USAC: Hines 5 for 6 at IRP, Looks for 4-Crown repeat at Eldora

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

September 18, 2001

Tracy Hines of New Castle, Ind. led all 30 laps of Saturday night's "Tom Bigelow Classic" at Indianapolis Raceway Park, his fifth victory in his last six IRP Stoops Freightliner Sprint Car starts. The victory solidified his fifth-place point ranking going into this weekend's "4-Crown Nationals" at the Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio, a race Hines won last year.

Patriotic tributes to those affected by Tuesday's tragic events in New York, Washington, D.C. and Pennsylvania preceded Saturday night's racing events at IRP. Participants and spectators stood in unison as the tributes unfolded, including renditions of "America the Beautiful" and "God Bless America".

Hines and his Northside Propane Gaerte/Beast were trailed at the checkered flag by Brian Tyler, Ed Carpenter, Bud Kaeding and Dave Steele. Tyler, the Turbines, Inc. fastest qualifier, fell just short in his bid for team owner Hoffman Auto Racing's record-tying 51st career USAC Sprint Car feature victory.

Series point leaders Dave Darland, Jay Drake and J.J. Yeley finished sixth, eighth and 15th respectively at IRP. That left Darland with a 77-point cushion over Drake, with Yeley slipping to third in the new standings, six behind Drake going into this weekend's "4-Crown Nationals."

Friday night's Eldora events include qualifying and preliminary heat races for all series, with practice on the 1/2-mile dirt track starting at 6:30 pm. The event showcases the USAC Coors Light Silver Bullet series, USAC Stoops Freightliner Sprint Car series, USAC WorldCom National Midget Car series and UMP Modifieds. Saturday's timetable has the first race starting at 7:30 pm. Semis and a 25-lap Midget feature precede the 30-lap feature for the Stoops Freightliner Sprint Cars, with a 20-lap Modified and 50-lap Silver Crown race completing the program.

Darland won the "4-Crown" in 1999, while Jack Hewitt holds the record for "4-Crown" Sprint car victories at five (1983-90-91-97-98).

STOOPS FREIGHTLINER USAC SPRINT CAR SERIES STANDINGS

1. Dave Darland 1,314
2. Jay Drake 1,237
3. J.J. Yeley 1,231
4. Tony Elliott 1,140
5. Tracy Hines 1,052
6. Bud Kaeding 951
7. Derek Davidson 826
8. Robbie Rice 807
9. Brian Tyler 772
10. Bill Rose 647

Text provided by Dick Jordan

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