<img src="http://www.nitromater.com/gallery/files/5/A_Hines.jpg" alt="A_Hines" align="left"borders="0"/>
MILWAUKEE (June 26, 2007) – Andrew Hines has taken his Screamin' Eagle/Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson V-Rod to two consecutive final rounds. He wants to make it three in a row and be the first winner at the NHRA's newest venue.
Eddie Krawiec is the new guy on the Screamin' Eagle team and he's doing lots of things for the first time this season. The New Jersey resident kicked off the season with a semifinal finish in Gainesville, Fla., -- not bad for his career first appearance in NHRA POWERade eliminations. He thinks the new guy should win the first race at the new place.
The two Harley-Davidson factory riders will be making their bid for the victory when qualifying for the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals kicks off in Norwalk, Ohio on Friday. It's the first time the NHRA has had the Norwalk facility on the schedule for a national event.
"I've actually been there once, when I helped Craig Treble do some testing there a few years ago," Hines, 24, said. "I even made a few passes down the track in my truck. That's the first place I ever drag raced my truck. It looked like a great facility and a fun place to race when I was there and now they've made a lot of upgrades and improvements, so I'm anxious to get there and try to become the first NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle winner."
Bill Bader opened the Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park in 1963 and it has become one of the premier drag racing facilities in the country. When NHRA and Bader announced plans to bring an NHRA national event to Norwalk, they also announced a $4 million facilities improvement plan.
Krawiec has raced there in the past, when he competed on the AMA Prostar tour. He said the fans make the track even better.
"I've raced my 600 SuperSport there in AMA competition a few times so I'm looking forward to going back there with the Screamin' Eagle V-Rod," Krawiec said. "Ohio has such a great racing fan base and they are enthusiastic supporters of the Pro Stock Motorcycle category and that just makes for an even more exciting atmosphere."
Harley-Davidson Racing Manager Anne Paluso said the facility brings a new excitement to the schedule that will likely provide even better racing.
"All of the racers will be on an even playing field and every team will have to put their best effort forward to be able to get the best setup for eliminations," Paluso said. "I think the fans are going to see some of the best racing because the teams have to step up at a new facility."
Hines is going to do everything he can to be the last rider standing on Sunday – something the rest of the competition will be trying to do as
well. He has earned one win in two final round appearances this season and is currently fourth in POWERade points.
"More than anything, I'm excited about competing for the inaugural victory at a new track," Hines said. "We don't get that opportunity very often and I think it would be great to be the first NHRA winner there. It's not going to be easy. Our team has been working so hard just to be in the position to compete on Sundays. The competition is real tough and everything has be just about perfect to win these days."
Krawiec knows that this will be the start of a great relationship between NHRA and Norwalk's facility and fans.
"Norwalk is a facility that is going to help continue to raise the bar on NHRA events," Krawiec said. "The Baders treat their tracks so well and I think Norwalk is probably one of the top facilities in the country. I'm thrilled it's part of the NHRA family of tracks now and I can't wait to get there and make that first pass down the track."
Qualifying for the NHRA event will start Friday with two sessions at 4 and 7 p.m., continuing Saturday at noon and 2:30 p.m. Final eliminations will begin at 11 a.m. on Sunday.
All the action of the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals can be seen on ESPN2 starting on Saturday with qualifying coverage at 10 p.m. (ET), continuing with three hours of final eliminations coverage on Sunday at 8 p.m. (ET). NHRA Race Day – a live magazine show filmed at the track – can be seen on Sunday at 11 a.m. (ET), also on ESPN2.
Screamin’ Eagle Performance Parts are inspired by and built in the spirit of the raw adrenaline and power of motorcycle racing. Screamin’ Eagle Pro parts are specifically designed for race-use applications, while Screamin’ Eagle parts offer street-use performance options for the Harley-Davidson motorcycle owner. Visit Country Selector for more information.
The Screamin' Eagle/Vance & Hines Pro Stock Motorcycle team is sponsored by Ford Truck, Dunlop, Matco Tools and S100.
SCREAMIN' EAGLE RIDERS HINES AND KRAWIEC LOOK TO WIN INAUGURAL EVENT IN NORWALK
Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park to Host First NHRA National Event
MILWAUKEE (June 26, 2007) – Andrew Hines has taken his Screamin' Eagle/Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson V-Rod to two consecutive final rounds. He wants to make it three in a row and be the first winner at the NHRA's newest venue.
Eddie Krawiec is the new guy on the Screamin' Eagle team and he's doing lots of things for the first time this season. The New Jersey resident kicked off the season with a semifinal finish in Gainesville, Fla., -- not bad for his career first appearance in NHRA POWERade eliminations. He thinks the new guy should win the first race at the new place.
The two Harley-Davidson factory riders will be making their bid for the victory when qualifying for the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals kicks off in Norwalk, Ohio on Friday. It's the first time the NHRA has had the Norwalk facility on the schedule for a national event.
"I've actually been there once, when I helped Craig Treble do some testing there a few years ago," Hines, 24, said. "I even made a few passes down the track in my truck. That's the first place I ever drag raced my truck. It looked like a great facility and a fun place to race when I was there and now they've made a lot of upgrades and improvements, so I'm anxious to get there and try to become the first NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle winner."
Bill Bader opened the Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park in 1963 and it has become one of the premier drag racing facilities in the country. When NHRA and Bader announced plans to bring an NHRA national event to Norwalk, they also announced a $4 million facilities improvement plan.
Krawiec has raced there in the past, when he competed on the AMA Prostar tour. He said the fans make the track even better.
"I've raced my 600 SuperSport there in AMA competition a few times so I'm looking forward to going back there with the Screamin' Eagle V-Rod," Krawiec said. "Ohio has such a great racing fan base and they are enthusiastic supporters of the Pro Stock Motorcycle category and that just makes for an even more exciting atmosphere."
Harley-Davidson Racing Manager Anne Paluso said the facility brings a new excitement to the schedule that will likely provide even better racing.
"All of the racers will be on an even playing field and every team will have to put their best effort forward to be able to get the best setup for eliminations," Paluso said. "I think the fans are going to see some of the best racing because the teams have to step up at a new facility."
Hines is going to do everything he can to be the last rider standing on Sunday – something the rest of the competition will be trying to do as
well. He has earned one win in two final round appearances this season and is currently fourth in POWERade points.
"More than anything, I'm excited about competing for the inaugural victory at a new track," Hines said. "We don't get that opportunity very often and I think it would be great to be the first NHRA winner there. It's not going to be easy. Our team has been working so hard just to be in the position to compete on Sundays. The competition is real tough and everything has be just about perfect to win these days."
Krawiec knows that this will be the start of a great relationship between NHRA and Norwalk's facility and fans.
"Norwalk is a facility that is going to help continue to raise the bar on NHRA events," Krawiec said. "The Baders treat their tracks so well and I think Norwalk is probably one of the top facilities in the country. I'm thrilled it's part of the NHRA family of tracks now and I can't wait to get there and make that first pass down the track."
Qualifying for the NHRA event will start Friday with two sessions at 4 and 7 p.m., continuing Saturday at noon and 2:30 p.m. Final eliminations will begin at 11 a.m. on Sunday.
All the action of the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals can be seen on ESPN2 starting on Saturday with qualifying coverage at 10 p.m. (ET), continuing with three hours of final eliminations coverage on Sunday at 8 p.m. (ET). NHRA Race Day – a live magazine show filmed at the track – can be seen on Sunday at 11 a.m. (ET), also on ESPN2.
Screamin’ Eagle Performance Parts are inspired by and built in the spirit of the raw adrenaline and power of motorcycle racing. Screamin’ Eagle Pro parts are specifically designed for race-use applications, while Screamin’ Eagle parts offer street-use performance options for the Harley-Davidson motorcycle owner. Visit Country Selector for more information.
The Screamin' Eagle/Vance & Hines Pro Stock Motorcycle team is sponsored by Ford Truck, Dunlop, Matco Tools and S100.
