Even in the midst of what has been a topsy-turvy season, Lucas Oil Buell Pro Stock Motorcycle rider Hector Arana Sr. can still look back and smile at what has been the highlight of 2015: winning at Atlanta Dragway.
So as the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season heads to Texas Motorplex for the AAA Texas NHRA FallNationals this weekend, Arana knows he can do it again.
“That win meant that the old man’s still got it,” Arana said with a laugh. “It definitely meant a lot to get that win, and it would mean a lot to get another one. It would boost my confidence to win again. Now and then, you need that to keep ahead and believe in yourself. When you lose your confidence, a lot of things change, so it’s nice to boost it back up again.”
Arana snapped a winless streak that dated to 2009 with the Atlanta victory. It was the seventh win of his career, a total he’d like to add to.
“I do want another win,” Arana said. “That’s why I’m going to forget about all the points and all that other stuff and stay focused on what we need to do so we can accomplish what we want — and that’s another win.”
Arana sits eighth in the Countdown to the Championship with three races remaining in 2015, and while a repeat of his 2009 Pro Stock Motorcycle championship is unlikely, adding another win and closing out the season on a positive note is in his sights.
“We’ve got to forget about the points and where we’re at,” Arana said. “We’ve got to go there and make our best run and stay consistent. That’s all I’m going to concentrate on, that’s all I want to do.”
Pro Stock Motorcycle qualifying sessions are scheduled for 2:45 and 5:45 p.m., Friday, and 12:45 and 3:45 p.m., Saturday. Eliminations are scheduled to begin at noon, Sunday. All racing action will be shown on ESPN2.
