The team's biggest problem now might be coming up with a new list of desired accomplishments. In 2004 Andrew Hines rode the Harley-Davidson atop the NHRA POWERade Pro Stock Motorcycle standings, becoming the first factory-backed Harley-Davidson rider to claim the championship. That was just another feat in a series of successes for the group.

Next, the team wanted to break the 6-second barrier. Check that one off the list too. Hines paced the Pro Stock Motorcycle field Friday at the NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway with a 6.991-second pass at 196.16 mph. Not only does he have the No. 1 qualifying position and his name etched forever in the record book, Hines also snagged a $10,000 bonus for becoming the first member of the Mickey Thompson 6-second Club.

"We have two new bikes for this Harley-Davidson team and the difference between last year's bike and this one is night and day," Hines said. "There is a lot of great competition out there and we kept hearing about these quick numbers other teams were producing during offseason testing, but we just kept doing our own thing. That paid off big time.

"Terry (Vance) and my dad (Byron Hines) have been racing together for a long time and I have heard all of their stories including how Terry became the first rider in the 7-second range. It's great knowing that we are keeping the milestone accomplishments in the family."

Harley-Davidson Racing Manager Anne Paluso said she continues to be impressed by the successes of the team.

"We knew from the beginning of this partnership that the Vance & Hines team would be capable of accomplishing all of the goals we set at Harley-Davidson," Paluso said. "We wanted to get the bikes qualified first. Then we wanted to win rounds. Then we wanted to win races. Then we wanted to put the Harley-Davidson name on the series championship trophy. They did all of those things in less than three years.

"Our next goal was to break the 6-second barrier and we've done that on the first day of the first race of the season. It's incredible."

Hines wasn't sure if he was going to be the first rider in the 6-second range, but he was certain it was going to be someone riding a Screamin' Eagle V-Rod.

"When I saw GT (Tonglet, teammate) leave the starting line on the second pass of the day, I thought, 'Oh no, he beat me to it,' because it looked like a great run," Hines said. "But the scoreboard flashed the 7.007 and I was excited to have another chance to break the record. As soon as I launched from the starting line I knew we had it.

"People have been realistically talking about the 6-second barrier for at least three or four years. Everyone had a chance for it and I'm glad this team got there first. They make just one trophy for this and I'm thrilled it has the Hines name with a Harley-Davidson motorcycle on it."

Byron Hines said the milestone has more meaning when it so closely follows a championship season.

"This is so important because no matter how hard you fight it, the hype of a championship always catches up to you," Hines said. "This is a big shot in the arm for the team because everyone has worked extremely hard to make sure that we didn't slack off and that we had two competitive bikes ready for the new season."

Matt Hines, a three-time NHRA champion (1997-'99), was the first rider to accomplish a pass in the 7.0-second range. He said he vividly remembers making the 7.092-pass at Maple Grove Raceway in 2001.

"This is so exciting because the milestones of racing are few and far between," the former champ said. "Andrew is going to remember this forever and so will the rest of the team. Accomplishments like this keep you motivated to work all those extra hours to make sure you are the most prepared team on race day."

Qualifying resumes today at the NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway with the finals scheduled for Sunday.

Courtesy of Paul James