MAVTV/Protect The Harvest/Lucas Oil racer Anthony Vanetti comes up short in Denver

DENVER – MAVTV/Protect The Harvest/Lucas Oil Buell racer Anthony Vanetti improved with each pass he made during qualifying for the Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals this weekend at Bandimere Speedway, but it wasn’t quite enough to qualify for his first national event.

Vanetti made his Pro Stock Motorcycle debut here, racing the bike Adam Arana rode in 2013-14.

“Big learning experience,” Vanetti said. “I felt really comfortable coming here. If I could have started off Friday with the pass I made in Q4, I think I would have been good.”

Vanetti’s final pass of 7.448 seconds at 178.52 mph was his quickest, though he came up .103-second short of making the top 16, but the former rodeo bull rider is ready to move on to his next race, next weekend in Sonoma, Calif.

“Same thing as riding bulls: You have to put it in the past and move on to the next one,” Vanetti, 39, said. “I look forward to Sonoma, and in Q1 I will just improve from Q4 here and go do what I can do and hopefully qualify.”

Vanetti tested the Arana Racing Buell before coming to Denver and was fairly comfortable, but he learned that competition is different than testing.

“Even though I thought I felt comfortable, it was my first national event,” Vanetti said. “I tried blocking everything out, but I think that’s easier said than done. With that being said I have the utmost respect for all these guys because I know how hard it is to ride. I really respect everyone, whether it’s a Pro Stock Motorcycle or Top Fuel car, because it is definitely added pressure and a different ball game out here and you’re up against really stiff competition.

“Everyone is trying for the same thing, and it is definitely a hard playing field to get qualified. I definitely learned my lesson over this weekend.”

In addition to Sonoma, Vanetti plans to race in Charlotte and Las Vegas.