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Hector Arana Scores Eighth Number One Qualifying Position of the 2009 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series Season
POMONA CALIFORNIA (Saturday, November 14, 2009) - The top qualifying position at the 45th Annual NHRA Auto Club Finals was occupied by the same rider that has filled it seven times this season. Hector Arana rode his Lucas Oil Buell to the his eighth number 1 qualifying position on his of the 2009 season. Arana's 6.918 in the opening session on Friday, powered his Lucas Oil Buell to the top of the Pro Stock Motorcycle field -- and broke Chris Rivas' 6.929 record set here last year – and then had the quickest run of the second session, a 6.943, to earn the maximum six bonus points on the day while his closest points pursuer, Eddie Krawiec, earned just one, extending Arana's points lead to 62 entering raceday. Although Arana and Krawiec are on the same side of the ladder they couldn't face one another until the semifinals, at which point the championship already would have been decided. Barring a national record, Arana would have to lose in the first round and Krawiec would have to win the race to steal the championship from Arana. Hector has been the number one qualifier six times in the last eight races.
"To have a chance to win the championship, that’s what my dream, my focus point is," said Arana. "It’s been a hell of a year, I know I’ve said it before. I’m just thankful for this opportunity to run for the Full Throttle championship, and I’m thankful to Full Throttle for sponsoring the NHRA and allowing us to do what we love. This is what we live for, what we breathe.
"I’m being surrounded by excellent people, not just Larry Morgan and Forrest Lucas, but there’s a bunch of other people that has been there for me at all times. I’ve been the small guy, the underdog, but to win this race and win this championship, the biggest thing for me would be for Lucas Oil. They’re the ones that never gave up on me. I’ve struggled through many years, and he did sponsor other racers but he never abandoned me, he never let me go, he never said anything. He just kept pushing me. To win the championship for Forrest and Charlotte Lucas and everyone at the plant in Corydon Indiana and the corporate office in Corona California, would be great."
Shawn Gann has the second quickest pass of the final session, a dazzling 6.951 aboard the RumBum Buell to take the No. 2 spot while rookie of the year contender Doug Horne is third with a 6.956, also on a Buell. Krawiec, the reigning world champ, is fourth with a 6.959 recorded on his Screamin' Eagle/Vance & Hines Harley Davidson in the final session.
In all, 11 riders qualified in the six-second zone. Bailey Whitaker's career-best 7.047 wound up on the bubble, just shy of the record 7.033 bump established at the 2007 Englishtown event. His reward will be a first-round date Sunday with low qualifier Arana. Krawiec will race Steve Johnson in first round.
Eliminations will begin at 11 a.m. pacific time.
Las Vegas winner Larry Morgan, in his last event in a Dodge, made the field on his last run, bumping Warren Johnson's 6.639 with a 6.637. W.J. had a chance in the next pair to get back around Morgan but ran another 6.639. Morgan will open eliminations Sunday against low qualifier and 2009 Pro Stock Champion Mike Edwards.
Rookie of the year contender Shawn Langdon suffered his first DNQ of the season after posting just a 4.016 second pass. He had lots of company as 24 Top Fuel dragster tried to make the 16-car field.
Langdon's team mate Morgan Lucas, qualified in the number eight position with a 3.844 second 310.48 mph run. Lucas and his Jimmy Walsh tuned, GEICO Powersports/ Lucas Oil Top Fuel Dragster will face number nine qualifier David Grubnic in the first round tomorrow.
