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USAC: Hines captures Nazareth's Silver Bullet '98'

11 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 and I knew it would be hard for anybody to pass me late in the race. What motivated me most was 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 late in 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, although Sills suffered a bruised leg.

Hieber was Friday's fastest qualifier at 139.524 mph., a new track record, and led the first 48 laps of the race. 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.

USAC COORS LIGHT SILVER BULLET SERIES STANDINGS

1. Brian Tyler 174
2. Tracy Hines 150
3. Ryan Newman 138
4. Brad Noffsinger 134
5. Paul White 122
6. Dave Darland 116
7. Gary Hieber 116
8. Eric Gordon 103
9. Tony Elliott 83
10. Ed Carpenter 78

Text provided by USAC

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