He was the long shot last year.

This year Eddie Krawiec shoots long.

Krawiec, rider for the Screamin’ Eagle Harley-Davidson Pro Stock Motorcycle team, won the 2008 NHRA world championship ala Rob Bruins style. He attained the feat exactly like the 1979 Top Fuel champion by capturing the crown without having won a national event title during the season.

He’s in more favorable territory this season when compared to his status this time last year. Krawiec has won two national event titles in five consecutive final rounds and holds a significant point lead as the 24-race tour hits the mid-point.

No Wins Last Season, A Couple This Year Does Wonder for Defending Champion

He was the long shot last year.

This year Eddie Krawiec shoots long.

Krawiec, rider for the Screamin’ Eagle Harley-Davidson Pro Stock Motorcycle team, won the 2008 NHRA world championship ala Rob Bruins style. He attained the feat exactly like the 1979 Top Fuel champion by capturing the crown without having won a national event title during the season.

He’s in more favorable territory this season when compared to his status this time last year. Krawiec has won two national event titles in five consecutive final rounds and holds a significant point lead as the 24-race tour hits the mid-point.

Just to think, last year he was winless and ranked fifth. That kind of a turnaround tends to provide a rider with a better outlook.

“I'm really confident,” Krawiec said. “I'm looking forward to actually getting out there and getting on my motorcycle and going into race day.

“You know, for the way that it turned out last year, I was ecstatic.  I wouldn't change a thing.  I think that's something that's going to be etched in the history books for a really long time, and honestly, I don't know if it will ever be broken again.”

Consider this, Krawiec has been in the finals in nine of the last 12 races he’s entered dating back to 2008.

“I just want to close my final round average a little better and take that from 25 percent and bump that up to maybe 75 percent,” Krawiec admitted. “I would like to win them all.  But it's tough competition out there and I'm just glad to be out here racing with everybody.”

So what has changed this season to make him an even more efficient drag racer?

“I'm not really doing anything different,” Krawiec responded. “I'm just riding the bike with confidence.  You know, (Screamin’ Eagle Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson crew chief) Matt Hines has given me an awesome motorcycle.  A lot of people out there always compliment their crew chiefs, but if you look at what Matt is doing, he is tuning two bikes, two motorcycles and that adds extra pressure on you come race day.

“As long as I think he gives us a good motorcycle and we are confident that we have a great one under us, that it just makes it easier for the driver to do their job.”

For Krawiec, nothing wins a championship like a rider with confidence in his bike, and confidence in himself, too.  

 

Advertisement