By Tracy Hines Racing PR
NEW CASTLE, Ind.—April 10, 2014— Kokomo Speedway in Indiana already hosts one of the biggest Amsoil USAC National Sprint Car Series events of the year, in the form of the Sprint Car Smackdown, and now the Midwest oval will add to its ever-growing national reputation of being one of the raciest tracks in the country, by hosting the inaugural Kokomo Grand Prix for the Honda USAC National Midget Series. The event was scheduled for the first time last year, but was rained out. Tracy Hines has competed in each of the first two editions of the Sprint Car Smackdown and will be in attendance for the first Kokomo Grand Prix for the midgets this weekend aboard the Parker Machinery/Powered by Toyota Spike.
The Kokomo Grand Prix, which is co-sanctioned by the Honda USAC National Midget Series and Lucas Oil POWRi National Midget Series, is set for Friday, April 11, and Saturday, April 12. A full racing program will commence each night. The Kokomo Grand Prix will serve as the season opening event for the Honda USAC National Midget Series Championship, which will again be contest separately from the Pavement Championship in 2014.
“It’s always good to have a new ‘big event’ on the schedule,” said Hines. “There is going to be a very strong field of cars on hand and it’s going to be good, hard racing each night. Kokomo is a great track for midgets and has plenty of racing room. The fan support at Kokomo is always solid and with this being their opening race of the year, I would expect a fantastic turnout.”
Hines made five starts at Kokomo Speedway last season, with four of those coming with the Amsoil USAC National Sprint Car Series and the fifth with the Honda USAC National Midget Series during Indiana Midget Week. He earned a pair of top-10 finishes in the sprint car at Kokomo.
The native of New Castle, Ind., was victorious in a midget at Kokomo Speedway most recently during the 2012 Kokomo Klash, which marked the second straight year he has won during that late season event, as he was also victorious in 2011. Hines has finished on the podium in four of his last five midget starts at Kokomo over the last three seasons.
“Last year, I only raced a midget once at Kokomo, so it will be good this year to run a few more times up there,” said Hines. “We had some bad luck during Indiana Midget Week last year after starting near the front of the field, so hopefully we can make up for that. We usually have a good set-up for Kokomo in the midget. With the field that will be there, you’ll have to be on hit every time you hit the track.”
Hines began 2014 by competing in the Chili Bowl Midget Nationals in Tulsa, Okla., in January. He finished fifth in the 20-lap Race of Champions on the opening night of the five-day event. Hines ran sixth on his qualifying night and wound up 12th in the 55-lap finale. A field of over 275 cars gathered for the annual indoor event.
Last season with the Honda USAC National Midget Series Dirt Championship, Hines recorded 13 top-10 finishes en route to finishing third in points. He earned a season-best second-place finish at Gas City I-69 Speedway during Indiana Midget Week. Hines matched that result on the preliminary night of the Belleville (Kan.) Midget Nationals in early August.
Hines kicked off the Traxxas USAC Silver Crow Series season last weekend, finishing second at the Terre Haute Action Track in his home state of Indiana. He opened the event by turning the fastest lap in time trials and is currently second in points, just three markers out of the lead as he chases his second Silver Crown title.
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.