Tracy Hines Wins the Night Before the 500

By Tracy Hines Racing PR
NEW CASTLE, Ind.—May 25, 2014— Every time that Tracy Hines takes to the track at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis he is one of the drivers to beat. The winningest USAC competitor at the 0.686-mile oval, located just outside of Indianapolis in Clermont, Indiana, added another tally to his win list on Saturday, May 24, dominating the Visit Hendricks County Night Before the 500 for the Honda USAC National Midget Series.

For Hines, who pilots the Parker Machinery/Powered by Toyota Spike, it was his second triumph in the famed event in the last three years and 14th overall in USAC National competition at the track.

Hines started on the pole, after turning the quickest lap in time trials, circling Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis in 21.127-seconds. At the start of the 50-lap race, Kyle O’Gara took the lead in turn one. Hines stayed right with him, retaking the top spot on the fourth circuit and never looked back en route to winning the season opener for the Honda USAC National Midget Series Pavement Championship.

“Winning at Raceway Park (Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis) never gets old,” said Hines. “I’ve been racing here a lot of years and it’s a place I’ve had a lot of success at and really enjoy racing at. The car was just amazing, as it has been the last few years we’ve come here. I wasn’t sure how big of a lead I had, but I figured it was pretty decent, so I just trying to put in good laps and everything worked out.”

Hines competed twice last week prior to the Night Before the 500, first at the Terre Haute Action with the Amsoil USAC National Sprint Car Series, and then at the Indiana State Fairgrounds with the Traxxas USAC Silver Crown Series.

At the Terre Haute Action Track on Wednesday, May 21, Hines finished eighth in the Tony Hulman Classic for the Amsoil USAC National Sprint Car Series, aboard The Carolina Nut Company DRC. He was running among the top-five early in the race when he lost power and had to make a trip to the work area. After his crew checked the plug wires and connections, Hines was able to re-fire, and he would work his way back from the tail of the field to finish eighth. The 2002 Amsoil USAC National Sprint Car Series champion is currently fourth in points, just 16 markers out of third.

The native of New Castle, Indiana, opened the night at Terre Haute as the third-fastest qualifier of the 23 entrants. Hines charged from the sixth starting spot to win the third heat. He took the green flag for the 30-lap main event in the fourth position.

In the Hoosier Hundred at the Indiana State Fairgrounds in Indianapolis on Thursday, May 22, Hines was fastest in time trials to earn the pole position and finished third in the 100-lap race for the Traxxas USAC Silver Crown Series. He ran among the top-three for the duration of the race in the Hughs Brothers/Midwest Sheet Metal Beast for Lightfoot Racing. In three Silver Crown starts in 2014, Hines has finished in the top-five in each and every race, and is currently second in points.

Following his win in the Night Before the 500, Hines is the point leader with the Honda USAC National Midget Series Pavement Championship, which will contest seven races this season.

Hines is tentatively scheduled to compete with the Lucas Oil POWRi National Midget Series next weekend at Bloomington Speedway in Indiana.

Tracy Hines Racing would like to thank Primary Sponsors: The Carolina Nut Company, Hansen’s Welding Inc, Elliott’s Custom Trailers and Carts, and MPHG Promotions Inc. Associate Sponsors for 2014 include: ProSource Professional Resources, Turbines Inc., Daum Crop Insurance, Parker Machinery, Stanton Racing Engines and Schipper Family Farms. Product Sponsors that are part of Tracy Hines Racing in 2014 include: Afco Racing Products, Schoenfeld Headers, Autonet Mobile, Indy Race Parts, Bell Racing, Kenny’s Components, Race Bumpers, Hoosier Racing Tires, CSI Competition Suspension, Shadow Graphix, Driven Racing Oil, Sander Engineering, Hughs Brothers and Midwest Sheet Metal.