News Article

Arana Puts The Hammer Down During GIR Test

April 8, 2009
Brandon W. Mudd

MADISON, Ill. – Hector “The Hammer” Arana, the 2009 Gatornationals winner in the NHRA Full Throttle Series Pro Stock Motorcycle class, tested at Gateway International Raceway Wednesday, working on clutch combinations in an effort to get his 60-foot speed better to improve his qualifying attempts.

Arana, currently second in points to 2007 GIR PSM winner Matt Smith, said he knew he made the right choice to test at Gateway immediately following the first pass (which can be seen in the video section at GatewayRaceway.com). “I was impressed,” he said. “No one had been down the track yet and it felt good. I was impressed.”

Hector Arana, a two-time NHRA Full Throttle Series Pro Stock Motorcycle rider, relaxes prior to his first pass during his test session at GIR Wednesday. Photo by Brandon W. Mudd

The driver of the Lucas Oil Products Buell is coming off a very strong season where he qualified for every event and earned his first-ever win. He hoisted the Wally at Norwalk, Ohio, and said it was an unforgettable moment.

“You never forget your first one! That to me was the most impressive one mainly because I had my kids with me.  They got to witness it and I got to show them that if you work hard and believe in yourself, don’t give up, and it’ll happen.”

The Miami native was hooked on the drag racing bug at the legendary Miami-Hollywood Speedway, the same facility GIR Vice President and General Manager Lenny Batycki got his start in the sport as a young announcer. Arana said all it took was a pass down the track and he knew where his life was headed.

“It was a friend of mine that took me one time for the first time,” he said. “I went there and after the first time, I was hooked. We went on a Thursday test-and-tune, he took me in his car and said ‘You can race anything!’ I went as a passenger on the first run and ever since, I’ve been at the race track.”

Kicking off the season at Gainesville with a victory has given Arana an increased desire to win, especially at Gateway when the NHRA Full Throttle Series returns here May 1-3 for the O’Reilly NHRA Midwest Nationals. “Oh, man, that would be awesome!” Arana said. “It would be close to home, that would be a party all the way to the house!”

Race fans wanting tickets to the NHRA’s return to the St. Louis area can call 866-35-SPEED. For every Friday ticket purchased, Gateway will donate another Friday ticket to the USO to be given to an area military member as part of GIR’s “Thank The Military” program.