Angelle Sampey Wins Pro Stock Motorcycle Final At NHRA Summernationals

Angelle Sampey raced to her first Pro Stock Motorcycle victory in nine years on Sunday at the NHRA Summernationals at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park.

After Friday’s Pro Stock Motorcycle qualifying rounds, it looked like business as usual at Englishtown with three-time champion Eddie Krawiec powering his Screamin’ Eagle Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson to the lead with a 6.783-second pass at 195.53 mph. Krawiec, a former Old Bridge Township Raceway Park track manager, is the current Pro Stock Motorcycle points leader with two wins in three final rounds this year.

“Anytime you can go low e.t. the first session coming out, it definitely helps build momentum,” said Krawiec. “We made a good clean run.”

By the end of the last Saturday session, Krawiec had secured his third No. 1 qualifier of the season and 30th of his career with a 6.783 at 195.53. Louisiana alligator farmer Jerry Savoie qualified second with a 6.788 at 197.80 on his Savoie’s Alligator Farm Suzuki.

But on race day, the tables began to turn as number-five qualifier Angelle Sampey, the winningest female racer in NHRA history, began her climb up the ladder, first taking out Michael Ray in round one, and then Screamin’ Eagle Harley-Davidson rider Andrew Hines in round two with a solid holeshot run.

Sampey then met up with Hines’ teammate Eddie Krawiec in the third eliminator. Krawiec got the better launch but Sampey’s Star Racing Buell had the power to overcome, taking the round-three win light with a 6.582-second run at 193.74 mph to Krawiec’s losing 6.870 at 196.24.

In the final it was Sampey launching with a near-perfect .002-second reaction time and powering her Star Racing Buell to a 6.876-second pass at 194.41 mph to defeat Jerry Savoie’s 6.928 at 177.21 on his Savoie’s Alligator Farm Suzuki. The win was her first since 2007 in Houston and 42nd of her career. She became the fifth female racer to win an event this season while the NHRA Summernationals is the sixth event of the year to feature a female in the victory circle.

“I know this is my 42nd, but it feels like my very first win ever,” said Sampey in an emotional post-race interview. “I don’t feel like I had any wins before today. I’m starting all over again, and I had something to prove, and it took a while.

“I feel totally responsible to show my daughter what she can do with her life,” Sampey continued. “Now I can show her that even if you aren’t winning every weekend but if you just keep trying, you’re going to get it. Showing her and being her role model — I don’t have the words for it.”

Sammy is currently third overall in the championship points standings.

PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE (following the fourth of 16 events)
1. Eddie Krawiec, Screamin' Eagle Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson (436)
2. Jerry Savoie, Savoie's Alligator Farm Suzuki (310)
3. Angelle Sampey, Precision Service Equipment Buell (297)
4. Andrew Hines, Screamin' Eagle Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson (290)
5. Chip Ellis, PiranaZ Buell (269)
6. Hector Arana Sr., Lucas Oil Buell (239)
7. LE Tonglet, Nitro Fish Suzuki (196)
8. Karen Stoffer, Big St. Charles Motorsports/SEP Suzuki (150)
9. Scotty Pollacheck, Central Point, Ore., Petrolhead Apparel Buell (149)
10. Steve Johnson, RaceTheVote Suzuki (147)