NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals
Bristol Dragway on Friday
October 15-17, 2021
Pro Stock Motorcycle
Sampey finished off a fantastic day in Pro Stock Motorcycle with her second victory in the Countdown to the Championship. In an all-female final round, Sampey beat Karen Stoffer on a holeshot on her Mission Foods/Vance & Hines Suzuki, as her run of 6.773-seconds at 196.85 held up. It gave Sampey her 45th career victory and second this season, as she pulled within 25 points of Matt Smith. That was a big moment, as was collecting the first Wally trophy for the class at Bristol. The category competed in exhibition races at the track in 1999 and 2000, but Sampey’s win marked the first points race for Pro Stock Motorcycle in Thunder Valley.
“I’ve been out here for so long, I’ve really learned to appreciate everything I get now,” Sampey said. “When I win a race, the emotions are 100 percent genuine because it’s a task to get it done. To get four round wins is really tough and it means so much to me. I love this sport so much and this team just works so hard. This mission was to catch back up in the points race and we made it happen. It was a fantastic day and it would be great to get the No. 1 back on the motorcycle.”
Sampey got to the final round with victories against Andrew Hines, Chris Bostick and Eddie Krawiec. Stoffer advanced to her second final round this season and 25th in her career thanks to round wins against Lance Bonham, Ron Tornow and points leader and defending world champ Smith in the semifinals. Smith also holds a 56-point lead against Steve Johnson heading to the final two events.
The NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series returns to action Oct. 29-31 with the Dodge//SRT NHRA Nationals presented by Pennzoil at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Eliminations Round 1
| Driver | Chris Bostick – Win | Charles Poskey |
|---|---|---|
| Car No. | 17 | 201 |
| RT | .025 | .032 |
| 60 FT | 1.121 | 1.143 |
| 330 FT | 2.925 | 3.014 |
| 660 FT | 4.453 | 4.572 |
| 660 FT MPH | 159.80 | 156.94 |
| 1000 FT | 5.813 | 5.939 |
| ET | 6.994 | 7.117 |
| MPH | 188.46 | 63.70 |
|
This (#5) is the best starting spot for Chris Bostick. This is the first start (in 4 races) for Charles Poskey. A coin flip off of the line, Bostick gets out in front early and extends his lead all the way through the run. |
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| Driver | Eddie Krawiec – Win | Joey Gladstone |
|---|---|---|
| Car No. | 2 | 1550 |
| RT | .040 | .030 |
| 60 FT | 1.090 | 1.100 |
| 330 FT | 2.913 | 2.936 |
| 660 FT | 4.435 | 4.474 |
| 660 FT MPH | 160.96 | 158.74 |
| 1000 FT | 5.760 | 5.825 |
| ET | 6.895 | 6.998 |
| MPH | 196.93 | 189.98 |
|
Eddie Krawiec is 193 – 35 in rd. 1 (85%). Joey Gladstone is 2 – 1 against Krawiec in first round races. Gladstone gets out of the gate first but Krawiec pulls even at the sixty foot mark. Krawiec gets around Gladstone and makes his quickest pass of the weekend to take the win. Eddie Krawiec’s incremental margins (negative if behind): 60ft(0.000), 330 ft(0.013), 660ft(0.029), 1,000ft(0.055). MOV: 0.0933 seconds (approximately 26 feet). |
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| Driver | Ryan Oehler | Kelly Clontz – Win |
| Car No. | 7 | 1981 |
| RT | .200 | .098 |
| 60 FT | 1.203 | 1.097 |
| 330 FT | 3.158 | 2.895 |
| 660 FT | 4.831 | 4.438 |
| 660 FT MPH | 135.61 | 157.82 |
| 1000 FT | 6.643 | 5.807 |
| ET | 8.503 | 7.006 |
| MPH | 113.31 | 186.36 |
|
This is the first time in her 54 races that Kelly Clontz has qualified in the top half of the field.Ryan Oehler is 5 – 6 in rd.1 this year. Oehler had problems off of the line and was off the throttle a little past half track. Clontz was on a decent pass but was out of power a little early. |
||
| Driver | Steve Johnson | Ron Tornow – Win |
|---|---|---|
| Car No. | 8 | 1138 |
| RT | .083 | .003 |
| 60 FT | 1.586 | 1.048 |
| 330 FT | 3.917 | 2.866 |
| 660 FT | 6.793 | 4.420 |
| 660 FT MPH | 74.61 | 156.68 |
| 1000 FT | 10.180 | 5.795 |
| ET | 13.777 | 6.984 |
| MPH | 58.06 | 187.83 |
|
Steve Johnson’s 10 first round wins this year are the most for him in a year since he won 13 in 2010. This is the 10th start for Ron Tornow. Johnson has been having problems all weekend. The problems continue here, the bike bogs right at the hit, then he is out of power before he gets to the 330 foot mark. Tornow goes down the groove with his quickest pass of the weekend to get his first career round win. |
||
| Driver | Andrew Hines | Angelle Sampey – Win |
|---|---|---|
| Car No. | 4 | 6 |
| RT | .030 | .042 |
| 60 FT | 1.093 | 1.065 |
| 330 FT | 2.892 | 2.846 |
| 660 FT | 4.415 | 4.357 |
| 660 FT MPH | 160.65 | 161.44 |
| 1000 FT | 5.745 | 5.681 |
| ET | 6.887 | 6.821 |
| MPH | 195.70 | 195.62 |
|
Overall Andrew Hines is 16 – 19 against Angelle Sampey but he is 6 – 1 against her in rd. 1. In her career Angelle wins 76% of her rd. 1 races. Hines gets the advantage off of the line but Sampey reels him in before they reach the sixty foot mark. Sampey continues to pull away and makes the quickest pass of the weekend to take the win. |
||
| Driver | Scotty Pollacheck – Win | — |
|---|---|---|
| Car No. | 3 | — |
| Class | PSM | — |
| Dial In | — | — |
| RT | .050 | — |
| 60 FT | 1.086 | — |
| 330 FT | 2.922 | — |
| 660 FT | 4.442 | — |
| 660 FT MPH | 161.56 | — |
| 1000 FT | 5.763 | — |
| ET | 6.894 | — |
| MPH | 197.71 | — |
|
Scotty Pollacheck won from the #1 spot in Atlanta this year. Pollacheck gets the bye here and makes another good pass to move on. He will have lane choice over Krawiec in the next round. |
||
| Driver | Matt Smith – Win | Angie Smith |
|---|---|---|
| Car No. | 1 | 5 |
| RT | .095 | — |
| 60 FT | 1.082 | — |
| 330 FT | 2.912 | — |
| 660 FT | 4.421 | — |
| 660 FT MPH | 162.98 | — |
| 1000 FT | 5.732 | — |
| ET | 6.853 | — |
| MPH | 199.08 | — |
|
Matt Smith has qualified #2 at 3 races this year and won 2 of them including the last race in Dallas. Matt was scheduled to race Angie but she was injured Friday night and had to withdraw. Matt goes down the groove with his quickest pass of the weekend in the win. |
||
| Driver | Karen Stoffer – Win | Lance Bonham |
|---|---|---|
| Car No. | 777 | 7012 |
| RT | .594 | .049 |
| 60 FT | 1.080 | 1.326 |
| 330 FT | 2.861 | 3.357 |
| 660 FT | 4.390 | 5.060 |
| 660 FT MPH | 155.69 | 145.91 |
| 1000 FT | 5.794 | 6.522 |
| ET | 7.160 | 7.778 |
| MPH | 152.97 | 175.62 |
|
Karen Stoffer is 10 – 3 in rd. 1 when starting #3. This is the 3rd start for Lance Bonham in his 38 races. Bonham gets a big holeshot but his bike starts bucking up and down at the hit. Stoffer is able to make up ground and is able to get around him before they get to half track and pull away for the win. Karen Stoffer’s incremental margins (negative if behind): 60ft(-0.299), 330 ft(-0.049), 660ft(0.125), 1,000ft(0.183). MOV: 0.0738 seconds (approximately 19 feet). |
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Eliminations Round 2
| Driver | Karen Stoffer – Win | Ron Tornow |
|---|---|---|
| Car No. | 777 | 1138 |
| RT | .010 | .002 |
| 60 FT | 1.059 | 1.068 |
| 330 FT | 2.845 | 2.900 |
| 660 FT | 4.361 | 4.471 |
| 660 FT MPH | 160.71 | 155.08 |
| 1000 FT | 5.692 | 5.861 |
| ET | 6.834 | 7.054 |
| MPH | 195.14 | 187.29 |
|
Stoffer is 1 – 0 against Tornow in prior events. Tornow is almost perfect off of the line but it isn’t enough. Stoffer gets a great light also, pulls ahead at the sixty foot mark, then pulls away for the win with her quickest pass of the weekend. Karen Stoffer’s incremental margins: 60ft(0.001), 330 ft(0.047), 660ft(0.102), 1,000ft(0.161). |
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| Driver | Scotty Pollacheck | Eddie Krawiec – Win |
|---|---|---|
| Car No. | 3 | 2 |
| RT | .041 | .026 |
| 60 FT | 1.096 | 1.094 |
| 330 FT | 2.927 | 2.891 |
| 660 FT | 4.445 | 4.406 |
| 660 FT MPH | 162.20 | 161.65 |
| 1000 FT | 5.766 | 5.721 |
| ET | 6.895 | 6.844 |
| MPH | 198.23 | 199.29 |
|
Krawiec is 19 – 2 against Pollacheck in prior events. Krawiec gets out of the gate first and starts pulling away. Pollacheck makes a good pass but Krawiec makes his quickest pass of the weekend and extends his lead at every marker. Eddie Krawiec’s incremental margins: 60ft(0.017), 330 ft(0.051), 660ft(0.054), 1,000ft(0.060). MOV: 0.0665 seconds (approximately 19 feet). |
||
| Driver | Matt Smith – Win | Kelly Clontz |
|---|---|---|
| Car No. | 1 | 1981 |
| RT | .066 | .061 |
| 60 FT | 1.075 | 1.077 |
| 330 FT | 2.889 | 2.877 |
| 660 FT | 4.399 | 4.422 |
| 660 FT MPH | 162.63 | 157.65 |
| 1000 FT | 5.716 | 5.792 |
| ET | 6.843 | 6.965 |
| MPH | 198.20 | 190.78 |
|
Smith is 3 – 0 against Clontz in prior events. A coin flip off of the line, Clontz takes the early lead. Smith inches closer, then goes around before they reach half track and pulls away for the win. Matt Smith’s incremental margins (negative if behind): 60ft(-0.003), 330 ft(-0.017), 660ft(0.018), 1,000ft(0.071). MOV: 0.1172 seconds (approximately 33 feet). |
||
| Driver | Angelle Sampey – Win | Chris Bostick |
|---|---|---|
| Car No. | 6 | 17 |
| RT | .111 | -.015 |
| 60 FT | 1.055 | 1.055 |
| 330 FT | 2.823 | 2.853 |
| 660 FT | 4.328 | 4.617 |
| 660 FT MPH | 162.43 | 124.30 |
| 1000 FT | 5.704 | 6.580 |
| ET | 7.075 | 8.595 |
| MPH | 154.33 | 104.26 |
|
Sampey is 3 – 1 against Bostick in prior events. Bostick leaves a little too quickly and goes red giving the win to Sampey. Sampey has problems late in the run and the bike slows. |
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Eliminations – Semi-Final
| Driver | Eddie Krawiec | Angelle Sampey – Win |
|---|---|---|
| Car No. | 2 | 6 |
| RT | .060 | .080 |
| 60 FT | 1.109 | 1.053 |
| 330 FT | 2.917 | 2.821 |
| 660 FT | 4.495 | 4.333 |
| 660 FT MPH | 144.29 | 160.94 |
| 1000 FT | 6.199 | 5.665 |
| ET | 7.964 | 6.814 |
| MPH | 119.21 | 194.18 |
|
Sampey is 10 – 7 against Krawiec in prior events. Krawiec gets off the line first and starts drifting to the left. He fights to get it back to the right, gets close to the wall about 600 feet out, then he has to back off of the throttle. Sampey goes down the groove with her quickest pass of the weekend to take the win. Angelle Sampey’s incremental times: 60ft-1.053 sec., 330ft-2.821, 660ft-4.333/160.94 mph, 1,000ft-5.665. Sampey is going to her fourth final this year and the 78th of her career. |
||
| Driver | Karen Stoffer – Win | Matt Smith |
|---|---|---|
| Car No. | 777 | 1 |
| RT | .013 | .070 |
| 60 FT | 1.047 | 1.121 |
| 330 FT | 2.825 | 2.921 |
| 660 FT | 4.330 | 4.436 |
| 660 FT MPH | 162.31 | 161.42 |
| 1000 FT | 5.652 | 5.761 |
| ET | 6.785 | 6.895 |
| MPH | 196.87 | 196.99 |
|
Smith is 18 – 13 against Stoffer in prior events. Stoffer gets the holeshot and starts pulling away. She goes right down the groove with the quickest pass of the weekend and pulls away for the win. Smith makes a decent pass but was falling behind all the way through the run. Karen Stoffer’s incremental times: 60ft-1.047 sec., 330ft-2.825, 660ft-4.330/162.31 mph, 1,000ft-5.652.Stoffer is going to her second final this year and the 25th of her career. |
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Eliminations – Final
| Driver | Karen Stoffer | Angelle Sampey – Win |
|---|---|---|
| Car No. | 777 | 6 |
| RT | .029 | .010 |
| 60 FT | 1.057 | 1.052 |
| 330 FT | 2.829 | 2.814 |
| 660 FT | 4.324 | 4.320 |
| 660 FT MPH | 163.93 | 162.10 |
| 1000 FT | 5.633 | 5.639 |
| ET | 6.760 | 6.773 |
| MPH | 197.83 | 196.85 |
|
Sampey is 15 – 6 against Stoffer in prior events and each has won 1 times against the other in final rounds. Sampey gets out of the gate first and extends her lead to the 330 foot mark. Stoffer starts to make up ground but Sampey is able to hold her off and take the holeshot win. Angelle Sampey’s incremental margins: 60ft(0.024), 330 ft(0.034), 660ft(0.023), 1,000ft(0.013). MOV: 0.0066 seconds (approximately 23 inches). This is Sampey’s second win this year and the 45th of her career. |
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SATURDAY QUALIFYING
Pollacheck grabbed the No. 1 spot from his teammate in Pro Stock Motorcycle, Matt Smith, during the final pass of the day, earning his third No. 1 qualifier this season and fourth in his career on his Denso/Strutmaster/MSR Buell with a run of 6.859 at 197.80. He’s after his second win of the season and heads into raceday on a good note following his strong pass to close out qualifying.
“It’s so awesome to be here at Bristol and to be No. 1,” Pollacheck said. “To come here, someplace I’ve always seen on TV and I’ve always to come to because it looks so awesome, and end up with the No. 1 spot on the final qualifying run was pretty special. It was a good team effort and it was a good pass. It was a little surprising, but Matt told me afterward that if I rode it (well), it would go an .85.”
Smith, the defending world champ and current points leader, improved on his run from Friday, qualifying second with a 6.865 at 197.54 and Karen Stoffer jumped to third after going 6.867 at 189.26.
| DRIVER | POSITION | CAR NO. | ET | MPH |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Scotty Pollacheck | 3 | 6.859 | 197.8 |
| 02 | Matt Smith | 1 | 6.865 | 197.54 |
| 03 | Karen Stoffer | 777 | 6.867 | 189.26 |
| 04 | Andrew Hines | 4 | 6.906 | 195.28 |
| 05 | Chris Bostick | 17 | 6.913 | 191.97 |
| 06 | Steve Johnson | 8 | 6.942 | 193.6 |
| 07 | Kelly Clontz | 1981 | 6.965 | 190.16 |
| 08 | Eddie Krawiec | 2 | 6.966 | 196.36 |
| 09 | Joey Gladstone | 1550 | 6.966 | 190.75 |
| 10 | Ryan Oehler | 7 | 7.042 | 193.13 |
| 11 | Ron Tornow | 1138 | 7.084 | 188.15 |
| 12 | Charles Poskey | 201 | 7.175 | 190.83 |
| 13 | Angelle Sampey | 6 | 7.262 | 169.66 |
| 14 | Lance Bonham | 7012 | 7.313 | 183.74 |
| 15 | Angie Smith | 5 | 8.952 | 102.32 |
FRIDAY QUALIFYING
Picking up right where he left off in Dallas, Pro Stock Motorcycle went to the top on his Denso Auto Parts/Stockseth/Matt Smith Racing EBR with a run of 6.900 at 197.51. This weekend marks the first official race for the class at Thunder Valley and Smith, the defending world champ and current points leader, made a strong first impression. If it holds, it would be the fourth No. 1 qualifier for Smith this season and 47th in his career.
After a slow start in the Countdown to the Championship, Smith is back to his usual impressive form, winning in Dallas and putting together a strong run in Bristol to open the weekend. It is the fourth of six playoff races in the class and Smith had an eight-point lead on Steve Johnson entering the weekend.
Chris Bostick is currently second after going 6.927 at 193.27, while Johnson is currently third with a solid pass of 6.942 at 193.60.
Qualifying continues at 12:30 p.m. ET on Saturday at the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway.
| DRIVER | POSITION | CAR NO. | ET | MPH |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Matt Smith | 1 | 6.900 | 197.51 |
| 02 | Chris Bostick | 17 | 6.927 | 193.27 |
| 03 | Steve Johnson | 8 | 6.942 | 193.6 |
| 04 | Andrew Hines | 4 | 6.957 | 194.6 |
| 05 | Scotty Pollacheck | 3 | 6.964 | 194.58 |
| 06 | Eddie Krawiec | 2 | 6.966 | 196.36 |
| 07 | Karen Stoffer | 777 | 6.975 | 193.82 |
| 08 | Joey Gladstone | 1550 | 6.989 | 193.35 |
| 09 | Ryan Oehler | 7 | 7.086 | 191.67 |
| 10 | Kelly Clontz | 1981 | 7.181 | 188.65 |
| 11 | Ron Tornow | 1138 | 7.240 | 183.94 |
| 12 | Angelle Sampey | 6 | 7.262 | 169.66 |
| 13 | Charles Poskey | 201 | 7.317 | 190.7 |
| 14 | Angie Smith | 5 | 8.952 | 102.32 |
| 15 | Lance Bonham | 7012 | 9.005 | 98.11 |
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