Hector Arana Wins PSM at Gatornationals in Gainesville

Hector Arana and his Lucas Oil Buell, beat fast qualifier Matt Smith in the final round for the Pro Stock Motorcycle win at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, 40th annual ACDelco NHRA Gatornationals. From his very first run on Friday, Smith had been a dominant force in Gainesville this weekend, but Arana ran flawlessly Sunday.

Hector Arana qualified second with 6.957 E.T. at 191.40 MPH, which put him up against Junior Pippin on his Stone Mountain & Granite Mountain Harley Davidson Buell in the first round. Pippin had problems at half track and had little chance against Arana’s scorching 6.935 E.T. at 192.66 MPH.

Douglas Horne of Horne Racing made his NHRA PSM eliminations debut, but his 7.066 E.T. at 185.31 MPH with a 0.024 reaction time, was not enough to beat Angie McBride’s quick 6.994 E.T. at 188.10. McBride’s reaction time was 0.052.

In the second round of eliminations, Arana was up against PSM champion and seventh place qualifier Eddie Krawiec on his Screamin' Eagle / Vance & Hines Harley Davidson V-Rod. Arana ran 6.942 E.T. at 191.84 with a 0.036 react time, beating Krawiec’s 7.031 E.T. at 188.89 MPH with a 0.013 reaction time. Another rider with a round two upset was Angie McBride, who lost to Andrew Hines when her NitroFish /MSR /Redline Oil Buell broke at the line.

Shawn Gann was having a great weekend on his Mastercam Buell, until he had to face Arana in the third round. Gann beat Craig Treble in the first round of eliminations. He then went on to beat third place qualifier Karen Stoffer on her Geico Suzuki. Gann’s great day was no match for Arana’s flawless performance. Hector ran a 6.981 E.T. at 192.17 MPH with a 0.120 reaction time, beating Shawn’s respectable 7.052 at 188.25 MPH, despite his 0.050 reaction time.

Matt Smith first round win against Ryan Schnitz on his Team Muzzy Kawasaki came easily when Schnitz left 0.014 too early, triggering a redlight. Smith then ran a 7.021 E.T. at 186.82 MPH, defeating Steve Johnson’s Wyotech Suzuki which ran 7.083 E.T. at 188.33 MPH, with an impressive 0.020 reaction time. In the third round, Smith faced off against Andrew Hines. Smith’s dominance continued as he dispatched Hines. Hines ran a 7.119 E.T. at 185.08 MPH with a 0.019 reaction time, but Smith ran a better 7.039 E.T. at 187.86 MPH with a 0.048 reaction time.

To get the win in the final round, Arana ran a 6.977 second E.T, at 191.4 MPH with a 0.076 reaction time, besting Matt Smith’s 7.133 second run at 185.51 MPH on his Nitrofish Suzuki. The win earns Arana his second Wally and starts his Pro Stock Motorcycle season on a high note.

Smith Fast Qualifier at Gatornationals Friday

Matt Smith and his Nitrofish Suzuki set the standard early during Friday's qualifying for the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, 40th annual ACDelco NHRA Gatornationals. Smith's first run was 6.945 second E.T. at 189.44 MPH, putting him at the top of the field. NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle Champion, Ed Krawiec, was sitting seventh in qualifying with a 7.007 second E.T. at 189.71 MPH.

Friday's Qualifying Results

Pos. Rider Sponsor / Bike E.T. / MPH
1. Matt Smith Nitrofish Suzuki 6.945 189.44
2. Hector Arana Lucas Oil Buell 6.957 191.40
3. Karen Stoffer Geico Suzuki 6.963 190.43
4. Angie McBride NitroFish/MSR/Redline Oil Buel 6.963 189.50
5. Andrew Hines Screamin' Eagle/Vance & Hines 6.991 188.62
6. Craig Treble Team Scream Suzuki 7.005 189.26
7. Eddie Krawiec Screamin' Eagle/Vance & Hines 7.007 189.71
8. Steve Johnson Steve Johnson Racing Wyotech 7.024 190.30
9. Wes Wells Kendall Suzuki 7.034 191.65
10. Shawn Gann Mastercam Buell 7.063 189.23
11. Michael Phillips MPR & Damn Sport Suzuki 7.079 192.71
12. Redell Harris Master P/No Limit Record Buell 7.159 180.55
--------- Not Qualified Yet ---------
Mike Berry MB Machining/ LAT Racing Oil 7.160 181.54
Douglas Horne Horne Racing 7.169 184.27
Ryan Schnitz Team Muzzy Kawasaki 7.175 181.98
Matt Guidera Rocklin Motorsports Buell 7.208 160.42
Darin McCurdy G&M Racing Suzuki 7.239 183.07
James Surber South County Cycles Racing Buell 7.343 179.85
John Sachs Jr Yate Brothers Racing/SAX Suzuki 7.522 174.62
Junior Pippin Stone Mtn & Granite Mtn HD Buell 7.619 147.34
Joe DeSantis Javelina H-D & Green H-D Suzuk 12.912 49.69

ACDelco NHRA Gatornationals TV Schedule
Gainesville, Fla.
03/14/2009 Qualifying 2:00 AM - 4:00 AM ET - ESPN2
03/15/2009 Repeat Qualifying 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM ET - ESPN2
03/15/2009 Eliminations 3:00 PM - 6:00 PM ET - ESPN2
03/18/2009 Repeat Eliminations 2:30:00 AM - 4:30:00 AM ET - ESPN2

Gatornationals Entry List
Rider Hometown Make Sponsors
Ed Krawiec Englishtown, NJ '09 V-Rod Screamin Eagle/Vance & Hines
Matt Smith King, NC '01 Suzuki Nitro Fish/Suzuki
Andrew Hines Brownsburg, IN '09 Hd V-Rod Screamin Eagle/Vance & Hines
Steve Johnson Birmingham, AL '03 Suzuki GSXR Steve Johnson Racing Wyotech
Craig Treble Harvey, LA '98 Suzuki GSXR Team Scream Suzuki
Karen Stoffer Smith, NV '03 Suzuki GSXR Geico Motorcycle
Matt Guidera Loomis, CA '05 Buell Rocklin Motorsports
Douglas Horne Aberdeen, MD '09 Buell Horne Racing
James Surber Whitethorn, CA '06 Buell South County Cycles Racing
Angie Mcbride King, NC '08 Buell Nitro Fish/Msr/Redline Oil
Junior Pippin Conyers, GA '07 Buell Pirana Z
Shawn Gann Stoneville, NC '08 Buell Master Cam
Hector Arana Milltown, IN '07 Buell Lucus Oil Products
Darin Mccurdy Port Charlotte, FL '03 Suzuki G&M Racing
John Sachs Jr Royal Palm Bch, FL '05 Suzk 1500 Yates Brothers Racing/Sax
Ryan Schnitz Decatur, IN '07 Kawasaki Team Muzzy Kawasaki Trim-Tex
Joe Desantis Rootstown, OH '98 Suzuki GSXR Team Joey D
Wesley Wells Greenwood, IN '98 Suzuki Kendall
Eric Mckinney Hamersville, OH '07 Buell RJR Racing Inc
Michael Phillips Baton Rouge, LA '98 Suzuki GSXR MPR & Damn Sport
Redell Harris Prairieville, LA '08 Buell Master P/ No Limit Record
Mike Berry Littleton, CO '09 Buell MB Machining/LAT Racing Oil