NEW CASTLE, Ind.—September 4, 2014— Tracy Hines was in a great position to claim his first Traxxas USAC Silver Crown Series win of the season in the Tony Bettenhausen 100 on August 16 at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield. The veteran driver had earned the pole position for the 100-lap race and was about to bring the field to the green flag when the skies opened and rain forced the postponement of the event to this week. Hines will return to the one-mile oval in search of a win as he continues his quest for a second Silver Crown title.
The rescheduled Tony Bettenhausen 100 is set for Sunday, September 7 at the Illinois State Fairgrounds. Practice will open the day for Hines, who drives the Hughs Brothers/Midwest Sheet Metal Beast, followed by time trials, which will set the field for the 100-lap event on the historic one-mile dirt oval.
“We’re glad they were able to reschedule the race at Springfield,” said Hines. “With the Silver Crown schedule being a smaller number of races, you never want to lose any, especially when you are battling for a championship. We were obviously fast at Springfield a few weeks ago, so hopefully what worked that day will work again this weekend.”
The native of New Castle, Indiana, was victorious with the Traxxas USAC Silver Crown Series in the Tony Bettenhausen 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 twice at the track.
Hines made his most recent start with the Traxxas USAC Silver Crown Series last weekend, finishing fourth in the Ted Horn 100 at the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds in Illinois. Hines was 10th in qualifying at the one-mile dirt oval and ran in the top-five for a large portion of the race. He was second on the final lap when he ran out of fuel, coasting across the line fourth to earn his six top-five finish of the season in seven Silver Crown starts.
“Last weekend we just couldn’t quite find the right balance on the car,” Hines said. “We were in a good position late in the race and came up a little short on fuel. We could have had a great points day, since the point leader had trouble, but we ended up having an okay and gained a few points. We’ll try to chip away some more this weekend, as we only have three races left.”
In a pair of races on one-mile dirt ovals in 2014, Hines finished third at the Indiana State Fairgrounds in May, after turning the fastest lap in time trials to earn the pole, and he was fourth at DuQuoin last weekend. Along with the Tony Bettenhausen 100, the Traxxas USAC Silver Crown Series will also compete on the one-mile dirt oval at the New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse next month.
Hines enters the Tony Bettenhausen 100 second in points with the Traxxas USAC Silver Crown Series, 19 markers out of the lead with three races remaining as he chases his second series title.
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.
