Lucas Oil Buell rider Hector Arana Jr. heads to Bandimere Speedway for the Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals on a roll.
The 22-year-old rookie has qualified No. 1 in the last two Pro Stock Motorcycle races, all with a new engine, “Gracie,” named after his mom.
Arana knows he has the speed in his red, white, and blue bike, but now he’s looking to make that speed last a little longer on Sundays.
“We’ve done pretty well in qualifying lately, but we’ve still got to work on race day,” Arana said. “I want to win every race, but I know it’s a learning process. I’d love to go several rounds in Denver and maybe even make the finals and win the thing. That’s the goal.”
Arana’s recent performance has helped him climb to ninth in the Pro Stock Motorcycle points standings. Considering he failed to qualify for the first race of the season, Arana Jr. has done well to move up. He’s reached the quarterfinals in three of six races this season and hopes to go a little further in Denver.
“I’ve never raced there, so I don’t exactly know what it’s going to be like,” Arana said. “I know our tune-up’s going to be a lot different. It’s another new racetrack for me.”
