Performance Times: What's New On The Street & Strip

Hines Pulls Ahead in Denver - NHRA

  

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story by Matt Polito

Andrew Hines is now officially the hottest rider in the NHRA Mello Yello Pro Stock Motorcycle series. The Harley-Davidson rider scored his second-straight win at the Mopar Mile-High Nationals in Denver, CO, with a final round victory over the S&S-powered Star Racing Buell of Michael Ray.

It was Hines’ fifth final round appearance in the last seven races.  He now has four wins on the season – no other racer has more than one. He also has a commanding lead in the Mello Yello points and was the first in the class to lock into a spot in the championship playoff “Countdown”.

The win was his third at the facility he once called his home track having lived in Trinidad, CO, for ten years.

“Coming back to this track is very special,” said Hines.  “I made my first career passes here back in 2002. Bandimere Speedway holds a very special place in my heart.”

The Mile-High Nationals is an outlier on the NHRA tour. The thin, high-altitude air starves race motors and crew chiefs have to throw out their tried-and-true tuning combinations.  Elapsed times are typically off by three tenths of a second.

The Arana family has had the best hold of the track in recent times.  In the three previous years each member of the racing family, Hector, Hector Jr. and Adam, has been a number one qualifier.  At the 2014 edition it was Hector Jr.’s time again.  He took the pole on the Lucas Oil Buell setting both ends of the track record at 7.178 seconds and 186.72 mph.

“It’s a great accomplishment,” said Arana. “It’s nice to know you have a good setup on the mountain. It’s a big deal, even though it’s a one-off race, but it’s pretty awesome to be good at this race.”

Arana Jr.’s performance snapped the five-race streak of number one qualifying performances by Harley’s Eddie Krawiec.  Arana Jr. was the second qualifier at four of those events.

Hines was a step behind during qualifying at Denver, watching Arana Jr. and his teammate Krawiec battling it out for the quick time.  Hines ending up in the second spot at 7.19 seconds as Krawiec was third at 7.20.

The big surprise of the race came on Sunday in round two of eliminations when both Arana Jr. and Krawiec lost to slower opponents on holeshots.   Krawiec lost to the Power Sports Institute Suzuki of Steve Johnson as Arana Jr. lost to his father.

Hines took out the Johnson a round later while Michael Ray advanced to his first final since his victory in Chicago last year by getting around the elder Arana.

Ray got the holeshot in the final with a telepathic .005 reaction time but his Buell would not shift into second gear allowing Hines to cruise to the with a 7.246 elapsed time.

In the end Hines was able to better negotiate “The Mountain” than anyone else.

“Every single move you make on the motorcycle is compounded up here because the motorcycle doesn’t have the horsepower to recover from it,” he said. “The straighter a run you can make up here the better. Your shift points are all timed differently on the race track the motor is revving at a totally different rate than at any other race track.”

The next event on the NHRA Mello Yello tour is the Sonoma Nationals at Sonoma Raceway in California, July 25-27.  The event will host the MiraMonte Records Pro Bike Battle, a special event featuring the elite eight racers in the series, which will be held on Saturday during the event.

Hines Extends Points Lead - 2014 NHRA Norwalk, OH

  

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story by Matt Polito

After a two-race slump, Mello Yello points leader and Harley-Davidson factory rider Andrew Hines found the winner’s circle at the NHRA Summit Racing Nationals in Norwalk, OH.  The win came at the expense of Hector Arana, who, after making his second straight final on his S&S-powered Lucas Oil Buell, saw his winless streak extend to 75 races.

While Hines has led the points since early in the season and has more wins than any other rider in the Pro Stock Motorcycle series, for the past few races his bike has been not as fast as the one ridden by teammate Eddie Krawiec.

Following early-round losses a week earlier in Chicago, the team decided a new V-Rod was in order for Hines.

“We’ve been working on the new chassis for a while just to have a spare bike,” said Hines. “After the struggles we have had, we figured it was time to put it in service.”

The bike was fitted with all mechanical and electrical components in the turnaround between Chicago and Norwalk.  Its first lap down the track came at the first qualifying session in Norwalk where Hines recorded a 6.94 second elapsed time to place third for the session.  He ran 6.91 in the second session but slipped to fourth place – seven-hundredths behind teammate Krawiec who set the track record at 6.844 seconds.

Hines couldn’t improve on his number during Saturday’s qualifying session and most of the field got around him.  He fell to the tenth qualifying position as Krawiec went on to claim his fifth-straight number one qualifier.

The Vance & Hines V-Rod Pro Stock chassis are comprised of two separate components to facilitate easy engine swaps.  The rear section holds the rear wheel and most of the electronics and the front holds the motor and the front fork.  The front half of both team bike chassis were replaced last year after the mandated engine configuration change.  The rear halves were constructed in 2009.

Hines stated that the age of the rear half will affect the bike’s handling leading to a cascade of issues. 

“The rear cradle takes all the stress of the launch,” he said.  “Since is it so old the bike has become a little ‘darty’ – like it has a mind of it’s own.  It makes it hard to ride and be consistent.  When it is not consistent it is hard to tune.”

The new bike was so different he had to change his riding approach.

“This one is easier to ride,” he said.  “It is way more drivable. I found myself overcorrecting it.  I started to finess it a little more and responded well.”

It all came together on Sunday where Hines scored the low elapsed time of the first two rounds of eliminations with a pair of 6.89s.  Krawiec’s bike deloped a bog and he went out in round two.

The team missed the tune-up on Hines’ bike in the semifinals but it was no matter as he still outran the Power Sports Institute Suzuki of Gainesville winner Steve Johnson to make his fourth final of the year.

On the other side of the ladder the elder Arana, who set the track speed record at 196.93 mph in qualifying, took out son Adam on the MAV TV Buell, 6.89 to 6.96.

Norwalk is a special place for Arana, Sr. He won his first NHRA National event at Summit Motorsports Park in 2008, which was the precursor to his championship season in 2009.  Hines has his own strong memories of Norwalk, winning the race three times including the inaugural event in 2007.

Arana had not won an event since his championship season in 2009 and would have to wait at least another race as Hines got a slight jump off the line and won his third win of the year, 6.90 to 6.92.

“When the bike is running hard it is more consistent,” said Hines when asked how his performance picked up on Sunday.  “When it is consistent we can tune it better.  If it is going straight I can focus on my shift points.  My confidence goes up and that has a big effect on how the bike runs.”

The 2014 season has been a dramatic turnaround for Hines.  Last year at this point in the season he had only two elimination round wins.  This year he has 19.  Last year he was out of the top 10 for the first time since his rookie half-season in 2002. Now he’s leading the points.

The Harley team maintained their one-and-two spot in the points, followed by Hector Arana Jr. and Sr. and the MSR team of John Hall, Matt Smith, Scotty Pollacheck and Angie Smith.

“It’s nice to be in the number one spot again,” said Hines.  “It’s even better with Eddie right behind me.”

The NHRA Mello Yello Pro Stock Motorcycle series continues with the Mopar Mile-High Nationals in Denver, CO, July 18-20.

Arana’s Make Historic Final - NHRA Chicago

  

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Story by Matt Polito

Just a week after the NHRA saw it’s first husband and wife Mello Yello Pro Stock Motorcycle final, the sport had it’s first father-son PSM final when Hector Arana, Jr. took the win over his dad a the O’Reilly Auto Parts Route 66 Nationals in Joliet, IL.

“We won this race together,” said Hector Jr. who brought his Lucas Oil S&S-powered Buell to the winner’s circle for the first time since Sonoma of last season. “We race as a team.  It’s been a dream to race my dad in a final.  We have been working toward it for four years.”

For the past few races, Arana Jr. has been just a bit behind the performance-leading Harley of Eddie Krawiec.  Krawiec scored his fourth-straight, number-one qualifying performance at Joliet, running a 6.872 at 194.86 mph, and while he had the quickest lap of each qualifying session, Arana Jr. had the second best bike in three of the four sessions. 

Arana Jr. has also qualified second to Krawiec for the third race in a row.

“It always seems like it’s me and Hector Jr. battling it out,” said Krawiec at the conclusion of qualifying in Joliet.

Over the last year Arana Jr. has consistently had one of the quickest bikes in the field but more times than not a small miscue or mechanical malfunction takes him out of competition. 

At Joliet the tables turned when Krawiec’s V-Rod had a throttle position sensor go bad, forcing him to maintain a high idle when staging in round two against Epping winner Angie Smith. 

Krawiec red-lit against Smith in round two as Arana Jr. took out Krawiec’s teammate, points leader Andrew Hines and Arana, Sr. got by defending series champ Matt Smith on the MSR Buell.

Both father and son made their first finals of the season when they advance in an all-S&S semifinal round with Arana Sr. beating Angie Smith and Arana Jr. taking out Shawn Gann.

The elder Arana got a .007 holeshot advantage off the line in the final but Hector Jr. powered by him and took the win light 6.925 to 6.946.  It was his eighth event title in 14 final round appearances.

“We had two solid Buells out there,” said Hector Jr.  “The Harleys are strong and that is what motivates us.”

His dad has not won an event since his championship in 2009 but he had no problem losing this one.

“ I wasn’t nervous for the final,” said Hector Sr. “I was calm. I felt like I already won.”

“It’s what we needed,” he continued. “This makes us want to work harder. We will polish and fine-tune these S&S motors so we can consistently beat the Harleys.”

With the win Hector Jr. maintained his third-place spot in the Mello Yello championship points and closed the gap on points leaders Hines and Krawiec.

The Route 66 Nationals is the second event in a three-race swing that concludes in Norwalk, Ohio next weekend at Summit Motorsports Park on July 3-6.

4th Woman In NHRA History to Win Pro Stock Motorcycle Event

  

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story by Matt Polito

S&S power returned to the winners circle in historic fashion in the NHRA Mello Yellow Pro Stock Motorcycle series when Angie Smith won over husband Matt Smith in the first-ever husband-wife pro final in NHRA history. 

“When it’s your day, its your day,” said Angie following her victory at the Auto-Plus New England Nationals in Epping, NH.   “I'm really tired of dusting all of [Matt's] Wallys. I at least want to dust one of mine at the house. Now I have one, and I'm good with that."

Angie was groomed for motorcycle drag racing when she competed in the wild and unpredictable Outlaw Pro Street class in southeastern racing series, eventually winning the SEMDRA class championship in 2003.  Her first foray into NHRA Pro Stock Racing came in 2004 under the wing of George Bryce. It would be 2008 before she ran her first full NHRA season with future husband Matt Smith.

Since that time she had made nine semifinals but has never advanced to a final. Her breakthrough could not come at a better time as she just recently secured a sponsorship deal with Kandy Magazine.

Her win at New England marked the first time an S&S-powered bike has made an NHRA winner’s circle this year.  The season started with Steve Johnson’s dramatic win on his Suzuki and was then followed by three straight wins by the Harley-Davidson® team of Eddie Krawiec and Andrew Hines.

For a time it looked like the Harley boys might make it four in a row.  Krawiec took the #1 qualifying spot on Saturday with a 6.794 second elapsed time, just edging out Friday’s leader, Hector Arana Jr. on the S&S-powered Lucas Oil Buell.

Angie qualified 8th at 6.87/194, steadily improving as qualifying went on.

“I am making better laps on the bike,” she said.  The last two races I’ve struggled with my riding.  Now that sponsorship is secured, me and Matt have been focusing on my riding.  We have been analyzing video and working on fixing all the little things.  We have seen improvement on the track.”

She had a first round bye when Jimmy Underdahl withdrew his Suzuki after blowing up a motor in qualifying.  It could not have come at a better time as her throttle position sensor broke on the run, slowing her to a 7.06 elapsed time.

“I was there for the taking,” she said.  “They always say you need one break to win a race.  That was mine.”

The next round was the breakthrough moment: beating 3-time champ Eddie Krawiec on a holeshot.  Angie cut a .003 light and her 6.896 elapsed time was enough to beat Krawiec’s quicker 6.862.

“I owed Eddie,” she said.  “I raced him a lot and he’s beaten me a lot.  I actually feel like I contributed to his championship two years ago when I beat Hector [Arana] Jr. in Vegas and Eddie went on to win the championship.   Eddie came to me after my win here and said I did a great job.  That was really classy of him.”

Next she outran Hines, 6.90 to 6.92, to make her first-ever final round.

“After I won the semi, I was watching Matt’s race,” she said.  “Hector Jr. had the bike to beat and when he had shifting problems I was so relieved.”

In the final, Matt got the jump off the line as Angie, who had been sharp on the tree all day – pulled a dismal .238 reaction time.  Matt’s bike went lame at half-track and Angie was able to take the win.

“I was really afraid of redlighting in the final,” she said.  “I was cutting double-0s which are very close to redlights and I was so pumped up for the final I knew I could easily go red.  I grabbed the clutch lever as hard as I could.”

“I can’t thank my whole team enough,” she said.  “I could not have done it without every single one of them.”

She also gave a shout out to sponsor Kandy Magazine and associate sponsor BarkAID.

With her win, Angie becomes the fourth female to win a NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle event (the others being Angelle Sampey, Karen Stoffer and Peggy Llewellyn) and the 14th woman to win in any pro class in NHRA competition.

The win moved Angie into the top 10, now in the 8th spot.  Harley riders Hines and Krawiec remain one and two.

New Hampshire marks the beginning of three straight weeks of NHRA national events.  The series continues with the O’Reilly Route 66 Nationals in Joliet, IL June 26-29.

Dahl Sets World Record & Gonatas Jr. Wins

  

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It was the largest turn out so far this year for the AMRA as sportsman and pro racers alike packed into the gates at Rockingham Dragway Thursday night. Even mother nature's little trick of raining Saturday morning didn't stop the event as Rockingham track crew went to work drying at stellar pace.

With a awesome track for the riders, Gregg Dahl had his sights set on winning the S&S Outlaw Street class with his GMS Racing Engines backed machine as he set a world record with his low E.T. and fastest speed of the weekend with a 8.586 at 160.98 mph making him the first street legal Harley in the world to make a official 160 mph pass!

Gregg backed up world record in the semi finals when he matched up with Ken Miller. Ken rocketed off the line with a .077 reaction time but Gregg motored around him to take the stripe running 8.604 at 159.68 mph making his world record valid!

Greggs weekend would come to an end when his bike stumbled coming off the line to the hands of Nick Gonatas Jr. Nick's reaction time of .054 gave him the jump as he motored his way to the win running 8.648 at 154.16 mph.

Congratulations to both riders! Gregg with an amazing world record and Nick with the win in Rockingham NC!

Harleys On Top At Englishtown

  

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By Matt Polito

For the third race in a row Harley-Davidson® teammates Andrew Hines and Eddie Krawiec met in an NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle final. For the second time in those three races, Hines has come out on top of his teammate.

Hines claimed his 34th national event victory to extend his points lead in the Mello Yellow championship when he beat Krawiec at the final of the Toyota Summernationals at Raceway Park at Englishtown, NJ. 

Englishtown has always been a place where records are set when the weather participates and the forecast, calling for mild, partly cloudy days, looked to set the stage for possibly the first 200 mph pass for a Pro Stock Motorcycle.  Englishtown has seen such history before when Kurt Johnson eclipsed the six-second barrier in a Pro Stock car in 1994.

Englishtown is also a special place for Krawiec.  He was the track manager at E-town for years as he was working his way up through the sportsman ranks in the motorcycle drag racing scene before being tapped to join Andrew Hines at the big show.  Coming back to Englishtown adds a little extra pressure. He always wants to do well in front of family, friends and former employers.

Disappointingly, one of Friday’s late-day sessions was cancelled when strips of asphalt were coming up at mid-track.  You know the traction is good when the race cars are pulling up the racing surface.

Krawiec led early qualifying at 6.801 seconds at 197.80 mph.  In the second session he lowered the mark to a track record 6.747 seconds at 198.90 as Hines moved in behind him at 6.778 seconds at a barrier-tickling 199.23 mph – the second fastest speed ever recorded for the class.

Hector Arana Jr. on the S&S-powered Lucas Oil Buell was able to break up their strangle hold on the top spots, placing second 6.772/198.12 mph.

With Sunday forecast to warm up, the sports first 200 mph run would have to wait for another event.

Krawiec, Arana Jr. and Hines were the only racers to run 6.70s on raceday.  They all made the semifinals along with reigning series champ Matt Smith on the Nitro Fish Buell.

The Harley riders advanced to the final and ran a spectacularly close race: .002 seconds apart at the start, .009 seconds apart in elapsed time and only .26 mph difference in speed.

Hines and Krawiec now lead the points battle followed by the Buells of John Hall, Arana Jr., Scotty Pollacheck, Michael Ray and Matt Smith.

The next event on the NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle is Auto Plus New England Nationals at New England Dragway in Epping, NH June 19-22.

Krawiec Dominates Atlanta

  

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Story by Matt Polito

Eddie Krawiec dominated the NHRA Summit Racing Southern Nationals at Atlanta Dragway, coming from the pole to win his first event of the season.  Krawiec faced his Harley-Davidson® teammate, number 2 qualifier Andrew Hines in the final that took place on Monday following persistent rain on Sunday.

The bikes were back in Atlanta after a one-year layoff.  And while they were typically greeted with hot and muggy conditions, the 2014 edition saw cool, overcast skies with periods of rain.  Although the rain postponed racing activities, the cool air made it fast, fast, fast.  In fact, track records were set for both elapsed time and speed in all four professional categories.

Krawiec led the way.  Off the trailer the three-time series champion set the track record with a run of 6.852 seconds at 195.17 mph.  In the final session on a rain-delayed Saturday, he re-set the mark to a 6.796 at 196.62 mph.

Second to Krawiec on the qualifying sheets was Hines at 6.833, John Hall on this MSR S&S-powered Buell at 6.860 and the Suzuki of Jimmy Underdahl at 6.861.  In all, 10 of the 16 qualified bikes were running S&S power.

Rains became persistent on Sunday and delayed the start of eliminations by more than eight hours.  Even then, with only five pairs of Top Fuel Dragsters making laps – and Bob Vandergriff Jr. getting out of control and putting his dragster on two wheels – the NHRA decided the track conditions were not up to their safety standards.  They pulled the plug and decided to try again on Monday.

Krawiec’s dominance continued during Monday’s eliminations where he held the low elapsed time of every round of eliminations while bumping his track speed record to 197.54 mph.

The four Suzuki’s in the field went out in round one leaving the Harley team and a half-dozen Buells.

In the semifinals, Hines took out Hall on the MSR Buell and Krawiec beat Michael Ray on the Star Racing Buell.

In the final, Krawiec got the holeshot over Hines and pulled away, taking his 22nd overall win 6.806 to 6.860.  It was a special win for Krawiec as his first-ever NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle win came at Atlanta Dragway in 2009.

After being shut out of the winner’s circle for the first 10 races of 2013, the Harley-Davidson team is back in the groove with Hines winning the previous event in Charlotte, NC and now Krawiec taking Atlanta.

"We're happy to be back and winning," said Krawiec.

Krawiec is 10 points behind Hines in the early-season championship standings.  The Harleys are followed by the Buells of Hall, Scotty Pollacheck, Hector Arana Jr. and Michael Ray.  Buells account for seven of the top 10 entries. 

The next Pro Stock Motorcycle event is the Toyota Summernationals in Englishtown, NJ, May 29 – June 1.

S&S Outlaw Street Sports Competitive Field at AMRA Spring Rally & Races

  

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by Gregg Dahl Outlaw

Despite challenging conditions and several new untested combinations, The S&S® Outlaw Street contingent put up a great show for all those attending the AMRA Spring Rally and Races at Beech Bend Raceway Park in Bowling Green, Kentucky. The Field consisted of no less that six different engine/chassis/cylinder head combinations with all but two eclipsing the 150 mph mark. Mike Roberts of Clinton, Ohio paced the group with a 8.86@157.14mph  on his Bob Pettit owned and tuned V-Rod entry. He was followed by myself with a 8.94@156.28 mph with my GMS Racing Engines / S&S 144 cu in 45˚ Pro Stock/big twin hybrid engine, Nick Gonatas (8.98@150.93)  on the Warren Harley Davidson V-Rod, Greg Baugh on his Arch MFG. 143 cu in S&S B1 Evo Combo,  Tim Grindle with a B2-S&S SA Sportster @ 143 cu in turning in a 9.10@153.84, Ken Miller, (Ken Miller Customs) 136 S&S Special Application Pro Stock Headed Twin Cam, Charlie Douglass with his Douglass Racing/Energy one 136 S&S 45˚  Pro Stock sportster at 9.33@152.87, and finally Robert Shuback piloting Grindle’s 140 cu in Evo/B1 machine. Despite valiant efforts by the Beech Bend staff, Mother Nature did her best to challenge the class. Pollen gave the track a yellow tint requiring frequent cleanings and dragging as well as a low pressure area and looming storm front harassing us on Sunday. More than half of the machines were being put down the 1/4 mile for the first time this season, thus keeping wrenches and tuning devices on call throughout the weekend.   

The First round of eliminations saw Roberts, Baugh, Douglass, and Gonatas advance to the semifinal round. In the semis, Roberts defeated Baugh 8.89 to 9.15 and Gonatas finished ahead of Douglass 8.816 to 8.914. In the all V-rod final, Roberts took the stripe with a 8.849 to Nick Gonatas’ tire spinning 9.067. It may have been a good day for the overhead cam machines but it was the pushrod bikes that continue to set and hold the ET and speed records. Charlie Douglass reset his 1/4 mile MPH record to 157.17 and I was able to set the 1/8 mile mark to 130.04.  

S&S Cycle Inc., Outlaw Street is shaping up to be highly competitive and continues to peak the interest of fans and other racers alike. The next event will be at Rockingham Dragway May 31 to June 1.  Info is available at the Rockingham Dragway, AMRA, and S&S Cycle.

Anyone interested in racing in the S&S Outlaw Street, Hot Street, Dresser, or any of the other AMRA divisions can contact the AMRA at 989-561-2500 or call Gregg Dahl at 724-438-0738.

S&S Cycle Sponsors AMRA Outlaw Street Class

  

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S&S Cycle is pleased to announce that they will be sponsoring the Outlaw Street Class in the AMRA Drag Racing sanction for 2014. This year, the payout has been increased from $100 for the winner to $300 per race. It is hoped that if more racers get involved the payouts can be even better next year. This is the first time in a long while that S&S has sponsored a street class, and it’s the first time ever that S&S has sponsored a class in the AMRA.

S&S Racing Manager Justin Bramstedt puts it this way “S&S Cycle has a long history of racing Harley-Davidson® motorcycles. That’s how this company was started. In recent years, we’ve been involved in the professional drag racing scene with our sponsorship of the NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle class, but we feel we should be supporting grass roots drag racing, as well.”

In case you are not familiar with the Outlaw Street Class, it’s designed for the fastest street ridden Harley based motorcycles only. The only limitations on the engines are a 145 cubic inch maximum, and they must run on gasoline with no nitrous oxide. Engines can be carbureted or fuel injected, but must be naturally aspirated. The chassis must be built from a modified production OEM or aftermarket frame with a valid VIN, and a wheelbase of no more than 70”. Entrants in the Outlaw Street class must be licensable for street use with OEM lighting, V-rated DOT tires, and no wheelie bars. Other than that, it’s just run hard, repeat as needed.

Ken Miller

 Robert Shuback

Charles L. Douglass

Tim Grindie

 Gregg Dahl

 Nick Gonatas

Mike Roberts

Greg Baugh

Mike Motto

NHRA 4-Wide Nationals - Charlotte, NC

  

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story by Matt Polito

The Harley-Davidson® factory team struck back after early-round losses at the season opening event in Gainesville to take the title – and the points lead – in the Mello Yellow NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle championship series at the 4-Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway in Charlotte, NC.

The event, taking place at Bruton Smith’s “Bellagio of drag strips” is unique on the NHRA tour. While a typical drag race has two racers facing off against each other, the 4-Wide has four riders lining up in a “quad” and competing at the same time. The first two riders crossing the finish line in each quad advance to the next round.

Andrew Hines took the win in Charlotte as teammate Eddie Krawiec placed second in the final round quad. Matt Smith Racing teammates Scotty Pollacheck and John Hall, both riding S&S-powered Buells, placed third and fourth respectively.

For the second race in a row qualifying was led by Michael Ray on the Star Racing Buell. Ray recoded a 6.816 elapsed time at 197 mph on Friday, which held up as the top spot throughout Saturday.

“The way I look at it is if I am on my game, there is not a bike out there that is going to beat me," said Ray, who placed second in the points last season.

Following Ray in qualifying was the Buell of Hector Arana Jr. at 6.825 seconds and Hines on his Harley at 6.842.

In all, S&S-powered Buells accounted for six of the top eight qualifiers and 11 in the qualified field of 16.

Reigning champ Matt Smith, who qualified sixth at 6.856 seconds on his Stockseth Racing Buell, set a new zMAX Dragway speed record for the class at 198.32 mph.

While number one qualifier Ray was confident going into Sunday’s eliminations, his bike defied him as a shifting problem put him on the trailer in round one.

The second round semifinals saw an all-Buell quad with Hall and Pollacheck advancing to the final over second year rider Chaz Kennedy and veteran Mike Berry. In the other semifinal the father and son duo of Hector Arana Jr. and Sr. lined up their Buells against the Harleys of Hines and Krawiec with both Harley riders advancing.

The difficult thing about racing at zMAX is dealing with the disparity of the lanes, which is greater than it is at two-lane drag strips. This year, lanes 1 and 2 were the coveted lanes and the Harley-Davidson riders were able to secure them for the final.

Hall and Pollacheck got the jump on the Harleys in the final but Hall had transmission problems and Pollacheck lost top end speed as the Harleys rode around them with Hines taking his 33rd career win, tying the late John Myers.

None of those wins, however, has come at the 4-Wide event. In fact, despite winning the Charlotte race run in the conventional two-lane format last fall, Hines has never even won an elimination round at a 4-Wide.

“This does a lot for my confidence because I’ve never had a round-win here,” said Hines. “At this race, there is so much going on that you never know what’s going to happen. Some guys take a long time to stage, and some guys want to get up there as quickly as they can. You have to be prepared for anything.”

With the win, Hines holds an 11-point advantage over Pollacheck who had made both finals this year. Following them in the points is Hall Krawiec, Arana Jr. and Gainesville winner Steve Johnson, the top Suzuki in the points.

The next event in the NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle series is the NHRA Summit Southern Nationals at Atlanta Dragway in Commerce, GA, May 16-18.