By Steve Birmingham
Granite City, IL – Tracy Hines sped to a thrilling win Wednesday in the Dupont Automotive Finishes Midget Classic, marking his first career USAC National Midget Series victory at Tri-City Speedway.
Defending NASCAR Winston Cup Champion Tony Stewart, however, continued his recent run of bad luck at the speedy Granite City dirt oval, crashing into the turn one guardrail and flipping several times during Wednesday’s headliner. Aaron Fike hustled his RFMS #32 around the flat half-mile dirt with a 20.403 second lap, winning the “Road to Indy” fast time award and shattering Sarah McCune’s 2002 track record by nearly a quarter-second.
The first eight-lap qualifying heat was won by Bobby East, followed by Aaron Fike, Teddy Beach and Chris DeShon; the second was won by Jay Drake followed by Hines, Steve Buckwalter and Stewart while the third was won by Critter Malone, with Mike Hess, Ryan Durst and Sarah McCune, trailing. The 10-lap Semi-Feature was won Tom Hessert with Brad Kuhn, Billy Wease and Lehmann.
Steve Buckwalter led 20 screaming Midgets into turn one with Hess and McCune all over him. While the trio tried to put distance between themselves and the rest of the field, Hines and now Aaron Fike moved to the front. By lap 6 Hess and Hines were breathing down Buckwalter’s neck with Stewart steadily moving to the front.
Just as Stewart entered the first turn to begin lap 11 he spun backwards, slammed into the guardrail and began a quick series of snap rolls, coming to rest upside down. Stewart quickly emerged from his wrecked MOPAR Midget unscathed. He received a standing ovation from the jammed grandstands as he made the long, solitary walk from the crash scene to his racecar hauler.
Once the race went green Buckwalter, Hess and Hines hooked up nose to tail and shredded the dirt in a bid to leave the pack. Hines, now second, made a daring low pass coming out of turn four but couldn’t hold it. As Buckwalter and Hines screamed out of four onto the backstretch Hines took command.
Three laps later Buckwalter slammed into the same spot as Stewart, but instead executed a series of barrel rolls atop the guardrail. Buckwalter also emerged unhurt.
Once the race resumed Hess crowded Hines and tried every line available in an attempt pass. The final caution came out on lap 18 for a stalled Billy Wease but Hess’ challenge wasn’t over. For the remaining 12 laps he climbed all over Hines, passing him on several occasions but officially led one lap. Hines stretched out to a five-length lead and with two to go Aaron Fike disposed of Hess to grab the second spot.
At the checkers, it was Hines, Fike, Hess, Drake, McCune, A.J. Fike, Lehmann, Durst, Don Droud, Jr., and Malone.
Kevin Swindell, son of World of Outlaws legend Sammy Swindell, captured his first career Hoosier Microsprint Lightning Series win on Tri-City’s tight quarter-mile, leading all but the first five circuits of the 20-lapper. Trailing Swindell were Travis Senter, Jr., and Dustin Barks. The Microsprint 12-lap qualifying heats went to Barks, David Zarski, Brett Anderson and Tom Ritter. The Semis fell to Travis Hickey and Tony Roney.
www.tricitymotorsports.com
Granite City, IL – Tracy Hines sped to a thrilling win Wednesday in the Dupont Automotive Finishes Midget Classic, marking his first career USAC National Midget Series victory at Tri-City Speedway.
Defending NASCAR Winston Cup Champion Tony Stewart, however, continued his recent run of bad luck at the speedy Granite City dirt oval, crashing into the turn one guardrail and flipping several times during Wednesday’s headliner. Aaron Fike hustled his RFMS #32 around the flat half-mile dirt with a 20.403 second lap, winning the “Road to Indy” fast time award and shattering Sarah McCune’s 2002 track record by nearly a quarter-second.
The first eight-lap qualifying heat was won by Bobby East, followed by Aaron Fike, Teddy Beach and Chris DeShon; the second was won by Jay Drake followed by Hines, Steve Buckwalter and Stewart while the third was won by Critter Malone, with Mike Hess, Ryan Durst and Sarah McCune, trailing. The 10-lap Semi-Feature was won Tom Hessert with Brad Kuhn, Billy Wease and Lehmann.
Steve Buckwalter led 20 screaming Midgets into turn one with Hess and McCune all over him. While the trio tried to put distance between themselves and the rest of the field, Hines and now Aaron Fike moved to the front. By lap 6 Hess and Hines were breathing down Buckwalter’s neck with Stewart steadily moving to the front.
Just as Stewart entered the first turn to begin lap 11 he spun backwards, slammed into the guardrail and began a quick series of snap rolls, coming to rest upside down. Stewart quickly emerged from his wrecked MOPAR Midget unscathed. He received a standing ovation from the jammed grandstands as he made the long, solitary walk from the crash scene to his racecar hauler.
Once the race went green Buckwalter, Hess and Hines hooked up nose to tail and shredded the dirt in a bid to leave the pack. Hines, now second, made a daring low pass coming out of turn four but couldn’t hold it. As Buckwalter and Hines screamed out of four onto the backstretch Hines took command.
Three laps later Buckwalter slammed into the same spot as Stewart, but instead executed a series of barrel rolls atop the guardrail. Buckwalter also emerged unhurt.
Once the race resumed Hess crowded Hines and tried every line available in an attempt pass. The final caution came out on lap 18 for a stalled Billy Wease but Hess’ challenge wasn’t over. For the remaining 12 laps he climbed all over Hines, passing him on several occasions but officially led one lap. Hines stretched out to a five-length lead and with two to go Aaron Fike disposed of Hess to grab the second spot.
At the checkers, it was Hines, Fike, Hess, Drake, McCune, A.J. Fike, Lehmann, Durst, Don Droud, Jr., and Malone.
Kevin Swindell, son of World of Outlaws legend Sammy Swindell, captured his first career Hoosier Microsprint Lightning Series win on Tri-City’s tight quarter-mile, leading all but the first five circuits of the 20-lapper. Trailing Swindell were Travis Senter, Jr., and Dustin Barks. The Microsprint 12-lap qualifying heats went to Barks, David Zarski, Brett Anderson and Tom Ritter. The Semis fell to Travis Hickey and Tony Roney.
www.tricitymotorsports.com
