SAMPEY FEELS ‘MISSION ACCOMPLISHED,’ DOMINATES GATORNATS QUALIFYING ABOARD BRAND NEW SUZUKI

Written by Larry Crum, photo by Roger Richards    Sat, 2021-03-13 17:06

 

When Angelle Sampey blasted through the top end beams at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway for the final time in November, the three-time champion didn’t know if that would be her final time aboard a motorcycle in professional competition.

It was a surreal moment for the NHRA’s winningest female racer as one of the most decorated racers in Pro Stock Motorcycle history reflected on a truly amazing career.

Then came a phone call. On the line were the folks at Vance & Hines.

Angelle Sampey was back in the game.

“I’m just happy to be here,” Sampey said. “I almost was done again. And when it is done for me, when they tell me they are done with me for good, I’m going to be done. I’m going to stay home with my kids. They gave me a chance to come back and I couldn’t be more appreciative.”

Sampey announced in early February that she was returning to the team of Vance & Hines aboard a brand new four-valve Suzuki after two years of piloting a Harley-Davidson for the team.

And just three passes into the season, it appears they made the right decision.

Sampey dominated qualifying on Friday and Saturday at Gainesville Raceway, posting the top time in each of the three sessions in earning her 52nd career No. 1 qualifier at the 52nd annual AMALIE Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals.

“My runs were 74, 74, 75 and we even hit a 200 mph run. We’ve got Mission Foods onboard this year, so it really feels like mission accomplished this weekend,” Sampey said. “I can’t say enough about these guys. Vance & Hines. All of the guys back at the shop. Eddie (Krawiec) and Andrew (Hines). They are amazing tuners and amazing racers. I am so glad that I have them behind me 100 percent this weekend.

“It is absolutely perfect. To come out here with Suzuki on a brand new engine and brand new body that has never seen the race track before and do what we did today, it is scary what the possibilities hold for this team.”

Sampey had three bracket-like passes on Friday and Saturday, earning her quickest and fastest pass in Q2 on Saturday as Sampey posted her first 200 mph run and the sixth quickest time in Pro Stock Motorcycle history with a 6.742-second pass at 200.00 mph aboard her Mission Foods Suzuki. Sampey’s three passes were 6.746, 6.742 and 6.753.

Matt Smith, who was hot on her heels in all three sessions, qualified second with the fastest pass of the weekend with a 6.768 at 200.74 mph. Joey Gladstone qualified third with a 6.783 at 198.50 mph.

While Sampey made quite the statement on Saturday, she admits that she entered the event - and spent much of the weekend - experiencing a great deal of worry and self-doubt. She struggled in testing, experiencing a few close calls with the wall, and began to question her motivation in returning for another season.

“Getting on the bike for first round qualifying I was pretty nervous. I started having some self doubt creeping in and I wondered aloud if I am still supposed to be doing this,” Sampey said. “It took a lot of mental preparation, telling myself this is a good motorcycle. Vance & Hines know what they are doing. I just have to believe in myself and get it done.

“It took a lot of faith and prayers and once I got it straight down the boulevard and it went a 74, it was like ‘holy crap.’ I couldn’t believe it. And then it did it again. And again. The old feelings started coming back again. When I am 100 percent comfortable and they have it down pat, when everything is working for us, it is going to be scary for the competition.”

Now, after three successful passes and sitting atop the same Suzuki power that led her to three championships in the early 2000s, Sampey said that her confidence level is increasing with every run.

“My confidence level has dramatically increased. I am never overly confident, I respect this motorcycle and what can happen and I am always trying to stay ahead of it and stay on top of it,” Sampey said. “I’ve never been so somber. The whole weekend I didn’t show much emotion. I was just so thankful to God for keeping me safe, keeping me shiny side up. I thanked my team back at home. I thanked my husband and my two daughters who are the reason I am still out here. And then I finally started getting emotional.”

More than anything, Sampey wants to prove that Vance & Hines made the right decision in tapping her to represent the team on the NHRA tour.

“It puts a little pressure on me because I want to show them that they made the right decision in bringing me back,” Sampey said. “They could have put Andrew or Eddie on this motorcycle and they chose me. I’m thankful and blessed and couldn’t be happier.”

Sampey will match up with Michael Phillips in round one on Sunday.

 

 
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