VOLUME 58 ISSUE 11 MARCH 16, 2021 P29
Jimmy Underdahl, Hector Arana
Jr. and Steve Johnson. Smith
also ran over 200-mph during
qualifying and on all four elimina-
tion runs. Smith's 6.811 easily
covered Underdahl's 6.91 best.
Arana Jr. put up more of a fight
in the quarterfinals, but Smith
left first and rolled to a 6.808
victory. Johnson also proved to
be no match for the power of
Smith's V-twin EBR. Smith has
now won back-to-back Gaines-
ville titles, but this marks the first
time he's left the first race of the
season as the points leader.
A year ago, Oehler sprinted
to the early-season points lead
in the Pro Stock Motorcycle
class when he won the first of
four events held at Lucas Oil
Raceway at Indianapolis, and
after his performance in Gaines-
ville, he figures to be among the
class leaders again this season.
Oehler raced to his third career
final round with wins against
Jerry Savoie and Karen Stoffer.
He may not have needed it, both
Oehler also caught a break in
the semifinals when Indy champ
Scotty Pollacheck lost oil pres-
sure on his Denso EBR and
didn't leave the starting line.
The Gainesville event also
marked the first time in nearly
two decades that the class did
not feature a Harley-Davidson
motorcycle or a member of the
Hines family. Vance & Hines
teammates Andrew Hines and
Eddie Krawiec were in Gaines-
ville working as co-crew chiefs
on Sampey's new bike, but both
are expected to rejoin the tour
within the next two races. During
qualifying, Sampey became the
fifth rider to join the Denso 200-
mph Pro Stock Motorcycle Club
and the first rider to accomplish
the feat on a Suzuki.
Kevin McKenna
Angelle Sampey was the top
qualifier on the new Vance & Hines/
Mission Foods Suzuki.
