Arana Racing puts Lucas Oil-back Buells 6th and 7th on Pro Stock Motorcycle grid
CONCORD, NC – The eighth annual NHRA Four-Wide Nationals have started pretty well for Lucas Oil-sponsored 
Pro Stock Motorcycle riders Hector Arana Sr. and Hector Arana Jr. The father/son duo earned the sixth and seventh positions, respectively, on the elimination ladder and are already looking forward to better results when race day arrives.
“I guess hard work does pay off,” Arana Sr. said. “I even think we have a little more left in these bikes. We haven’t figured out exactly what this new combination likes so we are going to keep on beating on it, keep on going and as long as we can keep picking up the pace as we go along we will be fine.
“Coming over here I wanted heat. I was praying, I wish the weather warms up, you know because it was getting cold at home, but you know the saying, be careful what you wish for. It’s definitely hot and humid but as long as the weather doesn’t change tomorrow, we should be close to the tune up.”
Arana Sr. posted a best pass of 6.873 at 194.46 mph on his Lucas Oil Buell V-Twin, with Arana Jr. close behind with a clocking of 6.879 at 194.52 mph.
“We are definitely learning a lot every time we make a pass,” Arana Jr. said. “Whenever we make a change now it shows up on the computer so we are really making headway. We just need more time; we need more runs. Hopefully we can get three more runs tomorrow and by the final we will be right there challenging for the win.”
As the No. 6 qualifier, Arana Sr. faces a first-round quad of racers including No. 3 qualifier Andrew Hines (6.845 at 195.65 mph), No. 14 qualifier Angelle Sampey (6.948 at 192.88 mph) and No. 11 qualifier Cory Reed (6.895 at 191.95 mph).
Seventh-ranked qualifier Arana Jr. will open against No. 2 qualifier Eddie Krawiec (6.835 at 196.93 mph), No. 15 qualifier Shawn Gann (6.952 at 191.24 mph) and No. 10 qualifier Matt Smith (6.882 at 194.97 mph).
“I always try to get the most out of the bike, regardless of the situation,” Arana Jr. said. “The only thing different with four-wide is when you are up there on the starting line, for whatever reason, some people struggle more than others and because of that it takes so much longer for everyone to get staged. It’s hard because you have four sets of bulbs to watch to make sure you get on the gas at the right moment and get a good reaction time so that’s what I’ve been focusing on in qualifying.”
Should both men advance, they would face each other in one of two semifinal quads.
Pro Stock Motorcycle eliminations start at 12:50 p.m., Sunday. Television coverage on FOX Sports 1 begins at 5:30 p.m., Sunday. (All times listed in EDT).
