Denver: Hector Arana preview

Points leader Arana aims for more success at altitude

DENVER (July 21) -- For defending NHRA Full Throttle Series Pro Stock Motorcycle champion Hector Arana, winning at the 31st annual Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals is all about the tuneup.

"We only have one race a year at this altitude," Arana said. "We have to look at the weather there carefully and go over all the data we have from previous years so we can find the right set-up. It's tricky to tune to the conditions and you are always leery how to go about it. Your mind can go in a hundred directions.

"You want to play it safe because you want to make all the runs and not hurt the motor, but we're drag racers, we don't like to play it safe. We like to go as fast as we can."

Arana has been making the right calls all year long. He already has locked up a spot in the Countdown to the Championship, the NHRA's playoffs, and he leads the points by 141 markers over second place Matt Smith, an amount that equals seven rounds of action with just eight rounds left before the Countdown starts.

"We've got to try all kinds of scenarios so we can learn more things and stay sharp," Arana said. "The points reset so the lead we have now will go away. Then we start over and we need to be ready to fight."

In the meantime, Arana said he always enjoys racing at Bandimere Speedway.

"The fans in Colorado are awesome," Arana said. "They love the motorcycles and the view is perfect at the top of the hill. I really like to race there, even as different as it is for the tune-up."

-source: lucas oil racing