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TRACY HINES WINS TULARE USAC MIDGET FEATURE
– By Tim Kennedy
TULARE, Calif., Nov. 13 – Tracy Hines started second and led all 30-laps of the USAC Mopar National/Western Midget Series main event Saturday at the third-mile clay Groppetti Automotive Thunderbowl Raceway. It was the front half of the 31st Pacific Coast Nationals midget/sprint car doubleheader. The winner drove the Parker Machinery No. 24 Spike chassis with TRD Toyota power and collected $4,000 from the $19,700 purse. The race attracted about 3,000 spectators on a chilly, low 50-degree night. It was the first USAC midget event at the central California track that has not held a midget race in two decades when the regional BCRA circuit raced at the then quarter mile Tulare County Fairgrounds track.
The 26-car field received the red flag on the second lap after fourth place Dave Darland spun low in turn two. Seven cars took evasive action and collided or vaulted over wheels. The result was flips for Shannon McQueen, Troy Rutherford and Robby Josett and a rollover for Sean Dodenhoff. Henry Clarke and Kody Swanson also were involved and Swanson's Spike/TRD Toyota was sidelined. It took 15 minutes to clear the wrecked cars. Josett returned and finished after missing 11 laps for repairs.
Jerry Coons, Jr. started fourth and pressed Hines closely all the way in his Wilke Pak Spike/Toyota. He trailed by two lengths at Willie Williams' checkered flag and earned $2,000. Bryan Clauson started his No. 39 Tucker/Kunz/BCI Spike/Esslinger sixth and finished third, ten yards in back of Coons. He collected $1,000. As 12th driver to qualify Clauson set a new track record of 15.628 on a tacky track during time trials. Alex Schutte came from eighth starting spot to finish fourth. He took over the 2010 USAC Western Series point lead by 31 points with two races remaining. Point leader Cory Kruseman entered the race with a seven-point lead over his protege Schutte and ten points over Josett in a three-way fight for the 2010 USAC Western Midget championship.
Kruseman had to use a provisional starting berth after dropping out of the semi-main. He started 25th and dropped out of the feature on lap 17, placing 18th. He now trails his driving school pupil and racing team former driver 692-661, with Josett still in the mix at 648. All three drivers are seeking their first USAC Western Midget championship. The fifth-mile clay Ventura Raceway will host a $10,000 to win USAC National/Western race next Saturday; the 70th running of the Turkey Night Grand Prix will occur Thanksgiving evening on the paved half-mile Toyota Speedway at Irwindale.
Brad Kuhn came from seventh to earn fifth in his Rotondo-Weirich-Benic Beast/Fontana. Bobby East, Zach Daum, Henry Clarke, Levi Roberts and Cody Swanson completed the top ten, with 17 of 26 starters racing a the finish. Levi Jones was running eighth on lap 21 when he pulled to the infield with no power after his battery failed. The race started at 9:37 pm and concluded at 10:11 pm.
Winner Hines had three prior main event victories this year in the Parker No. 24. His Tulare triumph solidified his third place ranking in points and left him only 23 points behind second ranked Coons and 35 points in front of Kuhn. Point leader Clauson has a 100-point lead over Coons. Hines, from New Castle, Ind., told the crowd, “I was getting worried because Jerry (Coons) was trying to drive under me a few times (after yellow flags on laps l7, 13 and 17). But I just tried to hold my line.”
There were 32 midgets present and 31 completed qualification runs. Four 8-lap heat races inverted the first six starters based on qualifying times. Clauson, Clarke, McQueen and K. Swanson won the heat races. Schutte earned the 12-lap semi-main victory over Kuhn. The first eight finishers in a 15-car field advanced to the feature.
For complete box score results and point standings go to www.usacracing.com.
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