Columbus recap, Rossburg preview

HINES EYES "TRIPLE" AT ELDORA FOLLOWING COLUMBUS VICTORY

Tracy Hines of New Castle, Ind. continues to pursue the USAC "Triple Crown" this weekend as the USAC Mopar National Midget Series competes in the 30th "4-Crown Nationals" at the Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio.

Hines trails Bryan Clauson by 48 points with 74 available at Eldora. A title would complete the "Triple Crown" for Hines, who lost the Midget crown two years ago by a single point to Cole Whitt. He could become the sixth driver in history to claim USAC's Triple Crown.

Hines made a daring 38th lap pass of Dalton Armstrong and went on to win Saturday night's 40-lap "JEGS Crown Midget Supernationals" USAC Mopar National Midget race at Columbus (Ohio) Motor Speedway in his Parker Machinery/Turbines, Inc. Spike/Toyota. Armstrong, who led the first 37 laps, finished second ahead of fast qualifier Darren Hagen, Alex Bowman and Jerry Coons Jr. Clauson finished sixth.

The Midgets practice and qualify Friday night, along with the USAC Silver Crown Cars at Eldora. The balance of USAC's "4-Crown" program is Saturday, including the AMSOIL USAC National Sprint Cars. A 25-lap feature is on tap for the Midgets, before the 30-lapper for the Sprints and a 50-lapper for the Silver Crown.

Brad Kuhn, the defending "4-Crown": Midget Champion, is fourth in the latest series standings. Brad Sweet won last year's "4-Crown" Midget feature.

-source: usac