AHDRA: Travis Lummus Blasts Out of the Hole

Written by: SPEED Staff Asheville, NC – 4/14/2005

Gene Lummus Harley Davidson's Travis Lummus in action at Gainseville, Fla.

Editors Note: The following is from a Lummus racing press release...

Four-time AHDRA Street Pro champ Travis Lummus started off strong in his attempt to regain the crown from '04 champ Joe Sternotti. Sternotti's tuning responsibilities multiplied many times over the off-season, and he struggled to be competitive at the season opening Screamin' Eagle Performance Bike Week Nationals at Gainesville Raceway in Florida. "Joe had a bad trip down to Florida," Lummus reported about Sternotti. "He came in on a flatbed and his head just wasn't there."

Gainesville qualifying
round 1 1st Travis Lummus 8.985 et 152.20 mph
round 2 1st Travis Lummus 8.834 et 153.84 mph
round 3 1st Travis Lummus 8.839 et 152.90 mph

Sternotti missed round 1 of qualifying, while Travis came out smokin' with an 8.985 pass on his Gene Lummus Harley-Davidson mount. No other bike would make an 8 second pass all weekend. Travis set low ET in the second round with an 8.834 at a new record 153.84 mph. He also set the eighth mile mark at 126.40. "So we now have all four records," said Travis, who started off raceday with a 9.12 bye run. "And I wheelied for an eighth of a mile! That was crazy, man! That was the pass of the weekend. Even with that wheelie, that was quicker than anybody else went all weekend." Travis cruised easily past Derek Christenson in the final, despite Derek's .020 light.

Gainesville eliminations
Round 1
Travis Lummus .193 rt 9.124 et 150.90 mph (w)
bye

Round 2
Travis Lummus .114 rt 8.960 et 151.41 mph (w)
Joe Sternotti .071 rt 9.595 et 140.77 mph

Final Round
Travis Lummus .132 rt 9.059 et 148.85 mph (w)
Derek Christenson .020 rt 9.487 et 140.07 mph

A month after Gainesville's near-perfect, sea level air and beautifully maintained track, Travis and Team Lummus headed west to Firebird International Raceway and the thin Phoenix air for the Screamin' Eagle Arizona Bike Week Nationals. Different venue, similar result as Travis again led qualifying from the start and dominated the Street Pro class at the event.

Phoenix qualifying
Round 1 1st Travis Lummus 9.254 et 146.89 mph
Round 2 1st Travis Lummus 9.093 et 147.15 mph
Round 3 1st (overall) Travis Lummus 9.755 et 146.29 mph

As Travis showed that Team Lummus could run well in any conditions, Sternotti continued to struggle and qualified second. "Joe's overpowering the track or something," said Travis. "He's got a lot going on. He's got three bikes, and that's a lot for anybody. But he'll be back strong."

Travis's own strength continued on raceday, as he and the team pushed relentlessly towards a high altitude, 8 second pass.

Phoenix eliminations
Round 1
Travis Lummus .124 rt 9.029 et 147.78 mph (w)
bye

Round 2
Travis Lummus .272 rt 9.043 et 149.05 mph (w)
Jeff King .109 rt 9.679 et 141.49 mph

Final Round
Travis Lummus .326 rt 9.434 et 144.92 mph (w)
Steve Stute .033 rt 10.050 et 141.65 mph

"We ran 9.02 in the heat of the day and 9.04 right behind it," Travis said about his first two rounds. His numbers in the final were admittedly less than stellar. "I just wanted to cut a safe light but it was too safe," he said about his .326 reaction time. "Then I missed second gear or it popped out of second or something. We were going for the 8's right then but it just didn't happen.

"My dad (Gene) is getting a real good handle on the clutch, and every race we learn more and more," continued Travis, who thinks that clutch management might be his advantage. "I think some of these guys are trying too hard. It looked like Stute's done some work on his bike. They've got a lot horsepower but no tuning or clutch management.

"When we get to a little better track and better air, we're looking forward to setting the record again. But right now we're just gonna go one round at a time. I'm gonna stay focused this year and concentrate on my racing. Club Lummus is out and Team Lummus is in. We've got our head screwed on straight. I want to thank my girlfriend, Starla Harden. She's a big part of my success this year, keeping me focused and on track."

And as usual, Travis also praised engine builder Steve Allstadt and his dad Gene. He also thanked JIMS Machine, GMA brakes, Rinehart Exhaust, Pro Street Frameworks, Red Line Oil, Works Shocks, Vanson Leathers, Gene Lummus H-D of Asheville and Waynesville, the Harley-Davidson Motor Company for supporting the sport, and G-Squared for sponsoring the class.

The next stop for Travis Lummus and the AHDRA is the Lonestar Nationals, April 23rd and 24th at the Texas Motorplex near Dallas.