Pro Stock Motorcycle

Stoffer is 2 – 0 against Clontz in prior events. Stoffer with the starting line advantage and the win. Stoffer runs her quickest pass for the win.

Johnson and Hall have each won 1 times against the other in prior events. Johnson with the starting line advantage and never trailed for the win.

Sampey is 7 – 2 against Phillips in prior events. Phillips with a great light, but Sampey chased him down right in the lights for the win. Angelle Sampey’s MOV: 0.0128 seconds (approximately 4 feet). Phillips with his quickest pass of the weekend in the losing effort. Sampey will have lane choice over Pollacheck in the next round.

Savoie is 2 – 0 against Oehler in prior events. They have identical reaction times, Savoie’s bike with problems right at the hit. Oehler is straight down the groove for the win. He will give up lane choice to Stoffer in the next round.

They have identical reaction times, Underdahl has the lead early. But Smith chases him down by half-track and doesn’t trail from there on for the win. Smith will have lane choice over Arana Jr. in the next round by 0.001 seconds.

Arana Jr is 12 – 5 against Smith in prior events. Arana Jr. with the starting line advantage and never trailed for the win. Arana Jr. with his quickest pass of the weekend for the win. Smith with her quickest pass of the weekend in the losing effort.

Saturday

A terrific opening weekend got even better for Angelle Sampey in Pro Stock Motorcycle, as she improved on her run from Friday with a pass of 6.742 at 200.00 on her Mission Foods/Vance & Hines Suzuki.

It gave the three-time world champion her 52nd career No. 1 qualifier and Sampey will open eliminations against Michael Phillips. Sampey’s fastest career run also sent her into the Denso Auto Parts 200 mph club, a significant achievement on her new four-valve Suzuki.

“It is amazing to feel the love and support from everyone at Vance & Hines,” said Sampey, who has three career Gatornationals victories. “I’ve always been on a mission and it feels like mission accomplished already. But there’s still so much more ahead this weekend with this Suzuki four-valve that Vance & Hines developed. I’m just the lucky rider who gets to be on this bike and I’m loving it. I’m still learning the motorcycle and it’s been a struggle at times, but I’m still going.”

Defending world champ Matt Smith qualified second with a 6.768 at 199.82, and he went a weekend-best 200.74 in the final qualifying session. Joey Gladstone took the third spot after going 6.783 at 198.50.

Eliminations at the AMALIE Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals begin at 10 a.m. ET on Sunday.

Pro Stock Motorcycle – Friday

Debuting a new four-valve Vance & Hines/Mission Foods Suzuki, Angelle Sampey impressed immediately in Pro Stock Motorcycle, jumping to the top spot with a stellar run of 6.746 at 196.67.

If it holds, it would be the 52nd career top spot for the three-time world champ, who is also among the first in the class to ride the new four-valve Suzuki.

Defending world champ and event winner Matt Smith wasn’t far off Sampey’s pace, checking in at No. 2 thanks to a 6.768 at a class-best 199.82. Hector Arana Jr. is currently third with his run of 6.817 at 198.32.

Qualifying for Pro Stock Motorcycle continues Saturday at the AMALIE Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals begin at 12:05 p.m. ET.

Reporter’s Notebook: Tuesday Testing

Testing at the NHRA Camping World Amalie Motor Oil, Gator Nationals commenced in the chilly morning ours at close to 9 AM, EST today. It was as cold as 40 degrees overnight, but fortunately, the bright sunshine quickly warmed the racing surface, long before ambient air temps caught up with track surface temps.

The usual stellar NHRA prepped racing surface was in play and racers had 1320’ of billiard table smooth track to boogie upon, and it was groomed consistently all day. The NHRA Safety Safari was in the house and effective COVID safety Protocols are in effect for this event.

For Pro Stock Motorcycles, test hits were made by Joey Gladstone running a 6.80 at 196 mph, Cory Reed a 6.84 at 194 mph, Ryan Oehler, Karen Stoffer, James Underdahl, Marc Ingwersen, and Jianna Salinas who posted a 6.98 at 186 on her hit late in the day.

Pablo Gonzalez is on the property ready to race but did not make a hit today.

Tomorrow’s test and tune will resume with the same open format as today. As soon as a machine is ready, it comes to the lanes and is sent down track.

Qualifying for the 51^st Gator Nationals for the professional classes will commence on Friday with Top Fuel Harley slated for 3:15 PM, EST and Pro Stock Motorcycle will run during the first round of the professional class cars later Friday afternoon.

2021 NHRA Season Begins at Gainesville Raceway

For the first time in National Hot Rod Association history, it’s annual season will kick-off with the 51^st running of the NHRA, Gatornationals, March 11-14, 2021.

The event will be contested at the historic Gainesville Raceway, in Gainesville, Florida. The dragstrip was constructed in 1969, and one year later, it hosted the first “Gators” and has been sending the fast and the furious down its 1320 feet of racing surface ever since.

With the NHRA doing all it can to deal with COVID-19 complications, this necessitated starting the 2021 season in Florida for the first time in 71 years and not kicking things off in Pomona, the traditional home turf of the NHRA.

Pro Stock Motorcycle

In NHRA Camping World Pro Stock Motorcycle class racing, 20 racers are pre-entered for the event, led by last year’s NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle champion Matt Smith, who earned his 4^th ring. He’s worked hard and since his first year in 2003, he’s amassed no less than 26 national event wins in support of his four championships and has a best of 6.729 @ 201.76 MPH.

Matt’s 201.76 was run at the Gators in 2019. Andrew Hines, is the current ET National Record holder for Pro Stock Motorcycle with a stout 6.720, run on March 19^th, 2019, also at the historic Gator Nationals.

Pro Stock Motorcycle pre-registered races:

• Scottie Pollacheck
• Angie Smith
• Angelle Sampey
• Ryan Oehler
• Steve Johnson
• Hector Arana Jr
• Gerald Savoie
• Chris Bostick
• Marc Ingwersen
• Michael Phillips
• James Underdahl
• Cory Reed
• Karen Stoffer
• Joey Gladstone
• John Hall
• Kelly Clontz
• Pablo Gonzalez
• Lance Bonham
• Jianna Salinas

Conspicuous by their absence at this race will be NHRA PSM standouts Eddie Krawiec and team-mate Andrew Hines, who are currently working on an all-new combination.

Motorcycle qualifying action will begin on Friday. The Top Fuel Harley motorcycles are slated to do their first qualifier of three sessions at 3:15, EST and the PSM class will follow shortly thereafter. Keep in mind all times are subject to change due to prevailing racing conditions. Saturday’s qualifying times are initially set for PSM, after 12 noon, followed by TFH at 1PM. The third and final session will be close to 3:15 PM, EST.

Eliminations on Sunday for TFH are scheduled for 8:45 AM, 12:50 and finals to be run at 2:30. The Pro Stock Motorcycles will run with the car sessions and their schedule will dictate exactly when the Pro Stock Motorcycles will commence their action. Follow NHRA.com for details. And watch online at NHRA.Tv

ABOUT NHRA – Headquartered in Glendora, CA, is the primary sanctioning body for the sport of drag racing in the United States. NHRA presents 24 national events featuring the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series and NHRA J&A Service Pro Mod Drag Racing Series. NHRA provides competition opportunities for drivers of all levels in the NHRA Summit Racing Series and the NHRA Drags: Street Legal Style presented by AAA. NHRA also offers NHRA Jr. Street program for teens and the Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League for youth ages 5 to 17. In addition, NHRA owns and operates four racing facilities: Atlanta Dragway in Georgia; Gainesville Raceway in Florida; Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis; and Auto Club Raceway at Pomona in Southern California. For more information, log on to NHRA.com