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MOHNTON, Pa. --
That is where he will begin when the $50 million NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series returns to southeastern Pennsylvania Oct. 8-10 and resumes the 21st of 23 races on the 2004 schedule. Defending race champions include: Tony Schumacher, Top Fuel; Tim Wilkerson, Funny Car; Warren Johnson, Pro Stock; and Michael Phillips, Pro Stock Bike. Hines, rider of the Vance & Hines Screamin’ Eagle Harley-Davidson, enters the action 153 points ahead of Antron Brown in the NHRA POWERade Series standings with three races remaining. “Right now we’re just focusing on going rounds and qualifying well so that we have a better shot of clinching the championship,” Hines said. “We have 12 rounds of racing left and a seven-plus round lead, so as long as we do well in Reading and go a couple of rounds the rest of the way it should be locked up. We want the bike to be consistent, not set the world on fire, but do what we’ve been doing.” On the contrary, judging by the results the Indianapolis-based team has posted this season they have not only forced the rest of the field to take notice, but also worry about just how quick they are capable of going in the future. “My father (Byron Hines) told me that once you win a race that everyone will race you a little differently and once I won Gainesville (Fla.) I noticed it immediately,” said Hines, who has captured three wins this season (Gainesville, Chicago 1 and Columbus) and is 29-9 in elimination rounds. “In Houston everyone started racing me a little different on the starting line and trying to tell me different things to get in my head. “I have a great group of coaches with (three-time NHRA world champion brother) Matt (Hines), Terry Vance and my dad. It’s just a great team that I have behind me helping me succeed. Matt tells me what to do just before each run and my dad gives me the bike to ride so it’s an awesome deal.” With cool fall-like temperatures expected at the track this weekend there is a very strong possibility that Hines could break the magical seven-second barrier and collect the $10,000 bonus from Mickey Thompson Tires. However, Hines is hesitant to say his bike can achieve the illusive goal, despite running a 7.016 at Englishtown earlier this season. “We know what has happened in the past with Maple Grove and that it has a history of being one of the fastest tracks on the circuit, so it’s something that we’ve scratched our heads about,” he said. “On one hand we want to go in the sixes, but on the other hand we’re not sure that we can, at least not 100-percent certain. We’re finding more horsepower and trying to work toward it. We want to get it before anybody else does, obviously.” Although most people would think it would be an advantage that Hines has already run at Maple Grove this season and may have a better understanding of its layout and grooves, he doesn’t necessarily agree. “Yeah, it’s somewhat of an advantage, but when we go back to the track it will be a little different, especially with the cooler air and how that will throw off everybody’s tune-up,” Hines said. “The bike ran real fast the first qualifier out there, and despite being confused at Indy (Mac Tools U.S. Nationals) when the bike ran fast in qualifying and then slowed down during eliminations, we don’t think there is any reason to believe that will happen again.”
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