Tracy Hines Takes Silver Crown Pole At Richmond
- Updated: June 27, 2008
RICHMOND, June 27 – Tracy Hines put the Tony Stewart Racing Chevrolet-Bass Pro Shops Beast Chevy Kistler on the pole in USAC Silver Crown qualifying at Richmond International Raceway. His speed around the challenging .75-mile oval was 131.598 miles per hour.
The James River Grounds 100, the second Silver Crown race of the season will be held late Saturday afternoon.
“It helped us having practice beforehand, as it changed the race track,” Hines said in reference to a 10-minute practice session that was awarded after a mid-afternoon rain storm washed the rubber off the track. “With those few laps, we were allowed to make an adjustment that helped us. We tuned the car for what it will do in 30 or 40 laps not in one lap.”
For Hines, the pole marked his third career achievement and second at Richmond.
Driving for Tony Stewart has its advantages, according to Hines. “We are peers and friends off the track,” Hines stated. “Every time something happens with him, we get a lot excuses that we can use. We often use his phrase that Tony often uses, ‘I would rather ask for forgiveness than ask for permission when we want to run another car or something. Tony’s totally different as an owner. He doesn’t try to tell us how to do it. He just asks what do we need and how can I help you.”
Hines added that the Chevrolet sponsorship puts more pressure on the team than Stewart does. “Having a corporate sponsor, it puts pressure on us and we want to run well for Chevrolet.”
Ryan Smith, a rookie in the series, qualified second fastest. His speed was 131.106 mph. “The first lap was a little shaky but I picked it up on the second lap and got a little sideways,” Smith said.
The Pennsylvania driver drove the S & S Speedways Tire Man Beast Chevy.