Continued success has Arana Jr. ready for Chicago

CHICAGO, IL – Another semifinal appearance during the 2014 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season has Pro Stock Motorcycle rider Hector Arana Jr. optimistic about grabbing the victory at the O’Reilly Auto Parts Route 66 NHRA Nationals, June 26-29, at Route 66 Raceway in Chicago.

While Epping, N.H., was successful for the whole team, Arana knows that conditions won’t be as favorable for Pro Stock Motorcycles this weekend. However, after a good showing in Chicago last year, he feels the team will be able to manage whatever gets thrown at them.

“We’re going to dig back in our notes for the Chicago race,” Arana said. “All three of the bikes ran well there last year, so we will definitely want to try to recreate that scenario but hopefully with a better ending.

“Unfortunately, the weather isn’t going to be as good as it was in Englishtown (N.J.) and Epping the past two races; we had really good air there. Now we will have to figure out what kind of combination we want to put together for Chicago.”

Arana’s Lucas Oil Buell seems to have turned the corner performance-wise this year after a stellar showing in Epping. However, he is looking for different results in his return trip to Chicago. After red-lighting in the semifinals there last year to Matt Smith and breaking in the semifinals in Epping against Smith last weekend, Arana hopes this weekend holds a different story.

“Everything is running strong, really strong on my Lucas Oil Buell,” Arana said. “Dad and the rest of the crew are headed back to the shop to throw a couple of motors onto the dyno. Depending on what the numbers show, we’ll work from there and hopefully have another successful weekend in Chicago.”

Hoping to grab that elusive first win this season, Arana will start his weekend with qualifying sessions at 4:30 and 7:15 p.m., Friday, and 4:15 and 7:15 p.m., Saturday. Eliminations begin at noon, Sunday. ESPN2 will carry all qualifying and elimination action, including live coverage of the final two rounds.