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.