Mac Tools U.S. Nationals
Indianapolis, Ind.
(Sept. 1-6)
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Connie Cohen CMKXtreme Suzuki |
Reports: Sunday Pre-race |
Indianapolis, Sunday: CMKXtreme Pro Stock Bike rider Connie Cohen was unsuccessful in her bid for her first appearance in competition at the world famous 50th annual U.S. Nationals at Indianapolis Raceway Park in Indiana. Cohen fell short of qualifying for the largest Pro Stock Bike field seen on the POWERade Drag Racing Series tour this season, but she'll be ready to return to competition in Reading in two weeks.
Cohen began her weekend at the U. S. Nationals with her first qualifying attempt on Friday afternoon. The Connecticut racer recorded an off-pace 9.436 at 95.37 mph after shutting down the bike early with apparent electrical problems and failing to make a representative run. Cohen returned Saturday afternoon for her second qualifying attempt on the CMKXtreme Suzuki, but she was still suffering from electronic gremlins and was only able to muster a 10.176 at 88.73 mph to remain unqualified.
After fixing their electrical difficulties the CMKXtreme Suzuki rider made her third qualifying attempt of the weekend Saturday evening, improving significantly to a 7.503 at 173.74 mph, with two sessions remaining on Sunday to attempt to qualify for the prestigious 16-bike field of Monday's eliminations. It would take a monumental effort from CMKXtreme Suzuki crew chief Marc Cohen to provide his wife Connie with the performance to make the super tough Pro Stock Bike field at Indy, but the gritty tuner was more than up for the task.
On Cohen's fourth qualifying attempt Sunday morning, the CMKXtreme Suzuki improved slightly to a 7.499 at 176.60 mph but she remained in the No. 30 qualifying spot with one pressure filled shot remaining to make the show on Labor Day. On her final attempt Cohen remained consistent with a 7.499 at 176.60 mph but it wasn't quick enough to make the field and she finished qualifying a disappointing 30th out of 33 motorcycles attempting to make the show.
"We are really disappointed,' said Cohen after qualifying ended. "We tested here in Indy last week and my husband and crew chief Marc thought we had things pretty well sorted out but we still need to put in a lot more time preparing the bike. We haven't been home for weeks so once we get a chance to get home and get everything freshened up I think we'll experience a lot more success. We still had a wonderful weekend in Indianapolis. Visiting all the patients at Riley Children's Hospital on Thursday was really heart warming and all of the CMKX shareholders on hand at Indy were a joy to get to know. There a great bunch of people and very supportive of the race team."
Indianapolis, pre-race: Its been a season full of highs and lows for CMKXtreme Pro Stock Bike rider Connie Cohen, but the Connecticut resident will be seeking to turn her luck around Labor Day weekend at the world's largest drag race, the 50th annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals. Cohen will be looking to qualify for her second race of the 2004 POWERade season as the most competitive group of bikes seen all year converge on 'The Big Go' in search of fame and glory.
Cohen's racing career received a tremendous reversal of future when she met Canadian Urban Casavant, founder and current Chairman of the Board of CMKM Diamonds, and his brother Ron Casavant. In June she signed CMKXtreme Racing as a major sponsor for the remainder of the 2004 season. Cohen, led by her crew chief and husband Marc Cohen, immediately started turning things around with their Suzuki GSXR. In her fourth race representing CMKX Cohen qualified in Sonoma for her first NHRA national event in 44 starts.
Cohen is no stranger to racing two-wheeled demons down the quarter-mile. She spent five successful seasons competing on AHDRA circuit before she began racing on the NHRA tour in 1998. She also holds the distinction of being the only woman to qualify a Pro Stock Harley-Davidson at an NHRA sanctioned event when she made the field at the non-points earning Winston Showdown in Bristol, Tenn. in 2000.
"We've had some mechanical gremlins bite us at the last two races but we tested in Indy prior to the U.S. Nationals and I'm confident my husband Marc can get the performance of the CMKXtreme Suzuki sorted out," said Cohen. "It's important for us to make a good showing at Indy and finish the 2004 season on a positive note."
Cohen has competed at all 11 completed races on the POWERade Drag Racing Series Pro Bike schedule this season and currently sits 20th in the NHRA national point standings with four events remaining. "We are working very hard to qualify at the last four races of the season and end the year on a high note," said Cohen after testing in Indy this past week. "We want to finish the season running strong so we can give our fans and the folks at CMKX and all of their wonderful shareholders something positive to cheer about."
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