Angelle Sampey raced to her first Pro Stock Motorcycle victory since 2007 on Sunday at the NHRA Summernationals at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park.
Steve Torrence (Top Fuel), Ron Capps (Funny Car) and Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) also were winners of the 10th NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series event of the season.
Sampey powered her Star Racing Buell to a 6.876-second pass at 194.41 mph to defeat Jerry Savoie’s 6.928 at 177.21 on his Savoie’s Alligator Farm Suzuki. The win was her first since 2007 in Houston and 42nd of her career. She became the fifth female to win an event this season while the NHRA Summernationals is the sixth event of the year to feature a female victor.
“I know this is my 42nd win but it feels like my first ever,” said Sampey, the winningest female in NHRA history. “I don’t feel like I had any wins before today. I’m starting all over again and I had something to prove and it took a while.
“I feel totally responsible to show my daughter what she can do with her life,” Sampey continued. “Now I can show her that even if you aren’t winning every weekend but if you just keep trying, you’re going to get it. Showing her and being her role model – I don’t have the words for it.”
Sampey had to race past the Screamin’ Eagle Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson team of Andrew Hines and Eddie Krawiec, who have collectively claimed the first three victories of the season, in the quarterfinals and semifinals, respectively, to get to the finals.
In Top Fuel, Torrence piloted his Capco Contractors / Torrence Racing dragster to 4.037 at 281.71 for his second win of the 2016 season and seventh of his career. Torrence outlasted Tony Schumacher’s 4.234 at 268.28 in his U.S. Army dragster in the final. Torrence claimed the seventh victory his career and second at Raceway Park. He is third in the points standings.
“This is huge,” said Torrence. “This is home for my team I’m proud to have contributed to this win, I got it for them. We’ve been so fortunate and blessed. We’ve got a race car that has been impeccable and the only fault has been me some of the time. We are going to count our blessings and just keep going.”
In the earlier rounds, Torrence had to race past Smax Smith, J.R. Todd, and two-time winner this season Brittany Force. Schumacher faced off against Terry McMillen, teammate and defending world champion Antron Brown, and Shawn Langdon to get to the finals.
Capps picked up his second consecutive victory and third of the season with a 3.954 at 316.90 in his NAPA Auto Parts Dodge Charger R/T by defeating Jack Beckman’s 7.894 at 85.05 in his Infinite Hero Dodge Charger R/T in the final round. Capps, who tallied his 48th career win, took the points lead with the victory.
“It’s great,” Capps said. “It’s something you hope will happen at the end of the day. With the competition, you can’t imagine it will go as planned or easy. We’re just taking it a little bit at a time. I almost felt embarrassed driving this car today because it’s just so good. You don’t want to mess up when it’s that good. It’s your race to lose.”
En route to his win, Capps defeated John Hale, 16-time world champion John Force and defending world champion Del Worsham. Beckman was tasked with getting past Las Vegas winner Alexis DeJoria, Atlanta and Topeka winner Matt Hagan and Jeff Diehl to get to the finals.
In Pro Stock, Anderson won his fifth victory of the season, 83rd of his career and seventh at Englishtown with a 6.610 at 210.93 in his Summit Racing Equipment Chevrolet Camaro over teammate Jason Line, who red lighted. Anderson has raced to seven final round appearances so far this season.
“It’s unreal,” Anderson said, “It’s just absolutely been a dream season. I keep wanting to pinch myself. It’s just cool and we’ve had such a great run. This was another great weekend. It’s just one more time that Englishtown tells me how much it loves me and how much the fans up here appreciate Pro Stock.”
Anderson’s win continues the Ken Black Racing domination of the season. He and Line have won all 10 of the events so far. Line holds the points lead with Anderson in second and their KB racing teammate Bo Butner is third.
NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing will continue June 17-20 with the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals in Bristol, Tennessee.
NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series
Old Bridge Township Raceway Park – Englishtown, NJ
NHRA Summernationals – June 12, 2016
Final Finish Order (1-16)
TOP FUEL
1. Steve Torrence; 2. Tony Schumacher; 3. Shawn Langdon; 4. Brittany Force; 5. Antron Brown; 6. J.R. Todd; 7. Dom Lagana; 8. Doug Kalitta; 9. Leah Pritchett; 10. Shawn Reed; 11. Smax Smith; 12. Terry McMillen; 13. Clay Millican; 14. Richie Crampton; 15. Luigi Novelli; 16. Terry Haddock.
FUNNY CAR
1. Ron Capps; 2. Jack Beckman; 3. Jeff Diehl; 4. Del Worsham; 5. Tim Wilkerson; 6. John Force; 7. Matt Hagan; 8. Tommy Johnson Jr.; 9. Alexis DeJoria; 10. Cruz Pedregon; 11. Chad Head; 12. Blake Alexander; 13. Robert Hight; 14. Courtney Force; 15. John Hale; 16. Jim Campbell.
PRO STOCK
1. Greg Anderson; 2. Jason Line; 3. Vincent Nobile; 4. Kenny Delco; 5. Drew Skillman; 6. John Gaydosh Jr; 7. Jeg Coughlin; 8. Allen Johnson; 9. Alex Laughlin; 10. Shane Gray; 11. Erica Enders; 12. Bo Butner; 13. Charlie Westcott Jr.; 14. V. Gaines; 15. Chris McGaha.
PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE
1. Angelle Sampey; 2. Jerry Savoie; 3. Eddie Krawiec; 4. Chip Ellis; 5. Andrew Hines; 6. LE Tonglet; 7. Steve Johnson; 8. Hector Arana Jr; 9. Cory Reed; 10. Scotty Pollacheck; 11. Michael Phillips; 12. Hector Arana; 13. Brian Pretzel; 14. Michael Ray; 15. Jim Underdahl; 16. Karen Stoffer.
Sunday’s Final Results
Top Fuel — Steve Torrence, 4.037 seconds, 281.71 mph def. Tony Schumacher, 4.234 seconds, 268.28 mph.
Funny Car — Ron Capps, Dodge Charger, 3.954, 316.90 def. Jack Beckman, Charger, 7.894, 85.05.
Pro Stock — Greg Anderson, Chevy Camaro, 6.610, 210.93 def. Jason Line, Camaro, Foul – Red Light.
Pro Stock Motorcycle — Angelle Sampey, Buell, 6.876, 194.41 def. Jerry Savoie, Suzuki, 6.928, 177.21.
Final Round-By-Round Results
TOP FUEL
ROUND ONE — Dom Lagana, 4.417, 211.73 def. Clay Millican, 6.925, 84.78; Brittany Force, 3.849, 317.34 def. Luigi Novelli, 11.199, 71.53; Shawn Langdon, 3.815, 319.45 def. Shawn Reed, 4.498, 196.67; Steve Torrence, 3.876, 310.55 def. Smax Smith, 4.981, 148.80; Antron Brown, 4.071, 226.81 def. Terry Haddock, 11.960, 59.27; Doug Kalitta, 3.801, 321.96 def. Leah Pritchett, 3.846, 317.05; J.R. Todd, 3.754, 323.66 def. Richie Crampton, 9.033, 88.40; Tony Schumacher, 3.799, 319.29 def. Terry McMillen, 5.129, 140.50;
QUARTERFINALS — Langdon, 4.505, 174.10 def. Lagana, Foul – Red Light; Force, 4.405, 287.41 def. Kalitta, Foul – Centerline; Schumacher, 4.156, 263.72 def. Brown, 4.804, 140.02; Torrence, 4.481, 239.44 def. Todd, 5.359, 150.46;
SEMIFINALS — Torrence, 4.327, 264.75 def. Force, 4.427, 252.24; Schumacher, 3.843, 319.22 def. Langdon, 3.904, 314.97;
FINAL — Torrence, 4.037, 281.71 def. Schumacher, 4.234, 268.28.
FUNNY CAR
ROUND ONE — Jeff Diehl, Toyota Solara, 5.188, 230.61 def. Robert Hight, Chevy Camaro, 6.394, 144.94; Ron Capps, Dodge Charger, 4.057, 307.93 def. John Hale, Charger, 8.734, 56.15; Matt Hagan, Charger, 3.950, 316.75 def. Jim Campbell, Toyota Camry, 13.365, 63.58; Del Worsham, Camry, 4.621, 250.74 def. Blake Alexander, Charger, 4.760, 208.84; Tommy Johnson Jr., Charger, 4.033, 313.73 def. Cruz Pedregon, Camry, 4.117, 293.41; Tim Wilkerson, Ford Mustang, 3.999, 318.77 def. Chad Head, Camry, 4.551, 225.11; Jack Beckman, Charger, 3.972, 315.71 def. Alexis DeJoria, Camry, 3.998, 309.91; John Force, Camaro, 3.983, 314.68 def. Courtney Force, Camaro, 7.035, 93.90;
QUARTERFINALS — Worsham, 4.332, 254.71 def. Johnson Jr., 9.235, 84.46; Beckman, 4.105, 305.98 def. Hagan, 4.842, 182.21; Diehl, 4.264, 272.45 def. Wilkerson, 4.292, 270.75; Capps, 3.996, 310.55 def. J. Force, 4.474, 204.98;
SEMIFINALS — Capps, 3.960, 314.68 def. Worsham, 8.890, 82.05; Beckman, 4.062, 289.51 def. Diehl, 6.137, 113.21;
FINAL — Capps, 3.954, 316.90 def. Beckman, 7.894, 85.05.
PRO STOCK
ROUND ONE — Jeg Coughlin, Dodge Dart, 6.708, 207.56 def. Erica Enders, Dart, 6.812, 206.70; Drew Skillman, Chevy Camaro, 7.163, 155.65 def. Chris McGaha, Camaro, 10.450, 91.91; Kenny Delco, Camaro, 6.718, 208.36 def. Shane Gray, Camaro, 6.729, 209.23; Allen Johnson, Dart, 6.688, 208.88 def. Alex Laughlin, Camaro, 6.698, 209.33; John Gaydosh Jr, Chevrolet Camaro, 6.785, 204.51 def. Bo Butner, Camaro, 7.296, 154.74; Greg Anderson, Camaro, 6.600, 210.70 def. Charlie Westcott Jr., Ford Mustang, 8.839, 109.40; Jason Line, Camaro, 6.596, 210.14 was unopposed; Vincent Nobile, Camaro, 6.646, 209.82 def. V. Gaines, Dart, 9.916, 84.11;
QUARTERFINALS — Delco, 6.688, 208.07 def. Gaydosh Jr, Foul – Red Light; Nobile, 6.639, 210.37 def. Johnson, 7.003, 161.00; Anderson, 6.617, 210.73 def. Skillman, 6.723, 207.88; Line, 6.617, 210.54 def. Coughlin, 6.972, 162.86;
SEMIFINALS — Line, 6.668, 210.21 def. Nobile, 14.129, 60.59; Anderson, 6.601, 211.39 def. Delco,;
FINAL — Anderson, 6.610, 210.93 def. Line, Foul – Red Light.
PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE
ROUND ONE — Jerry Savoie, Suzuki, 6.841, 196.82 def. Cory Reed, Buell, Foul – Red Light; Hector Arana Jr, Buell, 6.921, 192.33 def. Jim Underdahl, Suzuki, 7.089, 187.63; Chip Ellis, Buell, 6.869, 194.07 def. Scotty Pollacheck, Buell, 6.965, 192.22; Angelle Sampey, Buell, 6.836, 196.62 def. Michael Ray, Buell, 7.070, 162.08; Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson, 6.876, 195.45 def. Michael Phillips, Suzuki, 6.968, 190.27; LE Tonglet, Suzuki, 6.867, 195.70 def. Karen Stoffer, Suzuki, Foul- Red Light; Eddie Krawiec, Harley-Davidson, 6.864, 195.56 def. Brian Pretzel, Suzuki, 7.027, 192.17; Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 6.947, 192.11 def. Hector Arana, Buell, 6.987, 189.82;
QUARTERFINALS — Savoie, 6.846, 196.36 def. Tonglet, 6.920, 192.17; Ellis, 6.903, 194.21 def. Arana Jr, 7.011, 193.35; Krawiec, 6.864, 196.36 def. Johnson, 6.971, 191.27; Sampey, 6.859, 195.45 def. Hines, 6.897, 194.88;
SEMIFINALS — Savoie, 6.879, 197.51 def. Ellis, 6.880, 192.17; Sampey, 6.852, 193.74 def. Krawiec, 6.870, 196.24;
FINAL — Sampey, 6.876, 194.41 def. Savoie, 6.928, 177.21.
Point Standings (Top 10)
Top Fuel
1. Doug Kalitta, 847; 2. Antron Brown, 798; 3. Steve Torrence, 782; 4. Brittany Force, 693; 5. Tony Schumacher, 577; 6. J.R. Todd, 528; 7. Clay Millican, 507; 8. Richie Crampton, 483; 9. Shawn Langdon, 478; 10. Leah Pritchett, 377.
Funny Car
1. Ron Capps, 758; 2. Jack Beckman, 731; 3. Courtney Force, 687; 4. Tim Wilkerson, 660; 5. Del Worsham, 639; 6. Matt Hagan, 615; 7. Robert Hight, 586; 8. John Force, 581; 9. Tommy Johnson Jr., 558; 10. Alexis DeJoria, 516.
Pro Stock
1. Jason Line, 1,133; 2. Greg Anderson, 1,065; 3. Bo Butner, 719; 4. Allen Johnson, 614; 5. Drew Skillman, 550; 6. Chris McGaha, 491; 7. Vincent Nobile, 480; 8. Jeg Coughlin, 424; 9. Alex Laughlin, 413; 10. Erica Enders, 406.
Pro Stock Motorcycle
1. Eddie Krawiec, 436; 2. Jerry Savoie, 310; 3. Angelle Sampey, 297; 4. Andrew Hines, 290; 5. Chip Ellis, 269; 6. Hector Arana, 239; 7. LE Tonglet, 196; 8. Karen Stoffer, 150; 9. Scotty Pollacheck, 149; 10. Steve Johnson, 147.
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