Arana Jr. looking to pad early-season points lead

Arana Jr. looking to pad early-season points lead

HOUSTON - RIS - Lucas Oil Buell rider Hector Arana Jr. is the hottest rider in NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing, and he hopes to continue that momentum during this weekend's O'Reilly Auto Parts NHRA SpringNationals.

Arana Jr. opened the 2013 season by winning both Pro Stock Motorcycle races, a feat last accomplished by Angelle Sampey in 2006, but he doesn't want to stop there. He hopes to join Matt Hines and Dave Schultz as the only riders to win the first three races of a season.

"That's pretty cool," Arana Jr. said. "It would be pretty sweet to win three in a row, but I'm not going to count my chickens until they hatch."

Hines is the last rider to win the opening trio of races, going to victory lane in Gainesville, Fla.; Atlanta; and Richmond, Va., in 1998. Schultz won the first four races of the 1991 season.

Arana Jr. scored in Gainesville to open the 2013 season and then went back-to-back by winning the Dollar General NHRA Four-Wide Nationals in Charlotte last weekend.

"I feel pretty good, considering the rules are even now and the bikes are running well," Arana Jr. said. "They ran really good in Gainesville and Charlotte, and we've been doing some tweaking here and there and hopefully can find a little more. We'll be ready to come out fighting and go for that victory."

Arana Jr. made his professional debut in Houston in 2011 and faced his dad in the first round. Arana Jr. won the round and eventually earned the Automobile Club of Southern California Road to the Future Award as NHRA's top rookie that season.

"That's where I qualified for my first race and got my first round-win," Arana Jr. said. "It's been a good track to me. That first race was really intimidating because I knew what my dad could run and I knew the motor in my bike wasn't up to speed yet. It was definitely intimidating. I knew he wasn't going to take it easy on me because he still wanted to show me, 'Look, I'm still top dog and I'm not going to give this one to you.'

"His bike messed up and I was able to get the round-win. That was my first race, and I was able to get a round-win right away. It was really exciting."

Of course, things have gone well for Arana Jr. ever since and he continues to pile up gaudy statistics despite his young age. He has five career victories in 34 races and 11 No. 1 qualifiers after winning the pole in Charlotte. He also has amassed an amazing 64-28 win-loss record in eliminations and has qualified fifth or better at 23 consecutive races.

"I'm looking forward to running in Houston and carrying this awesome momentum that we have now," he said. "Momentum helps on race day and gives you extra confidence. Once you get on a roll and start going rounds, it is easier to compete. I know it's hard when you're not going rounds, but when you get into a rhythm it's almost easy.

"I plan on staying on that rhythm and keeping it going as long as I can. Hopefully, we can three-peat."

Qualifying for the O'Reilly Auto Parts NHRA SpringNationals will get under way at 3:30 p.m. CDT on Friday from Houston. Qualifying resumes at noon on Saturday. Eliminations will get under way at 11 a.m. on Sunday. ESPN2 will broadcast the qualifying show starting at 3 p.m. EDT on Saturday and the eliminations show starting at 2 p.m. on Sunday. The Sunday broadcast will air the semifinal and final rounds live.