NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series
16th annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals
Summit Motorsports Park
June 23-25, 2023

Pro Stock Motorcycle

Hector Arana Jr. put together a consistent Sunday in Norwalk and ended it with his first Pro Stock Motorcycle victory of the season, going 6.821 at 199.82 in the final round on his GETTRX Suzuki to get past Steve Johnson. It’s Arana Jr.’s first victory at Summit Motorsports Park and the 18th in his career. After qualifying third with a 6.814, Arana Jr. stayed in that range throughout eliminations, beating Wesley Wells, Angie Smith and defending world champ Matt Smith with runs of 6.826, 6.801 and 6.820.

That consistency followed through in the final round with an impressive performance against Johnson, helping send Arana Jr. to second in points.

“We made one little mistake in the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge, and we were able to learn from our mistake and come out today with a really fast, consistent bike,” Arana Jr. said. “That gives you all the confidence in the world as a rider, knowing you have a good bike beneath you and that when you let the clutch out, it’s going to do what it’s supposed to do and go right down the track.

 

“We definitely have momentum. We’ve had a fast bike, and we’ve been qualifying really well and running well. We had a good bike in Bristol, we just had a couple little gremlins we needed to get through, but I’d rather have those earlier in the season than later.”

Johnson earned his second straight final round appearance and 32nd of his career with victories Chase Van Sant, Eddie Krawiec and Jianna Evaristo. Gaige Herrera maintained the points lead in the class.

The NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series returns to action July 14-16 with the Dodge Power Brokers NHRA Mile-High Nationals at Bandimere Speedway in Denver. It kicks off the famed NHRA Western Swing and also marks the final race at Bandimere Speedway.

Eliminations – Round 1

W – Jianna Evaristo / 0.017 / 6.903 / 196.39
L – Ryan Oehler / 0.042 / 6.923 / 195.85
This is just the second time (in 42 races) that Jianna Evaristo has qualified in the top half of the field. Ryan Oehler is 2 -2 in Rd. 1 this year.

This is the first time Evaristo and Oehler have faced each other in eliminations. Evaristo with a great light and runs her quickest pass of the weekend for the win. Oehler with his quickest pass of the weekend in the losing effort.

W – Angie Smith / 0.015 / 6.881 / 198.20
L – Ron Tornow / 0.085 / 6.994 / 192.96

Angie Smith wins 67% of her Rd. 1 races when she has lane choice. Ron Tornow is making his 22nd start. Smith is 1 – 0 against Tornow in prior events.

W – Marc Ingwersen / 0.004 / 6.956 / 195.65
L – Kelly Clontz / 0.088 / 7.056 / 193.88

Marc Ingwersen is making his 31st start. Kelly Clontz is making her 55th start. Ingwersen with a near perfect light and the win.

W – Steve Johnson / 0.083 / 6.802 / 197.59
L – Chase Van Sant / 0.013 / 6.968 / 195.56

Steve Johnson is #5 and the #5 PSM qualifier is 14 – 1 in Rd. 1 at this event. Chase Van Sant is making his 5th start. Van Sant is 1 – 0 against Johnson in prior events. Van Sant with a great light, but Johnson has the difference made up by 200 feet and never trailed from there on for the win. Johnson with his quickest pass of the weekend and quickest pass of the race day for the win.

W – Gaige Herrera / 0.030 / 6.777 / 199.88
L – EARNED BYE

The last time the #1 PSM qualifier won this race was 2016. Herrera launched hard and kept it hooked to make the quickest pass of event for the win. He sets the track E.T. record. He runs top speed of the event. He will have lane choice over Evaristo in the next round.

W – Hector Arana Jr / 0.125 / 6.826 / 199.46
L – Wesley Wells / 0.052 / 7.267 / 186.18

Hector Arana Jr wins 79% of his Rd. 1 races when starting from the top half of the field. Wesley Wells is making his 29th start. Wells with the starting line advantage, but Arana Jr has the lead by 150 feet and never trails from there on for the win. He will have lane choice over Angie Smith in the next round. Wells with his quickest pass of the weekend in the losing effort.

W – Matt Smith / 0.087 / 6.836 / 200.17
L – Chris Bostick / Broke

Bostick is a no-show. Matt Smith is 25 – 3 in Rd. 1 when qualified #2 Smith with the first 200 mph pass this weekend on the single. He will have lane choice over Ingwersen in the next round.

W – Eddie Krawiec / 0.068 / 6.791 / 200.98
L – John Hall / 0.042 / 7.039 / 194.38

Eddie Krawiec is 212 – 37 (85%) in Rd. 1. The #13 PSM qualifier is 3 – 12 in Rd. 1 at this event. Krawiec is 8 – 1 against Hall in prior events. Hall with the starting line advantage, but Krawiec has the difference made up by the time they go by the Christmas tree and never trailed from there on for the win. Krawiec with the second quickest pass of race day and the fastest speed of the event for the win. He will have lane choice over Johnson in the next round.

Eliminations – Round 2

W – Matt Smith / 0.055 / 6.835 / 198.26
L – Matt Ingwersen / -0.026 / 6.934 / 193.79

Smith is 3 – 1 against Ingwersen in prior events. Ingwersen goes red to give Smith the win.

W – Hector Arana Jr / 0.037 / 6.801 / 199.52
L – Angie Smith / 0.059 / 6.927 / 196.56

Arana Jr is 15 – 5 against Smith in prior events. Arana Jr. with the starting line advantage and never trailed for the win. He will have lane choice over Matt Smith in the semifinal.

W – Steve Johnson / 0.020 / 6.848 / 195.90
L – Eddie Krawiec / 0.082 / 6.793 / 199.67

Krawiec is 24 – 9 against Johnson in prior events. Johnson with the starting line advantage and the power to hold on for the hole shot win. Steve Johnson’s MOV: 0.0073 seconds (approximately 2 feet).

W – Jianna Evaristo / 0.050 / 6.897 / 196.02
L – Gaige Herrera / 0.067 / 6.988 / 189.76

Herrera is 1 – 0 against Evaristo in prior events. Evaristo with the starting line advantage and never trailed for the win. She will give up lane choice to Johnson in the semifinal.

Eliminations – Semi-Final

W – Steve Johnson / 0.080 / 6.897 / 194.44
L – Jianna Evaristo / -0.014 foul / 7.068 / 170.19

Johnson is 3 – 1 against Evaristo in prior events. Evaristo goes red to give Johnson the win. Johnson is advancing to his 32nd final round.

W – Hector Arana Jr / 0.023 / 6.820 / 199.64
L – Matt Smith / 0.032 / 6.839 / 200.11

Arana Jr is 14 – 13 against Smith in prior events. Arana Jr. with the starting line advantage and never trailed for the win. Hector Arana Jr’s MOV: 0.0282 seconds (approximately 8 feet). He will have lane choice over Johnson in the final. Arana Jr is advancing to his 31st final round.

Eliminations -Final

W – Hector Arana Jr / 0.034 / 6.821 / 199.82
RU – Steve Johnson / 0.074 / 6.943 / 176.63

Arana Jr is 13 – 3 against Johnson in prior events and Arana Jr is 1 – 0 against Johnson in prior final rounds. Arana Jr. with the starting line advantage and never trailed for the win. Arana Jr. wins his first this season and the 18th of his career.

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Pro Stock Motorcycle Point standings Top 10

1. Gaige Herrera, 552
2. Hector Arana Jr, 363
3. Steve Johnson, 358
4. Eddie Krawiec, 328
5. Matt Smith, 321
6. Angie Smith, 291
7. Chase Van Sant, 254
8. Jianna Evaristo, 241
9. Marc Ingwersen, 205
10. Ryan Oehler, 196

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Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge Pro Stock Motorcycle Challenge

Pro Stock Motorcycle, Angie Smith enjoyed the biggest moment of her season thus far, defeating Hector Arana Jr. in the final round of the Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge with a pass of 6.967 at 196.96 on her Denso Auto Parts Buell. After the victory, Smith talked about the importance of momentum, knowing she gained plenty with her successful day on Saturday in Norwalk. She knocked off Herrera, who went red, in the opening round before holding off Arana Jr. in the final round of the specialty race.

“It was really exciting to get the win,” Smith said. “I just want to say thank you to Mission Foods for doing this. It puts a little extra emphasis on Saturday, and it’s like two races in one. When you can put your name on that trophy, it means a lot.

“It does give us more confidence. Anytime you can turn on win lights, it makes you more confident. I think the people that win these things – it gives you confidence, it gives you momentum.”

ROUND ONE
W – Hector Arana Jr / .035 / 6.814 / 199.14
L – Steve Johnson / .080 / 6.878 / 195.36

W – Angie Smith / 0.035 / 6.868 / 197.39
L – Gaige Herrera / -0.008 / 6.805 / 198.90

FINAL
W – Angie Smith .060 / 6.967 / 196.96
L – Hector Arana Jr / .040 / 7.006 / 197.68

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Qualifying – Saturday

Herrera bounced back from his red light in the Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge, rolling to his fifth straight No. 1 qualifier with a pass of 6.785 at 198.76 on his Mission Foods/Vance & Hines Suzuki. The points leader just missed on a new track record, but takes plenty of momentum into Sunday, where he’ll attempt to get his fourth win this year. Matt Smith qualified second with a 6.806 at 199.17, with Arana Jr.’s 6.814 at 199.14 putting him third.

“After going red in Bristol and then going red today in the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge definitely took the wind out of my sails a little bit,” Herrera said. “To bounce back and get a No. 1 qualifier – we’re still holding that streak so I’m happy for that, overall, for the whole team.

“I started off with an incredible season, you can’t ask for anything better. I knew there would be bumps in the road. In Bristol, I was telling everyone I wasn’t feeling it, something was going to happen, and it did. I think you just come back from it and grow from it.”

1. Gaige Herrera, Suzuki, 6.785, 198.76 vs. Bye
2. Matt Smith, Suzuki, 6.806, 199.17
3. Hector Arana Jr, EBR, 6.814, 199.14
4. Eddie Krawiec, Suzuki, 6.827, 197.71
5. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 6.840, 195.87
6. Angie Smith, EBR, 6.868, 197.39
7. Marc Ingwersen, EBR, 6.896, 192.80
8. Jianna Evaristo, Suzuki, 6.941, 194.04
9. Ryan Oehler, EBR, 6.942, 193.90
10. Kelly Clontz, Suzuki, 6.967, 192.33
11. Ron Tornow, Victory, 6.981, 193.71
12. Chase Van Sant, Suzuki, 7.010, 192.17
13. John Hall, Buell, 7.017, 192.33
14. Wesley Wells, Suzuki, 7.366, 182.43
15. Chris Bostick, EBR, 7.500, 47.51

*Due to weather, no Pro Stock Motorcycle qualifying rounds were made. 

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ABOUT NHRA
Headquartered in Glendora, Calif., NHRA is the primary sanctioning body for the sport of drag racing in the United States. NHRA presents 22 national events featuring the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series, NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, E3 Spark Plugs Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by J&A Service, SAM Tech.edu Factory Stock Showdown and Mickey Thompson Tires Top Fuel Harley Series. Twice a year, NHRA hosts a ‘race-within-a-race,’ during the JEGS Allstars and Mickey Thompson Tires Pro Bike Battle specialty competitions. NHRA provides competition opportunities for drivers of all levels in the NHRA Summit Racing Series and the NHRA Drags: Street Legal Style. NHRA also offers the NHRA Jr. Street program for teens and the Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League for youth ages 5 to 17. With over 120 Member Tracks, NHRA allows racers to compete at a variety of locations nationally and internationally. NHRA’s Youth and Education Services (YES) Program reaches over 30,000 students annually to ignite their interest in automotive and racing-related careers. NHRA’s streaming service, NHRA.tv, allows fans to view all NHRA national events as well as exclusive features of the sport. In addition, NHRA owns and operates four racing facilities: Atlanta Dragway in Georgia; Gainesville Raceway in Florida; Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis; and Auto Club Raceway at Pomona in Southern California. For more information, log on to NHRA.com, or visit the official NHRA pages on Facebook, YouTube and Twitter.

About Camping World Holdings, Inc.
Camping World Holdings, Inc., headquartered in Lincolnshire, IL, (together with its subsidiaries) is America’s largest retailer of RVs and related products and services. Our vision is to build a long-term legacy business that makes RVing fun and easy, and our Camping World and Good Sam brands have been serving RV consumers since 1966. We strive to build long-term value for our customers, employees, and shareholders by combining a unique and comprehensive assortment of RV products and services with a national network of RV dealerships, service centers and customer support centers along with the industry’s most extensive online presence and a highly trained and knowledgeable team of associates serving our customers, the RV lifestyle, and the communities in which we operate. We also believe that our Good Sam organization and family of programs and services uniquely enables us to connect with our customers as stewards of the RV enthusiast community and the RV lifestyle. With over 185 locations in 40 states, Camping World, and sister company Gander RV, have grown to become prime destinations for everything RV. For more information, visit www.CampingWorld.com.

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