O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Nationals
September 14-16
zMAX Dragway
Photos by Matt Polito
SUNDAY
A small weather system moved through the area overnight, dropping temperatures and setting up what could be a quick day of racing at zMAX Dragway. The system also produced a little rain and delayed the start time.
Hines scored his fifth win of the season and 30th in his career in Pro Stock Motorcycle, beating teammate Eddie Krawiec to the finish line with a time of 6.862 seconds at 194.49 mph on his Screamin’ Eagle Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson.
“We just tried to stay calm,” said Hines, who had a bye run and then beat Shawn Gann and Hector Arana Sr. to advance to his 51st career final round. “We just had to keep our focus all day long and we were on a mission when we came here, to defend our regular season win streak of 10 in a row and we needed to come out here and see if we could do that. Luckily, everything all in the end panned out for us and it’s just a great feeling to start off the Countdown this way.”
Krawiec continues to lead the Countdown to the Championship points by 10 over Hines.
Round 1
W - Shawn Gann (Pirana Z Racing Buell) 0.060 6.984 191.70
L - Karen Stoffer (GEICO Suzuki) 0.117 6.989 191.08
W - Scotty Pollacheck (Soverign-Star Racing Bue 0.018 6.927 189.92
L - John Hall (Sovereign/Star racing Buell) 0.002 6.981 190.14
W - Michael Ray (Viper Motorcycle Company Buell 0.008 6.950 191.65
L - Jim Underdahl (Suzuki Extended Protection S 0.034 7.032 190.19
W - Andrew Hines (Screamin' Eagle/Vance & Hines) 0.037 6.899 194.30
L - was unopposed
W - Hector Arana (Lucas Oil Buell) 0.054 6.900 193.88
L - Michael Phillips (Kent Trucking Suzuki) -0.019(R) 7.044 189.23
W - Eddie Krawiec (Screamin' Eagle/Vance & Hines) 0.049 6.871 194.55
L - LE Tonglet (zloop Suzuki) 0.016 7.078 190.43
W - Hector Arana Jr (Lucas Oil Buell) 0.019 6.939 190.83
L - Chip Ellis (Kuryakyn Buell) 0.021 6.959 190.22
W - Matt Smith (Viper Motorcycle Company Buell) 0.059 6.954 191.46
L - Steve Johnson (Steve Johnson Racing Suzuki) 0.042 7.039 188.60
Round 2
W - Hector Arana (Lucas Oil Buell) 0.026 6.893 192.49
L - Matt Smith (Viper Motorcycle Company Buell) 0.032 7.075 184.09
W - Hector Arana Jr (Lucas Oil Buell) 0.029 6.914 190.89
L - Michael Ray (Viper Motorcycle Company Buell 0.027 6.918 191.76
W - Andrew Hines (Screamin' Eagle/Vance & Hines) 0.042 6.871 192.99
L - Shawn Gann (Pirana Z Racing Buell) 0.016 7.739 131.28
W - Eddie Krawiec (Screamin' Eagle/Vance & Hines) 0.029 6.846 194.91
L - Scotty Pollacheck (Soverign-Star Racing Bue -0.005(R) 6.952 187.94
Round 3
W - Andrew Hines (Screamin' Eagle/Vance & Hines) 0.013 6.858 193.16
L - Hector Arana (Lucas Oil Buell) 0.036 NT-Broke After Staging
W - Eddie Krawiec (Screamin' Eagle/Vance & Hines) 0.035 6.831 195.45
L - Hector Arana Jr (Lucas Oil Buell) -0.007(R) 9.790 87.15
Finals
W- Andrew Hines (Screamin' Eagle/Vance & Hines 0.010 6.862 194.49
L - Eddie Krawiec (Screamin' Eagle/Vance & Hine 0.018 6.858 195.14
SATURDAY
Hines earned his third No. 1 qualifying position of the season and 33rd of his career in Pro Stock Motorcycle. He topped the two-wheel category with a performance of 6.851 at 195.82 on his Vance & Hines Screamin’ Eagle Harley-Davidson. Hines will open with a bye run as only 15 motorcycles are qualified.
“I have never had a planned bye run in the first round,” Hines said. “I’ve had opponents break before staging a couple of times, and the starter would walk over and give you the No. 1 finger. To actually know going into tomorrow that we have a bye run is kind of nice. It’s unfortunate for the class that we didn’t have a full field, but to have the chance to learn for a tune-up first round and take a stab at something that we may not try first round on Sunday is going to be beneficial to us.”
Playoff top seed Eddie Krawiec was second on his Harley-Davidson with a 6.853 at 195.51, and Hector Arana Jr. was third on his Lucas Oil Buell with a 6.854 at 195.14.
Sunday Pairings
1. Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson, 6.851, 195.82 vs. Bye
2. Eddie Krawiec, Harley-Davidson, 6.853, 195.85 vs. 15. LE Tonglet, Suzuki, 7.106, 187.16
3. Hector Arana Jr, Buell, 6.854, 195.14 vs. 14. Chip Ellis, Buell, 7.062, 189.73
4. Hector Arana, Buell, 6.881, 194.66 vs. 13. Michael Phillips, Suzuki, 7.008, 191.00
5. Matt Smith, Buell, 6.912, 193.35 vs. 12. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 6.997, 189.15
6. Michael Ray, Buell, 6.931, 192.66 vs. 11. Jim Underdahl, Suzuki, 6.993, 192.41
7. John Hall, Buell, 6.941, 191.21 vs. 10. Scotty Pollacheck, Buell, 6.971, 190.11
8. Karen Stoffer, Suzuki, 6.963, 192.11 vs. 9. Shawn Gann, Buell, 6.963, 192.74
Qualifying Round 3
1. Andrew Hines Screamin' Eagle/Vance & Hines 6.851 195.82
2. Eddie Krawiec Screamin' Eagle/Vance & Hines 6.853 195.85
3. Hector Arana Jr Lucas Oil Buell 6.854 195.14
4. Hector Arana Lucas Oil Buell 6.881 194.66
5. Matt Smith Viper Motorcycle Company Buell 6.912 193.35
6. Michael Ray Viper Motorcycle Company Buell 6.931 192.66
7. John Hall Sovereign/Star racing Buell 6.941 191.21
8. Karen Stoffer GEICO Suzuki 6.963 192.11
9. Shawn Gann Pirana Z Racing Buell 6.963 192.74
10. Scotty Pollacheck Soverign-Star Racing Buell 6.971 190.11
11. Jim Underdahl Suzuki Extended Protection Suz 6.993 192.41
12. Michael Phillips Kent Trucking Suzuki 7.008 191.00
13. Steve Johnson Steve Johnson Racing Suzuki 7.033 188.33
14. LE Tonglet zloop Suzuki 7.106 186.41
15. Chip Ellis Kuryakyn Buell 7.111 189.73
Qualifying Round 4
1. Andrew Hines Screamin' Eagle/Vance & Hines 6.851 195.82
2. Eddie Krawiec Screamin' Eagle/Vance & Hines 6.853 195.85
3. Hector Arana Jr Lucas Oil Buell 6.854 195.14
4. Hector Arana Lucas Oil Buell 6.881 194.66
5. Matt Smith Viper Motorcycle Company Buell 6.912 193.35
6. Michael Ray Viper Motorcycle Company Buell 6.931 192.66
7. John Hall Sovereign/Star racing Buell 6.941 191.21
8. Karen Stoffer GEICO Suzuki 6.963 192.11
9. Shawn Gann Pirana Z Racing Buell 6.963 192.74
10. Scotty Pollacheck Soverign-Star Racing Buell 6.971 190.11
11. Jim Underdahl Suzuki Extended Protection Suz 6.993 192.41
12. Steve Johnson Steve Johnson Racing Suzuki 6.997 189.15
13. Michael Phillips Kent Trucking Suzuki 7.008 191.00
14. Chip Ellis Kuryakyn Buell 7.062 189.73
15. LE Tonglet zloop Suzuki 7.106 187.16
FRIDAY
Prior to the start of the first qualifying session, the 10 riders and drivers who made the Countdown to the Championship in Pro Stock Motorcycle were introduced. In Pro Stock Motorcycle, the 10 riders battling for the title are, front row, from left, Hector Arana Jr., Eddie Krawiec, Andrew Hines, and Hector Arana Sr.; back row, from left, Karen Stoffer, Scotty Pollacheck, LE Tonglet, Michael Ray, Shawn Gann, and Matt Smith.
Hines, who has earned two No. 1 qualifying positions this season in Pro Stock Motorcycle, earned the qualifying lead with a performance of 6.851 at 195.82 on his Vance & Hines Screamin’ Eagle Harley-Davidson.
“Both runs today were very exceptional,” Hines said. “The bike ran perfectly straight and that’s when it puts up big elapsed times. We credit that to the testing we did before Indy. With our set-up, we run a good 330-foot number and that translates to our quarter-mile runs.”
Qualifying Round 1
1. Eddie Krawiec Screamin' Eagle/Vance & Hines 6.853 195.51
2. Hector Arana Jr Lucas Oil Buell 6.854 194.55
3. Andrew Hines Screamin' Eagle/Vance & Hines 6.863 195.17
4. Hector Arana Lucas Oil Buell 6.950 194.66
5. Matt Smith Viper Motorcycle Company Buell 6.950 193.10
6. Scotty Pollacheck Soverign-Star Racing Buell 6.971 190.11
7. Karen Stoffer GEICO Suzuki 6.973 191.35
8. Michael Ray Viper Motorcycle Company Buell 6.991 191.95
9. Chip Ellis Kuryakyn Buell 7.010 189.73
10. Shawn Gann Pirana Z Racing Buell 7.034 191.19
11. John Hall Sovereign/Star racing Buell 7.035 188.38
12. Michael Phillips Kent Trucking Suzuki 7.038 189.76
--------- Not Qualified ---------
13. LE Tonglet zloop Suzuki 7.611 132.33
14. Jim Underdahl Suzuki Extended Protection Suz 7.629 135.97
15. Steve Johnson Steve Johnson Racing Suzuki 7.981 118.27
Chip Ellis
Qualifying Round 1
1. Eddie Krawiec Screamin' Eagle/Vance & Hines 6.853 195.51
2. Hector Arana Jr Lucas Oil Buell 6.854 194.55
3. Andrew Hines Screamin' Eagle/Vance & Hines 6.863 195.17
4. Hector Arana Lucas Oil Buell 6.950 194.66
5. Matt Smith Viper Motorcycle Company Buell 6.950 193.10
6. Scotty Pollacheck Soverign-Star Racing Buell 6.971 190.11
7. Karen Stoffer GEICO Suzuki 6.973 191.35
8. Michael Ray Viper Motorcycle Company Buell 6.991 191.95
9. Chip Ellis Kuryakyn Buell 7.010 189.73
10. Shawn Gann Pirana Z Racing Buell 7.034 191.19
11. John Hall Sovereign/Star racing Buell 7.035 188.38
12. Michael Phillips Kent Trucking Suzuki 7.038 189.76
--------- Not Qualified ---------
13. LE Tonglet zloop Suzuki 7.611 132.33
14. Jim Underdahl Suzuki Extended Protection Suz 7.629 135.97
15. Steve Johnson Steve Johnson Racing Suzuki 7.981 118.27
PRE-RACE NOTES
The Screamin’ Eagle Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson team of defending winner Krawiec and Andrew Hines has won all nine races this year. They will battle Hector Arana Sr. and Hector Arana Jr., along with Karen Stoffer for the win at zMAX Dragway and throughout the Countdown playoffs.
2011 EVENT WINNER: Eddie Krawiec
TRACK RECORDS: 6.810 sec. by Eddie Krawiec, Sept. ’11; 196.79 mph by Krawiec, Sept. ’11.
NATIONAL RECORDS: 6.750 sec. by Eddie Krawiec, March ’12, Gainesville, Fla.; 199.26 mph by Eddie Krawiec, March ’11, Gainesville, Fla.
SCHEDULE:
FRIDAY, Sept. 14- LUCAS OIL SERIES eliminations at 8 a.m.
PRO MOD SERIES presented by ProCare Rx qualifying at 2 p.m. and 5 p.m.
FULL THROTTLE SERIES qualifying at 3 p.m. and 5:45 p.m.
SATURDAY, Sept. 15- LUCAS OIL SERIES eliminations begin at 8 a.m.
PRO MOD SERIES presented by ProCare Rx qualifying at 2 p.m.; first round of eliminations at 4:30 p.m.
FULL THROTTLE SERIES qualifying at 12:15 p.m. and 2:45 p.m.
SUNDAY, Sept. 16- Pre-race ceremonies, 11 a.m.
FULL THROTTLE SERIES eliminations begin at noon.
www.nhra.com
About NHRA
Headquartered in Glendora, Calif., NHRA is the primary sanctioning body for the sport of drag racing in the United States. NHRA presents 23 national events featuring the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series and NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by ProCare Rx. NHRA provides competition opportunities for drivers of all levels in the NHRA Summit Racing Series and the NHRA Drags: Street Legal Style presented by AAA. NHRA also offers the Jr. Drag Racing League for youth ages 8 to 17. In addition, NHRA owns and operates five racing facilities: Atlanta Dragway in Georgia; Auto-Plus Raceway at Gainesville in Florida; National Trail Raceway in Ohio; Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis; and Auto Club Raceway at Pomona in Southern California. For more information, log on to NHRA.com, or visit the official NHRA pages on Facebook, YouTube and Twitter.
