshine after a long winter and there's that spring break atmosphere everywhere. I can't wait to get started."