Pro Stock Motorcycle star Chris Bostick experienced all the highs and lows of a roller coaster race weekend aboard his Surf Signature RV Resorts Suzuki at the Toyota NHRA U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park. The skilled and innovative drag racer turned heads at The Big Go when he became the first Pro Stock Motorcycle pilot to utilize a parachute in competition. Most importantly, Bostick clinched his position in the Countdown to the Championship, NHRA’s version of the playoffs.
This is the second consecutive year that Bostick has qualified for the Countdown, but it is the first time he will start the Countdown with the advantage of being in the Top Ten thanks to consistent performances all season long. The sleek white Suzuki, tuned by crew chief Tim Kulungian, has been improving significantly over the past few events, and the team feels positive about their chances as they head into the most intense competition of the season.
Fans at the U.S. Nationals enjoyed seeing Bostick make some powerful passes in qualifying including his imposing run of 6.929 seconds at 193.52 mph which landed him in the No. 9 spot on the ladder heading into eliminations. He faced his White Alligator Racing teammate, Chase Van Sant, in the first round of competition this morning.
As the teammates squared off against each other for the first time in competition, Bostick got the starting line advantage with an impressive .038-second reaction time, but it was not enough to stay ahead of Van Sant. Despite the early exit, Bostick has his eye on the positive improvements they’ve made this weekend. Most notably, the fan-favorite driver had the best 60-foot time in the first round of eliminations and the eighth-quickest pass overall.
“This weekend has been full of fun and learning,” remarked Bostick. “As long as we continue to grow and make positive improvements, I’ll count that as a win. Last year, getting into the Countdown was really incredible for me, but I set a goal to start the Countdown this year in the Top Ten, and we achieved that! This category is so competitive right now, it’s really an honor to have our name in the mix among some of the best this sport has ever seen.”
Competition in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Countdown to the Championship will begin in Reading, Pennsylvania at the Pep Boys NHRA Nationals at historic Maple Grove Raceway, September 13-15.
This story was originally published on September 3, 2024. 
