Both Lucas Oil bikes out early in Charlotte, riders Hector Arana Sr. and Hector Jr. eye Atlanta

CONCORD, N.C. (April 30) -- After qualifying both of their Lucas Oil-backed Buells in the top half of the elimination ladder of the eighth annual NHRA Four-Wide Nationals, Hector Arana Sr. and his son Hector Jr. were hoping for a long Sunday at the drag strip. But that was quickly dashed in the opening session when both men failed to advance.

"We just have to throw this race out the window and start over," Arana Jr said. "This is an oddball race anyway so you really can't let it get you down.

"I'm still a little bummed because I really wanted to go rounds today and do well for everyone that supports us. I'm frustrated I'm haven't gone rounds in the first two races of the season because we should be. We've got a bike capable of winning rounds."

Arana Jr.'s Sunday run looked fine until he was down-track. That's when he had trouble getting into high gear, an issue that also surfaced in qualifying. This time it slowed him to an 8.210 at 113.57 mph.

"This transmission is going to have to come out and be rebuilt," Arana Jr. said. "That's two times within three runs that the bike didn't shift going down the track. It's just really disappointing. Another disappointing thing was I saw my (.134-second) reaction time and I honestly didn't think I was that late off the line. I'll definitely redeem myself next weekend in Atlanta."

Hector Sr. did have a good light -- .037 seconds -- but his bike didn't immediately respond on the launch pad and he could only watch as the other bikes pulled away. His resigned 7.271 at 195.34 mph was off the pace.

"We had a little hiccup there," Arana Sr. said. "The engine kinda bogged when I let the clutch out, just for a second, and then it took off. That was all it took. It feels bad, it hurts but we just gotta go on to the next one, forget about this one. We always learn from the mistakes and hopefully we don't have to repeat those at the next race."

Arana Racing will look to impress their title sponsor next weekend at the 37th annual Lucas Oil NHRA Southern Nationals in Commerce, Ga.

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.

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

Seeking rhythm in the seat, Hector Arana Jr. happy to be back in the saddle

CONCORD, N.C. (April 27) -- Although fans won't be able to see it under his Shoei helmet, seventh-year Pro Stock Motorcycle professional Hector Arana Jr. will be smiling ear to ear when he fires up his Lucas Oil Racing TV Buell for the first time at this weekend's eighth annual NHRA Four-Wide Nationals.

"I can't wait to race again," Arana said, referencing the six-week break since the class' season opener in Florida. "It seems like we had another Christmas break after Gainesville. As a driver, you want to get into a rhythm with everything you do when you make runs. Having long gaps between races doesn't help you get comfortable. Fortunately, we're pretty much on a normal schedule now so I'm a happy guy."

Racing alongside his father Hector Sr., Arana says his team is still a work in progress at this early stage of the 16-race Pro Stock Motorcycle schedule.

"The first race let us know where we stood in relation to the field," he said. "It also directed us to the areas where we need to improve. It was a great test in that regard. So ever since Gainesville we've been working on getting these two Buells to perform the way they need to for us to be competitive.

"We were trying a lot of different things and there are still other things we will be trying this weekend. We're still learning. To be honest, it may be another race or two until we are consistently up there with the top runners in the class.

"I think having Jim Yates helping us this year will really pay off. He's a smart guy and even though he raced Pro Stock cars, he understands what we're doing with the bikes and the more he's around them, the better he'll be at adding his ideas."

Arana is no stranger to success at zMax Dragway. He is the current track record-holder for elapsed time and top speed after last year's postings of 6.794 seconds and 199.88 mph. His top speed also is the national record, and just a breath away from the magical 200-mph mark everyone is fighting for.

"The first time I raced four-wide I won the event (in 2013)," he said. "The next year I went to the finals so I'm definitely a fan of the format. It's something different and that's cool for the racers and the fans. It seems most people really like it.

"Racing is racing. We all show up with the same chance to win. It's how you execute that matters. We'll be ready for the weekend."

Pro Stock Motorcycle qualifying sessions are scheduled for 4 p.m. and 6:30 p.m., Friday, and 1:30 and 4 p.m., Saturday, with eliminations starting at 12:40 p.m., Sunday. Television coverage on FOX Sports 1 begins with a live qualifying show at 7 p.m., Friday, followed by elimination action at 5:30 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.

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

Hector Arana Sr. busier than expected in lead-in to NHRA Four-Wide Nationals

CONCORD, N.C. (April 27) -- With six weeks off between the season-opening Gatornationals and this weekend's eighth annual NHRA Four-Wide Nationals, most Pro Stock Motorcycle teams had a chance to not only get some work done, but enjoy a few days off. That wasn't the case for Lucas Oil veteran Hector Arana Sr., who barely had time to leave his Corydon, Ind., shop for his youngest son Adam's wedding.

"The first race gave us a direction we needed to go with the bikes and the engines so we got back home and went to work," Arana said. "It felt like we'd have lots of time to not only work in the shop, but maybe even go testing.

"Everything was going really well and then out of nowhere the dyno crashed. We had an engine on there and it just stopped. We took it apart best we could but it was something beyond what we could fix so we had to have it repaired. That took two weeks. So much for having any extra time."

Working with new crew chief Jim Yates, the two-time Pro Stock world champion, the Lucas Oil team, which includes Arana's oldest son Hector Jr., spent the down time going over their Buells from front to back. When the dyno was back in working order, they immediately put it to use.

"Everything is squared away now," Arana said. "We did have enough time to do everything we needed to do so I guess if the dyno needed to die, it was best it did during the longest break we have on the schedule.

"It's still early in our season. Pro Stock Motorcycle does 16 races and this weekend is only the second one. Still, you don't want to give away anything so it's important we do well this weekend. We are 100-percent ready for the race."

This weekend's event is unique in that four entries race at one time, rather than the conventional two. The four-wide format was popular several decades ago before being resurrected by Bruton Smith when he built zMax Dragway.

"I like it, I really do," Arana said. "It's a change of pace, something completely different. Your thinking has to change because there's a lot going on when you get up there to make a run. It's another challenge, and I like that.

"The only downside is we have one less round of racing on Sunday, and that potentially eliminates a run where you could be getting more data. Otherwise, I like it and the fans like it so I say let's race."

Pro Stock Motorcycle qualifying sessions are scheduled for 4 p.m. and 6:30 p.m., Friday, and 1:30 and 4 p.m., Saturday, with eliminations starting at 12:40 p.m., Sunday. Television coverage on FOX Sports 1 begins with a live qualifying show at 7 p.m., Friday, followed by elimination action at 5:30 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.

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