USAC: Hines takes Irwindale Sprint Race

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

March 27, 2001

WESTERN SERIES MAKES EL CAJON DEBUT SATURDAY NIGHT

Tracy Hines of New Castle, Ind. captured Saturday night's 40-lap USAC Western Sprint Car Series opener at the Irwindale (Calif.) Speedway. He led 37 laps of the race in the Sander Engineering/Barnes Oil Systems Chevy/J & J to beat Randy Bauer, fast qualifier Troy Cline, Bobby McMahan and Jeff Gardner.

Tony Hunt caught Hines on lap 35 but an ensuing yellow flag forced a restart after which Hunt's car ran short on fuel and he slipped to 10th at the checkered flag. Cline led the first two laps before yielding to Hines.

Hines' victory puts him atop the series standings going into this Saturday night's events at the Cajon Speedway in El Cajon, Calif. Since Hines will be competing in the midwest this weekend, that leaves Randy Bauer as the point leader apparent with a 40-lap feature slated on the 1/3-mile pavement at El Cajon.

Kevin Urton, USAC's 1996 and 1997 Western Sprint Car Champion, won Saturday night's 12-lap "qualifying race."

USAC WESTERN SPRINT CAR SERIES STANDINGS

1. Tracy Hines 63
2. Randy Bauer 61
3. Troy Cline 60
4. Jeff Gardner 48
5. Bryan Bullard 45
6. Todd Ellison 39
7. Tony Hunt 38
8. Anthony Simone 36
9. John Ryals 32
10. Damien Gardner 29

Text provided by Dick Jordan

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