Championship Drag Racing

Mac Tools NHRA Gatornationals
Gainesville, Fla.
(March 18-21)

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Craig Treble Matco Tools Suzuki

Reports: Friday Pre-race

Gainesville, Friday: Craig Treble is sitting not so comfortably in the 9th position after Friday qualifying at the 35th annual Mac Tools Gatornationals. "We are looking to find the sweet spot with the Matco Tools Suzuki, and our two Friday runs were not what we were looking for," said Treble.

After two 7.22 runs on Friday, the Matco team will attempt to move up in qualifying on one of Saturdays two scheduled Pro Stock Bike sessions. "We tried a few small things on the first two runs," Treble said. "Saturday we will try some big changes, and there is lots of room for improvement.

"We have plenty of power, so the trick will be to make the right chassis adjustments. That should put us where we need to be for Sunday eliminations."

The Mac Tools Gatornationals is the first of 15 events on the NHRA POWERade Pro Stock Bike Drag Racing Series tour.

Gainesville, pre-race: Craig Treble will enter this weekend's 35th annual Mac Tools Gatornationals hoping to start this season the way he ended the last, winning an NHRA POWERade Pro Stock Bike event title.

"We finished very strong last year and with the adjustments and changes made in the off-season we hope to be in the front of the pack in Gainesville," said Treble.

The team will return to Gainesville Raceway with a new eagle-themed paint scheme honoring Matco Tools' 25th anniversary. "I am really happy to be associated with Matco Tools this year and feel privileged to help celebrate their 25th anniversary," Treble said.

Treble will again be relying on Vance & Hines horsepower for his Suzuki in 2004, something he says makes him feel confident and comfortable. "I have always run Vance & Hines engines, and I have a great relationship with the whole group over there," he said. "Also in the off-season, the decision was made to go back to our earlier '03 Kosman chassis and with the help of Bobby Shahan we made some revisions that should put us where we need to be in terms of consistency and performance".

The Matco Tools team has been out testing the updated chassis, producing runs that the team views as exciting. "The bike made nice, straight, clean runs, and yielded some terrific 60-foot numbers," Treble said. "We are ready to go racing."