Test session leads to abundance of confidence for Lucas Oil TV’s Hector Arana Jr.
ENGLISHTOWN, NJ – NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle standout Hector Arana Jr., rider of the Lucas Oil Racing TV 
Buell, is beaming with confidence and anticipation of a breakout weekend at this weekend’s famed 48th annual NHRA Summernationals at historic Old Bridge Township
Raceway Park.
The 28-year-old Arana Jr. has several reasons to be excited about this weekend of quarter-mile racing, not the least of which is that the event in Englishtown will be his 100th behind the handlebars of one of the world’s quickest and fastest motorcycles.
“Wow, 100 races, that’s really cool,” Arana Jr. said. “I didn’t realize it was already 100. That’s a big milestone for me and my family. We’ve been able to have quite a bit of success in those first 99 events. I can’t wait to see what we do in the next 100.”
Arana Jr. rides alongside his father and teammate Hector Arana Sr., rider of the Lucas Oil Buell and NHRA stalwart for more than two decades.
Arana Jr. has qualified his Lucas Oil Racing TV mount in the top-half of the eliminations field at all three of the PSM events this season, but has only parlayed that early performance into one round win so far in 2017, an opening round victory at the previous event in Atlanta. Following the best testing session of his career, the spry New York resident is eager for a turnaround of fortune in Englishtown.
“We went testing and also raced at the inaugural U.S. Pro Stock Motorcycle Open at Capitol Raceway in Maryland this past weekend to get ready for the Summernationals,” Arana Jr. said. “We went out there and had our best outing ever so I’m very anxious to get to E-town.
“We were really fast and consistent. My Lucas Oil Racing TV Buell ran all but one run in the 6.7 (second) range, and the run that wasn’t a 6.70 was a 6.80. Our 60-foot times were some of the best we’ve ever had. Plus, I won the event by defeating my dad in the final round. It was obviously a very successful weekend for us and a great boost for us going into this weekend.”
Arana Jr. recorded the quickest elapsed time of his NHRA career, 6.772, in Englishtown in 2014.
Pro Stock Motorcycle qualifying sessions are scheduled for 3:45 and 6:15 p.m., Friday, and 1:45 and 4:15 p.m., Saturday. Eliminations start at 11 a.m., Sunday. FOX Sports 1 will carry qualifying action from 10-11 p.m., Friday and live qualifying Saturday, 2-4 p.m. Eliminations live coverage 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Sunday with continuing coverage 6-7:30 p.m.
