Wild-card Arana looks to steal a win at NHRA Carolina Nationals

CHARLOTTE, NC – Putting it all on the line at the Pep Boys NHRA Carolina Nationals, Pro Stock Motorcycle rider Adam Arana is ready to upset the top 10 in points to score his first career victory.

Making solid runs throughout the first two days of competition, the ProtectTheHarvest.com/MAVTV Buell put down its best pass of 6.956 seconds at 190.86 mph in the final round of qualifying. Just missing his goal of landing in the top half of the ladder, Arana’s 10th-place qualifying effort has him racing against No. 7 Chaz Kennedy in round one of eliminations.

“The weekend’s been alright for us, even though I still haven’t qualified in the top half of the field,” Arana said. “We’re not too far off though. It looked like it was going to happen after how Friday went, but it just didn’t fall the way I hoped.

“We’re just going to keep chugging away. It will happen eventually; I’m not worried.”

Experience is paying off for the second-year Pro Stock Motorcycle rider, who realized the ideal qualifying conditions were in the third round. However, he isn’t letting a missed opportunity faze his concentration for the day that matters most: eliminations day.

“The third session was going to be the one to get it done and I kind of missed it,” Arana said. “There’s nothing you can do about that now. You just have to keep looking forward, stay calm, and get ready for Sunday.

“It’s all about trying to figure out the best balance. We’re pretty close on the clutch finally and we’re going to get there on the tune-up.”

While he may not be competing in the Countdown to the Championship, Arana isn’t afraid to start a healthy dose of sibling rivalry when it comes to race day.

“All I can do is just try to stay as calm as possible for Sunday,” Arana said. “Hopefully, I will get to race Hector (Arana Jr.) in the second round tomorrow.”

Arana will look to upset the rest of the players in the playoffs when eliminations start at approximately 1 p.m., Sunday. Elimination action will be broadcast on ESPN2 on tape delay.