Championship Drag Racing

Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals
Atlanta, GA
(May 12-15)

EVENT HOME
   Tickets
   Event schedule
   Results
   Team Reports
   Audio Broadcast
   Photo Galleries
   Video highlights
   Entry List
   Driver Appearances

Driver Profile

Chip Ellis Kuryakyn/Lartigue Racing Buell Pro-Stock Bike

Atlanta, Saturday: Chip Ellis, aboard the G Squared/S&S Buell, finished No. 5 as qualifying ended  for the Summit Racing Equipment Southern Nationals presented by Pontiac.

Ellis’ best of four qualifying runs down the Atlanta Dragway quarter-mile was 7.159 seconds at 184.65 mph.  In tomorrow’s eliminations, the Americus, Ga., driver will face POWERade Pro Stock Motorcycle point leader Steve Johnson in the opening round as Ellis goes for his first win of 2005.

“Our times during qualifying were a good start for how conditions are going to be tomorrow.  We feel ready for tomorrow.  We tested before we got here and based on our testing and the conditions here Big George (Smith), Little George (Bryce) and Ken Johnson have given me a good bike to compete with during eliminations.  I need to ride good and turn the win light on four times, one round at a time,” said Ellis.

His G Squared team owners, George Bryce and George Smith, know something about winning. 

As an owner and rider, George Bryce has accumulated 67 national event wins -- 33 with the late, great, three-time series champion John Myers, 28 with three-time series champion Angelle Sampey, one each with Fred Collis and Chip Ellis, two for himself as a rider and two as a crew chief for Reggie Showers.

“It takes preparation to be a winner,” said Bryce.  “You can just come to the race track and hope to do well.  All our wins come from being more prepared than the other teams.  You’ve got to have the right people.  You’ve got to have the right equipment.  You’ve got to have luck.  Our definition of luck is when opportunity and preparation come together.”   

George and Jackie Bryce’s seven year-old daughter, Julie, already know that Chip Ellis is a winner.  She says, “I’ve been coming to the track with my mommy and my daddy since I was six-weeks-old.  I think Chip (Ellis) is a great guy and a great racer.  To me he is a winner every day.”

George Smith served as S&S Cycle president and vice president of research and development and engineering until 1993.  In 1995, Smith formed Hubba-Hubba Racing which has since evolved into a consulting firm in which Smith has coordinated the S&S Street Pro and Pro Stock projects.

Smith has accomplished much during his storied career.  Notable among his drag racing accomplishments was putting together the Harley bike and team that broke the 200 mph barrier in 1995.  During the same period, Smith also devoted time to running the Bonneville Salt Flats.

“To be a winner takes a total commitment to excel,” said George Smith as he reflected on what it takes to be a winner.  “You must practice and prepare and then execute.  On this team, Chip Ellis is a winner.  So are the guys like Ken Johnson and guys from S&S Cycle that ready the G Squared/S&S Buell.  This team has a commitment to win and we have made significant inroads toward our goals to be the best in the sport.” 

E-mail this article   Print this article