Atlanta: Craig Treble final report

TREBLE TAKES VALVOLINE SUZUKI TO ATLANTA SECOND ROUND

COMMERCE, Ga. (May 16, 2010) - No. 11 qualifier Craig Treble knocked out the 2008 Pro Stock Motorcycle champion Eddie Krawiec (No. 6 qualifier) in the opening round of eliminations at the 30th annual NHRA Southern Nationals at Atlanta Dragway, then was dismissed in the second by eventual event winner Andrew Hines.

Riding the Valvoline Motorcycle Oils Suzuki for Don Schumacher Racing, Treble pulled out a .0343-of-a-second holeshot victory over Krawiec, winning with a 7.026-second elapsed time at 187.91 mph to Krawiec's quicker but losing 7.013/187.26. Reaction times: .017 for Treble, .064 for Krawiec.

In the second round, Treble met his match in Hines, who launched first (.024 light to Treble's .032), then posted a winning 6.999/188.78 pass to Treble's 7.024/189.47.

"I had to do what I had to do first round. I bracket-raced Eddie on the tree and came up on the good side," said Treble. "I knew Eddie had us covered, obviously, by out-qualifying us, but Steve (Tartaglia, crew chief) has had his hands full with this Suzuki this weekend. When we tore up that motor on Friday all that data just went right out the window, so we were two passes behind the rest of the pack.

"We gradually stepped it up. The conditions got worse today and the engine did slow down a bit. We ran an .02, and an .02 as the air got worse. So, our 60-footers are improving. Again, We were sneaking up on it, but it just came up a little short a little too soon.

"I'm not going to hold my head down over a .30 light," he said of his second run. "I'll take those all day long. Even if it was a .000 I wouldn't have won the round. We didn't have enough motorcycle to cover Andrew. He moved on to the next round and we'll move on to Joliet."

Next up for the Pro Stock Motorcycle class is 13th annual United Association Route 66 NHRA Nationals in Joliet, Ill., June 4-6.

-source: dsr