HARLEYS UNDEFEATED AND NO. 1 HEADED INTO INDY FINAL ELIMS.
All season, Harley-Davidson teammates Andrew Hines and Eddie Krawiec have dominated NHRA’s Pro Stock Motorcycle class.
Not even a postponement of the U.S. Nationals could change that theme.
Hines clocked a 6.861-second lap Saturday to capture the pole position at Lucas Oil Raceway.
“I made one of the best runs I have made all year right there in that last session,” Hines said. “I was able to get the No. 1 spot back. My goal coming here was to be No. 1 and try and win that Wally on the last day. Luckily Matt (Hines, Andrew’s brother and crew chief) is giving me the motorcycle to do it. I think my dad (Byron) had an ear-to-ear grin on the starting line for that run and it is amazing what the team has been doing all year long.”
Krawiec 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. Krawiec qualified third at 6.886 seconds.
“He (Krawiec) has a tough bike and hopefully we can get a win with one of them, but preferably mine,” Andrew said. “Luckily we are on opposite sides of the ladder which is key.”
Despite all of Harley-Davidson’s success this season, neither Hines nor Krawiec have won at Indy something that is not lost on Hines.
“This is one track that has been a nemesis to us,” Hines said. “We have had a great history here with the bonus events the Pro Stock bike class has had. Unfortunately, we have never been able to find the winner’s circle on Monday and that’s our goal here to find it on Sunday here with the rainout.”
Last Monday morning, because rain washed the rubber off the track, NHRA officials postponed the U.S. National until Saturday and Sunday at Indy. Prior to the rain, Hines was on the pole.
“Everything is a little different, we are playing a different strategy because this was like a whole new weekend with two new qualifiers,” Hines said. “You threw out pretty much every run from last weekend. Our V-Rods are running strong.”
This was Hines’ second pole of the season and 32nd of his career, four coming at Indy.
The rescheduling of Indy also has left the Harley-Davidson doing some crew adjustments.
“Unfortunately, my crew guy Scott (Sceurman), his 2-1/2-year-old niece died a few weeks ago, and the services were (Saturday),” Andrew said. “He was here last week, but he flew out this week to attend (to) that in San Francisco. His is my right-hand guy. He always does my clutch and takes care of the bike. He is my car chief on my bike. I’m having to get my hands dirty like I used to in the past and learn how to work on this motorcycle. It looks like so far I have put it back together for two runs. I just have to do it for four more (Sunday). We dusted off my dad (Byron) and he is pushing me around the pit area. It is kind of like good ol’ times. That’s how it was in 2003 and 2004 with my dad helping me out. It is unfortunate circumstances, but luckily we were able to perform like we expected.”
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