VOL. 51 ISSUE 50 DECEMBER 16, 2014 P171
figure a few things out and we became stronger
because of it."
When he arrived in Norwalk, Hines likely ques-
tioned the team's decision to build a new bike after
he qualified number 10, his lowest starting spot of
the year. Prior to Sunday's elimination rounds, the
team decided to make a big change to their tune-
up and magically, the bike responded and Hines
went on to win his third race of the season.
"It was like night and day," Hines said. "On Satur-
day night, I was bummed. It was probably the most
frustrated I'd been the whole season. Then, on
Sunday it was like a whole new bike. The changes
we made worked and even though I didn't neces-
sarily have the quickest bike I had one that worked
better. It was more efficient and it responded to the
changes we made. That was probably the turning
point in the season for us."
After his win in Norwalk, Hines headed for the
thin air of Denver's Bandimere Speedway, a track
"I WAS A WRECK. I ALMOST
THREW UP BEFORE EVERY
ROUND. I REMEMBER
STANDING AT THE ROPES
SIGNING AUTOGRAPHS FOR THE
FANS AND THINKING, 'IF THESE
PEOPLE ONLY KNEW WHAT I
WAS FEELING RIGHT NOW.'"
Hines and his
son Declan
at the NHRA
championship
awards
ceremony.
