HINES MATCHES PROVISIONAL TOP QUALIFYING POSITION AT SEASON FINALE EVENT AT POMONA

Hines Aiming for Third Consecutive Championship

POMONA, Calif. (Nov. 10, 2006) – Not only did Andrew Hines keep his No. 1 qualifying position Friday at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona but he matched his time from Thursday's session too. Not bad, especially considering the warmer conditions that drenched Southern California throughout the afternoon.

Hines turned in another 7.020-second pass at 190.27 mph on his Screamin' Eagle/ Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson V-Rod during the second of four qualifying sessions at the NHRA season finale Automobile Club of Southern California Finals.

"We still need to earn every point possible no matter what but the most important thing is to maintain our consistency going into Sunday," Hines said. "I'm really happy with our time today. If we bounce all over the place and get off our current pace, we won't be nearly as strong come Sunday."

Hines recorded a 7.020 pass at 191.00 to fly to the top of the Pro Stock Motorcycle category on Thursday. If qualifying positions were to stay the same, Hines would earn eight points for the top qualifying award while the current second-place rider, Antron Brown, would take two for his current No. 9 position.

While Hines is currently first in the NHRA point standings and aiming for his third consecutive POWERade championship, he said his attention remains on qualifying.

"We can't be worried about the championship right now," Hines, a former Villa Park, Calif., resident said. "We have to stay focused on qualifying. My team wants to win the Full Throttle Award for the year and we have to make every run count for that to happen. It helps me because it puts our focus and attention on something other than the points chase."

While the team is going to strive to be the most consistent group on the quarter-mile, there is still the possibility of a six-second pass swimming in their heads.

"My dad still wants to go for a six-second pass," Hines said. "If we have better weather, it's still possible. It was a little warm and we used a new tire today so I know tomorrow's run will be better no matter what."

Teammate GT Tonglet turned in a 7.163 pass at 186.54, which did not improve on his 7.107 at 185.61 from Thursday. He is currently in the 10th position.

Pro Stock Motorcycle qualifying wraps up Saturday at 11 a.m. & 2:30 p.m. before final eliminations begin at 11 a.m. on Sunday.

All the action at the Auto Club Finals can be seen on ESPN2 starting Saturday with two hours of coverage at 10 p.m. (ET), continuing with three hours of final eliminations on Sunday at 7 p.m. (ET).