NHRA News: After making huge strides in '02, Treble prepares for his title drive (12/21/2002)

After making huge strides in '02, Treble prepares for his title drive

By Rob Geiger, NHRA.com
12/21/2002

"I often ask myself, 'What would Dave [Schultz] do in this situation.' "
– Craig Treble

The 2002 POWERade Drag Racing Series started with a bang for Pro Stock Bike rider Craig Treble. The Matco Tools-sponsored Pro streaked from the gate in his fourth professional season, winning the first two national events on the 14-race Bike tour, convincingly claiming the hardware in Gainesville, Fla., and Houston.

Then, proving his start was no fluke, the 36-year-old Treble stayed in championship contention for the remaining 12 races, winning two more times in four final-round appearances to keep the pressure on eventual champion Angelle Savoie until late October. His career-best second-place finish and startling performance jump in 2002 certainly make Treble the early favorite to unseat Savoie in the New Year.

"Our 2002 season was our best ever," Treble said. "But at the same time, while I don't want to say it was also full of disappointments because it really wasn't, I still feel like there were way too many times when I let golden opportunites slip right through my hands.

"I'm not new to racing motorcycles but I'm still pretty new at racing Pro Stock Bikes. This season was another learning process. I'm just learning from closer range now. If anything, the success we've had motivates us to try that much harder."

Taking chances
Treble's remarkable '02 run showed zero first-round losses, a feat matched by just one other rider, Shawn Gann, and a stellar 33-10 elimination-round record. Prior to this season, Treble had just one win in four finals, yet still managed to post .500 or better Race Day records in each of his three previous seasons.

One of the big reasons for his increased performance, in Treble's mind, is the switch he made to a revolutionary new chassis prior to the 2002 season opener. The new bike was infinitely easier to adjust, a big bonus considering the ever-changing track surfaces and conditions riders face at each stop on tour.

Treble's new Kozman chassis kept him neck and neck with Angelle Savoie (far lane) all season long.

"Kenny Williams, who mounts most of the carbon fiber bodies onto these bikes out here, turned me on to Kosman Specialties," Treble said. "They had a prototype chassis they wanted someone to try and my crew chief Calvin Aswege and I decided to go for it. Thank goodness we made that choice. It was the missing piece. We knew we always had decent horsepower. The new chassis finally allowed us to put that power to the ground. That was the difference.

"It was a scary move in some regards but we're doing it again this year. Kosman thinks they have a better piece coming along. It won't even be ready for testing in January but we hope to have it up and running by Gainesville. Prototypes take time because there are always little problems that need correcting.

"Some guys run the same bike for years under the 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it' rule. I'm a little more aggressive. Dave Schultz was my idol and one of the reasons why was because he was always trying new stuff, trying to get quicker and faster through his own innovations. I often ask myself, 'What would Dave do in this situation.'

"Having Matco Tools on board helps tremendously also because I can afford to try a new chassis and keep the old one around for back-up. I can afford to go and test before I try to run at an NHRA event. It makes a huge difference."

Proving his worth
Although he didn't need the advantage as much this season thanks in large part to the huge horsepower he rented from Vance & Hines, Treble remained one of the best leavers in the business. His average reaction time at the starting line during eliminations was a steady .440 seconds. Only one rider was quicker.

After only one win in his first three years, Treble (second from left) climbed onto the winner's podium four times in 2002.

"I really think that comes from 15 years of bracket racing," said Treble, who still bracket races on occasion just to keep sharp. "Bracket racing is all about reaction times and that skill translates well to the NHRA's Pro Stock Bike class.

"Calvin inspires me a lot also. He's very intense and driven and that rubs off on me. This guy hates losing and he's no fun to be around when he's in a bad mood so I try to use his hunger to win to help me focus."

Another highlight for Treble this season was his quarter-mile clocking of 7.098 seconds during qualifying at his sponsor's title race in Englishtown, N.J – the Matco Tools SuperNationals in mid-May. Aside from impressing the people who pay him to race, Treble joined an elite list of riders who have posted laps in the 7.0-second range. As it stands, only Savoie and Matt Hines, who account for the last six series titles between them, have run quick enough to join Treble in the 7.0-second club.

Race to the sixes
The next goal to reach is the sport's first six-second Pro Stock Bike run. The latest barrier looming on the drag racing radar will be worth $10,000 to the first rider to post a sub-seven-second pass, and will gain them a seat in the exclusive NHRA Mickey Thompson 6-Second Pro Stock Bike Club.

Treble accepted $15,000 from K&N Filter's Wendy Grover for winning the Pro Bike Klash in Indy. He could pick up another $10,000 from Mickey Thompson if he's the first rider to post a lap in the six-second range.

"We could see it this coming year, for sure," Treble said. "Conditions will have to be perfect and it'll take a good, clean run, but we may get it done at one of the sea-level tracks like Gainesville or Englishtown.

"It will be a big feather in someone's cap. It's certainly one of our class's biggest milestones. I'd love to do it and win the $10,000, but realistically, I'm not focused on it. I want to win races and to do that you need to win rounds. Making a six-second run wouldn't mean much if you lost that round on a holeshot to someone posting a 7.15."

Gang warfare
Confident that he has the necessary equipment and the skill it takes to win it all, Treble now awaits his next chance to dethrone the current queen of the class, Savoie.

"I know how to beat her," Treble said. "I'm going to send her flowers and candy and sign her husband Nicky's name to the card. I want to fire up the romance in their lives and hope like hell he gets her pregnant. I figure if she's out of commission for nine months we might have a chance to beat her.

"Seriously, if we want a new champion in this class we're going to have to beat her consistently as a group. I looked at a recent issue of National DRAGSTER and saw I was the only one with a winning record against her and I was just 3-2. All of the rest of this class needs to beat her when she shows any signs of weakness. Matt Hines had a couple of chances this year where he had a quicker bike but she was amped up and out-drove him. That can't happen. That team is too good.

"I'm not just looking up at her either. There are some great riders breathing down our neck. You know Matt, Antron [Brown], and Shawn Gann will be right there. Then you look at Geno Scali, who was competitive all season on a Kawasaki only now he'll be on a Suzuki. Steve Johnson is finally getting a new bike. Andrew Hines looks just as good as his brother and you know he'll have power. Reggie Showers, Mike Berry, the list goes on and on.

"I have a feeling this coming year will be one of the best in the history of this class."

Return to 2002 News Archive
Return to the Home Page