Lucas Oil Arana Racing team focused on 2016 after NHRA Finals

POMONA, CA – Both Lucas Oil Buell riders Hector Arana Sr. and Hector Arana Jr. are pumped for the 2016 Pro Stock Motorcycle season after wrapping up 2015 in the Auto Club NHRA Finals on Sunday at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona.

Arana Sr. found some speed in his Lucas Oil Buell in Pomona, despite bowing out in the first round Sunday, and Arana Jr. went one round further before falling to 2015 class champion Andrew Hines.

“It could’ve been better, but we’re going to stay positive for the next race season,” Arana Jr. said. “We’re going to work over the break, do some R&D to improve our 60-foot times. We’re going to stay positive and keep working hard because we know we have the horsepower. We just need to get it to the ground a little better.”

Arana Jr. took out Angie Smith in the first round with a pass of 6.914 at 194.91 mph, and then he went quicker in the second round, 6.898 at 194.35 mph. But Hines, who clinched the championship when Jerry Savoie lost in the pair ahead of he and Arana Jr., made a pass of 6.879 at 190.27 mph to get the win.

Arana Jr. finished fifth in the points standings after snagging victories in Chicago and St. Louis. He has finished fifth or better in the class standings all five years he has raced in Pro Stock Motorcycle.

“I think overall my year was pretty good,” Arana Jr. said. “I had two wins, which I’m happy with, and I can’t forget that I got engaged this year, too! I think this weekend was a good way to end the year, qualifying No. 4 and going into next year in a positive mindset. We hope that with a little improvement we can have even more victories and a championship.”

Arana Sr. made improvement throughout qualifying, but against No. 6 qualifier Matt Smith, not even a .001-second reaction time was enough. Arana Sr. ran 6.957 seconds at 193.10 mph, while Smith went around him with a 6.884 at 194.52 mph.

“We did some changes, and finally we’re heading back to where we were,” Arana Sr. said. “We ended with a good note, we picked up the pace, and we had the best mph here at this event. We’re back on the right track. Now, we just need to do more testing and get this clutch to work like it used to work for us. If we get the 60-foot, we’re going to be back on top.”

Arana ended up eighth in the points standings, with a victory in Atlanta ending a drought of more than five years. Plus, he raced son Hector Jr. in the St. Louis final.

“I’ll remember Atlanta and St. Louis, being in the final with Hector,” Arana Sr. said. “I have two memorable races from this year.”