Adam Arana returns to Coast Guard with special memories of St. Louis
ST. LOUIS – ProtectTheHarvest.com/MAVTV rider Adam Arana enjoyed his brief return to Pro Stock Motorcycle 
despite a first-round loss during the AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals on Sunday at Gateway Motorsports Park.
Seaman (E-3) Arana, stationed on the United States Coast Guard cutter Cheyenne, got a weekend pass to compete in his first race of 2015. He qualified No. 11 before dropping a close race to No. 6 qualifier Karen Stoffer.
“It was good,” Arana said. “It was a lot of fun. During qualifying, my worst light was a .030, but on Sunday, even though you don’t think the pressure is there, it’s always there, lurking. I had an .083 light, so that’s no bueno.
“I forget how much it takes to stay calm. Coming back to do one race is fun, but it’s not a way to win rounds. It takes a lot more preparation. I wish I could’ve done better, but I’m glad I came. I had a lot of fun.”
Arana still got the jump on Stoffer, but the two-time winner this season got around him with a pass of 6.919 seconds at 194.41 mph. Arana’s lap was 7.009 seconds at 191.59 mph.
“Thanks to my command for approving it for me to come have some fun,” Arana said. “Some of them got to come and watch and they enjoyed it. Thank you to Forrest and Charlotte Lucas, too, and to Lucas Oil, MAVTV, and Protect The Harvest for allowing me to do this.”
Arana returns to duty Monday aboard the river-buoy tender that patrols the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers, but he carries special memories from this race, as older brother Hector Jr. beat dad Hector Sr. in the final round.
“I’ve got to go back to work tomorrow morning,” Arana said. “I’ve got a five-hour drive after I leave here, but it was worth it, for sure. I got to see my brother, and I haven’t seen him since I graduated boot camp. Plus, I got to see him win, too. That was nice. I get to bring home a yellow hat.”
