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Race 11
0f 15 / O'Reilly Mid-South Nationals
Memphis, TN / August 18-20 2006
Memphis, TN / August 18-20 2006
Courtesy
of NHRA Communications
With
the POWERade lead on the line, Pro Stock Motorcycle
contenders Hines and Brown didn't get to race for
glory after Brown jumped the Tree by .006-second,
his sixth red-light start of the year and third with
the trophy on the line. His overwhelming desire for
a stellar light was a bit of a curiosity because he
had outrun Hines by four-hundredths of a second in
the semifinals, but he gift-wrapped the victory
anyway, and Hines puttered through to win in 9.085
seconds.
"I saw
Antron's red-light come on, and everything just went
blank," Hines said. "To come in here and get the win
and the POWERade points lead back is such an awesome
feeling. Hopefully, this is the momentum we need to
finish the year strong and defend the championship
we need. I hope it's hot the rest of the year
because we've done really well at the two hottest
places we raced this year, here and Denver.
"This is
the first time I've ever doubled up at a race. Last
year was awesome because GT [Tonglet, Screamin'
Eagle Harley teammate] and I qualified 1-2 and then
raced through to the final and got after it for the
trophy. To come back a year later and win it again
is special."
Hines
certainly hasn't looked as dominating as he has in
his last two championship runs, but even with the
engine-size increase enjoyed this year by the Suzuki
riders, he's found a way to win two races and lead
the points after three different events. Hines and
Brown have opened almost a 100-point lead on the
chase pack, led by Chip Ellis and Angelle Sampey,
who lost in round one here.
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