March 13, 2021
Courtesy of NHRA.com
Angelle Sampey had an eventful day at Gainesville Raceway after the three-time Pro Stock Motorcycle champion not only qualified No. 1 for the 52nd time in her career, but she also became the latest member of the Denso 200-Mph Pro Stock Motorcycle Club with a 200.00 run on Saturday morning. Sampey made headlines for her speed, but the most impressive part of her weekend has been the performance of her new Vance & Hines/Mission Foods Suzuki. Sampey made the three quickest runs of the event with a pair of 6.74 passes and a 6.753. On Sunday morning, Sampey will race her Louisiana neighbor, Michael Phillips.
“This is amazing. I posted a video of my team celebrating on the starting line because I don’t get to see them celebrate very often,” said Sampey. “I’m so proud to have Mission Foods on board this year. This feels like mission accomplished already, but I feel like I have so much more ahead of me. I’m just the lucky rider of this Suzuki. I’m still learning this motorcycle. It’s been a struggle but I’m still going.”
The only other riders in the 6.7s during qualifying were reigning and four-time champion Matt Smith, who rode his Denso EBR to a 6.768, and Joey Gladstone, who wasted no time learning the ins and outs of his new Reed Motorsports Suzuki with a 6.783. Smith will be paired with Jimmy Underdahl while Gladstone is racing Chris Bostick.
