In Pro Stock Motorcycle, Krawiec rode his Screamin’ Eagle Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson to a 6.820 at 198.23 to defeat Hector Arana’s 6.920 at 196.44 on his Lucas Oil Buell. This marks Krawiec’s 32nd career win and his fourth victory at Gainesville Raceway. As the No. 1 qualifier, Krawiec outran Michael Phillips, Jerry Savoie and teammate and world champion Andrew Hines to make it to the final.
“Going out there I had a great motorcycle,” Krawiec said. “I have a great crew behind me, but the key thing for me was to not screw it up. You have the first round jitters after four months of not racing, but I knew I had a fast motorcycle. We’re all really excited, everybody back at our shop. We’re glad one of our Harley-Davidsons got the win.”
The NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series travels to Las Vegas, April 1-3, for the Denso Spark Plugs NHRA Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Round 1
W – Jerry Savoie (Savoie’s Alligator Farm Suzuki 0.033 6.854 197.39
L – Scotty Pollacheck (Petrolhead Apparel Buell 0.038 6.901 192.30
W – Hector Arana (Lucas Oil Buell) 0.078 6.820 196.39
L – Mike Berry (Vroom/MBP/LAT Racing Oil Buell) 0.072 6.958 192.58
W – Chip Ellis (PiranaZ Buell) 0.013 6.855 195.31
L – Hector Arana Jr (Lucas Oil Buell) 0.015 7.132 189.92
W – LE Tonglet (Nitro Fish Suzuki) 0.062 6.846 195.51
L – Steve Johnson (racethevote.com Suzuki) 0.059 6.895 193.96
W – Jim Underdahl (Bad Boy Buggies Suzuki) 0.020 6.867 196.85
L – Angelle Sampey (JoinTeamAngelle.com Buell) -0.002(R) 6.956 197.19
W – Andrew Hines (Screamin’ Eagle/Vance & Hines 0.068 6.852 196.10
L – Angie Smith (Kandy Racing Victory) 0.054 7.034 191.16
W – Eddie Krawiec (Screamin’ Eagle/Vance & Hines 0.062 6.780 198.12
L – Michael Phillips (Drink Hard Racing/DAM Spo 0.069 6.955 194.16
W – Michael Ray (UPI Buell) 0.048 6.901 196.04
L – Melissa Surber (Kosman Specialties Buell) 0.143 6.931 188.99
ROUND 2
W – Andrew Hines (Screamin’ Eagle/Vance & Hines 0.029 6.907 196.27
L – Jim Underdahl (Bad Boy Buggies Suzuki) 0.039 6.906 196.70
W – LE Tonglet (Nitro Fish Suzuki) 0.031 6.863 196.73
L – Chip Ellis (PiranaZ Buell) 0.067 6.871 196.93
W – Hector Arana (Lucas Oil Buell) 0.018 6.879 196.56
L – Michael Ray (UPI Buell) 0.047 6.931 195.79
W – Eddie Krawiec (Screamin’ Eagle/Vance & Hines 0.037 6.791 198.35
L – Jerry Savoie (Savoie’s Alligator Farm Suzuki 0.019 6.903 190.35
ROUND 3
W – Hector Arana (Lucas Oil Buell) 0.011 6.869 196.44
L – LE Tonglet (Nitro Fish Suzuki) 0.017 6.888 195.00
W – Eddie Krawiec (Screamin’ Eagle/Vance & Hines 0.059 6.803 197.31
L – Andrew Hines (Screamin’ Eagle/Vance & Hines 0.031 6.872 195.53
FINAL ROUND
W – Eddie Krawiec (Screamin’ Eagle/Vance & Hines 0.044 6.820 198.23
L – Hector Arana (Lucas Oil Buell) 0.032 6.920 196.44
SATURDAY
Krawiec posted a 6.801 at 196.42 on his Screamin’ Eagle Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson to become the No. 1 qualifier at the first of 16 Pro Stock Motorcycle events in 2016. Krawiec has 28 No. 1 qualifiers in his career and two at Gainesville Raceway. He has won this event three times and was the event runner-up one year ago. Krawiec will face Michael Phillips in the first round of eliminations.
“You want to get back on that motorcycle,” said Krawiec, a three-time world champion. “Definitely wanted to come out here to Gainesville, blow the dust off, get the cobwebs behind me and start moving forward. The key yesterday was making a good lap off the trailer and setting the tone for the weekend. Anybody could win. Every round is important and every round you have to do your best.”
Hector Arana qualified second with a 6.821 at 197.10 on his Lucas Oil Buell and will go up against Mike Berry in Sunday’s opening round. Chip Ellis posted a 6.829 at 195.34 on his Junior Pippin Trucking Company Buell to qualify third. Ellis will battle Hector Arana Jr. in the first round
Five-time and defending world champion Andrew Hines pushed his Screamin’ Eagle Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson to the fourth place qualifier and will begin eliminations against Angie Smith.
Eliminations at the Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals will begin at 11 a.m. on Sunday.
1. Eddie Krawiec, Harley-Davidson, 6.801, 197.71 vs. 16. Michael Phillips, Suzuki, 6.938, 194.49
2. Hector Arana, Buell, 6.821, 197.10 vs. 15. Mike Berry, Buell, 6.937, 190.11
3. Chip Ellis, Buell, 6.829, 195.34 vs. 14. Hector Arana Jr, Buell, 6.917, 194.13
4. Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson, 6.844, 194.94 vs. 13. Angie Smith, Victory, 6.914, 192.85
5. Angelle Sampey, Buell, 6.847, 195.70 vs. 12. Jim Underdahl, Suzuki, 6.907, 197.22
6. LE Tonglet, Suzuki, 6.850, 196.04 vs. 11. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 6.901, 193.65
7. Melissa Surber, Buell, 6.853, 194.86 vs. 10. Michael Ray, Buell, 6.885, 196.4
8. Scotty Pollacheck, Buell, 6.862, 195.82 vs. 9. Jerry Savoie, Suzuki, 6.868, 196.62.
Did Not Qualify:
17. Matt Smith, 6.942, 193.71
18. Cory Reed, 6.950, 191.40
19. Shawn Gann, 6.965, 190.59
20. Kalle Lyren, 6.967, 193.21
21. Karen Stoffer, 6.968, 193.63
22. Joe DeSantis, 6.978, 192.58
23. Brian Pretzel, 7.017, 193.90
24. David Hope, 7.058, 188.86
25. Katie Sullivan, 7.136, 187.26
26. Lance Bonham, 7.212, 187.21
FRIDAY
In Pro Stock Motorcycle, Krawiec raced to the provisional lead in the two-wheeled category season-opener with a 6.808 at 197.71 on his Screamin’ Eagle Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson. Krawiec has 27 No. 1 qualifiers in his career and one at Gainesville. He has three wins at the event.
“Anytime you can come off the trailer and make a great run like [we did] it sets the pace for the season,” said Krawiec, a three-time world champion. “That’s the way I look at it; not just the event but the season because that’s what’s all in front of you.”
Chip Ellis rode his Junior Pippin Trucking Company Buell to the second qualifying position with a 6.829 at 195.34. 2015 Pro Stock Motorcycle title winner and Krawiec’s teammate, Andrew Hines, sits third and Angelle Sampey is fourth.
Friday Final Qualifying
1. Eddie Krawiec, Harley-Davidson, 6.808, 197.71
2. Chip Ellis, Buell, 6.829, 195.34
3. Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson, 6.844, 194.94
4. Angelle Sampey, Buell, 6.854, 192.44
5. Scotty Pollacheck, Buell, 6.885, 191.57
6. Michael Ray, Buell, 6.892, 195.45
7. Hector Arana, Buell, 6.899, 193.74
8. Jerry Savoie, Suzuki, 6.900, 195.03
9. Jim Underdahl, Suzuki, 6.907, 197.22
10. Melissa Surber, Buell, 6.907, 193.38
11. LE Tonglet, Suzuki, 6.909, 192.60
12. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 6.911, 192.41.
Not Qualified:
13. Angie Smith, 6.915, 192.77
14. Brian Pretzel, 6.928, 193.90
15. Cory Reed, 6.933, 191.40
16. Michael Phillips, 6.942, 193.71
17. Hector Arana Jr, 6.942, 194.02
18. Karen Stoffer, 6.950, 193.07
19. Matt Smith, 6.962, 193.71
20. Mike Berry, 6.968, 190.11
21. David Hope, 6.969, 188.86
22. Joe DeSantis, 6.995, 192.58
23. Kalle Lyren, 7.056, 190.89
24. Shawn Gann, 7.059, 188.70
25. Lance Bonham, 7.209, 187.21
26. Katie Sullivan, 11.695, 68.94
Learn more WEEKEND RESULTS FROM THE GATORNATIONALS on VANCE & HINES NEWS
