Reigning Pro Stock Motorcycle champion Hector Arana hasn't been having the kind of season he had hoped for lately, but in the final session of qualifying at the Toyo Tires NHRA Nationals, the Lucas Oil Buell rider jetted to an incredibly quick and completely unexpected 6.828 at 196.16 mph. The run was good for the No. 1 position -- his fifth of the season and 14th of his career -- and it reset the Maple Grove Raceway record for e.t.

"We had been struggling," said Arana. "We started struggling at Brainerd. From then on, it just kept getting worse. I replaced just about everything, then at Dallas, on Saturday, I replaced [a couple more things]. I said, guys, after this I have replaced everything. If it's still doing it, then we have to replace one more thing, and that is the loose nut between the seat and the handlebars."

Reigning Pro Stock Motorcycle champion Hector Arana hasn't been having the kind of season he had hoped for lately, but in the final session of qualifying at the Toyo Tires NHRA Nationals, the Lucas Oil Buell rider jetted to an incredibly quick and completely unexpected 6.828 at 196.16 mph. The run was good for the No. 1 position -- his fifth of the season and 14th of his career -- and it reset the Maple Grove Raceway record for e.t.

"We had been struggling," said Arana. "We started struggling at Brainerd. From then on, it just kept getting worse. I replaced just about everything, then at Dallas, on Saturday, I replaced [a couple more things]. I said, guys, after this I have replaced everything. If it's still doing it, then we have to replace one more thing, and that is the loose nut between the seat and the handlebars."

Arana didn't rest after Dallas, though, and was able to spend time in the shop of Pro Stock racer and engine builder Larry Morgan the week before the Maple Grove event. Morgan has helped Arana with his cylinder heads for some time and has proved to be a valuable source of advice, and a source that Arana credits for much of his success.

"Every time you have an opportunity to go to Larry's shop, you always learn something," said Morgan. "Then you have more people watching over to make sure everything goes well. I'll tell you, I'll take all the help I can get."

The 6.828 was the second quickest run in the history of the Pro Stock Motorcycle class and was three-hundredths quicker than second-best Eddie Krawiec, who entered Saturday on the provisional pole. Krawiec's Screamin' Eagle Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson teammate Andrew Hines was third.

During eliminations, Arana will face No. 16 qualifier Connie Cohen, who will be competing on race day for the first time in two years.

"Just to make this run, it was awesome," said Arana. "You start asking in the back of your head, what's going on? You wonder, after you did so good last year and at the beginning, and then to come and stumble with these problems. But I didn’t give up. I just kept working hard, and the guys kept working hard.

"I'm delighted, and I'm grateful for everything and all the people supporting me," said Arana. "Lucas Oil stayed behind me and never would question anything that I've done. And now, the Hammer is back."

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