Hector Arana Jr. makes big jump in points standings with semifinal finish

SONOMA, Calif. (July 31) -- Lucas Oil Racing TV rider Hector Arana Jr. finally broke through with an Arana-like weekend, racing to the semifinals of the Toyota NHRA Sonoma Nationals on Sunday at Sonoma Raceway. In the process, he jumped four spots and into the top 10 of the Pro Stock Motorcycle points standings.

"Overall it's great," Arana said. "Honestly, we had the bike to win that (semifinal) round, but I'll get there. We made big strides and went two rounds. Next time we'll go two more. We learned some things, and I think we are going to be good for the rest of the year."

Arana finished in the top five of the final points standings in all five years of his career, but until Sunday in Sonoma, he had only one round-win all season. He and his team had struggled to find the right tune-up for his Lucas Oil Racing TV Buell, but they qualified No. 7 here and beat Karen Stoffer and Angelle Sampey before falling to Andrew Hines.

"Everything is getting right," Arana said. "Overall a great weekend. I can't complain."

Arana overpowered Stoffer in the first round with a pass of 6.813 seconds at 196.39 mph, outrunning Stoffer's 6.879 at 195.53 mph. He then got off the line first against No. 2 qualifier Sampey, .023 to .034, and made a pass of 6.827 seconds at 196.73 mph while Sampey slowed to a 10.865 at 73.78 mph.

Against Hines, Arana left .032-second too soon to draw a red-light, and he lifted early in the run. Hines, meanwhile, raced to the final round with a pass of 6.831 seconds at 195.45 mph.

Still, Arana moved to seventh in the points, his highest spot all season. He was 15th after the third race of the season and was 13th heading into Sonoma.

"It's a lot of weight off of my shoulders," Arana said. "Even though I've been keeping it on the back of my mind, it's been there. Now I'm in and I can relax and get back to my old self."

                                                                           [ ]

Lucas Oil Racing TV is the first streaming TV network dedicated solely to the world of motorsports -- 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The new network is the world's premier motorsports destination. Programming includes live and pre-taped racing, expanded pre- and post-race action, behind-the-scenes content, unseen interviews, automobile build shows, and an extensive library of national and international motorsports content. The app is available through www.LucasOilRacing.TVfor viewing on smartphones and tablets, as well as Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Android Tablets, and Roku. Subscriptions are $59.99 with a one-year agreement, or $6.99 a month for a pay-as-you-go plan. Sign-ups are available now on www.LucasOilRacing.TV.

Lucas Oil Racing TV rider Hector Arana Jr. finally broke through with an Arana-like weekend, racing to the semifinals of the Toyota NHRA Sonoma Nationals on Sunday at Sonoma Raceway.

 
Visit LucasOil.com, LucasOilRacing.TV, and GeigerMediaGlobal.com for more information.

Hector Arana Sr.'s holeshot victory the highlight of Sonoma eliminations

SONOMA, Calif. (July 31) -- The old man can still race a Pro Stock Motorcycle.

Veteran rider Hector Arana Sr., who turns 58 in September, pulled off a holeshot in the first round before running into a buzz saw in round two against eventual race winner L.E. Tonglet at the Toyota NHRA Sonoma Nationals on Sunday at Sonoma Raceway.

Arana faced an uphill battle in the first round against No. 5 qualifier Chip Ellis, but Arana, the No. 12 qualifier, got off the line first with a .038-second reaction time and made it hold up. His pass of 6.820 seconds at 197.42 mph was slower than Ellis' 6.820-second run at 198.12 mph, but his advantage on the Christmas Tree was enough.

"You know what they say: A squirrel sometimes, now and then, gets a nut," Arana said with a laugh.

And despite the loss to Tonglet, Arana was still smiling at the end of the weekend.

"This Lucas Oil bike, I think we are finding something out," Arana said. "It's coming around. Here in Sonoma, being able to win a round and go on to the next one is a good thing. Being close e.t.-wise, we just have to find a little bit more, but it's coming around."

Arana's pass in the second round was 6.838 seconds at 196.76 mph, not enough to overcome Tonglet's stellar 6.793 at 197.13 mph.

Still, Arana can feel the momentum building as performance is improving as the Countdown to the Championship nears.

"I think it might be a good thing to start getting our rhythm toward the end of the schedule because that's when we need it the most," Arana said. "In the past, we have been on top, and then we start having all kinds of issues. Maybe the role will turn around for us. We are working hard, and it's time to get this Lucas Oil bike to the winner's circle."

Lucas Oil Pro Stock Motorcycle rider Hector Arana Sr. pulled off a holeshot win in the first round before running into a buzz saw in round two at the Toyota NHRA Sonoma Nationals.

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Lucas Oil Racing TV's Hector Arana Jr. puts up good numbers in Sonoma qualifying

SONOMA, Calif. (July 30) -- Lucas Oil Racing TV Buell rider Hector Arana Jr. may be getting hot at the right time.

Arana ran his second-best elapsed time of the season in qualifying for the Toyota NHRA Sonoma Nationals this weekend at Sonoma Raceway, snaring the No. 7 spot for final eliminations.

"We finally got a good clutch package," Arana said. "As far as the clutch goes and everything else, it was perfect. I couldn't do anything any better, so now I just have to sit down in front of the computer and go back and forth with some numbers and fine-tune it and hopefully squeeze out the last little bit and run in the .70s. It's definitely there."

Arana has had a tough 2016 season, the first time in his career he has struggled. After finishing in the top five in the final points standings for each of his first five seasons, Arana sits 13th in the Pro Stock Motorcycle standings heading into this race.

He has some work to do to make the Countdown to the Championship playoffs, but with three races remaining before the championship-determining segment starts, Arana can still climb the ladder into the top 10.

But Arana isn't worried about points or even a long day of eliminations Sunday; he is focused on first-round opponent Karen Stoffer, who qualified No. 10 with a pass of 6.857 seconds at 195.28 mph.

Arana made a top run of 6.823 seconds at 196.19 mph, putting together good low-end numbers with good top-end speed.

"I feel really good," Arana said. "I hope it's a long day tomorrow. Like I've said before, one round at a time. I'm going to tune it up, and I'm going to go to the first round and not worry about anything else, just have fun."

Pro Stock Motorcycle eliminations start around noon, Sunday. FOX will carry the action live from 1 to 4 p.m. PT, Sunday.

                                                                    [ ]

Lucas Oil Racing TV is the first streaming TV network dedicated solely to the world of motorsports -- 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The new network is the world's premier motorsports destination. Programming includes live and pre-taped racing, expanded pre- and post-race action, behind-the-scenes content, unseen interviews, automobile build shows, and an extensive library of national and international motorsports content. The app is available through www.LucasOilRacing.TVfor viewing on smartphones and tablets, as well as Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Android Tablets, and Roku. Subscriptions are $59.99 with a one-year agreement, or $6.99 a month for a pay-as-you-go plan. Sign-ups are available now on www.LucasOilRacing.TV.

Lucas Oil Racing TV Buell rider Hector Arana Jr.  ran his second-best elapsed time of the season in qualifying for the Toyota NHRA Sonoma Nationals, snaring the No. 7 spot.

Visit LucasOil.com, LucasOilRacing.TV, and GeigerMediaGlobal.com for more information.

No. 12 qualifier Hector Arana Sr. looks for quicker start with Lucas Oil Buell

SONOMA, Calif. (July 30) -- Past Pro Stock Motorcycle champion Hector Arana Sr. knows there is plenty of horsepower in his Lucas Oil Buell.

One look at the speeds of the top-16 qualifiers for the Toyota NHRA Sonoma Nationals this weekend at Sonoma Raceway proves that. In the quickest field in Pro Stock Motorcycle history, Arana posted the sixth-best speed, 197.25 mph.

Yet, he is qualified in the No. 12 spot after a pass of 6.859 seconds. That means the Lucas Oil bike is fast, but it simply is taking too long to get to that speed, an issue Arana pledges to fix.

"Yeah, we need to get the bike to accelerate," Arana said. "That seems to be the problem right now. Something is off. We are just going to have to sit down and look at everything carefully and figure out why, what changed? What's happening and where are we losing it?"

Arana and his team, including talented son Hector Jr., will look over the data and the tune-up for his bike, hoping to find a better way to get the bike off the starting line. That will be his focus -- not points, not a race win, not the Sonoma wine country.

"I think right now we just have to sit and look at everything carefully," Arana said. "It could be something simple or it could be more than one thing that we are missing. Right now, we have to not worry about points, nothing else, just getting this bike to be fast like it was."

Arana will have face No. 5 qualifier Chip Ellis in the first round of eliminations. Ellis' best pass of the weekend was 6.796 seconds at 198.47 mph.

"All I can do is my best right now," Arana said. "That's all I can control: My bike, my tune-up, and my riding skills. That's all I'm going to do tomorrow, just focus and do the best that I can."

Pro Stock Motorcycle eliminations start around noon, Sunday. FOX will carry the action live from 1 to 4 p.m. PT, Sunday.

In the quickest field in Pro Stock Motorcycle history, Lucas Oil Buell rider Hector Arana Sr. posted the sixth-best speed, 197.25 mph, during qualifying at the Toyota NHRA Sonoma Nationals.

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Arana Racing riders readying for duel attack on two trophies up for grabs in Sonoma

SONOMA, Calif. (July 25) -- Lucas Oil Pro Stock Motorcycle riders Hector Arana Sr. and his son Hector Arana Jr. are heading west from Denver for their biggest weekend of the NHRA season. That's because the annual Pro Bike Battle takes place during Saturday's qualifying action of the Toyota NHRA Sonoma Nationals, one of two prizes both men have a chance of claiming.

Currently sixth in the national points, Hector Sr. is qualified fifth in the Pro Bike Battle, and Hector Jr., who is 13th nationally, is seventh on the Battle grid. The Pro Bike Battle invites only the top-eight qualifiers from the last 12 months, a tough accomplishment that makes it a prized jewel to Pro Stock Motorcycle racers.

"It's the best of the best from the last year, and it's great that Hector and I made the cut," Hector Sr. said. "It shows a high level of consistency over a full year's worth of qualifying, and consistency is what wins races and championships. It's what we all want."

Hector Sr. will open the Battle against Chip Ellis, and Hector Jr. will face Andrew Hines.

"There might be some guys right now that are running a little bit better, but if there's one thing I've learned, even in races I've won in the past, it's that you don't need to have the fastest bike to win," Hector Jr. said. "You just have to be focused, do your job, hit your shift points on time, cut a good light, and stay calm.

"I won the national event in Sonoma in 2013, so I have food feelings going into this event. That weekend was a lot of fun. Actually, to my point, that weekend we didn't have the best motor, but we were able to stay consistent. I did my job right and we were able to go rounds. It wasn't the fastest bike, but we squeezed every last bit out of that engine. Now we just have to do the same with these and we'll be good to go."

Having two trophies to race for is enough work by itself, but coming from the mile-high climes of Denver to sea-level Sonoma also presents some challenges.

"We have a lot of work to do to switch everything back to our normal tune-up," Hector Sr. said. "We also have to arrive with the heads and oil pan off so NHRA can inspect the engines, so it's a lot of work.

"We've been struggling with both bikes, but maybe it's good we're struggling now. Things will turn around in the Countdown (to the Championship playoffs) for us. Usually we start real strong in the Countdown and then tail off. We're gonna change that this time. Everybody goes through a period where they struggle. The strong will keep on and look for a way to get back on top. If it's not made for you, then it's time to quit and go home."

Pro Stock Motorcycle qualifying sessions are scheduled for 4:30 and 7 p.m., Friday, and 1:10 and 4:15 p.m., Saturday. Eliminations start at noon, Sunday. FOX Sports 1 will air qualifying action from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m., Friday, and 7 to 8 p.m., Saturday. FOX will carry eliminations live from 1 to 4 p.m., Sunday. (All times listed in PT).

Lucas Oil Pro Stock Motorcycle riders Hector Arana Jr. (above) and his father Hector Arana Sr. (below) will face their biggest weekend of the NHRA season, racing in the Pro Bike Battle during Saturday's qualifying action of the Toyota NHRA Sonoma Nationals.

 

Please visit www.LucasOil.com and www.GeigerMediaGlobal.com for more information.

Lucas Oil's Arana Racing team sees red in Denver's first round

DENVER (July 24) -- The Lucas Oil Pro Stock Motorcycle team may want to repaint its Buells after a tough performance in the first round of the Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals on Sunday at Bandimere Speedway.

Both the Lucas Oil Buell of Hector Arana Sr. and the Lucas Oil Racing TV Buell of Hector Arana Jr. carry a predominantly red paint scheme, but both racers saw red in the first round.

Moments after Arana Jr. left too soon against Chip Ellis, Arana Sr. drew a red-light against Angelle Sampey.

"It's so frustrating," Arana Jr. said. "We made a pretty good run, too, but I went red. I went up there and did my normal routine and everything felt good. When I let the clutch go, I felt like I hit it pretty good, but it was red. I wasn't doing anything different than I normally do, but it was a little early. That happens sometimes."

What frustrated Arana Jr. more was that Ellis, the No. 7 qualifier, was late with a .109-second reaction time. Ellis then slowed to a pass of 15.210 seconds at 93.84 mph, but the win light was already on. Arana Jr. left .033-second too soon, and his pass of 7.231 seconds at 184.77 mph went for naught.

Arana Sr. had a taller order, facing No. 3 qualifier Sampey. He left .006-second too soon but would have had a hard time overcoming Sampey's stellar 7.204-second pass at 183.49 mph.

"I gave it my best," Arana Sr. said. "I came up with .006 red and I lost my focus point. I go, 'Did I just see red?' and I turn my head, and sure enough it was red. I thought, 'I can't believe this.' I notice the bike is drifting to the right, to the wall, and I say, 'Whoa, wait a minute. I better get back on it.' And then I go, 'You know what? It's not worth it.' I was so mad, so I pulled in the clutch and that was it."

But Arana Sr. believes the weekend was not lost, learning some tune-up data to help in the future.

"It was a hell of a weekend," Arana Sr. said. "We worked our tail off. At the end we did learn something. We're going to make good notes for next year. Hopefully we'll do better."

Though Lucas Oil Pro Stock Motorcycle riders Hector Arana Sr. (above) and Hector Arana Jr. (below) both cut red-lights in the first round of the Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals, they gained valuable tune-up data for the future.

 

Please visit www.LucasOil.com and www.GeigerMediaGlobal.com for more information.

Lucas Oil's Hector Arana Sr. ready for battle of past champions in Denver first round

DENVER (July 23) -- One first-round match at the Mopar Mile-High Nationals on Sunday at Bandimere Speedway features a pair of past Pro Stock Motorcycle champions.

Lucas Oil rider Hector Arana Sr., the 2009 champion, faces three-time Pro Stock Motorcycle titlist Angelle Sampey in round one. Arana, the No. 14 qualifier, relishes the challenge.

"That's great," Arana said. "You always want to race the best. That's how you get better."

Arana will have to be at his best, as Sampey qualified in the lofty No. 3 perch after a best pass of 7.178 seconds at 184.32 mph. Arana's top run was 7.285 seconds at 184.47 mph, but his Buell has been one of the fastest bikes in the class this weekend.

The problem has been getting the bike to leave well. That's the opposite issue as his son, Hector Jr., whose bike has been lightning quick off the starting line but not as good in the second half of the track.

"Hector's got the first half figured out," Arana said. "I've got the back half figured out, so if we can get together and I get his first half and I give him my back half, we should be up to speed. Let's see what happens tomorrow."

Arana is happy to see Sampey -- or anyone other than his son, for that matter -- in the first round. Father and son have raced each other in three of the last four races, so a different opponent will be a welcome sight for Arana on Sunday.

"We don't face each other," Arana said, "so let's see what happens tomorrow."

Pro Stock Motorcycle eliminations start at noon, Sunday, and will be broadcast live on FOX from 1 to 4 p.m. (All times listed in MDT).

Lucas Oil rider Hector Arana Sr. qualified No. 14 and relishes the challenge of racing Angelle Sampey in round one Sunday at the Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals in Denver.

Please visit www.LucasOil.com and www.GeigerMediaGlobal.com for more information.

Lucas Oil Racing TV rider Hector Arana Jr. hopes to hit 'curveball' out of the park

DENVER (July 23) -- The mile-high altitude has thrown Lucas Oil Racing TV rider Hector Arana Jr. a curveball, but the talented Pro Stock Motorcycle racer still hopes he can hit one out of the park during final eliminations at the Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals on Sunday at Bandimere Speedway.

Arana, a two-time Denver finalist and a two-time No. 1 qualifier here, qualified No. 10 for this race, but he's still optimistic.

"For whatever reason, we've been thrown a curveball on our tune-ups," Arana said. "We were able to get four runs down the track, and we're looking at every little thing and going back to runs from last year. I have a good feeling for tomorrow, so we'll see what happens."

Arana's best pass was 7.237 seconds at 183.44 mph, but that only tells part of the story. His bike is launching well, and his 60-foot times have been among the best this weekend.

"The bike's been running good," Arana said. "I've been blasting off the start line. I've been No. 1 three out of the four sessions, and I was No. 2 the last session. I just have to figure out how to get it to run down the back half."

If he can combine a good start with a good finish, Arana will be dangerous on Sunday. He'll start eliminations against No. 7 qualifier Chip Ellis, whose best pass was 7.226 seconds at 186.23 mph.

"Denver is one of my favorite tracks, and we've had great success," Arana said. "We didn't get the lotto tickets (for qualifying first), but maybe we can bring home the Wally."

Arana could use a good showing to help him climb the Pro Stock Motorcycle points standings. He's currently 12th, 30 points out of the 10th-place cutoff for the Countdown to the Championship, which begins in Charlotte in September.

Pro Stock Motorcycle eliminations start at noon, Sunday, and will be broadcast live on FOX from 1 to 4 p.m. (All times listed in MDT).

                                                                        [ ]

Lucas Oil Racing TV is the first streaming TV network dedicated solely to the world of motorsports -- 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The new network is the world's premier motorsports destination. Programming includes live and pre-taped racing, expanded pre- and post-race action, behind-the-scenes content, unseen interviews, automobile build shows, and an extensive library of national and international motorsports content. The app is available through www.LucasOilRacing.TVfor viewing on smartphones and tablets, as well as Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Android Tablets, and Roku. Subscriptions are $59.99 with a one-year agreement, or $6.99 a month for a pay-as-you-go plan. Sign-ups are available now on www.LucasOilRacing.TV.

Lucas Oil Racing TV rider Hector Arana Jr. qualified No. 10 with a 7.237 at 183.44 mph and is optimistic about his chances of winning the Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals in Denver.

 
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Lucas Oil rider Hector Arana Sr.: Preparation is key for Denver and beyond

DENVER (July 20) -- The Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals this weekend at Bandimere Speedway kicks off the two-race Western Swing for the Pro Stock Motorcycle class, taking Lucas Oil rider Hector Arana Sr. far from his home base.

For that reason, Arana has been preparing for Denver and the next race in Sonoma, Calif., for some time, knowing the 4,600-mile round trip can be taxing.

For starters, Denver presents a completely different challenge, as its mile-high altitude robs engines of air and horsepower.

"We wish we always have more time, but we never do," Arana said. "It's only one race a year, and we know what we've done in the past, so we always go back to that. We get those parts that we know that work, put it on the bike, and get ready. That's all we can do."

Then, Sonoma Raceway is nearly at sea level, meaning Arana will have to completely switch over the two Arana Racing bikes to accommodate for the change in tune-up. Plus, it's another 1,200 miles from Denver to Sonoma, meaning the race in Denver lasts a little longer than most.

"Once we get to Sonoma, we've got to swap everything: motor, transmission, clutch, wheel sprocket," Arana said. "All that's got to be changed again. There's no time to take it easy and enjoy the scenery. We have to get there so we can do the work and be ready for Sonoma."

While Arana has had a solid season to date -- he has been to one final and is fifth in points -- son Hector Arana Jr. is outside the top-10 cutoff to make the Countdown to the Championship. There's still time to climb into the top 10, but one issue the team has to overcome is simple: Stop racing each other in the first round.

"We've got everything done on time heading to Denver," Arana Sr. said. "Hopefully, everything goes just as smooth as it has so far. Hopefully, Hector can qualify better and we don't have to face each other in the first round."

Three times in the last four races, father and son have raced in the first round, and all three times Arana Sr. has sent his son packing.

"That's been the biggest burden right now because it hurts," Arana Sr. said. "Either way, it's going to be him or I. It hurts to see that happen, but I have all the faith that Hector can do well and get back in the top 10 for the Countdown."

Pro Stock Motorcycle qualifying sessions are scheduled for 5 and 7:30 p.m., Friday, and 4 and 6:30 p.m., Saturday. Eliminations start at noon, Sunday. FOX Sports 1 will air qualifying action from 6 to 7 p.m., Friday, and 9 to 10 p.m., Saturday. FOX will carry eliminations live from 1 to 4 p.m., Sunday. (All times listed in MDT).

Lucas Oil Pro Stock Motorcycle rider Hector Arana Sr. has been preparing for this weekend's Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals in Denver for some time and is ready to continue his solid season.

Please visit www.LucasOil.com and www.GeigerMediaGlobal.com for more information.

One of Hector Arana Jr.'s favorite tracks awaits him in Denver

 DENVER (July 20) -- For many in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, the thought of racing in the mile-high altitude strikes fear in their hearts, but for Lucas Oil Racing TV Pro Stock Motorcycle rider Hector Arana Jr., the chance to race in the Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals this weekend at Bandimere Speedway brings a wide smile to his face.

"Denver, I have to say, is one of my favorite tracks," Arana said. "Is it the fastest track? No, it's the slowest, but we're the fastest slowest guys there. We have a really good combination for Denver, and I love the Bandimere family. John Bandimere is awesome, and the facility is just amazing. I love the location, the area, the atmosphere, the fans. It's one of my favorite races."

Mile-high altitude robs Pro Stock Motorcycle engines of air.

"We've had great success there," Arana said. "We had a couple of No. 1 qualifiers there, been to the finals twice. I think it's the kind of race to turn around our season."

Arana has finished fifth or better in the final Pro Stock Motorcycle points standings in each of his five seasons racing with Team Arana, but early season struggles has him sitting 12th in points. However, he knows he has a fast bike and only needs some consistency for his season to turn around.

Denver would be a good race to do that, especially since it will be broadcast live on FOX. This race will be the first in NHRA history to be televised live on a national broadcast channel.

"I don't know exactly how many viewers there are on FOX, but I'm sure there's a ton of them," Arana said. "Hopefully, by us going to FOX we'll be able to gain a lot more fans. People who never knew about our sport will be exposed to it for the first time. I'm excited to see what happens."

Arana would love to be the Pro Stock Motorcycle racer holding the Wally trophy on Sunday afternoon while millions of FOX viewers watch.

"I always want to win, of course," Arana said. "But that would be a great one to win."

Pro Stock Motorcycle qualifying sessions are scheduled for 5 and 7:30 p.m., Friday, and 4 and 6:30 p.m., Saturday. Eliminations start at noon, Sunday. FOX Sports 1 will air qualifying action from 6 to 7 p.m., Friday, and 9 to 10 p.m., Saturday. FOX will carry eliminations live from 1 to 4 p.m., Sunday. (All times listed in MDT).

Lucas Oil Racing TV is the first streaming TV network dedicated solely to the world of motorsports -- 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The new network is the world's premier motorsports destination. Programming includes live and pre-taped racing, expanded pre- and post-race action, behind-the-scenes content, unseen interviews, automobile build shows, and an extensive library of national and international motorsports content. The app is available through www.LucasOilRacing.TVfor viewing on smartphones and tablets, as well as Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Android Tablets, and Roku. Subscriptions are $59.99 with a one-year agreement, or $6.99 a month for a pay-as-you-go plan. Sign-ups are available now on www.LucasOilRacing.TV.

The chance to race in the Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals this weekend at Bandimere Speedway brings a wide smile to the face of Lucas Oil Racing TV Pro Stock Motorcycle rider Hector Arana Jr.

 Visit LucasOil.com, LucasOilRacing.TV, and GeigerMediaGlobal.com for more information.

Lucas Oil father and son, teammates Hector Arana Sr. and Jr. make gains in Chicago

CHICAGO (July 10) -- NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle champion Hector Arana Sr., rider of the Lucas Oil Buell, and his son Hector Arana Jr., rider of the Lucas Oil Racing TV Buell, feel like they gained invaluable amounts of data even though they had mixed results Sunday during eliminations at the 19th annual K&N Filters Route 66 NHRA Nationals at Route 66 Raceway in Joliet, Ill., southwest of Chicago.

Arana Sr., who qualified in the top half of the field in the No. 7 spot (6.877 seconds, 195.28 mph), raced his son, the No. 10 qualifier (6.896 seconds, 196.24 mph), in the opening round of eliminations. In a very close race to the quarter-mile finish line, Arana Sr. was able to hold off his eldest son for the win light, 6.882 at 194.97 mph to 6.886 at 193.82 mph.

"I got a little bit better (from qualifying), but I needed to add a little bit more clutch for today," Arana Jr. said. "I wasn't sure how much I could go with, so I was nervous. I went with halfway of what I really wanted to do, and I definitely needed that second half, but, lesson learned, we'll be good for next time.

"I have to focus on riding, too, and I got to start getting some round-wins under my belt so I can build up that confidence again."

In the second round, Arana Sr. met up with Eddie Krawiec. Both riders were too anxious on the starting line, but Arana Sr.'s -.004 red light was a jot worse that Krawiec's -.003 start. The win light instantly appeared for Krawiec because of the disqualification of the Lucas Oil racer, and Arana Sr. abandoned the run, 7.282 at 147.49 mph to 6.885 at 193.74 mph.

"In qualifying and in the first run of eliminations, we got close to good numbers and repeating," Arana Sr. said. "Now, we have to stay more consistent throughout the event.

"I feel like we have gone forward and have started getting consistent. We're going to study our data from this race and make notes for the next event so we can correct the problem we've been plagued with -- getting the perfect combination of launching power and clutch application downtrack."

Father and son, along with the rest of the Pro Stock Motorcycle class, will next compete in Denver in two weeks. For all normally aspirated racing engines, including bikes, the high-altitude in Denver forces race teams to install completely different racing packages, including different motors, transmissions, and gearing ratios.

"We've come up with a great combination for Denver, so we know what to do there, and for the rest of the season we are real close," Arana Jr. said. "We are going to try some things in Denver that should correlate to racing even further down the road, and once we get that squared away, we'll be good to go for the rest of the season."

Arana Sr. added, "We'll start with what we think is the best setup from the past in Denver and make the first hit (qualifying run). The first hit is going to tell us what to do then.

"What we try to do is not get lost, not waste a run that puts us behind from the start. We'll play it conservative, make the first hit, and keep improving from there."

NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle champion Hector Arana Sr. (above), rider of the Lucas Oil Buell, reached the quarterfinals of the K&N Filters Route 66 NHRA Nationals in Chicago after defeating son Hector Arana Jr. (below) in round one.

 

 

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Hector Arana Jr. looks to come through in the clutch in Chicago

CHICAGO (July 9) -- In drag racing, sometimes you have to take the bad with the good. That's true for Hector Arana Jr., rider of the Lucas Oil Racing TV Buell, after qualifying in the No. 10 spot (6.896 seconds, 194.32 mph) for Sunday's eliminations at the 19th annual K&N Filters Route 66 NHRA Nationals at Route 66 Raceway in Joliet, Ill., outside of Chicago.

The good news is he's qualified in a very competitive Pro Stock Motorcycle field. The bad news is he will have to race No. 7 qualifier Hector Arana Sr., his dad and teammate, in the first round of eliminations tomorrow. It's the third time in the previous four events that father and son have battled in the first round. Arana Sr. won both of the previous matchups.

Arana Jr. says he doesn't change anything about his routine when his dad lines up in the opposite lane against him.

"I don't prepare any differently when it's him," Arana Jr. said. "I know what he can run. I look at my stuff and I know I can run that, if not better."

Although he sees areas of improvement, Arana Jr. is very optimistic about his chances of getting his first win of the 2016 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series tomorrow.

"That last hit (qualifying session four on Saturday) was an awesome launch to the 60-foot timer, but it was just struggling the rest of the way down the track," Arana Jr. said. "It slowed on speed and I was like, 'What happened?' I thought the motor was hurt, but when we downloaded the data and looked at everything, I was light on the clutch.

"I definitely know I can win if I can get all of my ducks in a row because I saw two runs in qualifying where I had a killer 60-foot time and then I was light on the clutch down the track, so it was fast but it wasn't that fast. On other runs, I had enough clutch, but my 60-foot wasn't good, and I was No. 1 in the back half (incremental times). If I can just get the two of those together, we'll be alright. Hopefully tomorrow I'll be able to look at all my notes and take the best educated guess and try to get at least somewhere in between."

Pro Stock Motorcycle eliminations start at noon, Sunday. FOX Sports 1 will carry qualifying action from 10 p.m. to midnight ET, Saturday and eliminations live beginning at 2 p.m., Sunday.

"It's a tight field," Arana Jr. said. "We are not far off and we are doing a lot of experimenting right now to get ready for the Countdown (to the Championship). Hopefully by the time the Countdown comes, I'll know exactly what to do. I'll be ready."

Lucas Oil Racing TV is the first streaming TV network dedicated solely to the world of motorsports -- 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The new network is the world's premier motorsports destination. Programming includes live and pre-taped racing, expanded pre- and post-race action, behind-the-scenes content, unseen interviews, automobile build shows, and an extensive library of national and international motorsports content. The app is available through www.LucasOilRacing.TVfor viewing on smartphones and tablets, as well as Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Android Tablets, and Roku. Subscriptions are $59.99 with a one-year agreement, or $6.99 a month for a pay-as-you-go plan. Sign-ups are available now on www.LucasOilRacing.TV.

Lucas Oil Racing TV Buell rider Hector Arana Jr. will have to race his dad in the first round of eliminations tomorrow at the K&N Filters Route 66 NHRA Nationals in Chicago.

Visit LucasOil.com, LucasOilRacing.TV, and GeigerMediaGlobal.com for more information.

Hector Arana Sr. ready for family rematch Sunday in Chicago

CHICAGO (July 9) -- NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle champion Hector Arana Sr., rider of the Lucas Oil Buell, has a familiar opponent, in more ways than in the opposite lane, for the first round of eliminations of the 19th annual K&N Filters Route 66 NHRA Nationals at Route 66 Raceway in Joliet, Ill., southwest of Chicago tomorrow.

Arana, who qualified in the top half of the field in the No. 7 spot (6.877 seconds at 195.28 mph), will face off against his son, teammate, and No. 10 qualifier Hector Arana Jr., rider of the Lucas Oil Racing TV Pro Stock Motorcycle. It's the third time in the previous four NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series events that Arana, 57, will race his offspring in the opening stanza.

The elder Arana says racing against his son is a bit different that taking on any other foe.

"I'm more relaxed," Arana said. "I feel like it's a win already for the Lucas Oil bikes, but on the other hand, I'm disappointed. I don't want to race him. I believe he is really good. If he gets the bike to leave really well, he should be running an .84 (the No.1 qualifying time was 6.842 seconds).

"I know we both have the power. If we can get the bikes to leave the starting line well and everything falls in place, we'll make great runs."

Arana is very optimistic about his team's chances of picking up a Wally trophy tomorrow but knows that they must find the right balance of horsepower and clutch application.

"I believe that right now we do have the horsepower," Arana said. "Everything is starting to come together, and now that the motor is staying consistent, now we are chasing the clutch. If you don't leave the starting line well, your numbers are not going to be great. That's where we seem to be lost right now. We gained some power, and when you gain some power, everything we knew about the clutch is different now.

"At one point we were bragging that we were so good with the clutch that it didn't matter. We used to say, 'We can take all the horsepower, we can tame it,' and it backfired on us because we are all over the page now.

"I believe that I also have an .84 tune-up. I'm getting a lot closer. I am staying more consistent than he is, so he better be on his game tomorrow."

Pro Stock Motorcycle eliminations start at noon, Sunday. FOX Sports 1 will carry qualifying action from 10 p.m. to midnight ET, Saturday and eliminations live beginning at 2 p.m., Sunday.

Lucas Oil Buell rider Hector Arana Sr., who qualified in the top half of the field in the No. 7 spot (6.877 seconds at 195.28 mph), will face off against his son Hector Arana Jr. in round one in Chicago.

Please visit www.LucasOil.com and www.GeigerMediaGlobal.com for more information.

Hector Arana Jr. looks back to move forward in Chicago

CHICAGO (July 7) -- There are times in your life when you wish you could bottle up memories and tuck them away somewhere special so they can last forever.

Lucas Oil Racing TV Buell rider Hector Arana Jr. has a place on a shelf reserved for that special memorabilia from two years ago at Route 66 Raceway, where he and his father Hector Sr. gazed across the racetrack at each other to fulfill a lifelong dream of racing against one another in an NHRA national event final round.

Fast-forward to this weekend's running of the 19th annual K&N Filters Route 66 NHRA Nationals at Route 66 Raceway in Joliet, Ill., southwest of Chicago, and Arana sees the possibility of hoisting the Wally trophy for the third consecutive year at one of his favorite tracks in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series.

In order for that to happen, though, Arana and his Lucas Oil team will have to continue their season-long tune-up refurbishing project.

"We're having to redo all of our tune-ups because all of our tune-ups from last year that we used to plug in and have dialed in, for whatever reason, they're not working," Arana said. "The fuel is a little bit different, we've changed some stuff on the heads, and those tune-ups don't work anymore. So now we just gotta slowly tweak the tune-up and fine-tune it to come up with a new combination. Once we get that all squared away, we should be right back where we were.

"It might sound like a broken record, but I feel really good about this next race in Chicago. We learned a lot in Norwalk (Ohio, previous event) when it comes to the fuel-injection system and our tuning. With the help of some other people, Dave (Elk) was with us in Norwalk, and we were able to see a lot of little things that we were overlooking and we found some stuff. I'm excited for what Chicago holds for us."

Looking back on 2014 for inspiration, Arana is hoping for another final-round family affair this weekend at one of NHRA's quickest and fastest tracks.

"Since we've been racing, that's been one of our biggest goals, that we wanted to meet each other in the final," Arana said. "We finally made that happen in 2014. That was the most awesome moment ever because at that point we had won the race.

"And then obviously when I beat him it was kind of bittersweet. I was very happy that I won the race because I am very competitive and I want to win, but at the same time, he hadn't won since 2009, so I felt bad that he didn't get the win.

"But then the next year, he was able to go and get himself a win. Then we also faced again last year in St. Louis, so now hopefully we can make this a thing that we do at least once a year where we meet each other in a final."

Pro Stock Motorcycle qualifying sessions are scheduled for 5:15 and 7:45 p.m., Friday, and 3:15 and 6 p.m., Saturday. Eliminations start at noon, Sunday. FOX Sports 1 will carry qualifying action from 10 p.m. to midnight ET, Saturday, and eliminations live beginning at 2 p.m., Sunday.

Lucas Oil Racing TV is the first streaming TV network dedicated solely to the world of motorsports -- 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The new network is the world's premier motorsports destination. Programming includes live and pre-taped racing, expanded pre- and post-race action, behind-the-scenes content, unseen interviews, automobile build shows, and an extensive library of national and international motorsports content. The app is available through www.LucasOilRacing.TVfor viewing on smartphones and tablets, as well as Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Android Tablets, and Roku. Subscriptions are $59.99 with a one-year agreement, or $6.99 a month for a pay-as-you-go plan. Sign-ups are available now on www.LucasOilRacing.TV.

Lucas Oil Racing TV Buell rider Hector Arana Jr. sees the possibility of hoisting the Wally trophy
for the third consecutive year at the K&N Filters Route 66 NHRA Nationals in Chicago.

     
Visit LucasOil.com, LucasOilRacing.TV, and GeigerMediaGlobal.com for more information.

Hector Arana Sr. concentrating on duality of racing and life in Chicago

CHICAGO (July 7) -- NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle champion Hector Arana Sr., rider of the Lucas Oil Buell, has gained immense amounts of wisdom about blasting down the quarter-mile in his almost three decades between the centerline and the retaining wall.

He has also accumulated mass amounts of knowledge in regards to the importance of making close personal relationships both at the racetrack and away from it. This weekend at the 19th annual K&N Filters Route 66 NHRA Nationals at Route 66 Raceway in Joliet, Ill., just a few miles southwest of downtown Chicago, Arana, 57, is particularly keen to relish in both of these treasured aspects of his career.

"We have a lot of friends coming out to see us in Joliet," Arana said. "Through the years we have met a lot of the fans who have become friends, and they always look for us and say hi. It will be full. It's gonna be packed and it's going to be great to see them all again."

Back on the track, Arana is also very focused on getting his Lucas Oil Buell to light up the scoreboard with big numbers at what is historically one of the quickest and fastest tracks on the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series tour.

Arana and the rest of the PSM class previously competed in Norwalk, Ohio, almost two weeks ago.

"It's barely a week by the time we get home and then we have to leave," Arana said. "But, yes, we were able to get some things we wanted to test done on the dyno before Joliet. Hopefully we can continue to make improvements on our performance."

In 2014 at Route 66 Raceway, Arana and his son Hector Jr. shared one of the greatest moments in NHRA drag racing history when they rolled side by side to the starting line for their first father vs. son final round. Arana still reflects on that memory with great joy.

"For father and son to be in the final, it's always going to be special for me," Arana said. "That place is good. It's a fast track, even though the conditions are not usually the greatest, so I am looking forward to racing in Joliet. It would be awesome to repeat that again and have Hector and I in the final."

Pro Stock Motorcycle qualifying sessions are scheduled for 5:15 and 7:45 p.m., Friday, and 3:15 and 6 p.m., Saturday. Eliminations start at noon, Sunday. FOX Sports 1 will carry qualifying action from 10 p.m. to midnight ET, Saturday, and eliminations live beginning at 2 p.m., Sunday.

Pro Stock Motorcycle rider Hector Arana Sr. is very focused on getting his Lucas Oil Buell
to light up the scoreboard this weekend at the K&N Filters Route 66 NHRA Nationals in Chicago.

Please visit www.LucasOil.com and www.GeigerMediaGlobal.com for more information.