Hector Arana Jr. ready to deliver for his title sponsor, Lucas Oil, at company’s main event

BRAINERD, MN – There’s something extra special about winning a race your title sponsor supports, a feeling Lucas Oil Racing TV rider Hector Arana Jr. hopes to experience this weekend at the 36th annual Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway.

“I’m so ready to add myself to the list of Lucas Oil-sponsored racers that have won this race in the past,” Arana said. “Morgan (Lucas, son of Lucas Oil founders Forrest and Charlotte Lucas) won it three times, Richie (Crampton) won it two years ago, even my dad won it (in 2009). Now it’s my turn. It’s time to win.”

Arana came as close as one can get to Brainerd glory in his first two years competing in the Pro Stock Motorcycle class, finishing runner-up at BIR in 2011 and 2012. But so far none of his 11 NHRA national event victories have come at the famed Northern Minnesota racing facility.

“This race is one we all love to come to, and not just because Forrest and Charlotte have made it their own,” Arana said. “It’s almost like a vacation coming up here. The fans are so passionate and downright crazy about everything they do, from supporting the racing itself to partying out there in the Zoo. It’s just a lot of fun.”

Of course, the people having the most fun are the drivers and crews that end race day in the winner’s circle, and considering his recent run of success, it’s not a stretch to imagine Arana taking his turn.

In the last five national events, Arana has raced to a pair of runner-up results as well as two semifinal finishes. He’s also qualified No. 2 overall four times, and jumped from ninth to third in the Mello Yello championship points.

“The team went home after Sonoma and went through my bike from front to back, checking and double-checking everything,” Arana said. “Then they took the motor out of the bike, put it on the dyno as is, and figured out exactly what it was producing when we ran the quickest pass of my career (6.749 seconds in Sonoma).

“They took that data and built two new motors, both of which produced more horsepower than the one we went 6.74 with, so now that motor will be one of the backups and we’ll race Brainerd with one of these new ones that are showing to be even better. So yeah, we’re pretty excited to start racing.”

Pro Stock Motorcycle qualifying sessions are scheduled for 2:45 and 5:30 p.m., Friday, and 12:45 and 3:45 p.m., Saturday. Eliminations begin at noon, Sunday. FOX Sports 1 will carry the first two rounds of qualifying action from 8-9 p.m., Friday, and the final two rounds of qualifying from 6-8 p.m., Saturday. Live eliminations will air from 1-4 p.m., Sunday. (All times are local and subject to change