NHRA: 3d Title on the Line for Hines at Pomona

9 November 1999

Matt Hines says he's been fighting back all season, so the ultimate test of his comeback skills will be Sunday's (Nov. 14) Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals at Pomona. Hines, rider of the Eagle One Suzuki, is only 14 points behind archrival Angelle Seeling (1,144-1,130) as he tries for his third consecutive Winston Pro Stock Motorcycle title.

"It seems like I'm getting used to trying to come from behind this season," said Hines going into the year's final event . "The intensity level is pretty high right now. I don't think it can get any more intense. The pressure is definitely on and we really have to concentrate on getting through the first round."

Hines recently set both ends of the national record at Houston, with a 7.154 ET and 191.48 mph run, to earn a 20-point bonus. Even with that, and a second straight U.S. Nationals win, Matt says he must gain the title to call it a successful campaign. "I know there are a lot of fans cheering for me to beat Angelle and I don't want to let them down, that's for sure. It would just be awesome for me to be a three-time champion, and we're working to make the Eagle One Suzuki the fastest bike at Pomona, so that we can make that happen."

Fellow Valvoline racer Joe Amato saw his chances for a sixth Top Fuel championship go away at Houston, but his goals at Pomona are a sixth national victory this year plus the $100,000 prize in the Big Bud Shootout for the season's top eight qualifiers. Amato is third in points, just nine in back of Gary Scelzi. Tony Schumacher has all-but clinched the crown.

"Second and third is still an issue," said the Valvoline-backed Tenneco Automotive dragster pilot. "I'm nine points out of third (1,302-1,291), so I've got to worry about getting around (Gary) Scelzi for second. Plus, we have the Big Bud Shootout on Saturday, and that's worth $100,000. We're not going to worry about trying anything for next year, because you only get two (qualifying) runs before the Shootout, so that kind of puts the pressure on you."

Amato on the appointment of NHRA General Manager Tom Compton to NHRA president effective January 1, 2000, as current president Dallas Gardner becomes chairman of the board: "Dallas brought us to a level, and I think to get to the next level, Tom Compton is the right guy. He's got the experience and he's surrounding himself with a lot of high-level corporate executives and already they're talking about doing a lot of things in a bigger-and-better way. I think this is a sport on the way up."

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