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USAC: Hines Sweeps Winchester, IRP Sprint Races

15 June 1999

$96,000 "TERRE HAUTE NATIONAL OPEN" PRECEDES SALEM

Tracy Hines will be "on the spot" this week as the Terre Haute Action Track hosts the world's richest non-wing, dirt-track Sprint car race - the $96,520 Clabber Girl "Terre Haute National Open."

Hines ranks second in the Stoops Freightliner USAC Sprint Car standings after victories last week at Winchester, Ind. (Wednesday) and Indianapolis Raceway Park (Saturday) and is the defending winner at the 1/2-mile Terre Haute oval, winning the May 8 feature there. He trails Dave Darland by only 16 points.

The three-night Terre Haute program (Thursday-Saturday) will be followed by Sunday afternoon's events at the Salem (Ind.) Speedway, featuring both the Stoops Freightliner Sprint Cars and the MCI WorldCom Midget Cars.

The "Terre Haute National Open" pits the starts of USAC against the stars of the California-based SCRA (Sprint Car Racing Association), including 1998 SCRA Champion Richard Griffin of Silver City, N.M. The huge field will be split in half for Thursday and Friday's prelims, each capped by a 20-lap main event. Practice each night starts at 6 pm, with qualifying at 7 and racing at 8. A $17,000 paycheck awaits Saturday night's 40-lap feature winner, following practice at 6 and the first of several preliminary races at 7:30.

Sunday's Salem timetable calls for practice at 11:30 am, qualifying at 1 pm and racing at 2, with a 30-lap feature on tap.

"We were not the fastest car tonite," said Hines after his 30-lap Winchester victory. "On the last restart I went into block mode and it worked," referring to Ryan Newman's late-race pressure. Newman dropped out before the finish, though, leaving Eric Gordon, Brian Gerster, Turbines, Inc. fast qualifier Brian Tyler and Billy Puterbaugh, Jr. to round out the "top-five" at the checkered flag. Gordon led the first 10 laps before yielding to Hines.

"Everything's clicking for us right now," added Hines after Saturday night's wire-to-wire 30-lap win in the Kendall GT-1 IRP Sprint Classic in Indianapolis. "The car's so good the crew won't let me work on it!" Hines' victory ended Newman's attempt to sweep Silver Bullet, Sprint Car and Midget Car races back-to-back-to-back on the IRP oval, a feat achieved only by Mike Bliss in 1994. He was trailed by Eric Gordon, Robbie Rice, Turbines, Inc. fast qualifier Brian Tyler and Tony Elliott.

STOOPS FREIGHTLINER SPRINT CAR STANDINGS

1. Dave Darland 687 6. Eric Gordon 468
2. Tracy Hines 671 7. Brian Gerster 414
3. Derek Davidson 605 8. Robbie Rice 367
4. Brian Tyler 580 9. Jason McCord 271
5. Tony Elliott 548 10. Ryan Newman 249

Editors Note: For hundreds of hot racing photos and racing art, be sure to visit The Racing ImageGalleries and the Visions of Speed Art Gallery.