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USAC: Tracy Hines Wins Coors Light Silver Bullet Series Race at Nazareth

8 April 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

Tracy Hines of New castle, Ind. captured Saturday's accident-shortened Coors Light Silver Bullet Championship race at the Nazareth (Pa.) Speedway. He led 44 of the 98 laps contested before a four-car accident halted the event two laps short of the scheduled finish. He drove the Indiana Underground Construction Chevy/Beast.

"I laid back early to save my tires," admitted Hines after the race. "I could see everyone in front of me was abusing theirs. We made some chassis adjustments on the first red flag and I knew it would be hard for anybody to pass me late in the race. What motivates me most is TV." The race was taped for April 23 broadcast by ESPN2. Hines also had one scary moment during the race when he inadvertently hit Stevie Reeves in the tail. "I tried to hit him as square as I could," he said, "so we wouldn't crash."

Brian Tyler finished second and said: "I didn't need that red at the end. I might have been able to beat him. My tires were like brand new." Jimmy McCune, who led twice during the race, finished third, ahead of Paul White and Brian Paulus.

The first red flag flew on lap 87 when Jack Hewitt and pole starter Gary Hieber tangled at the start/finish line. John Heydenreich and Dave Darland were also involved but Darland restarted. The final red flag which halted the event came out when Stevie Reeves and Brad Noffsinger tangled at the start/finish line and collected Pat Abold and Jimmy Sills. There were no serious injuries.

Hieber was Friday's fastest qualifier at 139.524 mph., a new track record. Jack Hewitt of Troy, Ohio won Saturday's 15-lap "qualifying race."

Ed Carpenter of Indianapolis, Ind. earned the Oliver Trucking "Rookie of the Race" award for his seventh-place finish.

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Nazareth, Pa. - Results Saturday afternoon (April 8) from the running of the "Silver Crown 100" Coors Light Silver Bullet Series Race at Nazareth Speedway, with starting position in parentheses, driver, hometown, laps completed, reason out if any and money won:

1. (6) Tracy Hines, New Castle, Ind., 98, $17,498, no speed due to red flags.

2. (9) Brian Tyler, Parma, Mich., 98, $9,098.

3. (13) Jimmy McCune, Toledo, Ohio, 98, $5,598.

4. (7) Paul White, Temple, Texas, 98, $4,398.

5. (16) Brian Paulus, Mechanicsburg, Pa., 98, $3,598.

6. (19) Eric Gordon, Indianapolis, Ind., 98, $2,973.

7. (18) Ed Carpenter, Indianapolis, Ind., 98, $3,148.

8. (2) Ryan Newman, South Bend, Ind., 98, $2,948.

9. (26) Tony Elliott, Kokomo, Ind., 98, $2,198.

10. (12) Bentley Warren, Kennebunkport, Maine, 98, $2,048.

11. (3) Stevie Reeves, Huntersville, N.C., 98, Accident, $1,948.

12. (5) Brad Noffsinger, Concord, N.C., 98, Accident, $1,848.

13. (11) Jimmy Sills, Placerville, Calif., 98, Accident, $1,748.

14. (14) Pat Abold, Pennellville, N.Y., 98, Accident, $1,698.

15. (23) Dave Darland, Kokomo, Ind., 97, $1,647.

16. (10) Brian Gerster, Indianapolis, Ind., 97, $1,597.

17. (27) Billy Whittaker, Central Square, N.Y., 97, $1,547.

18. (29) Bud Kaeding, Campbell, Calif., 96, $1,496.

19. (17) Tom Capie, Trevose, Pa., 95, $1,445.

20. (25) Jack Hewitt, Troy, Ohio, 86, Accident, $1,386.

21. (15) John Heydenreich, Bloomsburg, Pa.,85, Accident, $1,360.

22. (1) Gary Hieber, Langhorne, Pa., 84, Accident, $1,334.

23. (22) Rich Tobias, Jr., Annville, Pa., 84, $1,309.

24. (28) Bobby McMahan, Rio Linda, Calif., 75, $1,275.

25. (20) Kasey Kahne, Enumclaw, Wash., 65, Accident, $1,240.

26. (21) Dan Drinan, Indianapolis, Ind., 60, $1,210.

27. (30) Todd Kane, Delaware, Ohio, 43, Engine. $1,193.

28. (24) Robby Flock, Murrieta, Calif., 41, Engine, $1,141.

29. (4) Jason McCord, Anderson, Ind., 18, Engine, $1,168.

30. (8) Jay Drake, Val Verde, Calif., 6, Engine, $1,156.

Text provided by Dick Jordan

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