COMMERCE, Ga. — With three world championships and 41 career victories, Pro Stock Motorcycle standout Angelle Sampey knows the components of a wi
nning motorcycle.

If her thoughts on the new Star Racing Buell she debuted this year are any indication, plenty of success is headed Sampey’s way during the 2016 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season.

Feeling as good as she has since returning to the sport in 2014, Sampey hopes to add to her success at Atlanta Dragway next month. She boasts four career victories at the facility, which is also the home track for her Star Racing team, and Sampey, who last won a race in 2007, has her sights on a fifth victory at the 36th annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals, May 13-15.

“I’m so excited about this motorcycle,” said Sampey, who retired in 2008 before returning late in the 2014 season. “Not only the power and the performance, but I’m so in love with the bike itself. They did an excellent job building it. It fits me perfectly and just handles so well.

“I just love it. I’ve been riding someone else’s bike for a long time now and I got a brand new motorcycle this year. It is a huge difference. It fits me and I feel so comfortable when I’m on it. Knowing I can handle it and feel comfortable, that’s a huge confidence boost and makes it fun. I can’t wait to get on it again and that’s the real fun part.”

Antron Brown (Top Fuel), Tim Wilkerson (Funny Car), Jason Line (Pro Stock) and Hector Arana (Pro Stock Motorcycle) were last year’s winners of the event at Georgia’s House of Speed. The race will be televised on FOX Sports 1 with qualifying shows on Friday and Saturday and three hours of finals coverage on Sunday. It is the seventh of 24 events in the 2016 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, and the third of 16 races for the Pro Stock Motorcycle competitors.

Sampey has made progress at the first two events, qualifying well and winning her first round of the year at the most recent event in Charlotte. She qualified third there before a red-light disqualification ended what had been a productive weekend.

After the three-race appearance in 2014, Sampey raced eight times a year ago, advancing to one final round. But with a new bike, along with some serious off-the-track dedication, Sampey believes she can be a championship contender again.

“I feel better now than I ever have,” said Sampey, who is currently ninth in points. “I took six years off and had no idea what kind of performance I was going to be able to give. But I started training and doing a lot of different things, and I feel like a better rider and racer than the year before I stopped. I’m a lot more focused. I’m at the gym almost everyday and I’ve got a great bike and a great team.”

Sampey attributed much of that renewed focus and drive to the birth of her daughter. She admitted to looking at things differently these days, but her desire and hunger to win remains as strong as ever. In fact, getting back in the winner’s circle is Sampey’s chief motivation these days and there is one major reason why.

“I want to win a race so my daughter can see me win,” said Sampey, whose 41 wins in PSM are third-best in class history. “I’m going to do whatever I can in my power to win at least one race for my daughter. Once I got back on the bike, I fell in love with it again.

“A victory is coming, I know it is. In Charlotte, everything was better; I just had that red light in the second round. I was 100 percent focused and ready to race. The bike did what it was supposed to do (but) I was on the wrong side of a great light. I was completely devastated.”

The chance for redemption comes in Atlanta but Sampey is fully aware of the competition that stands in her way. Another huge field is expected and it is one loaded with talent at every turn. It starts with reigning world champion Andrew Hines, a two-time Atlanta winner who won the most recent event in Charlotte, and his teammate and current points leader Eddie Krawiec.

Others to watch include alligator farmer Jerry Savoie, 2011 event winner LE Tonglet, Hector Arana Jr., Chip Ellis, two-time world champ Matt Smith, veteran rider Steve Johnson from nearby Birmingham, Hector Arana Sr. and 21-year-old rookie Melissa Surber. Everything has to be on point to win a race and Sampey is making strides in that direction, noting she feels as focused as she ever has on the starting line.

“The competition is so freaking tough,” Sampey said. “It’s not just one or two people. Everybody is so good and the class is so tight. Just qualifying in this class is a huge victory. I would be extremely excited to win one or two races, and to get a few wins and contend for a championship would be a huge blessing.”

In Top Fuel, Brown raced to his second victory of the 2015 season when he defeated Leah Pritchett in the Atlanta final one year ago, finishing off his year with a world championship. He has tallied four victories at Atlanta, the most of active Top Fuel drivers, but defending his Atlanta title will not be easy. Points leader Brittany Force picked up her second win of the season in Charlotte, while others to watch include Texan Steve Torrence, eight-time world champ Tony Schumacher, who has yet to win the Southern Nationals, three-time event winner Doug Kalitta, Terry McMillen, Clay Millican, J.R. Todd, 2014 Rookie of the Year Richie Crampton and Shawn Langdon.

Wilkerson raced to the Funny Car title at the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals last year and already has two wins in 2016 thanks to a victory last weekend in Charlotte. The star-studded class also includes standouts like Alexis DeJoria, who won in Las Vegas, reigning world champ Del Worsham, Robert Hight, the current Funny Car points leader and three-time Atlanta winner, seven-time event winner John Force, Jack Beckman, Pomona winner Capps, Courtney Force, Chad Head and two-time world champ Cruz Pedregon.

In Pro Stock, Line outlasted his Summit Racing Equipment Chevrolet Camaro teammate Greg Anderson in the 2015 final in Atlanta. This season, Line and Anderson have dominated the competition through the first quarter of the season in the redesigned factory hot rod class, combining to win the first five races.  Line has three of those wins and the points lead, but the competition will be tough in Atlanta. Jeg Coughlin and Allen Johnson are the only other two active drivers with wins at Atlanta Dragway, while two-time and defending world champ Erica Enders, Drew Skillman, Bo Butner and Chris McGaha are also expected to make a push for the Wally at Atlanta.

The sleek new Pro Stock cars feature fuel-injected engines, shorter wheelie bars, flat hoods and a 10,500 RPM rev-limiter.

The race will also feature plenty of thrilling action in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series and the NHRA J&A Service Pro Mod Series, which makes its third of 10 stops of 2016.

As always, fans will have the opportunity to interact with their favorite drivers as they’re granted an exclusive pit pass to the most powerful and sensory-filled motorsports attraction on the planet. This unique opportunity in motorsports gives fans direct access to the teams, allowing them to see firsthand the highly-skilled mechanics service their hot rods between rounds, and get autographs from their favorite NHRA drivers.

Qualifying for the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals in Atlanta will feature two rounds at 4 and 6:30 p.m. on Friday, May 13 and the final two rounds of qualifying on Saturday, May 14, at 1:30 and 4 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 11 a.m. on Sunday, May 15.

To purchase general-admission or reserved seats, call (800) 884-NHRA (6472) or visit www.NHRA.com/tickets. Kids 12 and under are free in general admission areas with a paid adult. For more information about the NHRA visit www.NHRA.com.

Before the NHRA Mello Yello Series arrives at Atlanta Dragway, the tour will visit the Lone Star State for the NHRA SpringNationals at Royal Purple Raceway near Houston, April 29-May 1. Keep up with all the action on Fox Sports 1 (FS1).

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SUMMIT RACING EQUIPMENT NHRA SOUTHERN NATIONALS FACT SHEET

WHAT: 36th annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals, the seventh of 24 events in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series. Drivers in four categories – Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle – earn points leading to 2016 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series world championships. Competition in the NHRA J&A Service Pro Mod Series and the NHRA Lucas Oil Series also will be featured at this event.

WHERE: Atlanta Dragway, Commerce, Ga. I-85 to Exit 149 (Hwy 441).  After exiting the freeway, go north on Highway 441 to Steven Tanger Blvd. Take left on Tanger and then go right on Ridgeway Road.

COURSE: Championship drag strip; Track elevation is 1,100 feet above sea level; Track direction is southeast to northwest.

WHEN: Friday through Sunday, May 13-15, 2016

SCHEDULE:        

FRIDAY, May 13 – LUCAS OIL SERIES qualifying

NHRA J&A SERVICE PRO MOD SERIES qualifying at 3:15 and 5:45 p.m.

MELLO YELLO SERIES qualifying at 4 and 6:30 p.m.

SATURDAY, May 14- LUCAS OIL SERIES eliminations

NHRA J&A SERVICE PRO MOD SERIES qualifying at 12:45 p.m. Round 1 of eliminations at 3:15 p.m.

MELLO YELLO SERIES qualifying at 1:30 and 4 p.m.

SUNDAY, May 15 – Pre-race ceremonies, 10 a.m.

MELLO YELLO SERIES eliminations begin at 11 a.m.

TELEVISION:      

Friday, May 13, FOX Sports 1 (FS1) will televise one hour of qualifying coverage at 7:30 p.m. (ET).

Saturday, May 14, FS1 will televise one hour of qualifying coverage at 10 p.m. (ET).

Sunday, May 15, FS1 will televise three hours of finals coverage at 4:30 p.m. (ET).

2015 EVENT WINNERS: Antron Brown, Top Fuel; Tim Wilkerson, Funny Car; Jason Line, Pro Stock, Hector Arana, Pro Stock Motorcycle.

MOST VICTORIES: Dave Schultz, 8, PSM; John Force, 7, FC; Antron Brown, 6, TF/PSM; Warren Johnson, 5, PS; Kenny Bernstein, 4, TF/FC; Larry Dixon, 4, TF; Angelle Sampey, 4, PSM; Greg Anderson, 4, PS; Lee Shepherd, 4, PS.

TRACK RECORDS:            

Top Fuel – 3.732 sec. and 328.86 mph by Doug Kalitta, May ’14.

Funny Car – 4.010 sec. by Cruz Pedregon, May ’15; 320.58 mph by Courtney Force, May ’14.

Pro Stock – 6.493 sec. by Erica Enders, May ’14; 213.00 mph by Jason Line, May ’14.

Pro Stock Motorcycle – 6.794 sec. and 197.54 mph by Eddie Krawiec, May ’14.

NATIONAL RECORDS:    

Top Fuel – 3.680 sec. by Antron Brown, Aug. ’15, Brainerd, Minn.; 332.75 mph by Spencer Massey, Aug. ’15, Brainerd, Minn.

Funny Car – 3.879 sec. by Jack Beckman, March ‘16, Gainesville, Fla.; 331.45 mph by Matt Hagan, Nov. ’15, Pomona, Calif.

Pro Stock – 6.455 sec. by Jason Line, March ’15, Charlotte, N.C.;  215.55 mph by Erica Enders, May ‘14, Englishtown N.J.

PS Motorcycle – 6.728 sec. by Andrew Hines, Oct. ’12, Reading, Pa.; 199.88 mph by Hector Arana Jr., March ’15, Charlotte, N.C.

TICKETS: For tickets call (800) 884-NHRA (6472). Tickets also available online at www.NHRA.com/tickets.

Story and photos courtesy of the NHRA.