Atlanta Angelle Seeling story (PRO BIKE)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: NHRA Communications (818) 914-4761

STRONG WORK ETHIC HELPS SEELING SUCCEED IN PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE

COMMERCE, Ga. -- On the surface, it might appear that Angelle Seeling has little to prove as an NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle rider after less than a year on the circuit.

She won one race, set an elapsed-time national record and finished seventh in the NHRA Winston point standings despite competing in just six of 12 races last season. She also has shown remarkable poise and courtesy with fans and media since making her NHRA debut last July.

But Seeling knows that until she wins a Winston championship on the Close Call Phone Card Suzuki, she must constantly work to convince any remaining doubters that she can succeed.

"I think that I'm under the microscope the same way today that I was the first time I went down the track," Seeling said. "Everybody knows I can win now, that's different, but they're still waiting for me to mess up.

"It's tough sometimes, but I think I've earned a lot more respect than I had at the first race."

And how. Seeling, from Americus, Ga., has emerged as a strong contender for the NHRA Winston championship and will try to climb from fifth in the point standings at the 17th annual, $1,462,250 Fram Nationals, April 10-13 at Atlanta Dragway. The race is the fifth event of the 22-event, $30-million NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series in 1997.

Seeling's tenacious work ethic has helped her gain respect from riders and fans. She has combined countless hours of practice and study of riding technique with a relentless attention to detail. For example, she crouched near NHRA Chief Starter Rick Stewart during sportsman qualifying at an event last year for nearly an hour, practicing her reaction times to the starting light.

"It's really hard to be able to concentrate on everything," Seeling said. "That's what I'm having the most trouble with. But it's getting better, getting easier. I'm still learning so much."

Jack Durbin indy500@freenet.tlh.fl.us Motorsport News International jackd@motorsport.com (Moderators for "rec.autos.sport.info") Homepage http://www.freenet.tlh.fl.us/users/indy500/index.html