Stoffer qualifies first for finals in NHRA event

Appeal StaffReport

Pro Stock Motorcycle rider Karen Stoffer of Minden qualified in the No. 1 spot in Pro Stock Motorcycle racing in Saturday's NHRA event at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif. The final eliminations for the Fram Autolite Nationals will be held today.

For Stoffer it was a short trip over the Sierra Nevada and she scorched her "home" track with a time of 6.962 seconds in Saturday's first session to lead a parade of five riders to finish at 7-flat or better. Friday qualifying leader Chris Rivas wound up second (6.964), Matt Smith was No. 3 (6.977), Chip Ellis was fourth (6.980), and Angelle Sampey grabbed the No. 5 spot (7.000). Stoffer had not qualified higher than No. 5 in the eight Pro Stock Motorcycle events contested so far in the 2008 season. "Coming from being a bracket racer in Division 7, this is one of those tracks I really call home, so it's neat to be back in my home area and to give our fans the treat of getting our first No. 1 qualifying spot ever," Stoffer told NHRA.com. "In truth, this is about the race team. It's about Gary (Stoffer, crew chief and husband) and all the people behind the scenes that don't get to talk into the microphone or get in front of the TV cameras. They're the ones who put me on the bike and got it down the track in the No. 1 spot.

"Everyone thought we might have it locked in going into that session because of the heat and the wind, but any of the bikes out here could pull off a 6.96, so I wasn't taking any congratulations until we got through that last session."