Angelle Sampey’s seat on the Vance & Hines Suzuki has gone to Gatornationals winner Gaige Herrera this year. But she is Mission Foods’ ambassador for its new #2Fast 2Tasty Challenge, bestowing medals on the winners of the Saturday qualifying-bonus-race winners. But once the regular season is over, don’t be surprised if the three-time champion and all-time victories-by-women leader returns to the racetrack on a Pro Stock Motorcycle.
 
“I will be at all 12 Mission #2Fast 2Tasty NHRA Challenges. I’m going to be the spokesperson and the ambassador of that race,” Sampey said Friday. “So I am obligated to work the races and not compete on a motorcycle. So the 12 races that the challenge is at, I cannot race, but they have decided to let me compete in the Countdown races. So the six Countdown races, which we don’t have the challenge at, I’m free to do what I want.
  
“Of course, I’m already trying to put the feelers out there, put the word out that I would like to compete,” she said. “I think it would be a totally different thing for me. It would be racing on my own terms. Trying to win a championship would be off of the plate. So I think the pressure would be off of me. There’s always going to be pressure to want to win, because that’s just who I am. It’s human nature for me to be competitive.” 
 
She said it’ll be a lot better “if it’s just Countdown races, to go out there and have some fun, continue riding, try to redeem myself – for myself. I’m not trying to do anything for anybody else. I don’t feel like I have anything to prove to anyone. But I’m not happy with the way my year went last year. And I would like another chance to get out there and perform, even if it’s not on a motorcycle that can qualify No. 1 or win the race. If I can just be on a bike that’s competitive and go out there and perform well, that would make me happy and (let me) have some fun.
 
“So that’s the goal. So I’m going to do the best job I can for Mission throughout the season. I’m having a lot of fun with them. This Challenge race is super-exciting. They’re doing a great job with it. It’s no joke. I mean, it’s a serious deal for money and points, and Mission’s really doing a great job at making it something that racers can be proud of winning and even just proud of to be competing in on Saturday. So I’m excited to be a part of that. I’m very honored that they saw enough in me to have me as the spokesperson for this race.,” Sampey said.
  
“But I’m really hoping to be able to continue my racing career, at least in (the playoffs) for the next couple of years,” she said.