CVEC Power Systems To Back Savoie, Star Racing

Two-time defending NHRA POWERade Pro Stock Bike champion Angelle Savoie and her Star Racing team have announced a major sponsorship deal with CVEC Power Systems, manufacturer of performance exhaust systems for the hobby/radio-control industry.

According to Gary R. Cornwell, president and chief executive officer for CVEC Power Systems Inc., the sponsorship is the foundation for the formation a sister company that will specialize in sponsorship and marketing opportunities, licensing, and other subsidiary operations.

"CVEC Racing is proud to be associated with Star Racing and Angelle Savoie," said Cornwell. "Our company is embarking on a new charter with CVEC Racing, and the marketing campaign surrounding this sponsorship is its cornerstone.

"We are very excited to be able to share our vision, and we look forward to working with associate sponsors Suzuki and Snap-on Tools as well as NHRA. The vision of CVEC Racing and the partners we have will make for an unbeatable combination."

In five years, CVEC Power Systems, with headquarters in Melbourne, Fla., has grown from an entrepreneurial endeavor to a major supplier. Its top-selling patented product line is sold by more than 2,500 dealers worldwide.

The Star Racing team has been the model of success in Pro Stock Bike since 1987, accumulating 56 national event wins in 100 final-round appearances. With the help of talented riders that include the late John Myers and Savoie, the Star Racing entry has earned five NHRA Pro Stock Bike championships and eight runner-up finishes in the last 13 years.

The sponsorship announcement came as welcome news to Star Racing owner George Bryce, whose team faced an uncertain competitive future until meeting CVEC representatives at the Pro Stock Bike season opener in Gainesville.

"First of all, I'd like to say how thankful we are to have found the right match with CVEC," said Bryce. "We didn't have a sponsor until this point because we were being very selective. That's hard to do when you don't have a deal, especially because we really wanted to defend our championship and try for three in a row. That's been the way of life here at Star Racing: trying to win races and championships. We were fortunate enough to reach our 100th final round a few weeks ago, and it's something we want to keep doing.

"What's really neat about our deal with CVEC Racing is that they are going to develop and distribute products that will be in perfect alignment with what Star Racing is and has been for the last 25 years. Using our team and company as the springboard to launch CVEC's new venture is a perfect fit for both of us. The way we see it, it's a match made in heaven. It makes us appreciate not looking for the quick fix and holding out for the right deal. We're glad it all came together."

Savoie, the most successful female competitor in NHRA Drag Racing history, echoed her team owner's thoughts.

"Working with CVEC Racing is something that suits me perfectly," said Savoie. "I've always been interested in the RC hobby; in fact, I bought an RC truck several years ago. Knowing that this is the product I'll be working with and helping to sell is really exciting, especially because I'll be able to work with children as well as adults. It's been tough not being able to talk about it over the last few weeks, but now I'm ready to go out and tell everyone about it."

In addition to its involvement with Star Racing, CVEC Racing revealed plans for a new points and purse system for its Hobby Drag Racing Association (HDRA) and will hold some of its events at NHRA facilities. CVEC Racing will also be manufacturing tenth-scale RC replicas of several current NHRA race cars. CVEC also has formed Pulse Engineering, a research and development division that will work on high-performance exhaust systems for the two-cycle, full-size motorcycle industry.