Andrew Hines remained atop the NHRA Summit Racing Equipment Southern Nationals Pro Stock Motorcycle field following the second day of qualifying.

Often times Saturday’s qualifying session is a dress rehearsal for Sunday final elimination but vastly different conditions forecast for Sunday doesn’t have him concerned as much as the slow short times in his Saturday runs.

Hines bogged his bike off of the starting line and it was noticeable.

“Our sixty-foot [times] are off … we’re having issues bogging the bikes off of the starting line,” Hines said of the Screamin’ Eagle V-Rod Harley-Davidsons. “I had a 1.16 sixty-foot on that last run.”

Andrew Hines remained atop the NHRA Summit Racing Equipment Southern Nationals Pro Stock Motorcycle field following the second day of qualifying.

Often times Saturday’s qualifying session is a dress rehearsal for Sunday final elimination but vastly different conditions forecast for Sunday doesn’t have him concerned as much as the slow short times in his Saturday runs.

Hines bogged his bike off of the starting line and it was noticeable.

“Our sixty-foot [times] are off … we’re having issues bogging the bikes off of the starting line,” Hines said of the Screamin’ Eagle V-Rod Harley-Davidsons. “I had a 1.16 sixty-foot on that last run.”

Those familiar with Pro Stock Motorcycle understand those kinds of numbers won’t win races in a competitive class. Twelve of the 16 qualifiers were under a 7.00 elapsed time.

“We let go of the clutch and the bike nearly shuts off,” Hines admitted. “It’s as if you have to start your run over twenty feet past the starting line. We just have to get that hitch worked out of it. We’ll likely lower the wheelie bars and get a little more tire spin going.”

At this point Hines believes the bogged engines can be traced to the tuning.

“We might be a little rich when we let the clutch out,” Hines revealed. “We’re taking power out of it. A lot of teams take timing out of the engine. We could be in a position where we are pulling too much out of it. We’re going to make sure we don’t bog in the first round on Sunday.” 

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