For the fifth straight year, a
Screamin' Eagle Harley-Davidson V-Rod claimed the $25,000 top prize in
the Ringers Gloves Pro Bike Battle as Eddie Krawiec earned his first
victory in NHRA competition with a final-round victory against his
Vance & Hines teammate Andrew Hines, who fouled.
"Two years ago, I was an unknown and [team owners] Terry Vance
and Byron Hines took a chance on me," said Krawiec. "They've made me
feel like family, and I'm so glad that I was finally able to pay them
back with a victory. This is huge for our team. Harley-Davidson is
celebrating its 105th anniversary this weekend, so this couldn't have
come at a better time.
"I know that I still haven't won a national event, but I'm not
disappointed," Krawiec continued. "I'm good friends with [fellow rider]
Reggie Showers, and he's been a big inspiration to me. He had never won
a race, and then a few years ago, he came here to Indy and won this
[Ringers Battle] and then won the U.S. Nationals on Monday. If I can do
that, I'll be really happy. I'm getting married at the end of November,
and my fiancée really likes to shop, so this money will really come in
handy."