Since NHRA changed the Pro Stock Motorcycle rules this year, the Harleys, which had absolutely dominated last season, haven’t been quite so successful. At Houston, Andrew Hines eliminated teammate Eddie Krawiec (shown) in the first round and then eliminated himself in the next round with a red light.

Arana Jr. opened the 2013 season with a win from the No. 2 qualifying position in Gainesville, Fla., then won the pole and the race in Charlotte before repeating that feat in Houston.

He opened this race against No 16 qualifier Shawn Gann and secured that round-win when Gann red-lit. That moved Arana Jr. to the second round against his dad, 2009 series champion Hector Arana Sr.

Arana Sr. actually had the better elapsed time (6.902 seconds at 192.22 mph to Arana Jr.'s 6.906 at 193.68 mph), but Arana Jr. got the jump on the Christmas Tree. Arana Jr.'s light was .070-second while his dad's was .114 and Arana Jr. advanced to the semifinals.

"He didn't say too much. He just said, 'Good job. You beat me again.' Our bike hasn't been the fastest on every run on Sunday, but we've been the most consistent and that's what wins races. I feel like I've been pretty consistent as a rider, too. That combination is lethal and we've been able to keep doing it. It's pretty exciting."

Scott Pollacheck

Arana Jr. blitzed John Hall in the semifinals with a pass of 6.928 seconds at 193.13 mph; Hall recorded a lap of 6.959 at 190.11 mph. That put him in the final against Scott Pollacheck, one of the three riders Arana Jr. beat in the final of the Dollar General NHRA Four-Wide Nationals in Charlotte last week.

Arana Jr. left first, .034 to .041, and outran Pollacheck with a lap of 6.912 seconds at 194.74 mph. Pollacheck trailed with a pass of 6.985 at 188.54 mph, and Arana Jr. had his sixth career victory.   

"We're working hard and our bikes are running well right now," Arana Jr. said. "We're going to try to keep this momentum up and we'll see what happens."

The win came two years after Arana Jr. made his Pro Stock Motorcycle debut, beating his dad to claim his first round-win of 2011. Arana Jr. finished second in Houston last year.

"It's very exciting to seal the deal," Arana Jr. said. "I got my first round-win here and I got to the finals last year. To be able to get the win now and cap it off is pretty exciting."