SILVER CROWN SERIES EYES SPRINGFIELD AUGUST 17;

HINES WIRES BELLEVILLE’S TRAXXAS DEBUT

Tracy Hines has vaulted to the top of the TRAXXAS USAC Silver Crown standings after his victory last Friday at Belleville, Kans. And he will take a four-point lead over defending series champion Bobby East into the August 17 “Tony Bettenhausen 100” at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield.

Hines won the Springfield classic in 2006 while East will be seeking his initial victory at the dirt mile.

Friday’s 50-lap race at the Belleville High Banks ushered in a new era of racing at the venerable half-mile dirt oval, with Hines leading wire-to-wire to record his 88th USAC National race win. His victory in the Adam Lightfoot College Fund Beast/Chevy also makes him the first driver this year to score wins in all three USAC National series.

East finished second at Belleville, followed by Robert Ballou, Jerry Coons Jr. and Chris Windom. Hines also won the pole position, his speed of 106.787 mph eclipsing the track’s existing Midget record.

Shane Hollingsworth escaped injury when he flipped exiting turn four on the 24th lap of the race.