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Harley-Davidson Powers into Sonoma Valley for NHRA Event


SONOMA, Calif.  In just three years, the Screamin'
Eagle/Vance & Hines team powered its Harley-Davidson motorcycle to the
NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series Pro Stock Bike championship in 2004
with the youngest professional champion in NHRA history, Andrew Hines.

 

The championship marked the first by a Harley-Davidson factory-supported
NHRA drag-racing effort and the first won by a V-Twin-powered
motorcycle.  The team will look to continue its winning ways at Infineon
Raceway when the Pro Stock Bike class returns for the fourth year to the
FRAM Autolite NHRA Nationals, presented by Supercuts, July 29-31.

 

Ridden by Hines and G.T. Tonglet, the two-bike Harley-Davidson effort
has been a true racing success story.  

 

"This is an outstanding accomplishment for my dad (Byron) and the entire
team," said Hines, who is just 22 years old. "To take this
Harley-Davidson program and build it to a championship level this fast
is really something. I'm really proud to be associated with this
outstanding team and I'm fortunate to add my name to the Vance & Hines
roster of champions."

 

Hines earned three event victories and was top qualifier at seven events
on his way to the 2004 championship, while Tonglet finished sixth in Pro
Stock points.  Hines and Tonglet even made it an all-Harley-Davidson
final round at the K&N Filters Pro Stock Bike Klash at the 50th annual
Mac Tools U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis.  Hines beat Tonglet in the
crowd-pleasing final round, and the riders agreed to split the combined
purse.

 

Harley-Davidson also made its mark at Infineon Raceway in 2004.  Hines
tied the fastest run in Pro Stock Bike history and reset the track's
class speed record with a lightning-quick 196.13 mph pass down the
quarter-mile drag strip.  He advanced to the semifinals, before
red-lighting against Antron Brown (U.S. Army Racing Suzuki).

 

Hines and Tonglet will look for the first Infineon Raceway victory for
the Vance & Hines team when the series returns in 2005, but they're sure
to face substantial competition from the entire Pro Stock Bike field.
Angelle Sampey captured her first Infineon Raceway victory in 2004 after
defeating her teammate, Antron Brown, in the final round.  

 

"Sonoma's the biggest bike race of them all," said Steve Johnson, rider
of the K&N Filters Suzuki. "It's hard for me to describe how cool it is
to roll through the gates in the morning and see that entire hillside
covered in motorcycles. It's huge for 

us."

 

 

WHAT: Big O Tires Racing Season Presents: FRAM Autolite NHRA Nationals,
presented by Supercuts

WHEN: July 29-31

WHERE: Infineon Raceway

2004 WINNERS: Doug Kalitta (Top Fuel); Tim Wilkerson (Funny Car); Greg
Anderson (Pro Stock); and Angelle Sampey (Pro Stock Bike)

TICKETS: 800-870-RACE, www.infineonraceway.com
<http://www.infineonraceway.com/> , www.ticketmaster.com
<http://www.ticketmaster.com/>