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USAC: Tracy Hines wins Coors Light Silver Bullet race at Gateway

7 May 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

Tracy Hines of New Castle, Ind. scored his second consecutive USAC Coors Light Silver Bullet Championship victory in Sunday's "Shop 'N Save 100" at Gateway International Raceway in Madison, Ill. Hines also won April 8 at Nazareth, Pa.

Hines passed Jason Leffler on the 67th lap of the 80-lap race around the 1.25-mile paved oval, then led the final 14 laps in his Indiana Underground Construction Special. Hines' victory boosted him into the series point lead going into the May 20 "Coca-Cola 100" at Indianapolis Raceway Park.

Sunday's race, featured on ESPN2, included 10 lead changes among five drivers. Trailing Hines and Leffler at the checkered flag were pole winner Brad Noffsinger, J.J. Yeley and John Heydenreich. Noffsinger established an ultimate series speed record with his qualifying speed of 143.930 mph on Saturday.

"It was a matter of survival," commented Hines in victory lane. "Everybody was together and you had to break away from somebody. Brad was holding Jason and I up because of a blistered tire but Jason gave me a signal and we got past. The last restart really helped me because my car restarts well."

Only four yellow flags interrupted the event but the final one for Tom Capie's spin into the wall in turn three forced a yellow-flag finish.

Although unable to match last year's series record 16 lead changes, the field engaged in numerous position changes at the front in the early laps. "It was real dicy at the start," concluded Hines.

Billy Whittaker of Central Square, N.Y. earned the Oliver Trucking "Rookie of the Race" Award for his 14th place finish.

1. (4) Tracy Hines, New Castle, Ind., 80, $17,480,
2. (6) Jason Leffler, Long Beach, Calif., 80, $9,080.
3. (1) Brad Noffsinger, Concord, N.C., 80, $5,580.
4. (5) J.J. Yeley, Phoenix, Ariz., 80, $4,380.
5. (26) John Heydenreich, Bloomsburg, Pa., 80, $3,580.
6. (15) Jack Hewitt, Troy, Ohio, 80, $2,955.
7. (12) Dan Drinan, Indianapolis, Ind., 80, $2,630.
8. (27) Jimmy McCune, Toledo, Ohio, 80, $2,430.
9. (8) Russ Gamester, Peru, Ind., 80, $2,180.
10. (20) Brian Paulus, Mechanicsburg, Pa., 80, $2,030.
11. (11) Dave Darland, Kokomo, Ind., 80, $1,930.
12. (16) Jay Drake, Val Verde, Calif., 80, $1,830.
13. (18) Brian Gerster, Indianapolis, Ind., 80, $1,730.
14. (22) Billy Whittaker, Central Square, N.Y., 80, $2,180.
15. (23) Todd Kane, Delaware, Ohio, 79, $1,629.
16. (28) Jimmy Kite, Stockbridge, Ga., 79, $1,579.
17. (24) Bobby McMahan, Rio Linda, Calif., 78, $1,528.
18. (17) Kasey Kahne, Indianapolis, Ind., 77, $1,477.
19. (29) Tom Capie, Trevose, Pa., 76, Accident, $1,426.
20. (7) Jimmy Sills, Placerville, Calif., 76, $1,376.
21. (14) Jon Herb, Indianapolis, Ind., 75, Brakes, $1,350.
22. (3) Bud Kaeding, Campbell, Calif., 65, Oil Leak, $1,315.
23. (2) Paul White, Temple, Texas, 64, Oil Leak, $1,289.
24. (21) Chet Fillip, San Angelo, Texas, 38, Engine, $1,238.
25. (30) Tony Elliott, Kokomo, Ind., 36, Engine, $1,211.
26. (10) Brian Tyler, Parma, Mich., 31, Oil Leak, $1,181.
27. (13) Ed Carpenter, Indianapolis, Ind., 26, Oil Leak, $1,176.
28. (25) Jason McCord, Anderson, Ind., 26, Oil Line, $1,176.
29. (9) Ryan Newman, South Bend, Ind., 7, Fuel Tank, $1,657.
30. (19) Gary Hieber, Langhorne, Pa., 4, Oil Leak, $1,154.

Average Speed: None-Yellow Flags.
Time of Race: None-Yellow Flags.
Caution Flags: 4 for 20 laps
Lead Changes: 10 among 5 drivers.

Lap Leaders: Hieber 1-17 White, Lap 18 Drinan, Lap 19 Noffsinger, Lap 20 Leffler, Laps 21-22 White, Laps 23-24 Drinan, Laps 25-27 Leffler, Laps 28-65 Noffsinger, Lap 66 Leffler, Laps 67-80 Hines.

Fastest Qualifier: Brad Noffsinger-31.448 seconds, 143.093 mph.

Qualifying Race Winner: (15 laps) Chet Fillip.

Coors Light Silver Bullet Point Standings: 1-Hines-210; 2-Noffsinger-194; 3-Tyler-181; 4-Darland-147; 5-Newman-142; 6-White-132; 7-Leffler-129; 8-Hieber-119; 9-Yeley-113; 10-Heydenreich-105.

Next Coors Light Silver Bullet Race: May 20 - Indianapolis Raceway Park - Indianapolis, Ind.

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.