MotorSportWorld.TV

By:

Source: nhra.com

Everybody loves going home, and the drivers of the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series are no exception. The hometown favorite’s fan base grows as does their media attention and the pressure to perform. Pro Stock Motorcycle driver Karen Stoffer’s home race is the 24th annual FRAM/Autolite NHRA Nationals at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma July 29-31, and she is keen on making it her best performance of the season.

Although she hails from Minden, Nev., she considers the Northern California track home. The 1993 Division 7 Motorcycle champ has fond memories of the track, starting back to when she competed in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series. The memories continued into her Professional career when she set the first No. 1 qualifying position of her career in 1998 at Infineon.
 
“Sonoma is my home track,” Stoffer said. “I'm a Division 7 racer and love all those racetracks out west. It's only 250-300 miles from my house. We can drive over, and all our friends and family join us.”

Coming off winning Denver, Stoffer is ready to head back to sea level and continue the team’s successful season, which has included four final-round appearances in seven races.

"Infineon Raceway is a challenging track early on,” Stoffer said. “The riders and crew chiefs are getting adapted to putting everything back to what it was before Denver, back to our regular setups. We're hoping to use our momentum from Denver and put on a good showing out there and maintain our consistent program.”

The 2011 season has been great for the GEICO Pro Stock Motorcycle driver. She has been to four finals, collected one win, and recently regained the lead in the NHRA Full Throttle championship points with her victory in Denver. The self-proclaimed motorcycle enthusiast truly enjoys heading to the Northern California track not just because she considers it home, but she also appreciates the extra support at Infineon for the two-wheel class.

"As a competitor and motorcycle enthusiast, it's always exciting to go to Sonoma because of the unbelievable support we get there,” Stoffer said. “It's the best stop on tour for bikes without question. The motorcycle class just gets a ton of support there. You look up on the hill where they park everyone and you see isles and isles and rows and rows of motorcycles up there. It's a pretty cool scene.”

With only three races to go for Pro Stock Motorcycle until the Countdown to the Championship kicks off, Stoffer has shown that she has what it takes to become a championship contender. Others to watch in the two-wheel class are Eddie Krawiec and his Vance & Hines teammate, Andrew Hines, as well as defending event champ Phillips, who was runner-up in Denver.

Fellow female competitor Erica Enders is making waves in the ultracompetitive Pro Stock class this season. Enders has advanced to two finals this year and currently sits seventh in the championship points. The ZaZa Energy Chevy Cobalt pilot has her eyes set on becoming the first female to win in Pro Stock, the only NHRA class that hasn’t had a female victor. The Cagnazzi-owned Cobalt that is tuned by Dave Connolly seems to be the perfect combination for Enders to finally achieve that lifelong goal. Reigning champ Greg Anderson recognizes her talent and was quoted at the Chicago event saying, “She’s the real deal; she’s going to win many races.” As hot as Enders is right now, you can’t forget about points leader Jason Line, rookie Vincent Nobile, and 2009 champ Mike Edwards, who won in Denver.

Reigning Funny Car champ John Force swept the Western Swing in 1994, and he is in position to be the first driver to ever do it twice. Force has been struggling so far this season but collected his first win of the year at last weekend’s event in Denver. The 15-time champ has taken home the Wally at Infineon seven times in his career and is hoping to do it once more this year. His John Force Racing teammates aren’t having as many struggles this season; Mike Neff has won four times, sits atop the points standings, and just clinched a spot in the Countdown to the Championship, and Robert Hight has won three times and sits second. Jack Beckman sits third and has been hot all season long. Matt Hagan and Cruz Pedregon are two drivers to keep an eye on as well, both are hungry for their first victory of the season.

Defending event champ in Top Fuel, Dixon earned his first and only win of the season in Bristol in June. This time last season, he already had seven victories under his belt heading into Sonoma. Don’t count him out of championship contention just yet, though. His win count may be low, but he’s been quietly going rounds and currently sits third in championship points behind Al-Anabi teammate and points leader Del Worsham and FRAM pilot Spencer Massey, who both clinched playoff berths at the prior event.

•    | 
• Comments0