Arana’s Looking for a Win In Norwalk

Published July 2, 2015

Lucas Oil rider Hector Arana Sr. holds special memories of Norwalk

NORWALK, OH – The memories of Summit Motorsports Park are etched into Lucas Oil Buell rider Hector Arana Sr. as he prepares for this weekend’s Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals: The track is where he secured his first Pro Stock Motorcycle victory eight years ago.

“Norwalk is always special to me,” Arana said. “It is where I got my first win in 2007, and I’ve gone to the final there again (in 2010). I’m pumped.”

Arana had raced professionally for 17 years before securing the Norwalk win, and his best memory of that race wasn’t from the winner’s circle or anything that happened on the racetrack; it was being able to prove to his children that perseverance works.

His sons, Hector Jr. and Adam, served as his crewmembers from the time they were old enough to hold a wrench, and after failing to win for many years, Arana wondered if they would begin to think hard work didn’t pay off.

“The best thing for me was my kids worked with me, so they were there when I had my first win,” Arana said. “They were part of it, they witnessed it, they were my crew. It couldn’t have happened at any better time, to have them there and to see it.

“It took a long time but I did it. To me that was the biggest thing. I want them to work hard and never give up. Many years had gone by, and as kids they were always saying, ‘Dad, did you win?’ ‘No, I didn’t win.’ The next race, ‘Dad, did you win?’ ‘No.’ ”

Soon, his sons didn’t ask him if he had won.

“That was my fear,” Arana said. “I didn’t want them to grow up and think, ‘Why work so hard? He works holidays, vacation time. He was always working, even when he was sick. For what?’

“I didn’t want them to remember that. Then I had that win, and it was a big weight off my shoulders. If you’re persistent and keep going at it, it’s possible. Anything you want to do, you can do it. You’ve just got to keep on going.”

Arana has kept going all these years, producing seven victories, including earlier this year in Atlanta, and the 2009 championship, and that success started in Norwalk, a place he has come to love.

“Everything about this event is good,” Arana said. “You’ve got the fireworks, you’ve got all the ice cream you want to eat for $1, and you’ve got Cedar Point. All the ingredients for having a great weekend are there.”

Pro Stock Motorcycle qualifying sessions will be held at 5 and 8:45 p.m. ET, Friday and Saturday. Eliminations begin at noon, Sunday. ESPN2 will broadcast all the qualifying action from 10 p.m. to midnight, Saturday, and the elimination rounds live from 1 to 4 p.m., Sunday.

Lucas Oil’s Hector Arana Jr. hopes to add to family legacy in Norwalk

NORWALK, OH – Lucas Oil Buell Pro Stock Motorcycle rider Hector Arana Jr. is looking forward to building some consistency, beginning with this weekend’s Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals at Summit Motorsports Park.

Though he has reached the semifinals in the last three races, that’s not the consistency he’s talking about. The Pro Stock Motorcycle class has raced only four times in 2015, with more than a month in between two of the races.

But beginning with Norwalk, the PSM class has four races in five weekends. A good run through this stretch should bode well for championship contenders, and Arana certainly considers himself one. He’s third in the points standings with a 6-4 round record in 2015.

“I’m looking forward to getting back on the bike,” Arana said. “I’m looking forward to the end of these long breaks. We’re getting into some consistency in the schedule, and now we’re getting to some warm-weather tracks.

“I’m excited to see how we do at these tracks. I feel like we have really good notes and data and can run really well.”

Plus, Norwalk holds special memories for the Arana family, as team patriarch Hector Sr. scored his first career win here in 2007.

“This is where my dad won his first race,” Arana said. “I really want to be able to get a win there myself.

“Norwalk is one of our favorite tracks. We love the Baders, and they put on a really good show for the fans. The fans love coming to see us race there.”

Fans and competitors enjoy racing in Norwalk during the Independence Day holiday weekend.

“They have one of the best fireworks shows I’ve ever seen,” Arana said. “I’m definitely really excited for this race. My whole family — minus my brother Adam — is coming: my mom and sister, and my girlfriend Nicole (Nobile) is able to come to this race. It’ll be a fun Fourth of July. I can’t wait.”

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