FOUR-TIME BIKE CHAMP KRAWIEC VOWS NOT TO TAKE ANY VICTORY FOR GRANTED

Written by Susan Wade, photos by NHRA    Mon, 2020-10-26 14:00

 

Eddie Krawiec has learned a valuable lesson.

“Don’t take a Wally for granted.”

That’s the first thing he said Sunday following his final-round Pro Stock Motorcycle victory over Ryan Oehler at the twice-rescheduled Mopar Express Lane SpringNationals at Houston Raceway Park.

Top Fuel racers such as Larry Dixon, Antron Brown, and Tony Schumacher could have told him that, but Krawiec had to learn for himself.

And he did. He tried unsuccessfully since the 2018 event at Brainerd, Minn. He went to a string of eight final rounds since then and left with eight runner-up finishes.

First, it was L.E. Tonglet, then Hector Arana Jr. and Matt Smith and Jerry Savoie who beat him, followed by four straight fruitless showdowns against his longtime teammate, Andrew Hines. For several years, the class almost had been The Andrew and Eddie Show, with the Vance & Hines Screamin’ Eagle Harley-Davidson duo greedily grabbing the lion’s share of victories and championships – together they have earned nine for the Brownsburg, Ind.-headquartered team. But lately, Krawiec had been losing to not only his Harley-Davidson shop partner but also to racers on Suzukis and Buells, a number of them who were Vance & Hines clients.

But with his 6.801-second elapsed time at 198.61 mph on the Baytown, Texas, quarter-mile Sunday afternoon, Krawiec reminded the Pro Stock Motorcycle class he’s still there and still dangerous.

Oehler, who had won the season-opener in July at Indianapolis, reached the final Sunday by knocking off points leader and No. 1 qualifier in the semifinal round. He challenged Krawiec in the final with a 6.905, 181.37.

“This is a huge deal for me personally,” Krawiec said, clutching the Wally statue that is his first with a Camping World Drag Racing Series nameplate on it and his 48th in all.

How did it feel for him to return to a winners circle?

“I never thought I’d have to answer that question,” Krawiec said. “It seems like with two-plus years being out of it, it just feels good. I feel like I’ve accomplished everything I’ve needed to and don’t have to prove anything. But it’s nice just to get it done.

“It’s a big team effort. There’s a lot of people who help us. That’s what I really attribute this to,” he said. “The rider has to do his job, and I got better and better as the rounds went on, so I’m happy about that.”

Krawiec shared the podium with other winners Schumacher (Top Fuel), Tommy Johnson Jr. (Funny Car), and Aaron Stanfield. For each it was a previous moment. Schumacher had waited almost as long as Krawiec (since June 2018, at Bristol, Tenn.) to win again. Tommy Johnson Jr. preserved his chances to grab a first Funny Car championship. Aaron Stanfield, who already in the day had clinched the Factory Stock Showdown series title, claimed his first Pro Stock trophy. So the celebration was one of hope and anticipation.

“There’s a lot of great racers in the class. You can’t take anything for granted, I said with these Wallys. Sometimes they come as fast as they go. Sometimes you get ’em-get ’em- get ‘em, and the next thing you know, it’s gone – gone for two years. Don’t take I for granted. Take every win for what it is and appreciate it, you know? . . . even more so with the level of competition level in the class. It’s crazy. We now have four or five motorcycles that are all fighting for the championship. So it’s great racing and the way it should be.”

Some winning racers will say they had a feeling that they would be successful that particular day. But Krawiec wasn’t going to fib. He didn’t have any such notions Sunday.

“I’d lie to you if I told you yes,” Krawiec said with a long-deserved laugh.

“I’ve had it three or four other times. I didn’t have any luck some rounds. You need those lucky rounds or you need to get by things,” he said. “I had a part failure last race [at Dallas [where he had won three times], just a little TPS sensor, go bad against Jerry {Savoie, in the semifinals at Texas Motorplex]. Prior races to that, I’ve had little, stupid gremlin problems – not necessarily mechanical: some self-inflicted. But you have to be on your game at all times.”

Motivation never has been a problem for Krawiec. He said, “I go to every single race with the intention of winning it. I don’t want to go any other way. When that feeling goes away is when I don’t want to do this anymore.”

But he’s ready to go to Las Vegas next weekend and roll the dice on one last chance to win in this year that has been frustrating for so many people, racers and non-racers alike. The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway will host the season final for the first time in the sport’s history.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
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