HINES FLEXES HARLEY MUSCLE AT INDY
All season, Harley-Davidson has dominated NHRA’s Pro Stock Motorcycle class.
Andrew Hines flexed his muscles Friday in the first qualifying session at the U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis.
Hines clocked a 6.928-second lap at 194.21 mph to capture the provisional pole at Lucas Oil Raceway.
“Coming out here (to Indy last Wednesday) and testing was key for our V-Rods to come out here (Friday) and be fast,” Hines said. “We had to get our Harley-Davidson’s down the track with some new tires and put some laps on some chains and break everything in for this weekend. We wanted to be fast out of the truck. This is the air that our Harleys breathe all year long on our dynos. We are only two miles down the road in Brownsburg (Ind.). It makes it a little easier for us to come out here, but this is the Big Go, and it is our home race. So we have all the added pressure and stress of co-workers being out here. This is a totally different weekend than a normal race weekend.”
Eddie Krawiec, Hines’ Vance & Hines teammate, and Andrew have combined to win all nine of NHRA’s Pro Stock Motorcycle national events this season. Krawiec has six wins and Hines has three. Hector Arana Jr. (6.932) and Krawiec (6.953) qualified second and third Friday.
At Indy, Hines and Krawiec debuted with new colors on their bikes and their leathers.
“It is great to come out and be No. 1, especially debuting the new hard candy custom colors on our Harleys,” Hines said. “This is stock paint you can buy through Harley-Davidson. It puts a modern twist on the vintage styling from back in the day and it is great to have some new colors on the bikes. They really pop out there and we got a lot of great feedback from all of our fans so far.”
During the final seven races of the 2012 NHRA season, the Harley motorcycles and Hines and Krawiec will be sporting a variety of new looks.
NHRA addressed the issue of parity in the Pro Stock Motorcycle class March 20 by increasing the minimum weight for the Harley Davidson 160-cid, 4-valve combination by 20 pounds, from 640 pounds to 660 pounds. That added weight, however, hasn’t slowed down the Harleys. Krawiec and Hines actually have combined to win 11 races in a row, dating back to the fall race at Las Vegas in 2011.
However, neither Hines or Krawiec have won Indy, something Hines would like to change.
“It would be huge if we could win Indy, but the biggest thing is we just want to keep our streak going,” said Hines, who has 28 career NHRA wins. “I would not give any of the races I have won away for Indy. I like everyone I get and this is just another one I want to have. I have been in the winner’s circle here four times in the former Ringers battle, and I know where it is and I just have to find it on Monday.”
Krawiec and Hines are locked into the No. 1 and No. 2 spots heading into the Countdown to the Championship, which begins Sept. 14-16 at Charlotte. Hines still isn’t taking anything for granted.
“This is just a mission for us to go out there and do the best that we can,” Hines said. “Eddie and I are trying to excel as riders and racers more than just going out there and running fast. We have to be able to win when the bike is not there for us. It is going to happen sooner or later. We are going to get a hiccup in the road and somebody is going to get us on Sunday, it is bound to happen, and hopefully it doesn’t happen here on Monday. This is a race that has eluded us for so long that we want to get it and we are here to do it.”
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