After Tracy Hines and Pablo Donoso finished the opening race of the USAC Silver Crown Series up front, in the first and second positions, they decided to stay there for a while. Hines and Donoso, who pilot the No. 14 and No. 11 Chevys owned by racing legend AJ Foyt, went on record last week as the first two official entries in the Silver Crown Showdown at Darlington, coming up on Thursday evening, May 10.
The race marks the first time USAC has raced at the track “Too Tough To Tame” in 51 years.
“We didn’t test there, so I’m not exactly sure what it’s going to be like, but I know it’s going to be fun, ” Foyt said. “I raced there years ago, and I always liked the place, so this ought to be good. ”
Foyt competed in the Southern 500 at Darlington in 1985, finishing 25th. Officially, he retired with brake failure on the 248th lap (of 367), but his problem was the first (now the third) turn wall.
“Everybody was trying to run up high, so I tried to run low and just pushed up the racetrack, ” he said. “I ran out of room real fast.
“I just body-slammed that wall. They didn’t throw the caution, but they probably should have. That did it for me. ”
Foyt never drove an Indy car at the legendary track. “I’m not THAT old! ” he said.
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