NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

To have success over the years at the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals, taking place this weekend at state-of-the-art zMAX Dragway, the key term for Andrew Hines is adapt. In that regard, the five-time Pro Stock Motorcycle world champion has had no trouble adapting to the most unique race on the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series schedule.

Hines has won the past three Four-Wide Nationals on his Screamin’ Eagle Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson and will look to make it a fourth time against a loaded field. The challenges are vast, but Hines was immediately a fan of what is one of the biggest spectacles in motorsports.

Andrew Hines

“I would say I’ve enjoyed the four-wide race since day one,” Hines said. “It’s something totally different than what we’ve been doing our whole career, but you just have to be able to adapt to new situations. I like not doing the same thing all the time. I like being unique, and I was able to adapt. You have to be on your game for this race, but the four-wide race has been fun and luckily we’ve been on a good run here the last three years. It’s nice to be a part of those unique events.”

Brittany Force (Top Fuel), Tim Wilkerson (Funny Car), and Jason Line (Pro Stock) were also last year’s winners of a race that will be televised on FOX Sports 1, including a broadcast of the finals on Sunday at 5:30 p.m. (ET). It marks the second of 16 races during the 2017 Pro Stock Motorcycle season, throwing the top riders in the class almost directly in a challenging gauntlet.

Hines is off to another strong start, posting a runner-up finish to teammate Eddie Krawiec at the opener in Gainesville. But with more than a month off heading into Charlotte, Hines and the rest of his team has been hard at work with hopes to perform even better this weekend.

“It’s like we had whole other offseason, and we’ve been trying a few things,” said Hines, who has 47 career wins. “We brought out some ideas that we implemented in the offseason in Gainesville, and we were happy to see the results from that. We’re almost in a new learning phase, but that’s exciting for me. We’re trying to look for the next thing to make us better. It’s worked out for us over the years, and we’re going to continue to try to find that next edge.”

Always pushing forward is a critical in a class as deep and talented as Pro Stock Motorcycle. Hines saw his quest for a third straight world championship fall when Jerry Savoie claimed his first world title at the season finale in Pomona last year, and the list of challengers reads long and includes Krawiec, two-time world champ Matt Smith, three-time champion Angelle Sampey, veteran Steve Johnson, and Cory Reed, NHRA’s top rookie in 2016.

That competition has typically brought out the best in Hines, who can add another impressive feather in his cap with what would be a seventh total victory at zMAX Dragway.

“We’re really pumped about what we have for the future,” Hines said. “We’re all out here to perform the best we can, fighting for as many wins as we can. We’ve been fortunate in the success we’ve had, but that doesn’t change our mindset. We’re always ready to try and bring back a Wally. That’s our goal and to get back to the top, that’s ultimately the goal this season.”

Mello Yello Drag Racing Series qualifying will feature two rounds at 4 and 6:30 p.m. on Friday, April 28, and the final two rounds of qualifying on Saturday, April 29, at 1:30 and 4 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for noon on Sunday, April 30.

Be a part of the action all weekend with a Three-Day Pass to the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals starting at $107. Tickets for children 13 and under are free with any paid adult ticket; to purchase general admission or reserved seats please visit zMAXDragway.com or call the box office at (800) 455-FANS (3267).