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MONDAY NOTEBOOK

HALL CAPTURES PSM INDY TITLE - John Hall proved Monday he’s definitely a contender to win NHRA’s 2013 Pro Stock Motorcycle world championship.

In the biggest race of the season, the U.S. Nationals, Hall upset his boss Matt Smith in the final round at Lucas Oil Raceway.

Hall clocked a 7.034-second elapsed time to defeat Smith’s 7.065-second lap. Both Hall and Smith ride Buells and Smith is the crew chief for both motorcycles.

“Matt put the tune-up in there and we just went for it,” Hall said. “I knew he was going to cut a good light and I didn’t have a great light, but luckily his bike fell off a little bit and I got the win.”

This was Hall’s second career NHRA win as he also was crowned champion at Epping, N.H. on June 23.

“I never thought I would get one (a national event win), not that I couldn’t do it, but the opportunities,” Hall said. “Last year was a learning year and this year I felt comfortable. I knew it was out there, but you just never know if you are going to get it. It felt great to get it and it feels just as good to get another one. I needed two. I don’t want to let mine go.”

Hall, who is in his first season riding for Matt Smith Racing, enters the six-race Countdown to the Championship Playoffs fourth in the point standings. The playoffs begin Sept. 13-15 in Charlotte, N.C. A year ago, Hall rode for the Sovereign-Star Racing team headed by George Bryce and Jeno Rujp.

Hall, who qualified No. 15, beat Eddie Krawiec, who has won the last two Pro Stock Motorcycle world championships, in round one, and then he ousted Michael Ray and LE Tonglet, the 2010 world champ, before edging Smith.

“It had just hurt itself in the semis,” Smith said when asked why his motorcycle slowed down in the finals. “We didn’t really have time to change motors and I knew we had already won the race. It didn’t matter if I won or John won. We left it in and tried to do my job on the tree and I just came up a little short.”

This past offseason, Viper Motorcycle Company announced a marketing agreement with MSR and its riders Matt and his wife Angie Smith and Hall for the 2013 season.

“This is huge for Viper Motorcycles,” Hall said.

Smith said the debut of the Viper powerplant is still a ways off.

“The new powerplant is not going to be ready even next year,” Smith said. “We are working on bodies and bikes and we are hoping to debut something beginning next year with all that.”

Smith, who won the 2007 world championship, will bow into the Countdown second in the points, 30 behind leader Hector Arana Jr.

“Absolutely,” said Hall when asked if his team can make a legitimate run at the championship. “My biggest competition is myself. I have to go up against myself every round. You can be your own worst enemy out there. Everybody out there is tough. You saw in qualifying that I came from 15th and won. Anybody can win it. You just have to be on your game. Your lights have to be consistent and good and your times also.”
 
PSM RIDER TREBLE ENJOYS INDY DEAL - Craig Treble is no stranger to NHRA’s Pro Stock Motorcycle scene. He raced full-time in the class from 1999 to 2010, winning 14 career races.

Treble returned to the circuit last weekend, competing at the U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Raceway. He was running Karen Stoffer’s second motorcycle, a Suzuki. Treble qualified No. 11 at 6.999 seconds and lost to point leader Hector Arana Jr.

Treble clocked a 7.04-second elapsed time compared to Arana Jr.’s 6.982-second lap.

“It was anybody’s game Monday because No. 1 to No. 16 were only nine-hundredths apart,” Treble said.

Treble’s one-race deal at Indy was made possible thanks to sponsorship from Atlanta-based Air Tech. Treble’s crew chief was Mike Stevens, who had worked with Treble over the years.

This was Treble’s first time competing on a Pro Stock Motorcycle since he leased a Buell from Hector Arana Sr. and raced at the NHRA Nationals in Reading, Pa., last October.

“I qualified No. 16 and lost in the first round,” Treble said. “It was a good experience. I actually got to ride a Buell. I had never ridden a Buell before. It was surprisingly easier to ride than I thought it would be.”

The Wednesday before the U.S. Nationals, Treble made three test runs on Stoffer’s back-up motorcycle at Indianapolis.

“I got with Karen and Gary (Stoffer) and we put that bike together,” Treble said. “We came out and made three hits on it in testing. I had to blow the cobwebs off me. I have been bracket racing my butt off the whole time, and I haven’t missed a beat, but it has been a while since I have popped the clutch on a Pro Stock bike.”

Treble said he doesn’t have any plans in the works to race any more NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle events this season.

“Not unless something happens and somebody calls me to ride or something like that then of course I will,” Treble said. “As far as me personally paying out of my pocket to go racing I’m not going to do it. I do my bracket racing and that’s plenty. Sometimes I get paid, sometimes I don’t. I just enjoy it and it keeps me fresh and gives me lots of seat time and keep racing in case I get that call.”

Treble will return to Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis Sept. 13-15 for the NHRA Summit Racing Series Finals for Division 3.

“I’m running a bike that runs about 8.70s,” Treble said.

TONGLET SNEAKS INTO COUNTDOWN – LE Tonglet, the 2010 NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle world champion, will have a chance to win another title this season.

Tonglet made that a reality by beating point leader Hector Arana Jr. in the second round at the U.S. Nationals Monday at Lucas Oil Raceway.

Tonglet clocked a 6.997-second elapsed time to beat Arana Jr.’s 7.015-second lap.

Tonglet’s win left him 10th in the points and it knocked veteran rider Steve Johnson out of the Countdown. Johnson failed to pick up any points Monday as he lost in the first round to Michael Ray on a red light.

Tonglet’s day ended with a semifinal loss to eventual champion John Hall.

NO COUNTDOWN FOR HINES – Last season, Harley-Davidson rider Andrew Hines was chasing a Pro Stock Motorcycle championship.

Monday at the U.S. Nationals Hines’ chance to win a season championship ended.

Hines, a three-time world champion, failed to finish in the top 10 in the regular season point standings and thus will not be able to compete in the six-race Countdown to the Championship Playoffs which begin Sept. 13-15 in Charlotte, N.C.

Hines failed to move into the Countdown after losing to Matt Smith in the first round Monday. Smith clocked a 6.994-second run and Hines came across in 7.034 seconds.

Eddie Krawiec, Hines’ teammate and winner of the past two Pro Stock Motorcycle world championships, is in the Countdown, but the U.S. Nationals also ended early for him as he lost in the first round to Hall.

SUNDAY NOTEBOOK

ARANA SR. HAS MIXED EMOTIONS AFTER WINNING POLE - This should have been cause for celebration.

Hector Arana Sr., however, wasn’t doing a lot of smiling after he won the pole for the U.S. Nationals with a 6.938-second elapsed time at 193.88 mph Sunday.

The reason for Arana Sr.’s lack of celebrating was because he faces his son Adam in the first round Monday at Lucas Oil Raceway.

“Definitely it is bittersweet to race your own son, especially Adam, in the first round,” Hector Sr. said. “But by the same token, I do want to win like he wants to win. We will see what happens. Maybe he needs to stay focused and believe that he can do it. Just because he’s (No.) 16 doesn’t mean he is still out. I am going out there because I want to win. My focus point is me doing my job. That’s all I’m going to focus on. We probably will not even talk (Monday).”

Hector Arana Jr. (6.981 seconds) and Adam (7.025 seconds) qualified No. 6 and No. 16, but Arana Sr. knows those motorcycles can go faster. The Aranas all run Lucas Oil Buells.

“Nothing,” said Hector Sr. about the difference in the motorcycles. “He (Adam) made a couple of rookie mistakes and put himself behind the 8-ball. His motor is just as good. He has qualified No. 1 once (at Denver) already this year. He has the power. I do not know if it is the pressure of the U.S. Nationals. He has missed his shift points and he’s even been having problems at the lights.”

Adam isn’t thrilled about racing his father.

“I’m in for the Big Go and that’s exciting and all that stuff, but I have to race my father in round one, which sucks,” said Adam, who is a rookie. “I hate racing a teammate. There is a lot of pressure and all that stuff and I’m just going to go back to the trailer and relax and figure out what went on with the bike. It bogged on the line and I short-shifted a gear, so we are going to look at the run and try to figure out how to catch my old man by surprise.”

The elder Arana is trying to keep his head on straight for Monday’s race.

“I just have to stay consistent like I have been qualifying,” Arana Sr. said. “No big changes. Just pay attention to the weather and let’s see what happens.”

CALLING IT A CAREER - This season has been truly memorable for NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle racer Michael Ray.

Ray, who rides the Sovereign-Star Racing Buell, entered the U.S. Nationals this weekend at Lucas Oil Raceway Park in Indianapolis third in the point standings.

Regardless of where Ray finishes in the final points he is still planning on retiring after this season.

“I said after last year that this (2013) was going to be my last year driving,” Ray said in an exclusive interview with Competition Plus Saturday. “To win a championship this year and go out on top would mean a lot to me. I’m here to race and have fun and you have to have a lot of things go your way to win a championship. You have to be really lucky to win a championship because everybody is good. I’m planning on not racing anymore after this year. I really am.”

Ray addressed why he is considering on walking away as a rider.

“I’m a young guy, I’m 29 and I’m really focused on a business back at Gruene Harley-Davidson in New Braunfels (Texas),” Ray said. “I will go back to being on their management team there. I was on their management team for several years.  I said when I was 14, 15 years old when I first got into racing that I didn’t want to race past 30. After 30, I wanted to settle down and have some kids and start a family and really focus on my career. The odds of making this (racing) a lifelong career path for me are really slim to none. I have a really good opportunity to go home and I have a young, beautiful wife (Jennifer) who misses her husband and I get to go home and hang out with my family for a little bit.”

Ray and his wife Jennifer have no children. They have been married two years.

“I have been doing this for 15 years,” Ray said. “I’m kind of ready for a little break. If something comes a long where we can put the program together where it is really, really a lot of fun and a multi-year deal I would probably entertain the thought. We are definitely working deals, but if nothing happens I have no reason to hang my head next year when Gainesville comes around and I’m not there. I’m very blessed. I have three little gold dudes (Wallys) on my mantel at home.”

Hal Gottsacker and his son Rugger Gottsacker own two Harley-Davidson dealerships, Javelina Harley-Davidson in Boerne, Texas and the Gruene Harley-Davidson in New Braunfels. The father and son have sponsored Ray during his Pro Stock Motorcycle career.

 “I’m just kind of ready for a change a little bit,” Ray said. “I have accomplished everything I set out to do in NHRA. I had one goal and that was to win a race. To win a championship, you have to have a lot of things go your way and if we don’t win one this year I’m not going to say I will not be disappointed, but I have no reason to hang my head.”

Ray did take a minute to reflect on what has been a memorable season so far.

“It has been everything we planned on it being,” said Ray, who has two wins this season at Englishtown and Chicago. “We knew it was going to take a little while for it to come together. We are really excited for the team. It was big to get Star Racing and everybody with Sovereign Racing in the winners circle at Englishtown. We kind of started getting our program together and it trickled over into Chicago. It has been a lot of fun.”

Ray is in his first season riding for Sovereign-Star Racing run by George Bryce.

Bryce, a six-team world championship owner, is the co-owner of the Sovereign-Star Racing with Jeno Rujp. Rujp owns Sovereign, a large European sugar distribution company.

Ray rode for Matt Smith Racing in 2012, finishing sixth in the points and capturing his first career win at Dallas.

In 2011, Ray competed in eight NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle races last season and finished 18th in the point standings.

Ray competed in three 2011 Pro Stock Motorcycle events at Gainesville, Fla., Houston and Atlanta for Bryce’s Star Racing team. He then joined Matt Smith Racing and ran at Indianapolis, Charlotte, Dallas, Las Vegas and Pomona.

Prior to starting his Pro Stock Motorcycle career, Ray was a standout in the All Harley Drag Racing Association (AHDRA).

“The history with Star Racing to go to their shop and see all the pictures on the wall of all these champions they have put in the winners circle,” Ray said. “To now have my name on that wall next to those (riders) means a lot to me.”

Ray also appreciates the prestige of the U.S. Nationals.

“You have to respect the U.S. Nationals and everything it is to our sport,” Ray said. “The legends that been made here. For me personally, it is just coming in and taking it for what it is. It is a quarter-mile drag race and I can’t let all the pressure and all the hype that goes into Indy upset me and get me out of my game plan. We tested a couple of weeks ago (at Valdosta, Ga.) to really work on coming here (to Indy) and mentally be ready to race, one, the biggest race of the year and two, the longest.”

Following Indy, the six-race Countdown to the Championship Playoffs begin Sept. 13-15 in Charlotte, N.C.

“To be able to leave (Indy) Monday afternoon with a Wally would be great, but right now we are really focused on making good clean passes and be set up and ready for the Countdown,” Ray said. “I have zero doubt in my mind as long as we keep all the moving pieces going in the same direction. This team has just as much opportunity to go win our first championship this year as anybody else out here.”

MINTURN MAKES FIELD - Sunday wasn’t the best of days for the Matt Smith Racing Pro Stock Motorcycle team.

Matt Smith won the provisional pole Friday at the U.S. Nationals, but by the time qualifying was completed Sunday he dropped to No. 9 on the ladder at 6.989 seconds.

Fellow MSR riders Dawn Minturn qualified No. 14 at 7.02 seconds and John Hall is No. 15 at 7.022 seconds. Angie Smith, Matt’s wife, failed to make the field at 7.033 seconds, which left her No. 17. The MSR riders all ride Buells.

“This is Dawn’s second race (this season), her first race was Norwalk,” Matt said. “She ran here (at Indy) last year which was her first-ever race with our team and she qualified for the first time. At Norwalk (this season), she had a little problem riding the bike. She had been off it for six or seven months so she didn’t do good at Norwalk. She came down last week and tested with us and we finally got her to the right spot and it showed.”

Matt said his team tested two days in Charlotte, N.C., last week.

“We made 22 laps between four bikes,” Matt said.

HINES CHASING COUNTDOWN SPOT - A year ago, Harley-Davidson rider Andrew Hines was chasing a Pro Stock Motorcycle championship.

Monday at the U.S. Nationals Hines is going need a lot of things to fall in place to even have a chance to make the six-race Countdown to the Championship Playoffs which begin Sept. 13-15 at Charlotte, N.C.

Hines arrived at Indy 12th in points 47 in back of ninth place Shawn Gann and 43 points in back of 10th place Steve Johnson.

Hines qualified No. 8 at 6.984 seconds and faces No. 9 Matt Smith in round one.

Eddie Krawiec, Hines’ teammate and winner of the past two Pro Stock Motorcycle world championships, had much better luck in qualifying. Krawiec qualified second and meets Hall. Krawiec should make the Countdown as he is seventh in the points.

SAVOIE TURNS SOME HEADS - Jerry Savoie has only competed in five races this season, but that was hard to tell after qualifying was done Sunday at Lucas Oil Raceway. Savoie of Cut Off, La., recorded a 6.980-second elapsed time on his Suzuki to qualify No. 5. Savoie will face Shawn Gann Monday.

OUTSIDE LOOKING IN - The DNQ list for the Pro Stock Motorcycle class at Indy included Angie Smith, Karen Stoffer, Jim Underdahl, Freddie Camarena, Joe DeSantis, Wesley Wells and Redell Harris.

SATURDAY NOTEBOOK

ARANA SR. CAPTURES PSM PROVISIONAL POLE - The heat in the middle of the day Saturday at the U.S. Nationals was getting the best of Hector Arana Sr.

Although Arana Sr. was bothered by the heat, it was not noticeable when he made his lone qualifying run at Lucas Oil Raceway.

Arana Sr. clocked a stout 6.968-second elapsed time at 192.80 mph to rocket to the top of the qualifying ladder.

“I didn’t know what to expect,” Arana Sr. said. “It was so hot. I couldn’t even take a deep breath because I was afraid I would pass out. I stayed calm and made my run. At the other end all I wanted to do was take my helmet off and my jacket. I didn’t even care about the numbers. Honestly, I didn’t even think I could be that fast. I heard the 6 and I thought 7.06. I scratched my head because my kids (Hector Arana Jr. and Adam Arana) went 7.02.”

When Arana heard 6.96 he was thrilled. The Pro Stock Motorcycle class only had one qualifying run on Saturday because an evening rainstorm cancelled the final qualifying session. Matt Smith, who won the provisional pole Friday at 7.010 seconds, was bumped to second in the qualifying order.

“I was happy and jumping up and down,” Arana Sr. said. “It was to my surprise and I was happy.”

The heat was bearing down on Arana so much that he waited until the last minute to get to the staging lanes.

“I was staying behind as far as I could,” Arana Sr. said. “If I stayed in the shade I was OK. As soon as I stepped out it felt like it was burning my back and I didn’t feel that comfortable. I stayed way back until it was almost my turn. It was good and bad because then now you are rushing to get there.”

Arana Sr.’s run was a jolt to the 2009 world champion. He came to Indy fifth in the points and he has an 11-9 round record.

“I have been struggling for a little bit and I needed that run, those numbers,” Arana Sr. said. “They are a great boost to my confidence.”
 
PS MOTORCYCLE RACER JOHNSOH HAS PLENTY AT STAKE AT INDY - Steve Johnson has been racing NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycles since 1987.

Johnson has won five career NHRA national events – two coming at the U.S. Nationals in 2005 and 2008 at Indianapolis.

“This race has always been our Super Bowl of drag racing,” Johnson said. “The Indy 500, the greatest race. For me, I’m a nuts and bolts guy and I want to win it. I have never bought into what everybody has said about the race. The problem is after 27 years of racing now this is the most important race in my career because of the Countdown and my own personal expectations and my own wants. I want to win the championship.”

The reason the U.S. Nationals stakes are even higher for Johnson this weekend is because he is trying to clinch a spot in the Countdown to the Championship Playoffs. The top 10 drivers in the point standings in Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle after the U.S. Nationals qualify for the six-race playoffs beginning at Charlotte, N.C. Sept. 13-15.

Johnson entered Indy 10th in the points chase, 29 points in front of 11th place LE Tonglet. Johnson also was only four points behind ninth place Shawn Gann. Johnson qualified second in Friday’s lone qualifying session at 7.017 seconds at 190.65 mph.

On Saturday, Johnson didn’t improve on his elapsed time, but only dropped one spot in the qualifying ladder to third. Qualifying concludes Sunday and eliminations are at 11 a.m. Eastern Time Monday.

“I have to do good here to make it into the Countdown and you can’t win a championship unless you are in the Countdown,” said Johnson, whose best finish in the point standings was fifth in 1991. “So, this weekend is very, very important. I have a ton of pressure on me. I want to make five great runs in qualifying. I’m going forward. I feel like we have a great team.”

Johnson also believes this season will likely be the best chance to win a championship on his Suzuki.

“This is the only year for a Suzuki to win the championship because next year the Harleys are going to be back on,” Johnson said. “The Suzukis still don’t have any clear advantage but at least we feel like we are in the hunt. I feel like we are in a knife fight and everybody has a knife.”

On Sept. 19, 2012, NHRA announced some major changes to the Pro Stock Motorcycle class for 2013.

This season, Harley-Davidson and Buell are both allowed a maximum 160-cubic inch displacement (cid), for a 60-degree, two-valve, pushrod engine. Minimum weight for both motorcycles is set at 625 pounds. The four-valve Harley-Davidson engine combination is no longer allowed. Suzuki still has a maximum of 107-cid, for a two-valve engine. Minimum weight on the Suzuki is 595 pounds. NHRA also discontinued the four-valve option on the Suzuki motorcycle.
 
TONGLET BATTLES THROUGH TOUGH SEASON - This season has been a struggle for NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle Suzuki rider LE Tonglet.

Tonglet, the 2010 world champion, arrived at the U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Raceway on the outside looking in at the Countdown to the Championship Playoffs, which begin in Charlotte, N.C., Sept. 13-15.

Tonglet is 11th in the point standings and only the top 10 drivers in the Pro Stock Motorcycle standings qualify for the six-race Countdown playoffs. Johnson entered Indy 29 points behind 10th place Steve Johnson.

“We have not missed any races, but it is getting tough,” Tonglet said. “We hurt a few motors on the Western Swing. We hurt one at Denver and then we got home and we found out the other was about to break after Sonoma (Calif.). Luckily we had a month off and we were able to recoup. We have one motor for our bike. We have another spare (motor), but it is not really good. I doubt it will even qualify out here, so we are calling it one motor for us.”

Tonglet said his team put the refreshed motor in his Suzuki Thursday night. Tonglet’s father Gary owns LE’s team and LE’s brother GT and their dad share the crew chief duties. Tonglet qualified No. 6 at 7.056 seconds. During Saturday’s only qualifying session Tonglet clocked a 7.048-second lap, leaving him No. 12 on the ladder.

“This is the same as every race,” LE said. “We have been in this position before, so it is nothing new to us. As of right now, we
plan on finishing the rest of the season.”

LE, who won the U.S. Nationals in 2010, is keeping this weekend in perspective.

“We would like to at least go to the semis,” LE said. “Hopefully one of the other guys goes out early.”

As for 2014, LE isn’t sure what to expect.

“It is all up in the air,” LE said. “It sucks a lot. We are losing money out here and for my dad to just keep pumping into it is taking a lot out of him. We might have to sit out a year and see what happens.”

When LE and GT aren’t at the races they both work as technicians at a Honda motorcycle shop in Metairie, La. Gary has his own business.

“When he is gone no one is there to run it,” LE said. “It is closed down completely when we go out of town.”

LE acknowledged he is pursuing another career outside of drag racing.

“I’m still trying to get on with the fire department, so if that happens I know we will sit out a year,” LE, 23, said. “I took the Civil Service Test and got 100 percent on the test and I’m just waiting to hear from them. I’m trying to be a fireman in Jefferson Parish. If I do that, we will probably sit out a year. Just to work a year and feel it out. You have to go through eight weeks of training and you can’t miss one day. My uncle was a firefighter and so was my grandpa. I have always been interested in it. Good retirement. Good job. I’m excited. Back in January I interviewed and they interviewed like 300 people for 15 spots. I’m just hoping for the best.”
 

FRIDAY NOTEBOOK

SMITH GRABS PROVISIONAL PSM POLE - The run didn’t feel good to Matt Smith.

But the end result left the veteran Pro Stock Motorcycle rider smiling as he grabbed the provisional pole with a 7.010-second elapsed time at 192.00 mph on his Buell at the U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Raceway.

“I thought the first hit on the track we were too aggressive, we blew the tire off when it left,” Smith said. “I had a horrible 60-foot, but the bike picked up about fourth gear and finally stuck. I was almost ready to pull the clutch in. I said I have to get some data. Everybody else ran decent so I legged it on out. I was pretty impressed the way it ran down the back half.”

Smith has taken three No. 1 qualifying positions so far this season at Gainesville, Chicago and Sonoma, Calif. Smith’s teammates at Matt Smith Racing, John Hall (third), and Dawn Minturn (eighth) and Angie Smith (11th), Matt’s wife, were all in the top 12 after Friday. Minturn is running her second race for MSR this season. Her first race was Norwalk, Ohio.

“All four of the bikes are in the top 12 and you can’t complain with it on the first hit,” Matt said. “I’m pretty happy.”

Although there was only one qualifying session for the pro classes Friday it didn’t faze Matt.

“I look at it like it is Pomona,” Matt said. “We go to Pomona and
we race with one hit. I’m kind of used to it. It’s good. We will stick another motor in it. That’s my ‘A’ motor, the best motor I have. We will save it for Sunday and Monday and we have a piece that looks pretty good and we will run it (Saturday) and see what happens with that.”

Smith didn’t have any regrets about using his best motor on the first day of qualifying.

“I just wanted to get in the show,” Smith said. “You have to get down the track to be in the show. Anything can happen. I just wanted to get that one run down. I have data for that motor now for up here for the air and the conditions. I’m going to test a new piece (Saturday). I can’t say too much my old man is No. 1 and we are No. 1 the first day.”

Rickie Smith, Matt’s father, is atop the Pro Mod qualifying ladder at 6.042 seconds.

Matt, who won the 2007 Pro Stock Motorcycle world championship, likes his chances about getting another title this season. Smith is second in the point standings.

“We are in the hunt,” Smith said. “Unless the Harleys step up tremendously we are going to be one of the best teams out here to win this thing. Between me and John (Hall), we have two shots to win and I know the Star (Racing) bikes (Michael Ray and Scotty Pollacheck) are tough, the Hectors (Aranas) are tough, but theoretically I feel like we have the most power right now of the class. If I do my job right job right and do my job tuning both bikes we should be pretty bad for this Countdown.”

The six-race Countdown to the Playoffs begins Sept. 13-15 at Charlotte, N.C.

KRAWIEC STAYING POSITIVE ABOUT SEASON - This season has been a challenge for the Vance & Hines Motorsports team.

The Harley-Davidsons ridden by reigning world champion Eddie Krawiec and Andrew Hines have been trying to get back up to speed with the competition.

On Sept. 19, 2012, NHRA announced some major changes to the Pro Stock Motorcycle class for 2013.

This season, Harley-Davidson and Buell are both allowed a maximum 160-cubic inch displacement for a 60-degree, two-valve, pushrod engine. Minimum weight for both motorcycles is set at 625 pounds. The four-valve Harley-Davidson engine combination is no longer allowed. Suzuki still has a maximum of 107-cubic-inch displacement for a two-valve engine. Minimum weight on the Suzuki is 595 pounds. NHRA also discontinued the four-valve option on the Suzuki motorcycle.

Krawiec entered Indy seventh in the season point standings. He has an 8-9 round record and no wins. Hines is 12th in the points and he has a 4-9 record with no wins.

A year ago, Krawiec (9) and Hines (6) combined to win 15 races and finished first and second in the point standings.

“I’m just going to continue to do what I’m doing,” said Krawiec about his plan for the remainder of the season. “I want to ride well and not leave much on the starting line and make good laps. If you do that, you just have to rely on what your package gives you.”

Although Krawiec has yet to find the winners circle this season, he’s not making excuses.

“I’m not the least bit (frustrated),” said Krawiec, who has 20 career NHRA national event wins. “It is a challenge. We are all up to it and we are just moving forward. There’s nothing you can do about it right now. The rules are the rules and that’s what it is. I want to win every race, just like everybody else. Every win is just as good as the last. You can’t take them for granted. You just have to go out there and do the best you can. If you get the win, you get the win.”

The six-race Countdown to the Championship Playoffs begins Sept. 13-15.

“I think the key thing for me is I want round wins,” Krawiec said. “I don’t really care about race wins. I want round wins going into the Countdown. If I can go to every final round and lose them all I would take that right now. That’s the best option. That will net you the best result at the end of the day. My objective is just to go out there, stay focused and make good laps. If you do that you should get round wins.”

The Pro Stock Motorcycle riders have not competed since the Sonoma (Calif.) Nationals July 26-28, but Krawiec said the Vance & Hines team didn’t do any testing.

“We have just been working on our stuff,” Krawiec said.
 
ARANA JR. HAS TROUBLES IN QUALIFYING - Hector Arana Jr. waited all day Friday to make his lone qualifying pass – and it wasn’t worth the wait.

Arana Jr., who is leading the Pro Stock Motorcycle point standings, never left the starting line in his Lucas Oil Buell.

“It was running and I did the burnout and everything was good and I staged,” Arana Jr. said. “When I got on the gas it died. I do not know what happened. It is frustrating. Everything sounded good on the burnout and stuff. We are going to look at our data and see if it shows any errors. Maybe we will have to start it up again and see if it does it again or something. We have to find something.”

Hector Arana Sr. had better luck than Hector Jr., qualifying No. 4 at 7.034 seconds. Adam Arana, Hector Jr.’s younger brother, was No. 15 on the ladder after the first session at 7.133 seconds.

BATMAN GANN - Shawn Gann, who made his NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle debut in 2000, has been known for his flashy firesuits.

Gann, who won the Mile-High Nationals in July at Denver, broke out a new Batman Vanson Leathers firesuit during the first qualifying session Friday at the U.S. Nationals. Gann qualified No. 10 at 7.065 seconds at 188.31 mph on his Buell.

The suit was silver with the royal blue batman shorts and it had the bright yellow utility belt. Then, of course, the Batman logo was on his chest.

“I love it,” Gann said about his old-school-looking Batman suit. “Batman is just a universal thing that gets through to most everybody.”

Gann said he plans on debuting another Batman firesuit at the NHRA Finals Nov. 7-10 in Pomona, Calif.

“I’m just getting everybody ready for the red Batman suit,” Gann said. “This is just a conditioning thing. Nobody is ready for that red one yet. It is kind of wild. I will wear it at Pomona. California is probably the only place I can get away with it (the red Batman suit).”

When asked if he was a Batman fan, Gann responded quickly.

“You have no idea,” Gann said. “Me and Batman have personal problems.”

PS MOTORCYCLE LEADER ARANA JR. READY FOR INDY - Unlike NHRA’s Top Fuel, Funny Car and Pro Stock drivers, Pro Stock Motorcycle riders enter the U.S. Nationals Friday through Monday coming off an extended break.

The last race on the schedule for Pro Stock Motorcycle racers was the Sonoma (Calif.) Nationals July 26-28.

Since then, racers in the other pro classes have competed at Seattle Aug. 2-4 and Brainerd, Minn., Aug. 15-18.

“It really gave us time to get our motors together and try and get back-ups ready for the four (races) in a row,” Pro Stock Motorcycle point leader Hector Arana Jr. said. “Definitely we did miss Brainerd. It was our favorite race, one of the ones we were really looked forward to going to and hanging out with the fans and having a good time. We are definitely bummed out we didn’t go race there this year. On top of that it also was our sponsor’s race that we missed out on and didn’t get to race at.”

The race in Brainerd was the Lucas Oil Nationals. Hector Jr., his father Hector Arana Sr. and his brother Adam Arana all race Lucas Oil Buells.

“We raced at Epping (N.H.) and the Four- Wide (in Charlotte) and we lost Atlanta and Brainerd,” Hector Jr. said about the changes in the 2013 Pro Stock Motorcycle schedule.

Despite the month break, Hector Jr. said his team didn’t do any testing.

“We were just fixing the motors that we have and trying to get other back-ups together,” Arana Jr. said. “We feel good (about the U.S. Nationals). It is a very tough class this year. Everybody is tight and everybody has good performance. You have to be on you game and we will see what happens. We come to win and give our best showing for our sponsors and just to do well.”

Hector Arana Sr. is fourth in the points and Adam Arana is eighth. Matt Smith and Michael Ray are second and third.

Arana Jr. admitted he approaches every race to win, but the prestige of the U.S. Nationals isn’t lost on him.

“This was the first race I ever won,” said Arana Jr., who won his rookie year at Indy in 2011. “It is definitely a good one to win. It feels really good. It is the Super Bowl. It’s the one race, you can win championships, but everybody says that until you win the U.S. Nationals your career is not complete.”