New Castle, Ind.—Sept. 20, 2012— Three races in one night in three different cars. That’s the challenge that Tracy Hines will face this weekend during the 4-Crown Nationals at the famed Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio, and one that he is certainly looking forward to.
The USAC portion of the 4-Crown Nationals is set for Saturday, Sep. 22. The Traxxas Silver Crown Series will take to the high-banked half-mile for time trials and a 50-lap main event. The Amsoil National Sprint Car Series will qualify, run heats, and cap off their night with a 30-lap A-Feature. The Mopar National Midget Series will kick off the event with time trials, followed by heat races and wrapping up their night with a 25-lap main event.
“Four-Crown is always a big weekend for us,” said Hines. “It’s the only time all season that we run all three cars: Silver Crown, Sprint and Midget on the same night. As a driver you definitely have to be on your game and adapt to the track as it changes all night. That’s where having a lot of experience in each of the three cars comes into play.”
Hines, who won earlier this season with the USAC Amsoil National Sprint Car Series at Eldora, finished in the Top-Five in all three USAC races during the 4-Crown Nationals last year. He opened the night with a fifth-place showing aboard his Parker Machinery Toyota-powered Midget. The 2002 USAC Amsoil National Sprint Car Series champion followed that up with a fourth-place performance in the Sprint Car feature aboard his MP Environmental Shaver-powered DRC. Hines wrapped up the night with a fifth-place finish in the Silver Crown A-Feature.
“I was consistent last fall at Eldora during the Four-Crown in all three cars,” stated the native of New Castle, Ind. “Anytime you go back to a place like Eldora, where you have won before, whether it’s earlier in the season as is the case this year for us, or have wins in years past, it always gives you a little extra confidence. It’s a tough event, but one that we always look forward to.”
Hines has four career wins during the 4-Crown Nationals. He was victorious for the first time in the marquee event in 1996 in a Midget. The veteran driver returned to the winner’s circle during the tradition-rich race in 2000 aboard a Sprint Car. He then doubled up on wins during the 2006 edition of the 4-Crown Nationals, taking the checkered flag first in both the Sprint Car and Midget main events.
“It’s been a few years since I’ve won during the Four-Crown Nationals,” he noted. “I still vividly remember winning the Midget race there back in 1996. To win two races in 2006 was pretty special, as only a select group of drivers have accomplished that feat over the years. It’s tough to win one race at Eldora, let alone two or even three. We’ll certainly give it everything we got this weekend.”
Last weekend, Hines competed with the USAC Amsoil National Sprint Car Series at Tri-State Speedway in his home state of Indiana, in the Haubstadt Hustler, finishing 17th in the 40-lap main event. He ran fourth in the third 10-lap heat, coming up one position short of transferring to the main event, putting him in the B-Main, where he finished third to earn a spot in the A-Feature. Hines opened last weekend by mentoring a young driver, who had a midget race in Illinois.
Hines is currently fifth in the USAC Amsoil National Sprint Car Series championship standings. He has one victory, along with 16 Top-10 and eight Top-Five finishes. In the USAC Mopar National Midget Series he is second in points on the strength of three wins, 10 Top-10 and six Top-Five finishes. Hines, the 2000 USAC Traxxas Silver Crown Series champion, is ninth in that series standings with two races remaining this season.
“We have a good chance to move up in the Silver Crown and Sprint Car Series points as the season winds down,” noted Hines. “In the Midget we are in second and we’ll see if we can gain some points on the leader there as well in the handful of races remain in that series. Between the three cars, we have a good schedule remaining this season and it’s our goal to end the year on a strong note and carry some momentum into the off-season.”
Tracy Hines Racing would like to thank: MP Environmental, Parker Machinery, FatHeadz, Turbines, Inc., Support Esophagus Cancer, DRC, Shaver Specialties, AFCO Racing Shocks, Bell Race Gear, Kenny’s Components, Race Bumpers, Rod End Supply, Schoenfeld Headers and Stanton Racing for their continued support.
For more information on Tracy Hines Racing, including a complete 2012 schedule, visit http://www.tracyhinesracing.com.
