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NorthernLight IRL: New team with deep speedway roots enters 84th Indy 500

24 March 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

Hillenburg to drive for Fast Track Racing Enterprises

INDIANAPOLIS- Fast Track Racing Enterprises, Inc., a new team, has entered a primary and backup car into the 84th Indianapolis 500 for driver Andy Hillenburg.

Hillenburg, an Indianapolis native now living in Harrisburg, N.C., will drive the #48 The Sumar Special Dallara/Oldsmobile/Firestone. Practice starts May 13 for "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing," with Pole Day May 20 and Race Day May 28.

Fast Track Racing Enterprises, based in Harrisburg, N.C., also entered a Dallara/Oldsmobile/Firestone backup machine for Hillenburg, an Indianapolis 500 rookie with a wealth of open-wheel and stock-car experience. Tim Bumps is chief mechanic, and Wayne Leary is team manager.

Hillenburg, 36, will participate in the Indianapolis 500 Rookie Orientation Program on April 7-8 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. He is a partial owner of the new team.

"I grew up in Indianapolis, 12 miles from the Speedway," Hillenburg said. "Its always been my dream to drive in the Indianapolis 500, and finally Im going to get my shot."

Hillenburg is one of the most versatile racers in the United States. In stock cars, he has competed in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series, NASCAR Busch and Busch North Series and the ARCA Series. He won the 1995 ARCA championship and the prestigious Daytona ARCA 200 in 1995 and 1997. Hillenburg also is a regular test driver for the IROC all-star series, which competes annually at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Despite his recent success in stock-car racing, open-wheel racing always has been special to Hillenburg, president of the Fast Track High Performance Driving School. He started racing in a quarter midget in 1975 in the Indianapolis area and then moved to sprint-car racing in 1980. He was sprint-car champion at Bloomington (Ind.) Speedway in 1985. He also competed in USAC Coors Light Silver Bullet Series and MCI WorldCom Midget Series events from 1985-90.

"Ive logged thousands of laps at Indy testing IROC cars and in a few Winston Cup test sessions but never at 220 mph without fenders," Hillenburg said. "I couldnt be more excited about this opportunity. It means more to me than youll ever know."

The chance to run at Indy also is special to Hillenburgs partners in the team, Preston Root, Bill Simpson and Usona Purcell. Roots father, the late Chapman Root, owned The Sumar Special car that Pat OConnor drove to the pole in the 1957 Indianapolis 500. Hillenburgs car will carry the same name this May in honor of Chapman Root and OConnor.

Fast Tracks entry also marks the return of chief mechanic Bumps to the Speedway. Bumps spent nine years at Penske Racing with 1985 Indianapolis 500 winner Danny Sullivan before moving to Newman-Haas Racing and driver Michael Andretti. Bumps spent the last two seasons as team manager for PPI Racing in CART.

Text provided by Paul Kelly

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