Karen Stoffer sets NHRA pro stock motorcycle national record

National Hot Rod Assn. pro stock motorcycle racer Karen Stoffer set a national record during the elimination rounds at the Gatornationals in Gainesville, Fla., but lost her second-round race to Shawn Gann.
Stoffer, a graduate of St. Genevieve High School in Sun Valley, turned a lap at 6.847 seconds and set the national record in her first-round race against Redell Harris.
Stoffer earned the top-qualifying spot for today’s elimination rounds by laying down a lap of 6.855 seconds on Saturday.
“I’ve gotten the No. 1 before but I never had to fight for it like that,” said Stoffer, who also was low qualifier in 2008 at Infineon Raceway. “It was nerve wracking to see Eddie Krawiec go out the pair in front of me, set low ET, and take the top spot away from us. At least we knew we had a fast enough bike to get it back; I just had to do my job.”
Stoffer predicted the national record would be broken in the elimination rounds. She clearly had the fastest bike after qualifying, but she said on Saturday other riders had a chance to break the national record too.
“I think we'll see some other teams step up and we should see the national record broken, that’s my prediction,” Stoffer said. “We’re in the batter’s box and we want to take a big swing at that record. That would be a first for me, and I would love to be able to do it here in Gainesville. I don’t know if we’re going to see these kind of conditions the rest of the year, so I think it’s going to be critical to get it done here.”
If Stoffer’s national record time holds up through eliminations, she will be awarded 20 bonus points toward the pro stock motorcycle standings.

Karen Stoffer clinging to final Countdown spot in NHRA pro stock motorcycles

Karen Stoffer expects a battle for the last spot in the pro stock motorcycle Countdown to One playoffs. She is in 10th place and has a two-point lead over 11th-place Steve Johnson. Only the top 10 drivers in the pro stock motorcycle standings will qualify for the Countdown.
Stoffer was in a similar position last year, needing to win her first-round race at the U.S. Nationals to earn a berth in the Countdown. This year is a little different. She just has to stay ahead of Johnson all weekend to clinch a spot in the playoffs.
“To tell you the truth, I really do not like being here again, but now that we are, we are focused on solidifying our spot,” said Stoffer, a graduate of St. Genevieve High School in Sun Valley. “I’m not giving up. Don’t give up on us.”
There are less than 100 points separating the eighth place driver from the 12th place driver in the pro stock motorcycle standings. It’s possible three drivers in the top 10 won’t qualify for the Countdown.
“We just need to get our head in the game,” Stoffer said. “We have had a tough year and now is our last chance to turn it around. We were in the same spot last year, and made it to the chase, so we know how to do it.”

NHRA's Stoffer to throw out first pitch at A's game

Karen Stoffer, a graduate of St. Genevieve High School in Sun Valley and an NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle rider, will throw out the first pitch at the Oakland Coliseum on Wednesday.
The A's are hosting the Minnesota Twins. Game time is 12:35 p.m.
Check it out on NHRA.com.