GAINESVILLE, Fla. (March 15) -- Like the rest of his peers in the Pro Stock Motorcycle class, 58-year-old Hector Arana Sr. is praying for perfect conditions this weekend at Gainesville Raceway so he can have a shot at running the first 200-mph pass in class history. But Arana Sr.'s motivations may be a little different than many of his fellow riders.
"Having that 200-mph entry with my name next to it in the record books would be neat because it's there forever, but more than anything, I want to bring glory to Forrest and Charlotte Lucas and Lucas Oil Products," Arana Sr. said. "And I'm not being a typical racer talking about their sponsor; I mean this from my heart. I owe everything I have to the Lucas family."
Arana has been racing Pro Stock Motorcycles for 28 years, 25 of which have been with Lucas Oil branding on the side of his bike. His time with Lucas Oil represents the longest continuous current sponsorship in any form of motorsports.
"One thing you learn as you get a little older and hopefully a little wiser is that the people who truly support what you're doing are everything," Arana Sr. said. "Forrest told me when we first started way back when that as his company grew, his support of my team would grow, and he's certainly kept that promise.
"The happiest moment of my career was when we presented him and Charlotte with the 2009 championship trophy. If we could follow that up with the first 200-mph pass on the Lucas Oil Buell, well that would be pretty great also. We're sure going to try our best."
Arana Sr. already ranks as the third fastest rider in class history after running a 199.35 mph top speed in 2015 at the Englishtown, N.J. race. That was the same event where his son, Hector Arana Jr. set the national record with a 199.88-mph blast.
"We have the capabilities to do this," Arana Sr. said. "Both bikes have tested well and we made a lot of progress in the offseason. Hector and me are both sponsored by Lucas Oil so either one of us getting the record would be fine with me.
"You really need a lot of things to fall into place. The weather and air has to be just right and even something as simple as a big cloud passing over the track when you make a run can be the difference. It also depends where we all line up from one round to the next. The reality is that not just one person can do it; there are several bikes capable of going that fast, if everything falls into place."
Pro Stock Motorcycle qualifying sessions are scheduled for 12:45 and 4:15 p.m., Friday, and 12 and 2:30 p.m., Saturday, with eliminations starting at noon, Sunday. Television coverage on FOX Sports 1 begins with two qualifying shows, one at 12 a.m., Friday, and the other at 11 p.m., Saturday, followed by live elimination action beginning at 1 p.m., Sunday. (All times listed in EDT).
Founded in 1989 by Forrest and Charlotte Lucas, Lucas Oil Products is the world leader of high-performance lubricants and problem-solving additives and produces and markets more than 270 unique formulations in more than 40 countries. Products include engine oils, greases, gear lubes, problem-solving additives, and car-care products. Please visit LucasOil.com for more information.
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