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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SCREAMIN’ EAGLE RIDERS GO ROUNDS AT ENGLISHTOWN Hines Advances to Semi-Finals, Maintains Pro Stock Motorcycle Points Lead
ENGLISHTOWN, NJ (June 22, 2008) – Screamin’ Eagle/Vance & Hines rider Andrew Hines won twice before bowing out in the semi-final round of NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle eliminations at the Lucas Oil NHRA SuperNationals at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park. Hines, riding a Harley-Davidson V-Rod motorcycle, maintained his hold on the Pro Stock Motorcycle season points lead.
The death of Top Fuel driver Scott Kalitta in a racing accident on Saturday left the Screamin' Eagle/Vance & Hines team in a somber mood on Sunday.
“It’s very difficult to come to the track and go back to work after a tragic accident like this,” said Screamin’ Eagle Racing Manager Anne Paluso. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the Kalitta family and that racing organization.”
Hines qualified fifth for the SuperNationals with a 6.973-second run. His Screamin’ Eagle/Vance & Hines teammate, Eddie Krawiec, qualified his V-Rod ninth with a 6.997 pass. Chris Rivas lead all qualifiers with a 6.923 run.
Hines defeated Mike Barry on the MB Precision Machining Buell in the first round Sunday, and cut a perfect starting light in a round-two win over Rush Racing Products Buell rider Angelle Sampey to advance to the semi-final round. Krawiec defeated Matt Guidera on the Rocklin Motorsports Buell in the first round, but lost to Chris Rivas in round two. In the semi-final round Rivas laid down a 7.007-second pass to defeat the 7.116 run of Hines. In the final round, Rivas lost on a red-light start to Chip Ellis on the Schumacher Electric Suzuki. It was the first event win for Ellis since 2005.
“Other than our first qualifying run, the semi-final run was our worst pass of the weekend,” said Hines. “Our tune-up was just off. We studied the data and thought we were going the right way with the set-up, but the motor just wouldn’t rev in any gear. But we are still leading in points and the Screamin’ Eagle team will go back to the shop this week and get ready for Norwalk.”
For Krawiec, it was a frustrating return to his home race track.
“I’d say we were behind the eight-ball all weekend,” said Krawiec. “We didn’t get down the track well at all on Saturday. Today we had a good motorcycle and I felt like I was consistent, but I just didn’t have the power to beat the guy in the other lane.”
After six rounds in the 2008 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, Hines has 556 points to lead the Pro Stock Motorcycle class. Ellis moves from third to second place with 478 points, followed by Matt Smith with 460 and Rivas with 407. Krawiec is seventh with 325 points. NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycles will race next at the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals, June 26-29 at Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio. . 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 www.harley-davidson.com for more information.
The Screamin' Eagle/Vance & Hines Pro Stock Motorcycle team is sponsored by Ford Truck, Dunlop, Matco Tools and S100.
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