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 IRWINDALE,
CA (April 26) -- Tracy Hines won the first leg of the USAC Midget Car
Series Mopar Twin 25's at Irwindale Speedway on Saturday, but finished
sixth in the final 25-lap race after starting at the rear of the
field. Had Hines been able to pass the entire field, the New Castle,
IN driver would have collected a $50,000 bonus. As it was, Hines
driving the Oxi Clean/Mopar Beast battled past 19 drivers before
running out of time in the final leg of the twin 25-lap event. Michael
Lewis was the winner in the second race after passing A.J. Fike with
three laps to go. The USAC National Midget Car Series competes
exclusively on Hoosier tires.
Thirty-two cars were entered in qualifying with Kasey
Kahne, the 2000 series champion, capturing fast time with his lap of
16.765 seconds around the paved 1/2-mile oval. Dave Steele was second
followed by J.J. Yeley who had won the previous two races in the
series.
In the first 25-lap feature, young Jason Leffler led
the first lap before Tracy Hines moved into the race lead. Hines led
the remainder of the way to capture the win in the first leg of the
Twin 25's. Michael Lewis finished runner-up followed by Kasey Kahne,
Dave Steele and J.J. Yeley in third through fifth, respectively.
In the second 25-lap feature, Tracy Hines started from
the 25th starting spot hoping to pass 24 other competitors and pocket
the $50,000 bonus. But it was not to be, Josh Wise took the lead at
the outset. Wise smartly held the lead until lap five, when A.J. Fike
moved into the led. Fike controlled the middle and later portions of
the race, but with three laps to go, Michael Lewis made the pass for the
lead. Lewis held on and took the win over A.J. Fike, Dave Steele, Bobby East and
Aaron Fike. Tracy Hines settled for sixth as his hopes for a $50,000
bonus evaporated.
Currently, Bobby East (274) holds a narrow three point
lead in the series standings over J.J. Yelley (271) with A.J. Fike,
Tracy Hines and Jay Drake rounding out the top five.
The USAC National Midget Series will next compete on
May 16th at Hawkeye Downs Speedway in Ceda,r Rapids IA.
Also winning during the night of racing at Irwindale
Speedway was Darren Hagen who led all 25-laps in the USAC Ford Focus
Midget Car race. The Ford Focus Series was developed by USAC to be an
affordable entry-level venue for open-wheel competitors.
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