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ROSSBURG — A dry track left Tracy Hines racing through a cloud of dust in the United States Auto Club's national sprint car feature at Eldora Speedway on Saturday, May 10.

"I couldn't see the cars in front of me. I was getting scared towards the end," Hines said of the 30-lap Don Branson-Jud Larson Classic.

Fortunately for Hines, he was leading the field. Hines emerged from the dust to win his second Branson-Larson Classic (2001) with a convincing win over runner-up Brady Bacon.

"The track was pretty good on the bottom in (Turns) 3 and 4. But on the top was where the momentum was, and it was so rough," said Hines, who started on the outside of Row 1. "I'd go through there thinking every time I was going to flip."

Instead, Hines — who missed most of last season after an off-road dirt bike accident — held on for his first win in 2008. Hines, who drives for Tony Stewart Racing, entered Saturday third in USAC driver points.

Bacon, who started 10th, trailed Hines anywhere from five to 10 car lengths and never mounted a serious challenge.

"I'm stoked about running this good here, and I think we figured some things out that will translate to other tracks this summer," said Bacon, who entered second in the points.

USAC points leader and fellow TSR driver Levi Jones, who started third, finished back in the pack after getting penalized for jumping the start of the race. He later went to the tail after his hood popped up.

Defending Branson-Larson Classic winner Robert Ballou didn't finish the B-Main. He also was trying to become the third driver in 17 years to win three straight USAC sprint races at Eldora. The last to do it? Troy's Jack Hewitt in 1990-91.

Undercard action

Defending Advance Auto Parts Stock Car track champ Jeff Babcock held off Eaton's Bob Burch for most of his 15-lap feature win.

Wapakoneta's Jerry Bowersock won the UMP Modified feature ahead of Ludlow Falls' Matt Westfall, who was making his first dirt Modified start.

Frisbee freebie

As it turns out, sprint cars aren't the only thing Eldora's catch fences are good at stopping. USAC drivers autographed Frisbees and tossed them into the stands for a chance to win USAC 4-Crown Nationals tickets if their driver won Saturday's feature. About half of the 30 or so Frisbees made it over on the first try. The rest either sailed back or hit the fence.

Hot laps

USAC's Brady Short set a fast time with 15.388 (116.974 mph) in qualifying. Jerry Coons Jr. still holds the 1-lap record of 14.712 (122.349) set in September 2006.

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