NHRA Pro Stock Drag Racing Results From the Carolina Nationals

NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle defending world champ Andrew Hines won this event for the third time in his career, clocking a winning run of 6.880 at 195.11 on his Screamin' Eagle Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson to Matt Smith's losing 6.910 at 192.49 on his Victory Racing Gunner.

Two-time champion Smith ran solid low-6.9s in the first three elimination rounds to put the Victory Gunner in its second final-round appearance of 2015 (see Lucas Oil Nationals results). In the final round, Smith clocked his best ET of the event but a sleepy .150 reaction time was no match for Hines' near-perfect .007 and quicker ET. It was Hines' 40th career victory in the two-wheel category.

"I won here in the spring at the (NHRA) Four-Wide Nationals, and that was my 39th win, and it has taken us all this time go get back and get win No. 40," Hines said. "That tells you how tough it is out here."

Hines outran Chaz Kennedy, veteran rider Steve Johnson, and top qualifier Jerry Savoie to advance to the final and get a great start on defending his series crown. He moved into the points lead with the win and is 20 points ahead of playoff top seed and teammate Eddie Krawiec heading to round two of the playoffs.

"I’m not quite certain why, but zMAX Dragway has been kind to me,” Hines said. “The first three or four times here, I never got past the first round. My Harley V-Rod was running straight and true and putting up big speeds, and it has done it consistently. We’ve had to figure out how to get a win on a tricky track, but everything played out in our favor. We took a chance and changed a bunch of parts on our engine at midseason looking for more power and consistency, and it paid off.”

NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle Points Standings (after 11 of 16 events)