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Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/128166
NHRAIPowerAde Drag Racing Series Round S: Sandimere Speedway where Hines accused Savoie's Star Racing Team of bending the rules in order to gain an advantage. This time, there were no hostilities and no pre- or post-race fireworks. In fact, the final round itself was anticlimactic, as Savoie dumped the clutch too soon, triggering the red-light. As Hines streaked to the win with a 7.63, Savoie's CYEC Suzuki TLl 000 made a move toward the centerline, and she actually finished the run in Hines' lane. "The first thing I thought was, 'Finally,'" Hines said. "I turned 29 a couple of days after winning my 28th [career) race, and the whole year I was 29, I never won. I knew she was out on me, and then when I saw my [win light] on, I shifted third gear early, and that cost me a hundredth or two. It was great to win here in front of my family and friends, but it was great just to win. I've never gone a year without winning. That's just way too long." The stage was set for the Hines vs. Savoie match during qualifying, where Savoie claimed the top spot with a track-record 7.560, with Hines STORY AND PHOTOS BY KEVIN McKENNA DENVER, CO, JULY 18·21 o this day Matt Hines does not know what went wrong. The "can't-miss kid," who started his career by winning 20 of the first 40 starts and three NHRA Pro Stock Bike Championships in his first four years, suddenly found himself in a prolonged slump. Winless on the NHRA/PowerAde tour since the Englishtown, New Jersey round last May, a span of 17 races, the Vance & Hines/Eagle One rider finally snapped out of it with a convincing victory at his home track, Bandimere Speedway, just outside of Denver. Making the win even sweeter was the fact that Hines downed his archrival, Team CYEC's Angelle Savoie, in the final round to claim his 29th career victory. Thanks to Hines' slump, most of his battles against Savoie have been of the verbal variety and have occurred off the racetrack. One of their more memorable tiffs came just a few weeks ago in Columbus, Ohio, 54 AUGUST 7, 2002' cue I • n e _ so lAbove) In the final round, Hines (far Ianej faced his biggest rival, Team CVEC's Angelle Savoie (near lane). The tlnaI was decided on the starting line as Savoie left too soon and red-lighted aboard her Star Racing-powered entry, while Hines cruised to the win. (Right) For the first time In more than a year,formerthreetime Pro Stock Bike champ Matt Hines was able to celebrate a win on the NHRA PowerAde Drag Racing tour. The win was the 29th of Hines' career. just a micro-second behind with a 7.561. Only number-three qualifier Craig Treble was even close, with a 7.59. G.T. Tonglet did not qualify with the Screamin' Eagle/Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson, but the team made progress, recording a 7.88 best. Even closer was S&S Harley rider Dave Feazell, who ran a 7.81 in Denver's notoriously think air, just missing the 7.78 bump spot. Hines' younger brother, Andrew, was a part of the 16-bike field. Making his first professional start, the 19year-old qualified in the top half of the field with an eighth-best 7.68 but lost in the opening round to Reggie Showers. The younger Hines plans to race just once more in 2002 in order