Karen Stoffer Maple Grove Saturday report

GEICO's Stoffer turns to trusted ally for Reading eliminations

Karen Stoffer, GEICO Powersports Suzuki

Photo by: Michael C. Johnson

READING, Pa. (Oct. 1) – GEICO Suzuki rider Karen Stoffer will turn to Maverick for Sunday's Auto-Plus NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway.

Maverick is the name of the engine the GEICO Pro Stock Motorcycle team will use during eliminations after suffering a problem in qualifying with another motor.

"The biggest and most important thing was we were all supposed to be sitting in the rain today, and we didn't," Stoffer said. "If somebody would've asked if we would've gotten qualifying sessions in here in Reading with the way the weather was, I would've told you there was no way. But we got all four in.

"Unfortunately, we blew our motor in the fourth session. We're going to put in old faithful. It's got a bazillion runs, and we're hoping for a bazillion and four."

Stoffer qualified No. 8 with a pass of 6.867 seconds at 194.58 mph and faces No. 9 qualifier Chip Ellis in Sunday's first round of eliminations. Ellis went 6.893 at 192.77 mph. Stoffer sits second in the Pro Stock Motorcycle points standings as the Countdown to the Championship reaches its halfway point after Sunday's race.

"We're going to race Chip Ellis, who's not in the Countdown," Stoffer said. "He's out there to do some damage. We're going to throw our reliable tuneup in it and race the race."

Stoffer isn't fazed by the engine problem and is focusing on making good runs during eliminations.

"That's racing," Stoffer said. "You've got challenges, and you try to overcome those challenges. Hopefully, we'll have a productive Sunday."