Proud papa: In addition to his regular duties as a crewman and clutch tuner for rookie of the year contender Douglas Horne, Gary Tonglet Sr. is also watching carefully as both of his sons, Gary Jr. (GT) and Lewis (LE), compete in the Pro Stock Motorcycle class. GT, who is a former NHRA rookie of the year award winner, is riding the family’s Suzuki, which is the same bike that LE rode earlier this year in Houston and Atlanta. Meanwhile, LE is riding for Matt Smith this weekend aboard one of his Buell V-twins. “We were going to put LE on this [Suzuki] this weekend but at the last minute he got a call from Matt, who asked him to ride his Buell,” said Tonglet Sr., “That was too good an opportunity to pass up so we just decided to put GT on our Suzuki. We had some problems last night but we should run at lot better today. I’d be tickled if they both qualified.”

Ellis returns: Chip Ellis is making his first start of the season aboard a Vance & Hines-powered Suzuki and despite being out of the seat for the better part of a year, he showed that he’s still one of the class elite riders with a 7.056 in Friday night’s opening session that is currently good for the sixth spot. Regardless of where he qualifies, Ellis, who works full-time at Vance & Hines Motorsports in nearby Brownsburg, is happy to be back on a bike. “I really enjoy the work I’m doing but I miss being out here,” said Ellis. “We put this deal together because we wanted to test some Suzuki engines we’ve been working on. Right now, this is just a one-race deal so I’m determined to make the most of it.”

Angelle sighting: One interested spectator seen roaming the Pro Stock Motorcycle pits yesterday was two-time U.S. Nationals winner Angelle Sampey. Without a ride this season, Sampey has intentionally avoided the race track attending only the traditional Pro Stock Motorcycle season opener in Gainesville while she concentrates on her home life, which includes renewing her nursing license and helping her boyfriend, Seth, operate their budding coral and aquarium business. In the span of about 10 minutes, Sampey signed numerous autographs and on more than one occasion had to answer the obvious question, “When will you be racing again?” 

“After I got home from Gainesville, I told myself that I was 100-percent over racing a motorcycle and that the only way I was going to race again was if a really, really good deal came along,” she said. “Now, I’m maybe 75-percent over it. If there was an opportunity, I’d come back because I do miss the thrill of riding that motorcycle. Of course, I’d still like to try a Top Fuel car. We’ve had some discussions with some people but nothing concrete is happening right now. I am renewing my nursing license because no matter what happens in racing, I plan on having a good job to fall back on.”

The next generation: During her travels, Sampey got the opportunity to meet 18-year-old Pro Stock Motorcycle rookie, Katie Sullivan, who was just 5 years old when Sampey made her debut at the 1996 Denver event, told Sampey that she and fellow rider Karen Stoffer were her idols growing up and that they were a major influence on her decision to race a motorcycle. In return, Sampey also gave Sullivan some good advice and also relayed some stories of about the struggles she faced on the road to becoming a three-time world champion.

“I just told Katie not to worry about what anyone says to you or about you,” said Sampey. “I told her to just do your own thing and you’ll be fine. This class has changed a lot so hopefully she won’t have to go through some of the things I had to.”