Best season run in Reading could catapult Arana to first career win

READING, PA – A season-best qualifying effort for Pro Stock Motorcycle rider Adam Arana has him as a main contender to score a win during the NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway.

Completing his goal for the season, the ProtectTheHarvest.com/MAVTV Buell qualified solidly in the fast half of the ladder for the first time this season. With his best pass coming in the final qualifying session Saturday, Arana laid down a 6.862-second pass at 197.22 to get the No. 5 spot. He will line up alongside No. 12 Steve Johnson when the first round of eliminations begins.

“It was a solid weekend and I’m glad that I qualified in the top half,” Arana said. “I have lane choice tomorrow, which is something that I haven’t had all year and is definitely a plus.

“It’s been a good weekend, that’s for sure. I really can’t complain. I woke up this morning not sure if we were going to run and we got to run. I wasn’t sure if we would get to make a second qualifying run and thankfully we got to. Overall I’m happy.”

Jumping almost half the Pro Stock Motorcycle field with his pass in Q4, Arana knows just how close everyone is performance-wise and that any little hiccup could mean the end of a rider’s day.

“Everybody is super close,” Arana said. “My dad (Hector Arana Sr.) went a 6.86, along with Angelle (Sampey) and Chaz Kennedy. That’s four people, including myself, where it comes down to a thousandth on who has the better qualifying position. Racing is tough, it’s not easy, but I think tomorrow is going to be good. I have a good feeling about it.”

Despite the cool weather aiding in the fast passes common in Saturday’s qualifying, Arana is proud of the improvement his bike has made throughout the season. He is also aware that there is potential for an even better run on his Buell during eliminations if weather conditions are close to how they are predicted.

“Something is working,” Arana said. “Something is paying off but tomorrow is going to be another curveball. The weather is going to be good but colder and the sun is going to be out. It’s going to be really fast. That 6.79 by my brother is not going to be the fastest run of the weekend. Hopefully, we can continue making the fastest run of our matchups this weekend and keep lane choice.”

Eliminations will start at approximately noon, Sunday, with both qualifying and elimination action broadcast on ESPN2 on tape-delay basis.