A problem with a loose oil line fitting relegated Tracy Hines to a 29th-place finish in the Kroger 250 NASCARTruck Series race at Martinsville Speedway last Saturday.  Hines, driving the ThorSport No. 88 Menards Chevrolet, started 16th in the 36-truck field and was working his way to the front when trouble struck.

On the first lap of the race, Hines was forced to take evasive action to miss a spinning Bill Lester in turn three.  Once the field went back to green flag racing, Hines had started to challenge for a top-10 spot when smoke began to boil from the rear of the truck.  Hines was forced to pit and the team quickly diagnosed a loose oil line.  After the line was tightened and more oil added to the tank, Hines returned to the action, but was 7 laps off the leader’s pace.

With all chances for a top finish all but eliminated, Hines changed strategy to make as many laps as possible and bring the truck home in one piece.  He never lost another lap on the racetrack, and when the checkered flag waved his truck rolled back onto the transporter without a scratch.  Hines currently sits tied for 21st in NCTS points with 294, 192 points behind leader Carl Edwards.  He is also fourth out of 15 drivers in the Raybestos Rookie of the Year standings.

As soon as the action in Martinsville concluded, Hines hopped in his car for the overnight drive to Anderson Speedway just north of Indianapolis for the Glen Neibel Classic featuring the USAC Sprint Cars.   After an all night drive and 50 tough laps on the high-banked quarter mile, Hines was still fresh enough to grab a hard fought fifth-place finish.

Hines returns to action this weekend in the Aaron’s 312 NASCAR Busch Series race at the Talladega Superspeedway.  The event is scheduled for live telecast on Fox this Saturday at 2 p.m. Eastern.  The NASCAR Truck Series has a four-week hiatus until its next event, the Ohio 250 at Mansfield Motorsports Speedway on May 16.  That event will be televised live on Speed starting at 2 p.m. Eastern.