During his last 11 seasons in the Pro Stock Motorcycle class, Hector Arana had limited success. His best finish in the points chase was 11th, last year, winning the only race of his career.

This year, Arana has had a revival. Arana, whose hometown is Miami, is third in the points chase, with two wins. He also has four No. 1 qualifying positions, and it could be five. After Friday’s qualifying run at the NHRA U.S. Nationals, Arana is tops in the class with a 6.985-second elapsed time at 190.30 mph. Andrew Hines is a close second at 6.989 seconds, followed by Matt Smith at 7.018 seconds.

During his last 11 seasons in the Pro Stock Motorcycle class, Hector Arana had limited success. His best finish in the points chase was 11th, last year, winning the only race of his career.

This year, Arana has had a revival. Arana, whose hometown is Miami, is third in the points chase, with two wins. He also has four No. 1 qualifying positions, and it could be five. After Friday’s qualifying run at the NHRA U.S. Nationals, Arana is tops in the class with a 6.985-second elapsed time at 190.30 mph. Andrew Hines is a close second at 6.989 seconds, followed by Matt Smith at 7.018 seconds.

“Just to come over here to the U.S. Nationals, that alone is a lot of pressure,” Arana said. “We just freshened up the motor. We had zero runs on that engine. I was really, really nervous because I didn’t know what the motor was going to do. I saw some of the guys going 7.0s and close to 6.90 and I was wondering who was going to be the first in a 6.90 run. The run felt all right, it wasn’t the perfect run. But, I will take a 6.98 for the first hit. Before this run, I called Larry Morgan and told him I needed his help and I sent him my stuff and they touched it up, and obviously the motor is still good or better than it was.” 

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