From Dick Jordan
Tracy Hines of New Castle, Ind. was the first driver to enter the upcoming February 17-19 “Bubba Army Sprint Nationals” at Ocala (Fla.) Speedway. A victory in the AMSOIL USAC National Sprint Car series openers would put Hines atop the all-time list of “active” USAC feature winners.
Hines currently shares that distinction with USAC “Triple Crown Champion” Dave Darland, both with 79 career USAC feature wins (including regionals). In terms of National wins, Darland has 75 and Hines 74.
Hines’ 74 National wins rank ninth on the all-time list and he comes off a 2010 season which produced victories in all three of USAC’s National series (Silver Crown, Sprints and Midgets). He was one of four drivers to win in all three series last year and is one of only eight drivers in USAC history to post wins in all three series on both pavement and dirt.
It’s been 10 months since Hines won in a Sprint car on dirt, last April in Gas City, Ind. Fifteen of his 74 National wins have come in dirt-track Sprint races.
An Ocala victory would not be the first for Hines in the Sunshine State. He drove a car owned by four-time Indianapolis 500 winner A.J. Foyt to victory in a USAC Silver Crown race at Homestead-Miami Speedway in 2007.
Three complete programs of AMSOIL USAC Sprint racing are scheduled on the 3/8-mile dirt Ocala oval. A special pre-race party unfolds for fans and participants at Ker’s Wing House in Ocala on Wednesday night, February 17, while the rock band Society Red is set to perform at the Speedway as part of Saturday night’s (Feb. 19) fan experience.
The Ocala races kick off the 2010 AMSOIL USAC National Sprint Car campaign, one which, for the first time in 24 years, contains all dirt-track events.
Levi Jones of Olney, Ill., who pilots an entry owned by NASCAR star and USAC Triple Crown Champion Tony Stewart, is the defending series champion and is expected to be among heavy favorites at Ocala, along with 2010 USAC National Drivers Champion Bryan Clauson.