Cordele Motor Speedway has been very good for the growth and development of Michael Hinde.
His first ever Pro Late Model win came here in 2022 and now his first major Super Late Model win comes in the restored World Crown 300 on Saturday night.
A lot happened along the way.
Hinde was fastest in practice, started sixth but near immediately sent to the rear for slight involvement in a Lap 4 crash between Derek Thorn and Connor Okrzesik. That sent him to the rear where he did not get back to the front until 51 laps to go.
And even that required contact with Stephen Nasse and required a post-race apology. Nevertheless, Hinde scored $35,000 and joined a list of winners that includes Darrell Waltrip, Dick Trickle, Preston Peltier, Chase Elliott and Casey Roderick.
“It just feels amazing,” Hinde said in Victory Lane. “It hasn’t even set in. I’m just speechless right now. To come here and do something like this in one of these crown jewel races that they were able to bring back just feels so special.”
Nasse did feel like he got used up by Hinde making his winning pass.
“I was pacing myself, knew we had quite a bit of race left, and even if Michael got by me, felt like I could go race him later,” Nasse said. “I felt like he was pushing a little bit harder than I wanted so I gave him a bunch of room and I mean a bunch of room because we’ve been good buddies, you know.
“I’m close with his whole family, so I was very mindful of where he was on the racetrack and was trying to put on a good race and we did for a couple laps and then he just overdrove it and got loose underneath me and then just gave me no chance there.”
Nasse conceded it wasn’t malicious but worth a conversation before they race together again.
For his part, Hinde knows he needs to be contrite but also said it was for the win.
“He’s always raced me clean for the most part,” Hinde said. “We have a strong relationship. I’ve raced with him for a little while and he’s taught me a lot. I wouldn’t be here today without him. He showed me a lot about driving a race car.
“So I did apologize to getting into him. I drove into him. I tried entering low and it just got a little loose. I wore my tires out a little too much, unfortunately. I hope he knows it’s sincere. I really didn’t mean to get into him, but at the end of the day, we are battling for the lead and I think he’d be okay with doing the same. That’s just how I see it.”
Johnny Sauter led the most laps and finished second and said his car just didn’t respond the changing track conditions the way his Richie Wauters team thought it would.
The race featured a lot of randomness up front with Hinde, Nasse, Sauter, Bubba Pollard, Matt Craig and Gavan Boschele all taking turns up front.
Most drivers after the said the American Racer tires were inconsistent this weekend, but also praised the tire, but wondered if there was a batch mix-up or if these tires hadn’t cured yet.
Michael Hinde wins the World Crown 300; apologetic for the contact with Stephen Nasse and wishes he had a crown, robe and scepter like the winners of this race used to have pic.twitter.com/MDJxyjLzUW
Stephen Nasse took the lead late in the World Crown 300 but contact with Michael Hinde may have hurt the car a little bit; wants to have a conversation with his friend
Johnny Sauter led the most laps in the World Crown 300 but just didn't have the same car at the end as track conditions changed and stagger opened up pic.twitter.com/gDzI5Kz1FZ
Matt Weaver is the owner and founder of Short Track Scene. Weaver grew up in the sport, having raced himself before becoming a reporter in college at the University of South Alabama. He also has extensive experience covering NASCAR, IndyCar and Dirt Sprint Cars.
