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Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/177528
COUNTDOWN: ROUND 2/SEPTEMBER 22, 2013 TEXAS MOTORPLEX/DALLAS, TEXAS DRAG RACING P58 NHRA PRO STOCK SERIES Briefly... as the NHRA tour is in the middle of a grueling streak of four races in four weeks. "I am concerned about our motor," Arana Jr. said. "We need to work on it and see what's wrong and then fix it. We don't know yet how bad it is, and I hope it's not too bad. St. Louis is coming up quickly, and we don't want to get behind." Cowboy up: Krawiec and friends celebrate Texas style after the win. ended the race with a startingline foul. Krawiec moved into the final following a narrow 6.925 to 6.929 win against low qualifier Hector Arana Sr. With four rounds remaining, Krawiec has climbed to fourth in the championship standings, just 62 points behind leader Hector Arana Jr. "This is a huge win for the Harley-Davidson team - they give us everything we need," Krawiec said. "We were down and struggling a little, but now we're back. This weekend I was also struggling as a racer; I sucked on the Tree, but we got the win. If we can continue and improve, I think you're going to see our Harley's sitting up front." Smith raced to the final round for the fifth time this season by riding his self-tuned Buell to wins against Mike Berry, Nitro Fish Suzuki's LE Tonglet and Hector Arana Jr. The number-two qualifier, Smith not only had one of the quickest bikes in the field but also one of the most consistent with four runs on race day between 6.884 and 6.913. No doubt frustrated to lose his fourth final, Smith needed only to look at the updated points standings to find some comfort as he is now firmly in second-place and trails leader Arana Jr. by just 11 points, a deficit that can easily be overcome with four races remaining. "Man, I hate that I gave up the final," Smith said. "I've had a bad habit of doing that this year, but we're going to be just fine. We're getting closer and closer to first place and I know I have a great bike under me. And, we go to St. Louis next and that's been a good track for me." CN Final 1. Eddie Krawiec (HarleyDavidson) 6.951/191.87 mph 2. Matt Smith (Buell) 6.913/194.55 mph It doesn't take a lot of imagination to think that the Sovereign/Star hauler was a place to avoid after both riders, Michael Ray and Scotty Pollacheck, went out on Sunday due to red-light starts. Ray left too soon in the second round against eventual winner Krawiec and Pollacheck did likewise in the same round against Hector Arana Sr. Ray's loss had to be especially galling as his 6.85-second run in the first round held up as the quickest run on race day. Rumors are swirling regarding the 2014 season as interest in the Pro Stock Motorcycle class appears to be growing. The latest nugget has a group of foreign investors looking to start an all-new team with two riders who have not previously raced a full season of NHRA competition. Even though rain shortened qualifying to just two sessions, the field was plenty quick as former Dallas winner Michael Phillips anchored the number 16 spot with a 7.07 and 13 riders were in the six-second zone. The nonqualifiers were Steve Johnson, Fred Camarena, and Redell Harris. Thirteen qualifiers also topped 190-mph on the speed chart.