INDIANAPOLIS – For the second consecutive year, Hector Arana Jr., the 28-year-old rider of the Lucas Oil Racing TV Buell Pro Stock Motorcycle, raced to the final round of the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis, the world’s biggest and most prestigious drag racing event.

Arana, the No. 3 qualifier for Labor Day Monday’s eliminations on NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series’ biggest stage, defeated Cory Reed, Scott Pollacheck, and Jerry Savoie respectively to reach the 11th final of his career. His vanquishing of Savoie in the semi-finals vaulted him up from fourth to third in Mello Yello championship points.

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INDIANAPOLIS – An Indy winner in his rookie year of 2011 and a runner-up here just a season ago, Indiana-raised Pro Stock Motorcycle rider Hector Arana Jr. is hoping for another trip to Lucas Oil Raceway’s hallowed winner’s circle atop his Lucas Oil Racing TV Buell at the 63rd annual Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals, which turns to eliminations Monday.

After experimenting with a brand-new EBR motorcycle in the first two of five Indy qualifiers, Arana got serious and went to work in the final three rounds, powering his older but more reliable Buell to a best of 6.840 seconds at 196.16 mph. The run placed him third in a stout Pro Stock Motorcycle field.

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INDIANAPOLIS –  For Hector Arana Jr., rider of the Lucas Oil Racing TV Buell Pro Stock Motorcycle, the most-anticipated event on the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series schedule also is an opportunity to go back home to Indiana. This weekend’s running of the 63rd annual Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis is also an opportunity for the 28-year-old to get racing redemption at the “Big Go.”

During last year’s installment of the biggest drag racing event in the world, Arana piloted his Lucas Oil Racing TV Buell to the final round, but he came up just short of capturing his second “Wally” trophy in Indy. Although he won the prestigious Indy title in his rookie season of 2011, last year’s foul start by the New York resident ended the final round before it even started.

“I went red,” Arana said. “Nothing else to say about it, but you know, it happens. It’s unfortunate it came in the final round of the sport’s biggest race, but it did. All you can do is not dwell on it and move on. It’s a part of racing Pro Stock Motorcycles. The bikes react so quickly at the hit of the throttle so we’re always close to the edge.”

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BRAINERD, MN – After securing his first No. 1 qualifier award in slightly more than two years, Lucas Oil Racing TV Buell rider Hector Arana Jr. had big plans for hoisting the trophy of the 36th annual Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals late Sunday afternoon. But a fading motor ended his day in the quarterfinal round, a result that didn’t sit well with the fourth-ranked rider in the world.

“Our bike was running great on Friday but for whatever reason, she kind of went downhill from there,” Arana said. “We ran the same motor all weekend. It was one of two new motors we brought here and it showed itself really well early on. Now we’ll have to take it apart and see why it started going south on us.

“We didn’t drop off a cliff, performance-wise, but it really started dragging between the 60-foot and 330-foot timers, which is where you do most of your accelerating. When you look at the data you can see it’s down in that area. We’ll just have to get home and go through everything and try to figure out why.”

After qualifying on top of the field with a 6.879 at 194.24 mph, Arana began race day with an easy victory over Minnesota native Jim Underdahl. He caught and passed the quick-leaving Underdahl early in the race and won going away, posting a 6.893 at 194.49 mph to Underdahl’s 7.079 at 190.46 mph.

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BRAINERD, MN – Hector Arana Jr. has started the second half of the Pro Stock Motorcycle schedule in style with a top-qualifying effort at the 36th annual Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals. The rider of the Lucas Oil Racing TV Buell used his 6.879 at 194.24 mph from Friday night to secure the spot.

“It’s been two years since we’ve earned the No. 1 spot and we have been working hard to get back here,” said Arana, who last qualified on the pole at the 2015 Norwalk race. “I’m telling you, we’ve been working harder than we ever thought we would have to work at this and it’s finally paying off. It’s amazing; a great feeling!”

Being No. 1 is extra sweet for Arana, especially considering he qualified second at four of the last five races leading into his title sponsor’s marque event. Now he’ll try to covert his 19th career pole into his 12th victory.

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BRAINERD, MN – Pro Stock Motorcycle rider Hector Arana Jr. entered this weekend’s 36th annual Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals hoping to make a mark at his title sponsor’s main event. So far, so good, for the decorated pilot of the Lucas Oil Racing TV Buell as he streaked to the provisional pole with a 6.879 at 194.24 mph.

“This is a great start for us,” Arana said. “It’s been awhile since I’ve been up to the pressroom (as the No. 1 qualifier) so it feels good to finally do it again. We’ve been No. 1 a total of 18 times in the past but just not this year. We keep getting edged out. Hopefully, we can improve on this tomorrow and hold everyone off this time.”

Arana has ended up as the No. 2 qualifier at four of the last five events. The other race he was third. So being No. 1 at a track he always circles as one of his favorites isn’t a total surprise.

“We arrived with two new motors and they both showed us better numbers on the dyno than the motor we used in Sonoma when I ran the best elapsed time of my career so it’s nice to see it working on the racetrack,” Arana said. “We actually could have put up an equally good number up on the scoreboards in Round 1 but the bike didn’t shift into high gear. Anyway, we fixed that issue and made a great pass just now so we’re happy.”

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BRAINERD, MN – There’s something extra special about winning a race your title sponsor supports, a feeling Lucas Oil Racing TV rider Hector Arana Jr. hopes to experience this weekend at the 36th annual Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway.

“I’m so ready to add myself to the list of Lucas Oil-sponsored racers that have won this race in the past,” Arana said. “Morgan (Lucas, son of Lucas Oil founders Forrest and Charlotte Lucas) won it three times, Richie (Crampton) won it two years ago, even my dad won it (in 2009). Now it’s my turn. It’s time to win.”

Arana came as close as one can get to Brainerd glory in his first two years competing in the Pro Stock Motorcycle class, finishing runner-up at BIR in 2011 and 2012. But so far none of his 11 NHRA national event victories have come at the famed Northern Minnesota racing facility.

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SONOMA, CA – Hector Arana Jr. remained one of the hottest riders in the NHRA’s Pro Stock Motorcycle class with yet another semifinal finish, this time at Sunday’s Toyota NHRA Sonoma Nationals at Sonoma Raceway. Arana beat Cory Reed and Karen Stoffer before being clipped in the third round by class leader LE Tonglet.

In the last five national events, Arana has two runner-up finishes, two semifinal results and has qualified in the No. 2 spot four times.

“It was another decent weekend,” Arana said. “Of course, at this point, nothing but a win is going to make me completely happy. We are right there; so close. It’s a really tough field in Pro Stock Motorcycle this year. There’s so many great bikes and strong riders.

“I just gotta really sit myself down and get back into the mental game. I have to get a little more focused on what I’m doing as a rider. We’ve got the bike right, but I need work. I’m focused but I’m probably only about 85 percent focused, so I need to find a way to get 100 percent focused. If I get there, we’ll be good.”

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SONOMA, CA – For the fourth time in the last five races, Lucas Oil Racing TV Buell rider Hector Arana Jr. will start race day from the No. 2 starting spot after his 6.773-second run at 197.91 mph during Saturday’s first time trial earned him the lofty spot on the ladder.

“I like this race a lot,” Arana said. “I’ve won here before in 2013 so I know first-hand it’s a nice race to win. We’re going to do our best to go out there, take it one round at a time, and see what happens. The first thing you need to do to win is put yourself in a position to win, and we’ve done that yet again.”

Arana had visions of earning his first pole of the year after his 6.773 held the top slot until midway through the final session when Matt Smith bettered his mark by .002 seconds.

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SONOMA, CA – Just like the human body, NHRA’s Pro Stock Motorcycle’s are naturally aspirated, meaning they take in oxygen without assistance from an external device. Since the last time Hector Arana Jr. piloted his Lucas Oil Racing TV Buell down the quarter-mile at the previous event in mile-high Denver, there are two words with extra meaning at this weekend’s 30th annual Toyota NHRA Sonoma Nationals — Inhale. Exhale.

“We are excited to be back at sea level,” said Arana, an 11-time national event winner. “I just can’t wait to go fast. Maybe we’ll see that illusive 200-mph run out there. We are gunning for it, and we’re going to do everything we can to get it for our team and Lucas Oil. We’ll have to see how it all unfolds and what the weather does for us.”

Currently, Arana holds the time slip for the fastest Pro Stock Motorcycle run in NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series history – 199.88 mph, posted in 2015 in Charlotte. The 200-mph barrier for the NHRA bikes is the next big milestone in drag racing. With the right atmospheric conditions, Sonoma Raceway is undoubtedly primed to host the first 200-mph motorcycle party.

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