If Pro Stock Motorcycle team owner George Bryce has learned one thing in drag racing it's to expect the unexpected.

Bryce said Sunday evening he experienced the unexpected. 

Bryce said he was notified Sunday evening team rider Cory Reed was leaving Star Racing and taking Angelle Sampey with him at the end of the season. 

Monday Bryce was still reeling from what he described as a blindsiding moment. 

"After our performances this year, I was really surprised after weeks and weeks of conversations and meetings with the Whiteleys about our 2017 plans," Bryce said. "We have a lot of parts ordered, and we found out Cory and Angelle are going out on their own. I really don't know what to think. I am really finding it hard to come up with the right words to describe this. This was really unexpected especially after the talks we'd had prior to this. We are just going to try and gather our thoughts on this in the days to come."

Reed, in an announcement on  NHRA.com, said he was following a dream in forming his own race team to operate with close ties to the Whiteley family's Y-Not Racing Team.

“From day one, it has been my dream to own and operate my own professional drag racing team and today I’m happy to announce that we’ve moved a step closer to making that dream a reality,” said Reed. “While this has always been a long-term goal, some opportunities have recently become available that have accelerated our time table. I’ve learned a lot about racing a Pro Stock Motorcycle in the last year and I look forward to continuing that education.

“I’m also excited to explore the business side of racing which is why my family and I have asked Angelle to help manage our team," Reed continued. "Angelle has more than 20-years of experience out here, and she knows the sport inside and out. We both have the same goal of building a winning organization. I understand that this is a big project, but we’re committed to building a program that will have long-term success.”

Bryce said he believed the long-term included an association with Reed and Sampey, and had ordered numerous parts to finish the season and beyond including crankshafts, transmissions,  cylinder heads and various other specialty items. 

Bryce said he's cannot help but take the move personally and not purely as a business decision. 

"It's always personal with us," Bryce admitted. "The only way I race is personally. I want to win more than anyone I know. I've always tried to do whatever it takes to win for my team. I spent a lot of my own money, matching what the Whiteleys put in. I gave them a really low price for the 2016 season in anticipation of a bigger 2017 season. That's why this came as a big surprise."

With the NHRA Midwest Nationals, the second stop in the 2016 Countdown to the Championship, set to commence in four days, Bryce admits the situation in St. Louis could be a challenge.

"It's going to be tough," Bryce admitted.