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.

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

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.

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

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.