By Briar Starr, NHRA Staff Writer
For the 56th time in her Pro Stock Motorcycle career, Vance and Hines rider Angelle Sampey scored the No. 1 qualifier ahead of Sunday’s race in the Pro Stock Motorcycle for the Sonoma Nationals.
With a powerful pass of 6.700 and 200.95 mph, Sampey rocketed to the top of the charts in what has been a competitive Pro Stock Motorcycle class in 2022. Due to the run, the Lousiana native reset the track elapse time record at Sonoma Dragway. The original track record was set in July of 2016 when Sampey recorded a time of 6.730 seconds.
“I’m still trying to be better and trying to improve, and I’m lucky to have a really successful team behind me,” Sampey said. “My focus is just on trying to get down the track and Andrew (Hines) has done a wonderful job tuning my bike. I’m really glad to have had some success with him tuning this bike. If we leave the starting line right, it’s going to be fast. This is an amazing class to compete in, but you have to be on your game all four rounds if you want to be successful.”
There were several other riders this past weekend throughout the three qualifying runs that went over the 200 mph club. Those included last week’s Denver winner Matt Smith who went 201.43 mph in Q2 and 200.74 mph in Q1. Joey Gladstone made a pass of 6.827 and 200.74 mph in Q1, while Steve Johnson went 6.752 at 200.77 mph. Additionally, Angie Smith went 203.95 mph in the final round of qualifying, improving from the first round on Friday night after Smith broke early.
Steve Johnson, the NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle points leader, qualified second going 6.743 at 198.73.
Eliminations are scheduled for Sunday morning at 10:30 a.m. local time live on NHRA TV and will be carried on FOX TV at 4 p.m./ET. Below are the first-round matchups for the Pro Stock Motorcycle class.
1. Angelle Sampey, Suzuki, 6.700, 200.95 vs. 14. Lance Bonham, Buell, 7.178, 189.31; 2. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 6.743, 198.73 vs. 13. Scott Bottorff, Buell, 7.034, 191.46; 3. Joey Gladstone, Suzuki, 6.757, 200.26 vs. 12. Jianna Evaristo, Suzuki, 7.015, 188.75; 4. Matt Smith, Suzuki, 6.758, 200.74 vs. 11. Ryan Oehler, EBR, 6.881, 197.74; 5. Eddie Krawiec, Suzuki, 6.761, 200.44 vs. 10. Kelly Clontz, Suzuki, 6.864, 196.50; 6. Karen Stoffer, Suzuki, 6.764, 199.97 vs. 9. Katie Sullivan, Suzuki, 6.847, 197.45; 7. Angie Smith, EBR, 6.766, 203.95 vs. 8. Jerry Savoie, Suzuki, 6.816, 197.45.