Jimmy Hines, a ninth-grader at Becker High School, took home his first-ever trophy from his rookie year of racing at the Wissota National Banquet in St. Cloud Nov. 12.

 

Hines finished in eighth place in national points for Wissota while competing in 22 races. Jimmy drives a 2002 Dodge Neon (named Bessie) on a dirt, oval track.

 

Jimmy mostly races Friday nights at Granite City Speedway in Sauk Rapids and Saturdays at Ogilvie Raceway in Ogilvie. Occasionally he will drive to KRA Speedway in Wilmar.

 

His parents, Nicolle and Brandon, are very proud of their son and the skills he’s learned as a youngster to today.

 

“This was Jimmy’s first year racing a car,” Nicolle said. “However, he started out racing at the age of four on dirt bikes. He moved up to quads and go karts over the years.”

 

Nicolle and Brandon are the owners and operators of Accurate Automotive tire dealer and repair shop in Becker. This is the place Jimmy learned to work on cars and has done most of the work on Bessie over the years.

 

“Jimmy did the majority of the work on the car he’s racing now, all on his own — with some guidance from Dad,” said Nicolle. “The only exception is the roll cage in which our good friend, Doug Fredrick built the roll cage in his car.”  

 

Every week, Jimmy competes with guys and gals that are two-to-three times his age.  Jimmy takes that in stride and considers all of his competitors his friends.  

 

“He’s learned so much this year from talking with the other people in his class, getting tips and pointers from all of them, and from his Dad,” said Nicolle.  “Brandon always takes time from working on his own car to watch Jimmy and is always there to give him advice.”

 

In early spring, Jimmy was able to test out his skills behind the wheel at a few open tracks before competitions. Otherwise, when he straps himself into his car and approaches the start line, he has to be ready to put the pedal to the metal.

 

“ There isn’t really any practice,” Jimmy says. “I get most of my practice from every race that I’m in.  However, there are specific days at the beginning of the season just for open practice at the different tracks.”

 

Jimmy’s goals for next year are to win at least one feature race and to finish in the top five for National Points. He says right now, his racing is sort of a hobby yet he’s not ruling out the possibility of turning pro someday if he continues to progress.

 

“The best think about being a racer is being able to spend time with my family, meeting all of the fans, meeting all of my new friends in my class and most of all just having fun,” he says.  “The worst part of racing is when something happens to my car and I’m not able to finish my race.”

 

Good thing his dad and mom own a repair shop.

 

Jimmy would like to thank his mom and dad and all of his sponsors that have supported his racing career so far. 

 

Special thanks go to Sharps Foresty, IRT, Pronto Pups, Quality Cutting, Chubbs Performance, St. Cloud Auto Wrecking, Morrelies Lawn and Snow Co., Top Shelf Tire, Firebuggz, and Division Sixx Graphics.