it like I stole it . But as a mom I was different ,” she said .

But being a mom also gave her a new reason to race . Sure , she fretted over the idea that perhaps she was being selfish , and she hated being away from home for long periods of time . But there were positives . “ Sharing all of it with her was so rewarding ,” she said . “ Part of being a mom is showing your baby what is possible if you believe in yourself and work hard .” Sampey was taking on the responsibility of being a role model to her daughter , her daughter ’ s friends and their parents , and to women everywhere .

Since 2019 , Sampey ’ s been with team Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson , an unlikely marriage given the ferocity of the competition . As Sampey put it , “ I was the enemy . [ Andrew Hines and Eddie Krawiec ] are still my rivals . I still want to beat them and now I get to do that by being on their team . I never thought it was a possibility to be on this team .”

Still , transitioning to the Harley wasn ’ t easy . “ I was scared to death ,” she said . “ I knew how fast they were . But I had no idea how hard the bike is to ride . Unlike a Buell , which pulls at the bottom , or a Suzuki that pulls at the top , the Harley pulls all the way through … always . I let the bike control me last year , so I ’ ve realized this year that I have to make the motorcycle my bitch !”

When the 2020 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing series resumes this year , scheduled for June , go watch Sampey race because , as she puts it , “ I am a little 5 ’ 1 ”, 115-pound women and when I get on that bike I am a fire-breathing dragon and I am not out there to make any friends .”

— KALI KOTOSKI

Sampey ’ s daughter Ava . The job of a role model is to show your children what is possible , Sampey explained .

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