TRACY HINES TO STEP AWAY FROM FULL-TIME RACING AFTER 2015 SEASON

NEW CASTLE, Ind.— September 22, 2015—  When it comes to USAC open wheel racing, Tracy Hines is one of the most recognizable names in the history of the organization and also one of the most accomplished. The native of New Castle, Ind., has been going up and down the road for nearly 25 years, with the majority of that time spent competing in the three USAC National series full-time.

Hines is the 2000 USAC Silver Crown Series champion and the 2002 AMSOIL USAC National Sprint Car Series titlist. He has a total of 91 USAC national wins across its three premier divisions. With the 2015 campaign winding down, Hines will be racing in his final full season of competition.

For 2016, Hines will serve as the Competition Director for ThorSport Racing, a championship-winning team in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. The Ohio-based organization, which is owned by Duke and Rhonda Thorson, fields three trucks.

Matt Crafton has won the last two series titles, driving the No. 88 for ThorSport. Crafton is currently third in points, only 11 markers out of the top spot, with teammate Johnny Sauter sitting fourth and Cameron Hayley in the sixth position. Hines will race occasionally in 2016 in his midget and 410-winged sprint car.

“This decision wasn’t an easy one, it took the whole summer to make, but it is time,” said Hines. “I get to take my love for racing to a great place with great people that share my passion. I look forward to this new step in our lives.

“I have been so lucky to have amazing owners, sponsors, and fans that have made my career such a blessing,” shared Hines. “They have stuck with me through many years of ups and downs. I have gotten to do so much in our sport and am truly thankful for each and every experience. The knowledge and skills that I have gained during my years as a driver and car owner from everyone in my racing family will help me in my next chapter of my racing career.” 

“We are fortunate to be able to bring someone as knowledgeable and talented as Tracy (Hines) on board at ThorSport Racing,” said Duke Thorson, owner of ThorSport Racing. “Tracy has been an integral part of our organization in the past, and we are honored to have him back at ThorSport. His experience as a driver and his knowledge of our series, and our sport, will be a valuable asset to our team.

Tracy will be a liaison between our driver’s, crew chiefs, and engineers, a move that will add depth to our organization.”

Hines has 47 career AMSOIL USAC National Sprint Car Series wins, which is third on the all-time list, behind only Dave Darland and Tom Bigelow. With the Honda USAC National Midget Series, he has 35 wins, which has him tied for seventh-best all-time. In USAC Silver Crown Series competition, Hines has nine wins, which is 12th on the all-time list. He entered this season, having won at least one USAC National feature event in 19 straight years.

Along with his long list of accomplishments in the USAC ranks, Hines also raced in the then-NASCAR Busch Series and then-NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series from 2003-2006. He earned a pair of top-five finishes in the Truck Series in 2004 at the former Mansfield Motorsports Park in Ohio and Richmond International Raceway in Virginia. In addition, Hines earned an Indy Racing League (IRL) license, through testing with Panther Racing. Hines began his racing career in Quarter Midgets in his home state of Indiana.

The remainder of the 2015 season will see Hines compete approximately 15 times, split between the Honda USAC National Midget Series, AMSOIL USAC National Sprint Car Series and 410-winged sprint car events. Hines currently leads the Honda USAC National Midget Series standings as he chases his first title with the series, which would give him a career Triple Crown to go along with his USAC Silver Crown and AMSOIL USAC National Sprint Car Series championships.

“The rest of the season is for having fun and trying to win that USAC Midget title,” said Hines. “That’s the one title that has eluded me and it would be the perfect way to cap off my full-time USAC racing career.”

Hines will be in action this weekend with both the Honda USAC National Midget Series and AMSOIL USAC National Sprint Car Series at the famed Eldora Speedway in Ohio for the running of the Four-Crown Nationals. In his career at the high-banked, half-mile, he has 11 USAC wins, with nine of those coming in AMSOIL USAC National Sprint Car Series competition. Hines scored his first victory at Eldora in 1996 with the Honda USAC National Midget Series.