NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

Hector Arana Sr. would gladly take a repeat of what happened a year ago at Gateway Motorsports Park, even if the outcome remains the same at this weekend’s 5th annual AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals.

Arana fell to his son Hector Jr. in a thrilling Pro Stock Motorcycle final in 2015 in St. Louis, and an all-Arana final round this season would be the ideal playoff boost for both riders. Arana lost to his son in the first round of the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Countdown to the Championship opener last weekend in Charlotte and needs at least a replay of last year’s event in St. Louis to stay in the championship hunt.

“That was an excellent weekend,” said Arana, who is eighth in the points standings. “[Son] Adam was there, [daughter] Abby was there, the whole family was together, so I was happy; I was more relaxed. Of course we went to the finals and the outcome wasn’t what I wanted, but if we would have another weekend like that, I’d be happy.”

Antron Brown (Top Fuel), Del Worsham (Funny Car), and Drew Skillman (Pro Stock) were last year’s other winners of the event that will be televised on FOX Sports 1 for the first time. The race is the second of six in the NHRA’s playoffs, and Arana still has hopes of gaining his second world championship in the highly competitive class.

It has been a rigorous process for Arana this season as he has battled through an array of issues on his Lucas Oil Buell. It has led to first-round losses at four of the past five races, but the veteran standout saw some hope last weekend despite the early exit.

“I’ve been working hard on this, and I’ve finally started to see the light at the end of the tunnel,” said Arana, who has seven wins. “I’m feeling good because I’m making changes, and I see the response. We’re going the right way. We’re picking up the pace. You shouldn’t think ahead, but on the other hand, you do because we have to be prepared if something goes wrong so we are able to solve the problem right then and there.”

Arana’s season started in fine fashion with a runner-up finish in Gainesville, and he will try to re-create that type of result this weekend in St. Louis, but sitting 153 points back of leader Andrew Hines, who has five wins this year while hunting for a third straight world championship, Arana knows something big needs to happen soon.

Arana will also have to get by the likes of Charlotte winner Chip Ellis, three-time world champion Angelle Sampey, and Hines’ teammate, Eddie Krawiec, but Arana insists his only concern at Gateway Motorsports Park will be his own bike.

“I just need to focus on the bike and not worry about the points,” Arana said. “Everyone says that, but if we do that and get the bike to run fast like I like to, then the points will be there for us. I think we have a good shot at winning the championship. The program is coming around, we are picking up the pace, so that’s good. I’m just going to look at it one race at a time because if we focus on the championship, all of those races, we can lose sight of it, and we don’t want to do that.”

Mello Yello Drag Racing Series qualifying will feature two rounds at 2:45 and 5:15 p.m. Friday, Sept. 23, and the final two rounds of qualifying Saturday, Sept. 24, at 1:45 and 4:15 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 11 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 25.

To purchase general-admission or reserved seats, call 855-RACE-TIK (722-3845) or log on to www.gatewaymsp.com. Kids 12 and younger will be admitted free in general-admission areas with a paid adult.