GREAT COMEBACK EARNS HINES 

DRIVER OF THE YEAR HONORS

AWARDS PRESENTATION SET FOR CHILI BOWL

Sun Prairie, WI (12/2/01)----The greatest point comeback in auto racing in 2001, belongs to Tracy Hines without a doubt.  Hines was 32nd in the National Midget Driver of the Year Point Standings at the mid-season point on July 1, and had a strong second half of the season to top 549 drivers to claim the honors.  He joins Jason Leffler ('99) and Kasey Kahne ('00), as previous winners.  

A total of 197 events, at 80 tracks in 24 states were held over a 322 day period during the year.  "This is a great honor, because of all the races, and drivers involved around the country", commented Hines, who has previously finished third, and seventh in points.  Hines scored victories in USAC, BADGER, MARA,  and NAMARS sanctioned events during the season including wins in the Hut 100, and the Pepsi Midget Nationals.  During a four week period from early August - early September Hines scored six wins, driving for the Joe Michner. and Wilke/PAK teams.  Hines missed the final two events of the season due to injuries, and is expected to be ready when the 2002 season kicks off in Tulsa next month.  

A.J. Fike finished 67 points behind Hines, and was followed by Jay Drake, who lead a good portion of the season, Aaron Fike, USAC National Midget Champ, Dave Darland. Davey Ray. Matt Westfall, Kahne, J.J. Yeley, and Bobby East.  Eight of the top ten positions changed during the season's final event.  

For the first times points were kept to determine the top manufacturers.  Gaerte Engines easily won the engine category, while Stealth edged Beast by 20 points for top chassis honors.

Top 100 Drivers
Driver	Points	Races/Wins		Driver	Points	Races/Wins
1. Tracy Hines	1287	31/8		51. Gurney, Chuck Jr	303	16/4
2. Fike, A.J.	1220	40/3		Thompson, David	303	14/1
3. Drake, Jay	1170	24/6		53. Pankratz, Wally	301	17/0
4. Fike, Aaron	1123	40/2		54. Kobylarz, Bryan	296	18/0
5. Darland, Dave	1087	25/6		55. Fornoro, Drew	289	10/1
6. Ray, Davey	1067	32/2		56. Dietz, Tim	288	10/3
7. Westfall, Matt	963	26/4		57. Kittredge, Barry	281	12/1
8. Kahne, Kasey	853	14/6		58. Elliott, Tony	280	12/2
9. Yeley, J.J.	838	21/1		59. Canfield, Rich	278	13/1
10. East, Bobby	836	29/9		Miller, Roger	278	15/0
11. Boorse, Dan	813	20/3		61. Pollack, Aaron	277	10/0
12. Hatton, Scott	799	24/4		62. Meyers, John	275	13/1
13. Hess, Mike	792	26/0		63. Miller, jim	272	14/1
14. Beach, Teddy	627	31/4		64. Gerster, Brian	268	17/0
15. Bull, Ray	605	15/10		65. Birmingham, DaveJr	263	13/2
16. Coons, Jerry Jr	596	24/1		66. Ward, David	255	9/1
17. Olson, Kevin	585	23/0		67. Rauch, Keith	253	9/2
18. Waelti, Brandon	568	19/1		68. Gregory, Ron	247	17/0
19. Miniea, Travis	542	26/2		69. Carson, Glen	245	16/0
20. Wise, Josh	524	21/1		Maustellar, Randy	245	13/0
21. Meseraull, Thomas	509	27/5		Stearly, Walt	245	13/0
22. Paden, Scott	499	28/0		72. Baumgartner, Dave	243	9/2
23. Ebberts, Danny	494	21/3		Carey, Craig	243	11/0
24. Alvis, Flyod	480	23/4		74. Maners, Matt	242	18/1
25. Davis, A.J.	477	23/2		75. Scully, Shane	241	17/0
26. McCune, Jim	457	19/2		76. Estep, Matt	240	17/0
27. Lewis, Michael	449	13/1		77. Eden, Sondi	239	15/1
28. Flock, Robby	437	12/4		78. Fiscus, Randy	236	14/0
29. Seymour, Bobby	423	11/1		Wease, Bill	236	15/1
30. Kuhn, Brad	401	13/1		80.HollingsworthShaine	235	9/2
31. Steele, David	399	9/1		81. Hettinger, Chris	229	13/0
32. Harris, Alex	395	19/0		82. Eggert, Kevin	228	14/0
33. Sherman, Jeremy	394	10/8		Streeter, Matt	228	16/0
34. DeSelle, Chad	389	18/0		84. Ave, Tony	225	9/0
35. Cabral, Randy	383	14/2		85. Matthews, Shaine	222	17/2
36. Gough, David	382	15/2		86. Nervo, John	220	15/0
37. Scott, Ryan	376	19/0		Sussex, Steve, Jr	220	13/0
38. Lewis, Kenny	373	14/5		88. Felker, A.J.	218	19/0
39. Thinnes, Steve	368	13/4		89. Horn, Jeff	217	9/1
40. Stoehr, Russ	367	11/3		Pernesigilio, Pete	217	10/0
41. Knepper, Steve	355	13/1		91. Pierce, Aaron	216	20/1
42. Fiscus, Aaron	345	20/0		92. Carter, Dane	214	7/1
Malone, Critter	345	12/0		93. Wolfe, John	208	11/0
44. Doty, Kevin	332	10/0		94. Stratton, Danny	199	6/2
45. Koch, Randy	325	13/0		95. Farmer, Chad	196	14/0
46. Buonomo, Mark	319	12/2		96. DiMario, Phil	194	5/0
47. Bumpus, Howard	318	12/1		Freeland, Mark	194	8/1
48. Starks, John	315	13/4		Mueller, Rick	194	16/0
49. Hartsell, Brandon	311	15/0		99. Krutz, Kathy	193	14/0
50. Gibson, Gene Lee	306	14/1		100. Stimley, Ed Jr	191	13/0

 

549 Drivers Scored Points In  197 Events

 111 Events Were Run On Dirt And 86 On Pavement

80 Tracks Were Visited In 24 States

Average Car Count = 27

Most Wins = Ray Bull 10

Most Races = A.J. and Aaron Fike 40

 

2001 SERIES CHAMPIONS

ARCA	A J Davis
ARDC	Ray Bull - 2nd Championship (00)
AMRA	David Birmingham Jr.
Badger	Dan Boorse -  7th Championship (84,85,93,95,96,99)
BCRA	Floyd Alvis - 4th Championship (78,79,80)
MARA	Rich Camfield
NAMARS	Travis Miniea
NEMA	Russ Stoehr - 4th Championship (90,97, 00)
RMMRA	Kenny Lewis
SMRS	Joe Boyles
UMARA	Steve Thinnes - 2nd Championship (99)
USAC Nat'l	Dave Darland
USAC West	Danny Ebberts
USAC Reg	John Wolfe
WMRA	John Starks - 4th Championship (98,99,00)