SWEDESBORO, N.J. — Chelby Hinton made his debut in the Hogue Racing Enterprises No. 39 a pretty good one.
The Dubberly, Louisiana native captured the victory during Friday night’s Malley Pool Water Non-Winners Showdown at Bridgeport Motorsports Park.
The event was open to any driver who had never before won a USAC East Coast Sprint Car Presented by Baer Den Farms feature event in their career.
Hinton, the newly crowned USAC Silver Crown Max Papis Innovations Rookie of the Year, started third and made his way to the lead on the sixth circuit of the 20-lap non-points special event feature.
The inversion for the feature was six with Jared Kreider starting on the pole. The initial start went yellow for a spin involving Olivia Thayer and Mick D’Agostino. During the yellow, Kreider’s car had a mechanical issue, ending hope for an upset win.
On the restart, Jonathan Swanson led the way, while Kyle Spence and Hinton slid their way towards the front. On lap six, Hinton made the race winning move on Swanson, and Hinton set sail, utilizing the very top of the four-tenths-mile dirt oval.
Kyle Spence snagged second from Swanson and brought Joe Kata with him to take over third.
As the laps wound down, Hinton was not to be denied as he found his first sprint car triumph. He is now in contention for the Sandoe’s Fruit Market $2,000 weekend sweep bonus if he can find the stage in Saturday’s $2,500-to-win Baer Den Farms season closer.
Spence took second with Kata third. Early race leader Swanson and fast qualifier Ronald Helmick rounded out the top five.
The finish:
FEATURE: (20 laps, starting positions in parentheses) 1. Chelby Hinton (3), 2. Kyle Spence (4), 3. Joe Kata (5), 4. Jonathan Swanson (2), 5. Ronald Helmick (6), 6. Brenden Hires (7), 7. Tyler Brehm (9), 8. J.R. Fulper (10), 9. Rick Lafferty (8), 10. David Swanson (11), 11. Mick D’Agostino (14), 12. Scott Frack (12), 13. Heidi Hedin (20), 14. Dan Malley (17), 15. Gary Huston (19), 16. Sean Case (18), 17. Shane Braxton (15), 18. Jared Kreider (1), 19. Greg Shepsis (13), 20. Olivia Thayer (16). NT
