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NHRA: Hines' Secret for 'Blinding' Speed

5 October 1999

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

With concentration at the starting line such a key factor in the ultra-competitive NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series, how does two-time Pro Stock Motorcycle champion Matt Hines protect against distractions?

"I have blinders on my helmet," the Eagle One Suzuki rider reveals. "You can't look at your opponent. Usually, Angelle (Seeling, Hines' main rival) has a really good 60-foot (run), and she gets out ahead, so I have to have the horsepower to run her down. You can't look at the other rider going down the track. I just look to see the win light go on." Hines leads Seeling by four points going into this weekend's (Oct. 7-10) AutoZone Nationals at Memphis.

Valvoline's other NHRA title contender, Joe Amato, closed to within 14 points of Top Fuel leader Tony Schumacher, 1,164-1,150 after losing to Doug Herbert in the final round of Monday's weather-delayed event at Topeka in the Tenneco Automotive dragster. Since all of Amato's closest title rivals, save Kenny Bernstein, rank far behind Joe's career total of 50 Top Fuel wins and five championships, is experience an advantage with just four events to go?

"It helps me in one respect," answers Amato. "Maybe the pressure doesn't bother me because I've been there and done it, but to be honest, it does bother you a little bit because you want to do it again.

"You have to have a sharp edge. Sometimes you can try too hard and overreach. I think maybe that's what we did last year. Maybe that will help us. In the past, my championships were all with different crew chiefs. Maybe (current crew chief) Jimmy Prock learned a little bit last year and that experience will help us combine to pull it out."

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