BREA, CA – September 6, 2022 – (Motor Sports NewsWire) – The Dodge Power Brokers NHRA U.S. Nationals ended in disappointing fashion for the Vance & Hines/Mission Suzuki Pro Stock Motorcycle team after both team riders failed to advance out of the first round of eliminations on Monday at Indianapolis Raceway Park in Indianapolis.
After qualifying their Suzuki Hayabusas in the first and third starting positions, riders Angelle Sampey and Eddie Krawiec each suffered upset first-round losses in final eliminations. Despite the setback, both riders finished the regular season in the top ten positions in points, qualifying them for the five-race Countdown to the Championship playoffs that starts at Maple Grove Raceway in Mohnton, PA, later this month.
Angelle Sampey (2) captures another number one qualifying aboard her Suzuki Hayabusa.
Sampey entered eliminations in the number one qualifying spot for the 57th time in her career and seventh time at the prestigious U.S. Nationals with a 6.796-second/199.88 mph run. However, a slow starting line reaction time dashed her hopes of a third career win at Indianapolis, losing to Ron Tornow (6.981-seconds/190.27 mph) despite making a quicker and faster 6.919-second/195.31 mph pass.
“I saw the yellows and I meant to throw the clutch out, but my hand just didn’t let go,” she said, admitting to making a costly mental error. “I know it’s an emotional thing. I’m letting the little demon on my shoulder talk me into not believing in myself. I’m the one that keeps beating myself, and now is the time to fix it. I’m disappointed and embarrassed, but not devastated. This is the low point I needed to reach to realize that I need to get my head in a better place and fix it. We have five races left to win this championship, so I’m going full steam ahead into the next race. I’m not looking back and will not allow this to haunt me.”
On the team’s second Suzuki Hayabusa, Eddie Krawiec, who qualified in third position with a 6.826-second/198.79 mph run, was felled by an unfortunate electrical malfunction, losing his round-one matchup to Jianna Evaristo. His 6.966-second/194.07 mph run fell short of her 6.952-second/193.74 mph pass after trouble on the starting line.
After qualifying third, Eddie Krawiec (4) falls short in the first round and
looks to bounce back in Pennsylvania.
“My motorcycle should have ran substantially faster in that round, but I had a parts failure. I had to shut the bike off…
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