NEW CASTLE, Ind.—August 13, 2014— One of the mainstays in Silver Crown racing over the years has been the Illinois State Fairgrounds. The same can be said in Midget competition for Angell Park Speedway in Wisconsin. Being a student of the history of the sport, Tracy Hines is well-versed in the aura of both venues, and he also has been victorious at each. He’ll look to add to his success at the track historic tracks this weekend.
Hines will return to action with the Traxxas USAC Silver Crown Series on the one-mile dirt oval at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield for the Tony Bettenhausen 100 on Saturday, August 16, aboard the Hughs Brothers/Midwest Sheet Metal Beast. He then heads to Angell Park Speedway in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin on Sunday, August 17 for the Miller Lite Corn Fest, which is tri-sanctioned by the Honda USAC National Midget Series/Lucas Oil POWRi National Midget Series and Badger Midget Auto Racing Association.
Hines finished second in his most recent Traxxas USAC Silver Crown Series start at the Belleville High Banks in Kansas. He was the fastest qualifier for that event, setting a new track record in the process at the half-mile. Last season at the Springfield Mile, Hines finished fourth, following a ninth-place start in the 100-lapper. The 2000 Traxxas USAC Silver Crown Series champion was victorious with the series at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in 2006, also claiming the pole position that year. In his career at the one-mile dirt oval with the Traxxas USAC Silver Crown Series, Hines has 10 top-10 finishes, with six of those being top-fives. He also has set fast time at the track twice.
“Racing at Springfield is definitely one of the highlights of the Silver Crown season,” said Hines. “There is so much history at that track and to have won there is something I am very proud of. To have four mile tracks on the schedule this year is a throwback to the old days. We were good at the Indy Mile back in May, so hopefully we can use a little bit of what worked there this weekend at Springfield.”
In a trio of races for the Honda USAC National Midget Series in Kansas, most recently, he finished in the top-four in each, piloting the Parker Machinery/Powered by Toyota Spike. Hines ran fourth at Solomon Valley Raceway in Beloit. He followed that up with a third-place showing on the first night of the Belleville Midget Nationals at the Belleville High Banks and was third again, in the 40-lap finale at the famed half speedway.
Hines has raced twice with the Honda USAC National Midget Series at Angell Park Speedway this season. He finished fifth on July 5, after turning the fifth-fastest lap in time trials of the 30 entries and coming home second in the first heat race. On July 6, he crossed the line seventh in the main event, after another fifth-place effort in time trials and a fourth-place showing in the second heat race.
The veteran driver also raced with the Amsoil USAC National Sprint Car Series at the third-mile earlier this season, finishing eighth. The native of New Castle, Indiana, is a past winner at Angell Park Speedway with both the Honda USAC National Midget Series and the Badger Midget Auto Racing Association.
“Angell Park has been a little different each of the times we’ve been up there this year,” Hines said. “Going in the heat of the summer always presents a bit of a challenge. We were good at Belleville and are pretty close to getting that first win of the year in the midget on the dirt. Usually once you can pick off that first one, a couple more seem to follow.”
Entering the Tony Bettenhausen 100, Hines is second in points with the Traxxas USAC Silver Crown Series. He has five top-five finishes in six races thus far in 2014. With the Honda USAC National Midget Series, he is also second in points, on the strength of 12 top-10 finishes in the same number of starts.
Tracy Hines Racing would like to thank Primary Sponsors: The Carolina Nut Company, Hansen’s Welding Inc, Elliott’s Custom Trailers and Carts, and MPHG Promotions Inc. Associate Sponsors for 2014 include: ProSource Professional Resources, Turbines Inc., Daum Crop Insurance, Parker Machinery, Stanton Racing Engines and Schipper Family Farms. Product Sponsors that are part of Tracy Hines Racing in 2014 include: Afco Racing Products, Schoenfeld Headers, Autonet Mobile, Indy Race Parts, Bell Racing, Kenny’s Components, Race Bumpers, Hoosier Racing Tires, CSI Competition Suspension, Shadow Graphix, Driven Racing Oil, Sander Engineering, Hughs Brothers and Midwest Sheet Metal.
For more information on Tracy Hines Racing, visit http://www.tracyhinesracing.
