GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- A Pro Stock Motorcycle victory in the AC Delco NHRA Gatornationals on March 15 was doubly important for Dixie Chopper-sponsored Hector Arana.

The 50-year-old Arana, a 19-year veteran of the Pro Stock Motorcycle class, earned only his second win ever by beating low qualifier Matt Smith in the finals. The triumph did more than put Arana in the winner's circle, it vaulted him into the points lead for the first time in his long career.

Run before a packed house at Gainesville Raceway, the Gatornationals race was the third of 24 contests in the 2009 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series.

Arana outgunned Smith in the final round, 6.977 seconds to 7.130, and 191.40 mph to 185.51.

Arana's Lucas Oil Buell was the bike to beat all day. After qualifying No. 2, Arana sped to a 6.935 in round one -- which was low elapsed time of the meet -- to defeat Junior Pippin.

But the Dixie Chopper rider admittedly needed a break after a tardy .186 light. Fortunately for him, Pippin's bike bogged just after his holeshot launch. With new life, Arana steamrolled to passes of 6.942 and 6.981, both the quickest of the round, to beat reigning season champ Eddie Krawiec's Harley and Shawn Gann. Arana also gave up a big lead to Gann after a .120 light but ran him down to win by .0016 of a second.?

"I knew I had the fastest bike and didn't want to push it," Arana explained. "I wanted to win this race. I red-lighted on my last qualifying run Saturday (March 14) and couldn't sleep last night thinking about that. It feels awesome to prove that last year wasn't a fluke, and I want to win some more."

It was only the second victory ever for Arana, who has been racing on the NHRA circuit since 1990. He won for the first time just last year in Norwalk.

"Last year, the bike was just as good as it is now," he said, "but I wanted to win so bad after winning that first one, and I was trying too hard and made some mistakes. I looked back and decided I just needed to relax." Raising his trophy high in the winner's circle, Arana gave a shout-out to Dixie Chopper, thanking the company for its sponsorship.