Screamin' Eagle Racing out to defend championship titles on the drag strip and in the dirt
Harley-Davidson Press Release - Mar 14, 2007

 

There's nothing better than winning two championship titles in one racing season and that's exactly what the Screamin' Eagle Racing teams did last year.

 

Andrew Hines won his third consecutive NHRA POWERade Pro Stock Motorcycle championship in 2006 while Screamin' Eagle factory rider Kenny Coolbeth won his first career AMA Flat Track GNC Twins championship.

 

Now comes the hard part: Defending both championships.

 

But Harley-Davidson has more to defend than two titles. Once again The Motor Company will continue its long-standing support of flat track and drag racing in 2007. The support, however, goes far beyond the two factory programs.

 

Besides backing the NHRA factory team, Harley-Davidson will also support professional flat track and AHDRA drag racing with direct sponsorship, contingency, and Rider Support Verification Program (parts credit) under the Screamin’ Eagle banner totaling more than $800,000 during the 2007 season.

 

"Racing continues to be one of the most important aspects of what we do at Harley-Davidson," said General Manager of Parts & Accessories, Custom Vehicle Operations and Racing, Bob Farchione. "Motorcycle racing is part of our tradition and history. We've spent a lot of time and energy during the offseason toward improving the programs to enhance the racing experience for our dealers and customers. Our factory-backed Screamin' Eagle teams are stronger than ever."

 

The Screamin’ Eagle/Vance & Hines drag racing team will field riders Hines and his new teammate, Eddie Krawiec, for the 2007 NHRA POWERade Pro Stock Motorcycle racing season. Hines will not only defend his third title, but he will also be aiming to become the first rider in NHRA history to win four consecutive championships. Hines earned three wins in five final round appearances in '06 and is hoping to just improve those numbers.

 

"When the 2006 season opened and we were behind the rest of the field in performance, I was thrown for a loop," Hines said. "But I learned a lot from the entire experience and we ended the season very well. I think that will help us roll into the start of the new season and I really think we're going to come out firing in 2007.

 

"I'm going to do whatever I can to win more rounds and if we can do that, the race wins will happen. It's my goal to improve every part of my riding. The team has worked hard during the offseason to make sure we're going to be in a position to win rounds from the start."

 

Coolbeth will lead the way for the Screamin' Eagle AMA Flat Track program in 2007. Coolbeth won three races and finished on the podium three other times en route to his first AMA Ford Quality Checked Flat Track championship and the first for a Harley-Davidson factory team in nine years.

 

If that weren't enough competition coming from the Screamin' Eagle team, the Wrecking Crew will be back in '07, stronger than ever. Jared Mees will be riding his Blue Springs Harley-Davidson entry, out to defend one victory. Bryan Smith and his Moroney's Harley-Davidson team will also have a race victory to defend. The newest addition to the Wrecking Crew, veteran rider Joe Kopp, also won a race in '06 on his Team Latus Harley-Davidson.

 

"The Wrecking Crew was originally founded on a working relationship between dealers and racers," Harley-Davidson Racing Manager Paluso said. "We're lucky to have three successful Harley-Davidson dealers as our partners this season. Blue Springs came on board with Jared to be his sponsor, Moroney's is back with Bryan and George Latus and his group has a great relationship with Joe. We have a strong group of riders and sponsors and they are all working hard to make sure 2007 is just as, if not more, successful than 2006."

 

AHDRA Screamin’ Eagle Performance Parts Championship Series
The All Harley Drag Racing Association (AHDRA) is a national sanctioning organization hosting hundreds of competitors at events across the United States. In 2007, Harley-Davidson will sponsor five AHDRA racing classes, the AHDRA Championship Series and the AHDRA Las Vegas High Stakes Shootout. Harley-Davidson will also be the title sponsor for AHDRA events in Gainesville, Fla., Phoenix, Ariz., Rockingham, N.C., and the non-points event in Sturgis, S.D.

 

Pitting Harley against Harley in various levels of competition and multiple classes, AHDRA meets a wide range of rider interests.

 

“AHDRA offers outstanding competition for Harley-Davidson racers and is a showcase for a variety of Harley-Davidson motorcycles and Screamin’ Eagle street legal and Pro performance parts,” Paluso said. “We are proud to be supporting the AHDRA again this season.”

 

Screamin’ Eagle will sponsor the following AHDRA race classes in 2007:

 

Screamin’ Eagle Nitro Harley Top Fuel Class: This Pro class features Harley-inspired V-Twin engines fueled by nitro and reaching speeds above 200 mph in six seconds.

 

Screamin’ Eagle Performance Parts Class (SEP): A class that allows extensive modification of street-legal or non-street-legal Harley-Davidson motorcycles which must use Screamin’ Eagle Performance Parts and display Screamin’ Eagle Performance Parts decals.

 

Screamin’ Eagle V-Rod Class: A series that only allows Revolution-powered VRSC motorcycles. This class restricts many major modifications and runs a 0.4-second pro tree light.

 

Screamin’ Eagle SYN3 E.T. (Elapsed Time) Class: This class permits extensive modification of street-legal or non-street-legal single- or twin-cylinder motorcycles, with a focus on consistent elapsed-time performance.

 

Screamin' Eagle V-Rod Destroyer Class: Reserved for Harley-Davidson V-Rod, overhead cam, water-cooled V-Twin cylinder configuration motorcycle models produced as a purpose built vehicle Screamin' Eagle V-Rod Destroyer.

 

Screamin’ Eagle will also post a $15,000 purse for the AHDRA Screamin’ Eagle Shootout, held in conjunction with the JIMS Las Vegas Nationals, November 16-18, in Las Vegas, Nev. It is open to anyone who has a Harley-Davidson motorcycle with a matching Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) on the frame and engine.