Chip Ellis had not planned on competing in NHRA’s Pro Stock Motorcycle class in 2018.

That changed a couple of weeks ago when he received an unexpected phone call from Andrew Hines. Hines and his teammate, reigning world champion Eddie Krawiec ride the Vance & Hines Screamin’ Eagle Harley-Davidsons in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series.

And Ellis will ride a third Harley-Davidson for the team, beginning at the U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis, Aug. 31-Sept. 3.

“Andrew called me and asked what I was doing the next couple of months and my reply was ‘What do you need me to do?’” Ellis said. “Obviously, if Vance & Hines calls you and asked you to ride a Harley-Davidson, the answer is yes. When do I start? Where do I sign up?”

A year ago, Ellis ran a third Harley-Davidson motorcycle for Vance & Hines at the season-ending NHRA Auto Club Finals in November in Pomona, Calif.

“It feels really good to know those guys have enough confidence in me to call and ask me to ride their motorcycle,” Ellis said. “The deal is they want to get ready for next year and they have some things they want to test so this is a good opportunity for them to get some data and it is good opportunity for me to go out there and ride up and down the race track.”

Ellis said he also will be piloting the third Vance & Hines Harley at St. Louis, Charlotte, N.C., and the season-finale at Pomona, Calif., during the Countdown to the Championship this season.

“I worked there (at Vance & Hines) for five years and I had a real good relationship with those guys and they have confidence in me that I can get down the race track and give them the data they need so they can start off the year good next year,” Ellis said. “We haven’t tested or anything. My first run will be Friday (Aug. 31) at Indy. This is the same bike I rode last year for them (Vance & Hines), but I’m going to ride this bike like it is and they are building a new chassis and they are doing some stuff with the new fuel-injection system, so I will be testing the new chassis, the new fuel-injection, along with some other things they want to test.”

Although Ellis is a veteran PSM rider and has seven NHRA national event wins on his resume, he’s still a little anxious for Q1 at Indy.

“It always seems like once you get that first one out of the way, it all comes back to you, but I’m always a little nervous that first hit, and I haven’t ridden since November last year, but I think we will be OK,” Ellis said. “I have made a lot of mental runs in my head since this deal happened.”