NHRA: Texas NHRA FallNationals – Pro Motorcycle

Texas NHRA FallNationals
Texas Motorplex
October 13-16, 2022

Hector Arano Jr. won Pro Stock Motorcycle in the 20th event of the 2022 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series season and the fourth of six races in the countdown to the championship playoffs.

Arana Jr., making just his fifth appearance at Dallas this season, was a thrilling underdog winner in Pro Stock Motorcycle, earning his first win since 2019, running a 6.822 at 196.35 in his Arana Buell team and beating Jerry Savoia in the final round. It also gives Arana his 16th career win and his first in Dallas, and the veteran picked off some heavy hitters to get there. He defeated Chip Ellis, Angie Smith and points leader Matt Smith to reach the finals, playing the role of spoiler admirably. Arana then found the Savoys for a big win in Dallas.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-cF8fmiPMiQ

“It’s so wonderful. You have to make it the best you can, Arana Jr. – We have such a passion for it. It’s been such a long time and we love being here with all the fans and bringing Wally home is the icing on the cake.”

Savoie reached the final round in Dallas for the seventh time in the last eight years, defeating Mark Ingwersen, Ryan Oehler and Steve Johnson. It is also his third final this season. With two races to go, Matt Smith now leads Joey Gladstone by 51 points.

The NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series returns to action October 27-30 with the NHRA Nevada Nationals on The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

THE FIRST CROWD

W – Jerry Savoy, Suzuki, 6.862, 194.45
L – Mark Ingwersen, 6.880, 189.67

W – Hector Arana Jr., Buell, 6.917, 192.98
L – Chip Ellis, 6.930, 194.75

W – Angie Smith, 6.841, 200.77
L – Gage Herrera, Suzuki, 6.955, 190.96

W – Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 6.804, 195.54
L – Gianna Evaristo, Suzuki, 6.888, 196.97

W – Joey Gladstone, Suzuki, 6.852, 197.92
L – Richard Gadson, 7.675, 121.02

P – Ryan Ohler, 6.960, 191.84
L – Angel Sempi, Suzuki, 7.033, 146.09

W – Eddie Kravets, Suzuki, 6.834, 198.88
P – Chris Bostick, Suzuki, 11.660, 68.21

W – Matt Smith, Buell, 6.818, 200.38
L – Karen Stoffer, Suzuki, 7.065, 180.43

QUARTERFINALS

W – Jerry Savoy, 6.874, 194.70
P – Ryan Ohler, 7.045, 187.79

W – Hector Arana, Jr., 6.924, 193.32
L – Angie Smith, 7.713, 125.09

W – Steve Johnson, 6.778, 195.33
L – Joey Gladstone, Foul – Red Light

W – Matt Smith, 6.804, 200.07
P – Eddie Kravets, 6.904, 193.97

SEMI-FINAL

W – Hector Arana, Jr., 6.887, 193.41
L – Matt Smith, 7.595, 130.37

W – Jerry Savoy, 6.874, 194.46
L – Steve Johnson, 7.014, 186.24

THE FINAL

W – Hector Arana, Jr., 6.822, 196.35
P – Jerry Savoy, 6.890, 193.03

SATURDAY QUALIFYING

Angel Sempi held on for her fifth No. 1 in qualifying of the Pro Stock Motorcycle season as no one could top her 6.728 at 202.05 from Friday on her Mission Foods/Vance & Hines Suzuki. It is also the 58th career qualifier for the three-time world champion, who also boosted her chances of victory in Dallas with an impressive score of 6.759 to close out qualifying. Sempei, who has one win this season and needs a win to stay alive in the championship chase, will open the race against Ryan Oller.

“That (6.75) was a really good run for us,” Sempi said. “I’m pretty sure it was as good as (6.72) considering the weather conditions were worse. We have the bike to win the race like we do every weekend, I just hope and pray that my team has the rider to win the race.

“The competition makes it pretty tough. It’s fierce here these days. Just getting through the first round is always a challenge, but I know my team is ready to win. But everyone else is trying to stop us. I’ll just try to keep my head on straight, have a good time, enjoy the day and look forward to what [symbolic winner] cowboy hat on my head at the end of the day for the first time.”

Reigning winner and points leader Matt Smith is second with a 6.734 at 203.58, improving on his time from Friday. His wife, Angie, is third with 6.793 at 200.96.

1. Angel Sempi, Suzuki, 6.728, 202.05
2. Matt Smith, Buell, 6.734, 203.58
3. Angie Smith, EBR, 6.793, 200.96
4. Joey Gladstone, Suzuki, 6.793, 200.00
5. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 6.793, 199.80
6. Hector Arano, Jr., Buell, 6.808, 199.73
7. Eddie Krawiec, Suzuki, 6.815, 199.29
8. Mark Ingwersen, EBR, 6.826, 197.66
9. Jerry Savoy, Suzuki, 6.832, 198.83
10. Chris Bostick, Suzuki, 6.863, 199.12
11. Chip Ellis, EBR, 6.871, 196.63
12. Gianna Evaristo, Suzuki, 6.877, 198.65
13. Richard Gadson, 6.904, 195.65
14. Gage Herrera, Suzuki, 6.914, 193.77
15. Karen Stoffer, Suzuki, 6.919, 193.64
16. Ryan Ohler, EBR, 6.930, 197.46

Did not pass the qualification
17. Malcolm Phillips Jr., 6.950, 194.25
18. LE Tonglet, 6.959, 194.50
9. Kelly Klontz, 6.964, 197.99
20. David Barron, 11.239, 73.72

QUALIFYING FRIDAY

The Pro Stock Motorcycle class featured a number of great performances on Friday at the Texas Motorplex, and Angel Sempi topped them all, setting the course record on her Mission Foods/Vance & Hines Suzuki with a 6.728 run at 202.05. The track speed record was broken three times during opening qualifying, with Matt Smith setting the mark with a pass of 203.69. The reigning world champion had the best pass of the second session with a 6.734 at 203.58, also earning a $5,000 bonus check. But it was Sempei who led the entire field as she sought her fifth No. 1 ranking of the 2022 season. Trailing Smith by 116 points heading into the weekend, Sempi knows she needs a big game in Dallas.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbieaMpk3hE

“We had a test on Wednesday and we did well and we figured some things out,” Sempi said. “Definitely, I have a lot of catching up to do in the remaining three final races of the year. My mistakes have left me behind. My Vance and Hines/Mission Foods Suzuki is a better bike, I just haven’t been the rider it needs so I need to change that. I’m looking forward to tomorrow and seeing how I do. I never won that race. I don’t have a cowboy hat and I really want to do it this weekend.”

Smith is currently in second place thanks to his run under the lights, while his wife Angie is third after her run of 6.793 at 200.96. She started the weekend in third place, 90 behind her husband.

01 Angel Sempi / 6.728 / 202.05
02 Matt Smith / 6.734 / 203.58
03 Angie Smith / 6.793 / 200.96
04 Steve Johnson / 6.793 / 199.8
05 Eddie Kravets / 6.815 / 199.29
06 Mark Ingwersen / 6.826 / 197.66
07 Jerry Savoy / 6.832 / 198.83
08 Chris Bostick / 6.863 / 199.12
09 Chip Ellis / 6.871 / 196.63
10 Giana Evaristo / 6.877 / 198.65
11 Richard Gadson / 6.904 / 195.82
12 Joey Gladstone / 6.908 / 198.19
13 Hector Arano Jr. / 6.916 / 199.83
14 Karen Stoffer / 6.919 / 193.64
15 Malcom Phillips Jr. / 6.950 / 194.25
16 LE Tonglet / 6.959 / 194.23
17 Kelly Klontz / 6.964 / 195.19
18 Ryan Ohler / 6.968 / 191.66
19 Gage Herrera / 7.166 / 185.55
20 David Barron / 11.239 / 73.72

ABOUT CAMPING WORLD
Headquartered in Lincolnshire, Illinois, Camping World is a leading American retailer of RV and related products and services, offering a wide variety of recreational vehicles, camping and camping equipment, RV maintenance and repair, more outdoor and active sports products, as well as the industry’s broadest range of services, protection plans, products and resources. Since the company’s founding in 1966, Camping World has become one of the most popular RV destinations with more than 170 locations in 38 states and an extensive e-commerce platform. For more information visit www.CampingWorld.com. Camping World shares trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “CWH”.

ABOUT NHRA
The NHRA, headquartered in Glendora, California, is the primary sanctioning body for drag racing in the United States. NHRA presents 22 national events, including the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series, the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, the E3 Spark Plugs Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by J&A Service, the SAM Tech.edu Factory Stock Showdown and the Mickey Thompson Tires Top Fuel Harley Series . Twice a year, the NHRA hosts a “race within a race” during the special JEGS Allstars and Mickey Thompson Tires Pro Bike Battle events. NHRA provides competitive opportunities for drivers of all skill levels in the NHRA Summit Racing Series and NHRA Drags: Street Legal Style. The NHRA also offers the NHRA Jr. program. Street for teenagers and Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League for youth ages 5-17. With more than 120 members, the NHRA allows drivers to compete in a variety of venues nationally and internationally. NHRA’s Youth Service and Education (YES) program reaches more than 30,000 students each year to ignite their interest in automotive and racing-related careers. NHRA’s streaming service, NHRA.tv, allows fans to watch all NHRA national events as well as exclusive sports. In addition, the NHRA owns and operates four racing facilities: Atlanta Dragway in Georgia; Gainesville Raceway in Florida; Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis; and Auto Club Raceway in Pomona in Southern California. For more information, log on to NHRA.comor visit the official NHRA pages at Facebook, YouTube and Twitter.

About Camping World Holdings, Inc.
Camping World Holdings, Inc. headquartered in Lincolnshire, Illinois, (together with its subsidiaries) is America’s largest retailer of RVs and related products and services. Our goal is to build a long-lasting legacy business that makes RVing fun and easy, and our Camping World and Good Sam brands have been serving RV consumers since 1966. We are committed to creating long-term value for our customers, employees and shareholders by combining a unique and comprehensive range of RV products and services with a national network of RV dealers, service centers and customer support centers, as well as the industry’s broadest online presence and highly skilled and an experienced team of partners who serve 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 allow us to uniquely connect with our customers as stewards of the RV enthusiast community and the RV lifestyle. With more than 185 locations in 40 states, Camping World and subsidiary Gander RV have become the premier destination for all things RV. For more information visit www.CampingWorld.com.