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/>