Rider takes her title shot

When the NHRA issued its media guide at the start of the season, Peggy Llewellyn’s entry was a mere half-page listing with few details -- for good reason.

Until this year, the San Antonio rider of drag-racing motorcycles had competed at the sport’s top level in only one prior year, 2001, when she ran in only six races.

But six years later, she returned with a vengeance.

Llewellyn, 34, is one of the four riders still eligible to win the pro stock motorcycle championship in the National Hot Rod Assn.’s premier Powerade Series.

She made it into the field after winning last month in Dallas, the first black woman to win a top-level NHRA event.

The title in her division, and in the other three major NHRA classes -- top fuel, funny car and pro stock -- will all be decided this weekend at the series’ finale at Auto Club Raceway in Pomona.

Llewellyn was seventh fastest in the opening round of qualifying on Thursday, covering the quarter-mile drag strip in 7.061 seconds at 186.20 mph.

Qualifying continues today and Saturday to determine the 16 racers for final eliminations in each class Sunday.

Angelle Sampey, who won the motorcycle title three consecutive years, from 2000 to 2002 but missed the sport’s new title playoff format this year, qualified fastest at 6.973 seconds and 188.94 mph.

In top fuel, J.R. Todd led qualifiers with a run of 4.521 seconds and 328.22 mph, and Jeff Arend of San Dimas led funny car qualifiers at 4.781 seconds and 324.90 mph. Jeg Coughlin topped pro stock qualifiers with a pass of 6.689 seconds and 206.95 mph.

Llewellyn is a longshot to win the title under the NHRA’s new Countdown to the Championship, in which four racers in each division fight for the crown in the final two races of the 23-race season. After a disappointing finish last week in Las Vegas, she’s fourth in the standings, a distant 93 points behind leader Andrew Hines, who is seeking his fourth consecutive title.

But Llewellyn, who mostly worked in commercial real estate during her absence from the drag strip, is satisfied that she has made a mark in her first full year with the Rush Racing Buell team. “We just kept on progressing” during the season “and we hit our stride at the right time,” said Llewellyn, who honed her skills at several racing schools while away from competition.

Llewellyn is one of several female racers in the NHRA -- including Sampey, Melanie Troxel in top fuel and Ashley Force in funny cars -- and the series has one of the most diverse rosters of competitors in motor sports.

“I’ve had fans come up to me from all walks of life, all genders and races,” Llewellyn said. “It can have nothing but positive results for our sport and for me.”

Llewellyn’s crew chief is George Bryce, who also was Sampey’s crew chief during her championship years and is considered one of the top teachers of motorcycle drag racing.

“She’s definitely in the best hands out here,” said rival motorcycle racer Matt Smith, who is third in the Countdown. “At the beginning [of the season] she started a little shaky, but she’s come on strong.”

Llewellyn said her weight advantage against the men -- she’s 115 pounds -- and her gear-shifting skills work to her advantage on the drag strip. Her weaknesses? “I still need to learn how to focus” amid the pressure and excitement,” she said.

“I need to be more consistent,” Llewellyn said, adding: “I know I’m still a work in progress.”

james.peltz@latimes.com