Sampey to be Inducted into Motorsports Hall of Fame of America

Press Release | April 17, 2026

NHRA racer Angelle Sampey will be inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America (MSHFA) in its 2027 class.

NHRA racer Angelle Sampey

This is a press release from NHRA…

Sampey, a member of NHRA’s recently announced Top 75 Drivers list from its first 75 years, will be inducted next March in Daytona Beach, Florida.

Sampey is not just one of the most successful female racers in drag racing history, she is one of the most successful in motorsports history. Over the course of her career, the hugely popular New Orleans native has won three NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle championships (2000-02) and, as of 2024, remains third all-time in NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle wins with 46. Sampey, 1990 inductee Shirley Muldowney, and Pro Stock champion Erica Enders are the only female Professional racers with more than 10 NHRA event victories. After Enders’ six, Sampey and Muldowney are the only women with three NHRA championships.

“I found out when we were in Phoenix testing, and I was shocked,” said Sampey. “It’s honestly probably the biggest honor that I’ve had in my career. I had heard at one time I was going to be on the ballot, but I didn’t want to get my hopes up, but I thought maybe someday. Then, when they told me, I was honestly shocked. My first thought was that I’ve dedicated 30 years of my life to this sport and made some serious sacrifices both personally and professionally just to do what I love doing. Moments like this make it all worthwhile.

“This induction is a fitting recognition for Angelle, who is one of the most accomplished and influential competitors in NHRA history,” Cromwell said. “Her victories and championships in Pro Stock Motorcycle showcased a sustained excellence, serving as a trailblazer for women in motorsports and an inspiration to fans. Now, as a brand ambassador for our title sponsor, Mission Foods, and her continued success on the track in Top Alcohol Dragster, Angelle continues to have a significant impact in our sport, and it’s a proud moment to have her legacy recognized.”

“It’s an honor for the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America to be welcomed each year to make this important announcement at the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach,” said MSHFA president Daren Lucas. “We want to thank the Grand Prix Association of Long Beach, INDYCAR, IMSA, and so many other top organizations and individuals who make this possible every year. The Class of 2027 is as accomplished as any group of iconic motorsports inductees in our nearly 40-year history, all still revered and admired today, and their legacies and achievements will now be forever memorialized at the Hall of Fame of ALL motorsports. Congratulations to the Class of 2027!”

For more information or to purchase Class of 2027 Induction tickets, visit the MSHFA at www.mshf.com.