COMMERCE, Ga. – All Angelle Sampey simply wanted was an opportunity. When it came in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Pro Stock Motorcycle class, Sampey jumped at the chance. What followed was one of the most incredible runs in motorsports history, setting a standard in the class and continuing the excellence of female competitors in the NHRA.
Her 41 career victories are the most for a female competitor in the NHRA, helping making it possible for the historic 100th win by a female to take place at this weekend’s Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals at Atlanta Dragway.
Female competitors currently have 99 NHRA professional victories with Sampey contributing an impressive number of those memorable wins. It took a steely resolve for Sampey to succeed when she entered the professional ranks and she sees a similar mindset in today’s female competitors.
“I wanted them to look at me as being as much of a threat as an Antron Brown,” said Sampey, who won three straight championships from 2000-2002. Sampey competed against Brown who raced in the two-wheel category from 1998-2007. “I wanted that threat to be equal. I look at all these girls and I’m very proud of them. I’m very happy NHRA gives us an opportunity to do this.”
All eyes at Atlanta Dragway will also be on the likes of Pro Stock points leader Erica Enders-Stevens, Alexis DeJoria and Courtney Force in Funny Car, Brittany Force in Top Fuel, and Katie Sullivan, Elvira Karlsson and Angie Smith in Pro Stock Motorcycle as the landmark 100th win by a female will be within reach.
Brown (Top Fuel), Johnny Gray (Funny Car) and Mike Edwards (Pro Stock) were last year’s winners of the event that will once again be televised on ESPN2.
Sampey made her debut in July 1996, as Stephanie Reeves and Karen Stoffer joined her at the Mopar Mile-High Nationals in Denver. But Sampey’s affection for motorcycles and the Pro Stock Motorcycle class came long before that. Posters of class greats Dave Schultz, Terry Vance and John Myers hung on her wall as Sampey became infatuated with racing motorcycles at a young age.
“I started racing dirt bikes when I was six years old,” said Sampey, a New Orleans native. “I came out to the Cajun Nationals event in Baton Rouge and was introduced to the NHRA, watching Top Fuel and things like that. My uncle raced in the sportsman class on a motorcycle in Baton Rouge and that’s how I was introduced to racing a motorcycle on the track. I was 18 when I saw that, and I wanted to know how I could do it for a profession. I fell in love with the sport and with the category.”
When the opportunity came to race in Pro Stock Motorcycle, Sampey didn’t disappoint. Joining George Bryce’s Star Racing team to start her career, Sampey won her first race during her debut 1996 season before starting her championship run in 2000. She passed Shirley Muldowney for the most victories by a female in 2001, earning seven victories that year, which also stands as a record for most victories by a female in a single season.
Reflecting back, Sampey fondly recalled the opportunity Bryce offered and how she took advantage in ways nobody in the motorsports world could have imagined.
“Pretty much everybody in the world besides him laughed at me for wanting to do this,” said Sampey, who was also the first female to win a Pro Stock Motorcycle world championship. “George said I had all the things he couldn’t teach and all the things I was doing wrong he could teach that. We came together and became a pretty unstoppable force and we had a great seven years.”
With her place in NHRA history is firmly secured, Sampey also remains impressed with what the current crop of female racers are doing on the track.
“I’m a huge Erica Enders fan and I’m so proud of what she’s doing,” Sampey said. ‘But I don’t look at the girls and say, ‘Oh wow, look at what they’re doing,’ because I expect it from them. I look at them as racers and I think each female that’s out there probably feels the same way.”
Mello Yello Series qualifying begins Friday, May 16, with sessions at 4:30 and 6:30 p.m. The final two qualifying sessions will take place Saturday, May 17, at 12:30 and 3 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 11 a.m. on Sunday, May 18. Pro Mod qualifying is set for Friday, May 16 at 3:45 and 6 p.m. and Saturday, May 17 at 12:45 p.m. Pro Mod eliminations are scheduled for Saturday at 2:45 p.m.
To purchase general-admission or reserved seats, log on to www.NHRATIX.com or call (800) 884-NHRA (6472). Children 12 and younger are free. For more information about the NHRA visit www.NHRA.com.
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Women entered in the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals
Top Fuel
Brittany Force – Castrol Edge Dragster
Funny Car
Courtney Force – Traxxas Ford Mustang
Alexis DeJoria – Patron XO Cafe Toyota Camry
Pro Stock
Erica Enders-Stevens – Elite Motorsports Chevy Camaro
Pro Stock Motorcycle
Angie Smith – Kandy Magazine/Stockseth Racing Buell
Katie Sullivan – Tough Girl Designs Suzuki
Elvira Karlsson – Elvira Racing Suzuki
Women in NHRA Drag Racing, a brief history:
The following women (listed in alphabetical order by category) have competed in the NHRA
Mello Yello Drag Racing Series:
Top Fuel (18): Vivica Averstedt, Dannielle DePorter, Vicky Fanning, Gina Ferraro, Brittany Force,
Rhonda Hartman-Smith, Lori Johns, Kim LaHaie, Lucille Lee, Shirley Muldowney, Shelly Payne
(Anderson), Cristen Powell, Leah Pritchett, Sue Ransom, Joanne Reynolds, Rachelle Splatt,
Melanie Troxel, Hillary Will
Funny Car (14): Alexis DeJoria, Vicky Fanning, Courtney Force, Ashley Force Hood, Rodalyn Knox,
Paula Martin, Shirley Muldowney, Paula Murphy, Cristen Powell, Leah Pritchett, Susie Spencer,
Melanie Troxel, Della Woods, Carol Yenter
Pro Stock (6): Erica Enders-Stevens, Grace Howell, Judy Lilly, Lucinda McFarlin, Shay Nicols,
Shirley Shahan
Pro Stock Motorcycle (16): Dawn Matthews Baugues, Connie Cohen, Vicki Farr, Lori Francis, Linda Jackson, Anne Hansen, Elvira Karlsson, Peggy Lewellyn, Dawn Minturn, Stephanie Reaves, Angelle Sampey, Angie Smith (McBride), Karen Stoffer, Katie Sullivan, Valerie Thompson, Holly Wallace
Female leaders in victories:
1. Angelle Sampey, Pro Stock Motorcycle 41 (first at Reading 1996, last at Houston 2007)
2. Shirley Muldowney, Top Fuel 18 (first at Columbus 1976, last at Phoenix 1989)
3. Erica Enders-Stevens, Pro Stock 8 (first at Chicago 2012, last at Houston 2014)
4. Karen Stoffer, Pro Stock Motorcycle 6 (first at Houston 2004, last at Denver 2011)
5. Melanie Troxel, Top Fuel-Funny Car 5 (first at Pomona 1 2006, TF, last at Bristol 2008, FC)
6. Shelly Payne, Top Fuel 4 (first at Reading 1993, last at Seattle 1996)
Lori Johns, Top Fuel 4 (first at Pomona 1 1990, last at Memphis 1991)
Ashley Force Hood, Funny Car 4 (first at Atlanta 2008, last at Indianapolis 2010)
9. Courtney Force, Funny Car 3 (first at Seattle 2012, last at Epping 2013)
10. Alexis DeJoria, Funny Car 2 (first at Phoenix 2014, last at Las Vegas 1 2014)
11. Lucille Lee, Top Fuel 1 (Atlanta 1982)
Cristen Powell, Top Fuel 1 (Englishtown 1997)
Peggy Llewellyn, Pro Stock Motorcycle 1 (Dallas 2007)
Hillary Will, Top Fuel 1 (Topeka 2008)
Female pro series world champions:
Shirley Muldowney, Top Fuel – 3 (1977, 1980, 1982)
Angelle Sampey, Pro Stock Motorcycle – 3 (2000, 2001, 2002)
NHRA Mello Yello Series victories by female drivers:
1. Shirley Muldowney, Top Fuel, June 13, 1976, Columbus, Ohio
2. Shirley Muldowney, Top Fuel, Oct. 10, 1976, Ontario, Calif.
3. Shirley Muldowney, Top Fuel, June 12, 1977, Columbus, Ohio
4. Shirley Muldowney, Top Fuel, July 16, 1977, Englishtown, N.J.
5. Shirley Muldowney, Top Fuel, Aug. 7, 1977, Montreal
6. Shirley Muldowney, Top Fuel, Feb. 3, 1980, Pomona, Calif.
7. Shirley Muldowney, Top Fuel, June 8, 1980, Columbus, Ohio
8. Shirley Muldowney, Top Fuel, Sept. 21, 1980, Seattle
9. Shirley Muldowney, Top Fuel, Oct. 19, 1980, Ontario, Calif.
10. Shirley Muldowney, Top Fuel, March 15, 1981, Gainesville, Fla.
11. Shirley Muldowney, Top Fuel, April 26, 1981, Atlanta
12. Shirley Muldowney, Top Fuel, March 14, 1982, Gainesville, Fla.
13. Lucille Lee, Top Fuel, April 25, 1982, Atlanta
14. Shirley Muldowney, Top Fuel, June 13, 1982, Columbus, Ohio
15. Shirley Muldowney, Top Fuel, Aug. 22, 1982, Brainerd, Minn.
16. Shirley Muldowney, Top Fuel, Sept. 6, 1982, Indianapolis
17. Shirley Muldowney, Top Fuel, Feb. 13, 1983, Pomona, Calif.
18. Shirley Muldowney, Top Fuel, Oct. 16, 1983, Irvine, Calif.
19. Shirley Muldowney, Top Fuel, Oct. 15, 1989, Phoenix
20. Lori Johns, Top Fuel, Feb. 4, 1990, Pomona, Calif.
21. Lori Johns, Top Fuel, April 22, 1990, Atlanta
22. Lori Johns, Top Fuel, May 6, 1990, Memphis
23. Lori Johns, Top Fuel, May 5, 1991, Memphis
24. Shelly Anderson, Top Fuel, Sept. 19, 1993, Reading, Pa.
25. Shelly Anderson, Top Fuel, Feb. 6, 1994, Pomona, Calif.
26. Shelly Anderson, Top Fuel, May 5, 1996, Richmond, Va.
27. Shelly Anderson, Top Fuel, Aug. 4, 1996, Seattle
28. Angelle Sampey, Pro Stock Motorcycle, Sept. 15, 1996, Reading, Pa.
29. Cristen Powell, Top Fuel, May 18, 1997, Englishtown, N.J.
30. Angelle Sampey, Pro Stock Motorcycle, Sept. 28, 1997, Topeka, Kan.
31. Angelle Sampey, Pro Stock Motorcycle, May 17, 1998, Englishtown, N.J.
32. Angelle Sampey, Pro Stock Motorcycle, Sept. 20, 1998, Reading, Pa.
33. Angelle Sampey, Pro Stock Motorcycle, Oct. 11, 1998, Memphis
34. Angelle Sampey, Pro Stock Motorcycle, March 21, 1999, Gainesville, Fla.
35. Angelle Sampey, Pro Stock Motorcycle, May 16, 1999, Atlanta
36. Angelle Sampey, Pro Stock Motorcycle, May 25, 1999, Englishtown, N.J.
37. Angelle Sampey, Pro Stock Motorcycle, June 27, 1999, St. Louis
38. Angelle Sampey, Pro Stock Motorcycle, Oct. 10, 1999, Memphis
39. Angelle Sampey, Pro Stock Motorcycle, April 9, 2000, Las Vegas
40. Angelle Sampey, Pro Stock Motorcycle, May 7, 2000, Atlanta
41. Angelle Sampey, Pro Stock Motorcycle, June 18, 2000, Columbus, Ohio
42. Angelle Sampey, Pro Stock Motorcycle, July 16, 2000, Denver
43. Angelle Sampey, Pro Stock Motorcycle, Sept. 9, 2000, Englishtown, N.J.
44. Angelle Sampey, Pro Stock Motorcycle, March 25, 2001, Houston
45. Angelle Sampey, Pro Stock Motorcycle, June 17, 2001, Columbus, Ohio
46. Angelle Sampey, Pro Stock Motorcycle, July 8, 2001, Pomona, Calif.
47. Angelle Sampey, Pro Stock Motorcycle, July 22, 2001, Denver
48. Angelle Sampey, Pro Stock Motorcycle, Sept. 3, 2001, Indianapolis
49. Angelle Sampey, Pro Stock Motorcycle, Oct. 7, 2001, Reading, Pa.
50. Angelle Sampey, Pro Stock Motorcycle, Nov. 11, 2001, Pomona, Calif.
51. Angelle Sampey, Pro Stock Motorcycle, May 5, 2002, Atlanta
52. Angelle Sampey, Pro Stock Motorcycle, June 2, 2002, Chicago
53. Angelle Sampey, Pro Stock Motorcycle, June 30, 2002, St. Louis
54. Angelle Sampey, Pro Stock Motorcycle, Sept. 2, 2002, Indianapolis
55. Angelle Sampey, Pro Stock Motorcycle, Sept. 16, 2002, Reading, Pa.
56. Angelle Sampey, Pro Stock Motorcycle, Oct. 27, 2002, Las Vegas
57. Angelle Sampey, Pro Stock Motorcycle, March 16, 2003, Gainesville, Fla.
58. Angelle Sampey, Pro Stock Motorcycle, April 13, 2003, Houston
59. Angelle Sampey, Pro Stock Motorcycle, June 1, 2003, Chicago
60. Karen Stoffer, Pro Stock Motorcycle, April 18, 2004, Houston
61. Angelle Sampey, Pro Stock Motorcycle, May 16, 2004, Atlanta
62. Angelle Sampey, Pro Stock Motorcycle, Aug. 1, 2004, Sonoma, Calif.
63. Angelle Sampey, Pro Stock Motorcycle, Oct. 10, 2004, Reading, Pa.
64. Angelle Sampey, Pro Stock Motorcycle, Nov. 14, 2004, Pomona, Calif.
65. Karen Stoffer, Pro Stock Motorcycle, April 10, 2005, Houston
66. Angelle Sampey, Pro Stock Motorcycle, June 26, 2005, St. Louis
67. Angelle Sampey, Pro Stock Motorcycle, Sept. 18, 2005, Reading, Pa.
68. Melanie Troxel, Top Fuel, Feb. 12, 2006, Pomona, Calif.
69. Angelle Sampey, Pro Stock Motorcycle, March 19, 2006, Gainesville, Fla.
70. Angelle Sampey, Pro Stock Motorcycle, April 2, 2006, Houston
71. Melanie Troxel, Top Fuel, April 9, 2006, Las Vegas
72. Angelle Sampey, Pro Stock Motorcycle, May 21, 2006, Columbus, Ohio
73. Karen Stoffer, Pro Stock Motorcycle, Oct. 1, 2006, Richmond, Va.
74. Karen Stoffer, Pro Stock Motorcycle, March 18, 2007, Gainesville, Fla.
75. Angelle Sampey, Pro Stock Motorcycle, April 1, 2007, Houston
76. Karen Stoffer, Pro Stock Motorcycle, April 29, 2007, Atlanta
77. Melanie Troxel, Top Fuel, May 6, 2007, St. Louis
78. Melanie Troxel, Top Fuel, Sept. 16, 2007, Memphis
79. Peggy Llewellyn, Pro Stock Motorcycle, Sept. 23, 2007, Dallas
80. Ashley Force Hood, Funny Car, April 27, 2008, Atlanta
81. Melanie Troxel, Funny Car, May 18, 2008, Bristol, Tenn.
82. Hillary Will, Top Fuel, June 1, 2008, Topeka, Kan.
83. Ashley Force Hood, Funny Car, March 29, 2009, Houston
84. Ashley Force Hood, Funny Car, Sept. 7, 2009, Indianapolis
85. Ashley Force Hood, Funny Car, Sept. 6, 2010, Indianapolis
86. Karen Stoffer, Pro Stock Motorcycle, July 24, 2011, Denver
87. Erica Enders-Stevens, Pro Stock, July 1, 2012, Chicago
88. Erica Enders-Stevens, Pro Stock, Aug. 5, 2012, Seattle
89. Courtney Force, Funny Car, Aug. 5, 2012, Seattle
90. Erica Enders-Stevens, Pro Stock, Aug. 19, 2012, Brainerd, Minn.
91. Erica Enders-Stevens, Pro Stock, Sept. 30, 2012, St. Louis
92. Courtney Force, Funny Car, Feb. 17, 2013, Pomona, Calif.
93. Erica Enders-Stevens, Pro Stock, Feb. 24, 2013, Phoenix
94. Courtney Force, Funny Car, June 23, 2013, Epping, N.H.
95. Erica Enders-Stevens, Pro Stock, Sept. 29, 2013, St. Louis
96. Alexis DeJoria, Funny Car, Feb. 23, 2014, Phoenix
97. Alexis DeJoria, Funny Car, March 30, 2014, Las Vegas
98. Erica Enders-Stevens, Pro Stock, March 30, 2014, Las Vegas
99. Erica Enders-Stevens, Pro Stock, April 27, 2014 Houston
100.
