USAC: Hines sweeps Joliet and USAC 50th Hoosier Lottery Hut 100

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

September 5, 2001

Tracy Hines swept to victories at Joliet, Ill. and Putnamville, Ind. last week but the USAC Midget Car spotlight is squarely on Shane Hollingsworth and John Wolfe this week.

Hollingsworth, of Indianapolis, Ind., leads Wolfe, of Winchester, Ind., by only three points in the USAC Dirt-Track Regional Midget Car standings going into Friday and Saturday races at Twin Cities Raceway Park in North Vernon, Ind. Wolfe finished sixth and Hollingsworth 21st in USAC's 50th Hoosier Lottery "Hut 100" Saturday night at Lincoln Park Speedway in Putnamville, Ind. The race awarded both USAC WorldCom National and Dirt-Track Regional points.

Complete USAC Dirt-Track Regional Midget Car programs are slated Friday and Saturday at North Vernon as part of the Racin' With D.O. Racin' Fest 2001, which also features a USAC Sprint Car special event offering $10,000-to-win! Practice at Twin Cities Raceway Park begins Friday at 6 pm. Sprint Car prelims are scheduled Friday, in conjunction with the Dirt-Track Regional Midget Car program which concludes with a 25-lap feature. A 6 pm Saturday practice precedes Saturday's 8 pm 40-lap Sprint car feature, which is followed by another Dirt-Track Regional Midget Car program. The North Vernon weekend will include a racers gathering and hog roast on the Vernon town square from noon to 3 pm Saturday.

Hines, of New Castle, Ind., passed J.J. Yeley on the 11th lap at Route 66 Raceway in Joliet, Ill. Thursday night and led the rest of the way in his Michner Plating/JS Distributing/Hoosier Tire Gaerte/Stealth. Series point leader Dave Darland finished second ahead of Yeley, fast qualifier Ryan Scott and Davey Ray. Hines returned Saturday night to lead all 100 laps of USAC's 50th Hoosier Lottery "Hut 100" at Putnamville to beat Yeley, Jay Drake, Brad Kuhn and Matt Westfall. Darland, the fastest qualifier, finished 20th.

The USAC WorldCom National Midget Car Series resumes September 15 in concert with the Stoops Freightliner Sprint Car Series at Indianapolis Raceway Park.

USAC WORLDCOM NATIONAL MIDGET CAR SERIES STANDINGS

1. Dave Darland 893
2. A.J. Fike 733
3. Jay Drake 724
4. Tracy Hines 689
5. J.J. Yeley 613
6. Aaron Fike 602
7. Jerry Coons, Jr. 474
8. Steve Paden 451
9. Ryan Scott 422
10. Kasey Kahne 420

USAC DIRT-TRACK REGIONAL MIDGET CAR SERIES STANDINGS

1. Shane Hollingsworth 251
2. John Wolfe 248
3. Matt Sandy 187
4. Tony Elliott 178
5. Joe Roush 150
6. Jon Foster 148
7. Clay Klepper 139
8. Chris Coers 129
9. Ron Gregory 119
10. Michael Bridges 114

Text provided by Dick Jordan

Editors Note: To view hundreds of hot racing photos and art, visit The Racing Photo Museum and the Visions of Speed Art Gallery.