11/25/2015
Sprint Source
Tracy Hines Looks to Wrap up USAC Midget Title at Turkey Night Grand Prix
Tracy Hines has been chasing a Honda USAC National Midget Series title for over 20 years, and has come very close to winning it on several occasions. He is in prime position this season, with just one race remaining, the 75th Turkey Night Grand Prix, which will again be held at Perris Auto Speedway in Southern California on Thanksgiving night.
With a Honda USAC National Midget Series title, Hines would add his name to an illustrious list of drivers that have won a USAC “Triple Crown,” including: Pancho Carter, Dave Darland, Tony Stewart, J.J. Yeley and Jerry Coons Jr. Hines won a Traxxas USAC Silver Crown Series championship in 2000 and was the Amsoil USAC National Sprint Car Series titlist in 2002. Adding even more intrigue to the equation, Turkey Night will be Hines’ last race as a full-time USAC competitor, as he shifts into a full-time role as Competition Director at ThorSport Racing in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series in 2016.
The 75th Turkey Night Grand Prix for the Honda USAC National Midget Series is set for Thursday, November 26 at Perris Auto Speedway in California. A change to the format this year, to give fans more racing action, will see heat races implemented for all competitors to race their way into the 98-lap main event.
“There is certainly a lot on the line and the race is a lot longer than normal, but we have to try and treat it just like any other race,” said Hines, who drives the Parker Machinery/Powered by Toyota Spike. “The longer distance, you have to really pace yourself and take care of the tires. That is probably the biggest key, especially at a place like Perris that can change throughout the feature. We’ve had a fast car all season and have been close to winning a few times.”
Last year in the Turkey Night Grand Prix, Hines started and finished eighth in the main event. Hines he has competed in the Turkey Night Grand at four different tracks in his career, on both dirt and pavement. He finished a career-best third in the event in 2000 and 2004, when Turkey Nights was held on the asphalt at Irwindale Speedway. He also recorded a top-five finish at Ventura Speedway in 1997, on the dirt.
Hines picked up a pair of top-five finishes earlier this month at Perris Auto Speedway with the Amsoil USAC National Sprint Car Series. He finished fourth on both November 13 and November 14. Hines has finished second twice at the half-mile in sprint car competition, as he looks for his first Perris Auto Speedway win.
Last week, Hines wrapped up the 2015 Amsoil USAC National Sprint Car Series season in the Western World Championships at USA Raceway in Arizona. He finished 11th in the opener on November 19. Hines ran third on November 20, and concluded the three-night event with an eighth-place showing on November 21. He led a lap on both the second and third nights, along with winning the dash in the finale to start on the pole position.
“We went a little safe just in case we were gonna have to run the cushion,” explained Hines after his third-place run on the second night of the Western World Championships. “We’re solid and locked in for tomorrow, so we’ll see what happens with our last race. I feel better now and am not hurting now after the injuries in the middle of the season, and there’s no braces or anything while I’m racing, and we’re back to running well again,” Hines said.
Hines enters the 75th Turkey Night Grand Prix with a 27-point lead in the Honda USAC National Midget Series standings. He has 12 top-10 finishes in 16 starts, with eight of those being top-five finishes. Hines finished a season-best second in the opening race of the year at Kokomo Speedway in his home state of Indiana.
“It definitely will be a bittersweet night,” shared Hines. “Closing the book on full-time USAC Sprint Car racing last week was bittersweet as well. It’s been a great run and we’ve had so many great supporters over the years and the fans as well and I can’t thank everyone enough. It’s been a great ride for sure, even with all of the ups and downs over the years. Hopefully we can go out and close the season in style and give everyone to remember us by.”
Tracy Hines Racing would like to thank: Parker Machinery, Powered by Toyota, Turbines, Inc., Afco Racing Shocks, Schoenfeld, Stanton Racing Engines, Daum Motorsport, Indiana Underground, Hoosier, Bell and Drivin Racing Oil.
For more information on Tracy Hines Racing, visit http://www.tracyhinesracing.com. Follow Tracy on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/TracyHinesRacin and “Like him” on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/Tracyhinesracing.
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