SAMPEY RIDES HER WAY TO PSM NO. 1 IN CHARLOTTE
Angelle Sampey knew sooner or later her bike would do what it did Saturday in Charlotte.
After falling just short of the Pro Stock Motorcycle pole Friday evening to Steve Johnson based on speed, the rider of the Mission Foods Vance and Hines Sukuzi rocketed to the top spot in the third session of qualifying on Saturday with a sizzling 6.714 elapsed time at 201.16 miles per hour.
"I chopped the throttle right before the finish line," Sampey admitted. "There was a little more mile per hour, and I don't know if it would've increased or decreased the ET, but it's possible."
Sampey backed up her Q3 time with another strong 6.721 at 201.82 miles per hour in the final qualifying session, giving her a solid race day tune-up heading into eliminations.
"I knew my Mission Suzuki, powered by Vance & Hines, definitely had it in it," Sampey said. "I actually have been most of the problem. But we've had some issues with the bike, but I just have not been driving it like I need to, and got it done today."
Sampey gave all the credit for her newfound performance to her crew chief, five-time Pro Stock Motorcycle Champion Andrew Hines, for setting her on the right track and bouncing back from a subpar eighth place qualifying position in Houston.
"Andrew is doing everything he can to help me," Sampey said. "You know, we're learning each other, we're learning the bike together, and it's all coming together."
However, Sampey will have her work cut out for her in eliminations, as she will line up against five-time champion Matt Smith, Joey Gladstone, and Kelly Clontz in her first-round quad.
Jimmy Underdahl had a pretty exciting day of his own in qualifying. The Matt Smith-tuned Scrappers Racing Suzuki rider finally eclipsed the coveted 200 miles per hour mark in the final qualifying session with a 200.08 blast to go along with a best of a 6.793 elapsed time, placing him sixth in the qualified field overall.
Steve Johnson, leader after Friday's first two sessions, would get bumped down to second but improved on his run from Friday with a 6.732 at 200.05 miles per hour in the final qualifying session and will square off against Angie Smith, Hector Arana Jr, and Ron Tornow in his opening quad.
Gainesville winner Karen Stoffer will start eliminations from the number three spot with a 6.763 at 199.79 miles per hour and will have a date with Underdahl, Chris Bostick, and Ryan Oehler in her opening quad.