VOL. 52 ISSUE 50 DECEMBER 15, 2015 P143
been one of the ugliest races
of the season. When Krawiec
launched, his V-Rod spun the
tire and he made a hard move to-
wards the centerline. He barely
missed knocking over a timing
marker which would have meant
an automatic disqualification.
While Krawiec was busy just try-
ing to get his V-Rod to the finish
line, he was completely unaware
that behind him, Savoie was
coasting to a stop after spinning
the rear tire violently as soon as
he dumped the clutch. For all of
it, Hines had a ringside seat.
"I was next to run right after
Eddie so I was sitting on the
starting line right behind him in
the same lane," Hines recalled.
"I saw Jerry spin the tire and
shut off and then I watched
Eddie's run and he was all over
the track. I remember thinking to
myself, 'Eddie, if you cross the
centerline, I'm going to choke
you.' I didn't have the best view
but when I saw our crew jumping
up and down and celebrating, I
knew it was over. Then my wife,
Tanya, came over and gave me
a kiss on the helmet. It was a
huge relief. It took me a couple
of seconds to get my composure
because I still had to go out and
run my race. The whole thing
was a bit surreal."
With Krawiec's win, Hines
clinched his fifth championship,
tying a record held by late NHRA
Hall of Famer Dave Schultz.
At 32, Hines also became the
youngest NHRA racer to win five
"I remember
thinking to
myself, 'Eddie,
if you cross the
centerline, I'm going
to choke you."
(Below) Drag racing is in Hines'
blood, that is for sure. His father
is Hall of Famer Byron Hines, and
his brother, Matt, is a three-time
champion.
Teammate Eddie Kraweic
(left) played a big role in
Hines' 2015 title.
