Jerry Savoie said his success in the NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle class dates back to a phone call he received over the winter.

Tim Kulungian, the crew chief on Savoie’s White Alligator Racing Suzuki, was on the line with some good news for the defending world champion.

“Tim told me that my bike was a machine,” Savoie said. “He said it was predictable and it responds when you make a change. And that’s what you want to see in a race bike. If it doesn’t respond, you’re pulling hair out of your head. When you start throwing monkey wrenches at it and it doesn’t improve, then you’ve got a problem.”

The good news continued for Savoie Saturday as he earned his second straight No. 1 qualifying spot. Savoie’s Friday run of 6.824 seconds at 196.24 mph held up in the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at zMax Dragway.

 Savoie was also the top qualifier at Gainesville in March. And dating back to last season, Savoie has been the low qualifier at five straight events.

“We take it race by race and focus on our program,” said Savoie, who has qualified first 10 times in his career. “One thing you’ll learn about my crew chief is that he doesn’t think about tomorrow. He doesn’t think about round two when he’s in round one. Whatever the conditions are at that time is when he makes the adjustments.”

Three-time world champ Eddie Krawiec earned the No. 2 spot with a run of 6.835 at 196.93 on his Screamin’ Eagle Harley-Davidson.  Chip Ellis is third.

Despite his productive results in qualifying, Saturday was not entirely a smooth day for the charismatic alligator farmer from Cut Off, Louisiana.

“We felt confident in going into round three, and we went out there and ran a .91,” Savoie said. “The bike did all kinds of crazy stuff and I couldn’t figure out why.  We came to find out that the bike had a hole in the belly pan where we picked up something on the track.  Something like that affects the bike big-time. But we kind of stepped it up a little in round four. We’ll be okay Sunday.”

Savoie said that while horsepower and parts are vital, Kulungian is the key factor behind his hot streak.

“The most important factor is having the man that works for you as your friend, and we have a drag racing family here,” Savoie said. “I have one helluva crew chief. That boy works his butt off. He loves this, he loves going fast and he loves being number one. If I do a better job, we win races.”

Savoie added that sweat, research and preparation over the winter months will pay dividends for any team willing to make the sacrifice in time and labor.

“Many years ago when I was a truck driver I saw a sign in front of a church that said, ‘Lead in the seat of one’s pants will never turn to gold.’ You can’t be going out and doing whatever all winter and then decide to come out here and get on a Pro Stock Motorcycle and work on the bike the week before a race,” said Savoie, who began cutting lawns for money at six. There are several guys out here now that are working hard. You’ve got to stay ahead of the game or you will fall.”

The most dramatic moment of the hot day unfolded in the final qualifying session when three-time world champion Angelle Sampey rallied to make the field with the 14th best time of 6.948 on her Team Liberty bike.