Pro Stock Motorcycle’s Eddie Krawiec on Verge of Fourth World Title

NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle Ed Krawiec action

GLENDORA, CA – November 9, 2017 – (Motor Sports Newswire) – On the cusp of his fourth Pro Stock Motorcycle world championship, thanks to an incredible performance during the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Countdown to the Championship, Eddie Krawiec still has some unfinished business to attend to at the final race of the season, this weekend’s Auto Club NHRA Finals at historic Auto Club Raceway at Pomona.

Currently, Krawiec holds a 150-point lead over LE Tonglet and the title scenario is simple. If Krawiec qualifies on his Screamin’ Eagle Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson, something he’s done at every race since 2007, he will claim his fourth world title. That’s the first to-do of the weekend for, but a second one is also important for Krawiec. He has four wins at the season-finale at Pomona, but none have come in a year where he won a title, and that’s something he wants to change.

“I’ve never won the championship and the final race in Pomona in the same year, so my goal is to put that stat aside,” said Krawiec, who has four wins in five playoff races this year. “We still want to go out there and win the race. That’s our goal and you always go to win the race. That’s something you don’t want to change and I want to continue that trend. My goal is to win.”

Doug Kalitta (Top Fuel), Tommy Johnson Jr. (Funny Car), Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) and Matt Smith (Pro Stock Motorcycle) were last year’s winners of the season-ending race that will be televised on FOX Sports 1 (FS1), including live finals coverage starting at 4:00 p.m. (ET) on Sunday, Nov. 12. The last event of the 2017 season will have more on the line via the point-and-a-half system, meaning the winner earns 150 points and has the chance to earn up to 191 points at the event.

But that likely won’t be enough for Tonglet to track down Krawiec, who has been nearly impeccable during the Countdown to the Championship, putting together one of the most dominant playoff runs in NHRA history. It actually started at the regular-season finale in Indy, where Krawiec qualified No. 1 and won the prestigious Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals. He followed it up with back-to-back wins in Charlotte and Reading, adding two more playoff wins after a second-round exit in St. Louis. It gives Krawiec a 17-1 mark during the Countdown to the Championship and though impressive, a perfect ending to Krawiec’s late-season run would be stretching it to 21-1.

“It’s been great and we had luck when we needed it and I was good when I needed to be good,” said Krawiec, who has 43 career wins. “That’s the best way to say it. This has just been one of those times where it’s just all rolled my way. But I was good when I needed to be and honestly it all worked out great. For a stretch like this, you couldn’t ask for anything more.”

Simply put, Krawiec has been dynamite when he needed to be. After the understandable initial struggles when Krawiec and Hines debuted their new Street Rods in June, the team made rapid improvements in a short time. The adjustments included going back to their previous chassis, but Krawiec has also been impressive in every aspect of his riding. He’s knocked off a plethora of world champions during his playoff run, which has made this stretch even sweeter. Capping it off with a championship and Auto Club NHRA Finals win would make it even better.

“You have to be mistake-free and I feel like I did a good job of that,” said Krawiec, who has seven total wins in 2017. “I feel like I demonstrated I performed well under pressure. Sometimes you do fumble or make a mistake, but I feel like I’ve been there the whole time. What makes this championship stand out is there are a lot of great motorcycles out there that can beat you. When you look at the performance of everybody and the class as a whole, it’s really good.”

Steve Torrence will try to claim his first Top Fuel world championship in Pomona. The eight-time 2017 winner holds a 20-point and 84-point lead on Brittany Force and Kalitta, respectively.

Funny Car points leader Robert Hight will try to hold off reigning world champ Ron Capps in a must-see duel. Hight currently has a 15-point advantage.

Anderson, who has 12 wins in Pomona and six at the finale, will try to claim a fifth Pro Stock world title. He leads Bo Butner by 40 points and reigning world champ Jason Line by 76 points.

The Auto Club NHRA Finals also features thrilling competition in the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series. As always, fans can interact with their favorite drivers as they’re granted an exclusive pit pass to the most powerful and sensory-filled motorsports attraction on the planet. This opportunity in motorsports gives fans direct access to the teams, allowing them to see firsthand the highly-skilled mechanics service their hot rods between rounds, and get autographs from their favorite NHRA drivers. Fans can also visit NHRA’s popular Nitro Alley and Manufacturers Midway, where sponsors and race vendors create a carnival atmosphere, with interactive displays, simulated competitions, merchandise, food and fun for the entire family.

Mello Yello Drag Racing Series qualifying will feature two rounds at 12:00 p.m. and 2:45 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 10, and the final two rounds of qualifying on Saturday, Nov. 11, at 12:00 p.m. and 2:45 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 11 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 12.

To purchase general-admission or reserved seats, call 800-884-NHRA (6472). Tickets also are available online at www.NHRA.com/tickets. Kids 12 and under are free in general admission areas with a paid adult. All students can save 50 percent on general admission at the gate with a student ID. To honor the Salute to First Responders, military and first responders can save 20 percent on general admission tickets at the gate. For more info about the NHRA visit www.NHRA.com.

About National Hot Rod Association

Headquartered in Glendora, Calif., NHRA is the primary sanctioning body for the sport of drag racing in the United States. NHRA presents 24 national events featuring the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series and NHRA J&A Service Pro Mod Drag Racing Series. National Hot Rod Association provides competition opportunities for drivers of all levels in the NHRA Summit Racing Series and the NHRA Drags: Street Legal Style presented by AAA. NHRA also offers NHRA Jr. Street program for teens and the Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League for youth ages 5 to 17. In addition, NHRA owns and operates five racing facilities: Atlanta Dragway in Georgia; Gainesville Raceway in Florida; National Trail Raceway in Ohio; 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.

Source: National Hot Rod Association