Event No. 2 / NHRA O'Reilly Spring Nationals  / April, 08-10 2005 / Houston, Texas

Coming off the opening event of the season just two weeks earlier, Mike Berry headed to Houston for the NHRA O'Reilly Spring Nationals at Houston Raceway Park in Baytown, TX.

 The MB Precision Machining Pro Stock Suzuki team entered the event much the same as when they left the track in Gainesville, a third string engine in the bike, and two more wounded in the trailer.

 "We had no time to get our good stuff fixed in the short amount of time between races," said Berry. "But it turned out to be a blessing in disguise. We were able to take the engine variable out of our combination, and we're pretty sure we found a few things to straighten out that we wouldn't have otherwise."

 Berry's best in the four qualifying sessions was a 7.179 second, 187.16 mph pass, originally only good enough for the No. 17 qualifying position. After a disqualification by rider in the field, the MB Precision Machining Suzuki was bumped up into the 16th spot, and into the show.

 "We heard right away that Redell's last run was probably going to be thrown out," said Berry. "We went from going home early to facing the No. 1 qualifier first round."

 As luck would have it, Berry would face Angelle Sampey in the opening round of eliminations, a rider who was 10 for 10 against the MB Precision Machining Suzuki.

 "I believe I have left on her nearly every time we've raced, but she has always managed to come around me before the finish line," said Berry.

 Not this time.

 Berry again left on the former world champion, .030 to a .097, then held off her 7.275 with a 7.287 pass to reach the finish line first, and take the win.

 "Running with hurt equipment is tough," said Berry. "All I could really do is leave on time and hold her off, and that's what we did. It was the first time I have beat her so I can say it was a good weekend. Now we need to get back to Colorado and regroup before we head to Atlanta."