Arana on wrong end of strange moment in Denver

DENVER, CO – ProtectTheHarvest.com/MAVTV rider Adam Arana was on the unfortunate end of one of the weirdest moments in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series this season in the opening round of the Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals on Sunday at Bandimere Speedway.

Arana turned the red-light on against Steve Johnson, immediately handing Johnson the round-win. What’s worse for Arana is that Johnson broke on the starting line and didn’t move.

The ebullient Johnson climbed off the bike and began to celebrate by clicking his heels, a moment captured by ESPN2. But for Arana, there was only disappointment.

“The staging process was normal,” Arana said. “I just haven’t been the same mentally all weekend. The bike is not performing and I am not satisfied. It wasn’t a good day.”

Arana had ridden well at the most recent race in Norwalk, Ohio, winning in the first round on a holeshot and advancing the semifinals, but he struggled in Denver trying to get used to racing in the thin air.

Arana, though, did not shirk any responsibility.

“Steve did not make any changes or do anything different on the starting line,” Arana said. “Steve is a great guy, and I don’t think he would try to mess with me. It is nothing he did, it is all my fault.”

Arana completed his run, making a pass of 7.292 seconds at 182.97 mph that was among his best of the weekend.

“I did not know that he hadn’t broken on the line,” Arana said. “I knew that he wasn’t on the track. I knew I went red, but going down the track I didn’t hear him and I couldn’t see him in my peripheral. I knew either he was super-duper late or he didn’t make the run.”

Arana doesn’t have long to dwell on the defeat, as he races next weekend at the NHRA Sonoma Nationals at Sonoma Raceway.

“When I saw the red I thought, ‘Well, that was a great way to top off the weekend,’ ” Arana said. “Live and learn.”