Tracy Hines is crowned King Doodlebug
Friday, May 29, 2009
By Bob Wilson
KNOXVILLE, Iowa (May 29) The 7th annual King Doodlebug Classic saw Tracy Hines from New Castle, Indiana take top laurels at Knoxville Raceway Friday night. The USAC (United States Auto Club) midget event was part of the 20th annual National Sprint Car Hall of Fame & Museum’s Induction Weekend activities.
Though Hines sat on the pole of this 20-lap Classic event, it was fellow front starter Brad Kuhn who took the immediate lead. Hines, in fact, fell to third when Kevin Swindell took over the runner-up spot on lap two. Hines soon put him back to third on lap five and one lap later took the lead.
On a track that became dry and slick, almost everyone found the bottom to be fastest around the Knoxville half mile. The track conditions forced the rest of this race into a single file run and most all of the top 10 positions stayed the same.
Lap 18 saw a wicked wreck in turn four as Davey Ray (Davenport, Iowa) started flipping after he and another car came together. Just as Ray’s car was on its last tumble, it was struck hard by Chad McDaniel (Concordia, Kansas) who had no where to go. Both drivers were taken to Knoxville Area Community Hospital. The condition of each driver at press time was unknown.
When the race resumed, Hines continued his lead to the checkered flag and the $1,650 winner’s check. Jerry Coons, Jr. claimed second with a pass of Kuhn on the final lap. Levi Jones was fourth and Rick Ehrgott finished fifth. Bobby East, Cole Whitt, Brad Sweet, Matt Smith and Darren Hagen completed the top ten.
|