Hector Arana Jr. focused heading to Pomona II

Arana Jr. will change nothing in final push for '11 title

Hector Arana, Jr.

Photo by: Glenn F. Katauskas

POMONA, Calif. (Nov. 9) – Hector Arana Jr. has gotten to second in the championship battle by trying to make fast, consistent passes every time down he zooms down the track on his Lucas Oil Buell Pro Stock Motorcycle. And he has no intentions of changing now.

Arana Jr. heads to the final race of the 2011 season, the Auto Club NHRA Finals at Auto Club Raceway, 69 points behind leader Eddie Krawiec. The 22-year-old Arana Jr. has won three times in his rookie season and has qualified No. 1 a class-leading seven times, including the last four races in a row.

A stumble in the most recent race in Las Vegas caused Arana Jr. to lose some points to Krawiec, but the championship is still within reach.

"We're not going to change anything up," Arana Jr. said. "We've been doing really well this whole season. We've been consistent. All we've got to do is go out there and do our thing."

Arana Jr.'s amazing rookie season has him in line to win the Auto Club Road to the Future Award as the NHRA's top rookie. Still, Arana Jr. has been surprised at his success this season.

"Most definitely," Arana Jr. said. "I never expected to get three race wins, let alone two back-to-back, and all those No. 1 qualifiers.

"The only thing bad about it is when I don't get No. 1 and I don't win the race now, I get upset. Even though we still did well, you want to keep winning. When you lose after you've won, it's harder to accept."

Arana Jr. will tackle Pomona for the first time – like he's done at every track this season – as he guns for the Pro Stock Motorcycle title.

"Pomona's fast," Arana Jr. said. "They say it has a really short and bumpy shutdown. Hopefully, everybody's safe out there and can get slowed down and stay on the bike."