After a record-breaking victory performance at the season-opening Gatornationals in March, veteran Pro Stock Motorcycle rider Karen Stoffer shows no signs of slowing down.

Stoffer had the provisional No. 1 spot after Friday’s lone session with a 6.775-second pass and she stayed there thanks to a quicker 6.738-second run at 200.35 mph Saturday in Q2 at the SpringNationals at Houston Raceway Park.

Stoffer, who pilots the Ray Skillman Auto Group/Big St. Charles/Suzuki Extended Protection bike for Jerry Savoie’s White Alligator Racing team, collected her six career No. 1 qualifying position.

“It was really good because Gainesville, it seems like it was forever ago,” said Stoffer, who clocked a PSM world record elapsed time of 6.665 seconds in Gainesville, Fla., March 14. “I'm going to say almost a whole season ago, it was a big break in between. You definitely are wondering if you can come back and continue that momentum at what you created, but I think Angie and I both proved it. I mean, we both were excited about putting out another good pass and yeah, I think it just proves the point that the momentum, even with that big, long break, we have the momentum.”

Stoffer narrowly edged Steve Johnson for the top qualifying spot as he had a 6.739-second lap on his Suzuki to sit in the No. 2 position on the ladder.

“(Crew chief) Tim (Kulungian) and I call it the torpedo, because he's just got it going so nice and smooth and straight,” said Stoffer, who thought there would be quicker elapsed times Saturday. “I just have a blast. Everybody goes, you're smiling. I said, it's just a fun bike to ride and I'm just having a good time with it.”

She also knows Kulungian is never going to stop trying to make her Suzuki go faster.

“I'm not sure what Tim does back at the shop,” Stoffer said. “Again, I still came back with a torpedo bike, so I'm pretty happy, but I definitely feel that as things progress, he's going to continue to dig and find some new power. You have to, I mean, that's the name of the game. You really aren't satisfied, but you don't want to go backwards and try too many crazy things. I'm excited about that path. I'm hoping it's going to hold, but either way I'm having fun and I'll ride whatever Tim gives me.”

Stoffer said dealing with the offseason break and the time between the PSM riders second race this week in Houston made her ready to go this weekend.

“You know, you're excited,” Stoffer said. “The season break between years from 2021 to 2022, it was a long break, and you get back on and Gainesville felt good. It was fun. It's that same kind of feeling. We had six weeks off. It was a long time. It felt like it was a break between again. I was just excited to get back on. I think that the value, the thing that I have is that big St. Charles bike is fun.

“I don't have to worry about it doing something crazy. I don't have to worry about the wind. It's smooth, it's fun. I think as long as I'm continuing to have fun, I don't worry and I'm not anxious about the next race and how long it's going to be between because when I get on it, I'm just going to have a good time.”

Stoffer didn’t have a specific reason to why she is having so much fun aboard her Suzuki this season.

“I don't know,” she said. “I mean, listen to John (Force) calling his cars names. Listen to everybody. I've been the same way. I think the vehicles definitely have personalities and names. I think that once you get a combination with the rider and the weight and the bike and the tuner and the whole package together, and everybody's happy and everything's feeling good, I think it, the bike reacts better. The bike does what it wants. Not doing something crazy, it's not going sideways.

“There were a lot of people who aborted their runs and things. I think all of it, I wish I could bottle it up and say, this is what makes it like that because I think we could sell it and make a lot of money. I don't really know. I just know that ever since, I'm going to take a step back to Bristol last year. It's just been a real fun, enjoyable smooth day at the race. It's just been really good and it’s fun.”

With this being the final NHRA national event at Houston Raceway Park before the track gets shutdown at the end of the season, Stoffer took a trip down memory lane.

Stoffer has two career Pro Stock Motorcycle wins in Houston in 2004 when she beat Antron Brown in the final round and in 2005 when she defeated Kurt Matte.

“Houston is a wonderful place,” Stoffer said. “I really kind of felt ... It was interesting because I hadn't been here for so long. It felt like, I think it's been 10 or 11 years since I've actually been down this racetrack. I had to actually walk down and make sure I knew where the finish line scoreboards were and the turnout and then as I was walking, I'm going, oh yeah. Okay. Then all the memories started coming back. Antron Brown was the one who actually told me I won.

“I was racing against him in the final in 2004. Had no idea. It was one of those races where you kept your head tucked tight and you looked over and you didn't know who won. You didn't see the finish line, win light. I came around the corner and I vividly remember him pointing to me. You girl, you got it. You got it. It was, it's cool. It gives me the tingles just thinking (about it).”

Stoffer, who made her NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle debut in 1996 in Denver at the Mile-High Nationals with Angelle Sampey and Stephanie Reaves, likes the current state of the PSM class.

“We have such a phenomenal class,” Stoffer said. “We have such good parody with the engine programs. Everybody is wishing well. Maybe not wishing to beat you but wishing well for everybody. When it comes down to the racetrack we throw down and it's just like a family. When you have brothers and sisters out there, yeah, you love them dearly and you have a good time. When it comes to competition, you want to beat the pants off them and that's kind of how we are. At least a few of us.”