Wayside, N.J. – Trent Hindman picked up his second podium finish of the season, a third place at this past weekend’s Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda finale at Virginia International Raceway; a strong finish to an often challenging season for the young Wayside, N.J. driver.
Hindman will be the first one to tell you that his rookie season in USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda wasn’t everything he hoped it would be. Driving for the front running Cape Motorsports with Wayne Taylor Racing and among the quickest drivers all year, three DNFs coming into VIR put Hindman sixth in the points and gave him the goal of finishing the season in the top five.
Quick in pre-event testing and in the two official practice sessions, Hindman qualified fourth Thursday afternoon, setting him up to start on the outside of Row 2, behind his teammates and title contenders Spencer Pigot and Matthew Brabham and alongside Scott Anderson. A slow start meant that Hindman dropped down in the order early before fighting back, but at a price.
“For the first several turns at VIR being on the inside (driver’s right) is a real advantage," said Hindman. “I didn’t make a good start so I got freight trained by the inside line of cars. After the restart (for an opening lap incident) I settled in and started moving back toward the front, but I over drove the car and ran the tires off. In the end I was lucky to hang onto eighth.”
Eighth place was the start of the good news for Hindman, as his 1:50.982 sec. race lap was second quickest, meaning he would start Race 2 on the front row next to Race 1 winner Spencer Pigot. As Pigot charged off into the lead, Hindman battled with Wayne Boyd and Scott Hargrove for second. Boyd ultimately got the upper hand, taking second place while Hindman tied his career-best finish of third.
“I still had to start on the outside, but up a row from Race 1 made a big difference. I made a better start so instead of playing catch up I spent the race defending. Wayne got around me but I’m happy with third. It was nice to return to the podium. I missed it.”
Third was also enough to move Hindman into the top five in the final championship standings.
“If you told me in March that after leaving Sebring 32nd in points that I would finish in the top five I wouldn’t have believed it. Dominic and Nick Cape gave me strong cars all year and I’ve learned so much… January and Winterfest can’t get here soon enough.”
Next Up
Trent Hindman will announce his plans in the next several weeks. Check www.usf2000.com and www.altemusprime.com for the latest updates. In the meantime, Hindman will be just another face in the crowd at Ocean Township High School, where his Senior year is under way.
Final Standings, 2012 Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda
1. Matthew Brabham, 339 points
2. Spencer Pigot -7
3. Scott Anderson, -83
4. Matthew DiLeo, -119
5. Trent Hindman, -150
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Trent Hindman
Wayside, N.J. native Trent Hindman comes to the 2012 Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda off a diverse season of racing that includes winning the Ontario Formula Ford Championship, a runner-up finish in the BFGoodrich/Skip Barber National Presented by Mazda and selection to the prestigious Team USA Scholarship. A former Skip Barber Karting Scholarship Shoot-out winner, Hindman’s goal is to progress through the “Mazda Road to Indy” program, culminating in a ride in the IZOD IndyCar Series. Hindman is racing with defending USF2000 champions Cape Motorsports with Wayne Taylor Racing and would like to thank Sparco, Racelite Protection and Altemus Prime Communications for their support.
Away from the track, Hindman attends Ocean Township High School in Oakhurst, N.J. He resides in Wayside with his parents Doug and Kim and his sister Sloane.
Learn more about Trent Hindman at www.trenthindman.com.