Screamin’ Eagle Team is Undefeated in 2012 Pro Stock Motorcycle Season
The Harley-Davidson® Screamin’ Eagle®/Vance & Hines team remains undefeated in 2012 as rider Ed Krawiec won his second NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle event of the season and regained the series points lead at the 32nd Annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals at Atlanta Dragway. Krawiec, the defending Pro Stock Motorcycle champion, rode a Harley-Davidson® V-Rod® motorcycle to win the final round of eliminations over Michael Ray on the GottSpeed Racing Buell.
Krawiec, who also won the season-opening event at Gainesville, Fla., qualified in the number two position at Atlantawith an Elapsed Time of 6.895 seconds. Harley-Davidson® Screamin’ Eagle®/Vance & Hines rider Andrew Hines qualified the team’s other V-Rod motorcycle in fifth position at 6.987 seconds. Lucas Oil Buell rider Hector Arana Sr. led qualifying at 6.894 seconds.
Krawiec advanced though the first two elimination rounds on Sunday when his opponents, the Edge Suzuki rider Michael Phillips and Geico Suzuki rider Karen Stoffer, each fouled at the starting line. In round three, Krawiec defeated Prana Z Racing Buell rider Shawn Gann to move on the finals.
Hines, who won in NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle at Houston last weekend, defeated Savoie Alligator Farm Buell rider Jerry Savoie in the first round on Sunday, but lost to Ray by 0.002 seconds on a holeshot in round two. Ray had a 0.023 second reaction time and 6.970 ET to the 0.037/6.958 pass of Hines.
“My bike fell off just a little in performance, and Ray picked up a little, and we lost a really close one,” said Hines. “We are working on a better tune-up for this hot weather for my bike. But it was another great weekend for the team and we stay one-two in points.”
There was no drama in the final, as Krawiec posted a solid 0.028/6.905 run to defeat Ray’s 0.043/7.036 and earn the 13th Pro Stock Motorcycle win of his career. The race was Ray’s first final-round appearance.
“Right now we are getting awesome consistency in the first 60 feet from the V-Rods,” said Krawiec. “From qualifying through four rounds today, my bike was running 1.07 (seconds) and 1.08 except for a 1.09 late today when the track started to get really sticky. That consistent start is so important for us and is one reason why we keep winning rounds.”
With the win, Krawiec jumps past Hines from second into first place in Pro Stock Motorcycle season points. Krawiec leaves Atlanta with 337 points. Hines is 67 points back with 270. Lucas Oil Buell ride Hector Arana Jr., who lost in round one at Atlanta, is third with 224 points. Hector Arana Sr. lost to Ray in round three at Atlanta and is fourth with 190 points. Stoffer is fifth with 182 points.
The Pro Stock Motorcycles will next race on May 31-June 3 at the 43rd annual Toyota NHRA SuperNationals at OldBridge Township Raceway Park in Englishtown, N.J.
