Jeff Rine Having a Super Season at Selinsgrove

 

 

By Dino Oberto … “Keeping Track”

 

             Danville’s Jeff Rine continues to prove why he is one of the leading dirt late model drivers throughout the region. As the racing season is approaching the halfway mark, Rine is on pace of capturing yet another track title at Selinsgrove Speedway.

             Heading into the month of July, Selinsgrove has run 11 races and Rine has won six and finished second three other times and with that holds a commanding 680 point lead over Tony Adams and Eric Hons who are tied for second.

             “I think it’s been real good. We had a lot of early success this year and hopefully we can keep it going through the rest of the season,” said 31-year old Rine who is a four time track champ including back-to-back titles in the past two seasons.

             “I feel that when you win races the points will take care of themselves.”

             Not to take anything away from the competition, Rine has just been able to hit his marks each time he rolls onto the track. He is the only drive in the late model class to have won more than once.

             “I think the competition is as good right now as it’s ever been. Guys like Tony Adams, Jeff Smith, Steve Campbell and Eric Hons, their as tough as ever,” said Rine.

             “I really have to give credit to my crew. Pretty much whatever it takes they’re always there for me and the results show that.”

             As he maintains his winning ways, he is also making a steady climb on the all-time wins column where he sits third overall with 52 and counting. Bobby Croop (69) and Richie Jensen (60) are all that stand between him and the top ranking.

             While Rine is enjoying unparalleled success at Selinsgrove, the same can’t be said at Bedford Speedway where he races every Friday night.

             He has yet to taste victory this year. A pair of runner-ups has been his best results. And, it’s not that Rine isn’t as good there. His car has been plenty quick. Lady Luck has been the factor.

             “At Bedford I haven’t been so lucky. We’ve had a lot of problems and dropped out of some races. The car has been real fast but we’ve just haven’t had the luck. There were two races I was leading and dropped out because something went wrong with the car,” said Rine.

“At Bedford I don’t think there’s anything we need to change as far as the car goes. We just need to catch onto some good luck and get the monkey off our back out there.”

             While he drives his own car at Selinsgrove, Rine races for Bob and Tim Eldin at Bedford.

             This past month Rine also had the chance to race against the national touring World of Outlaws Late Models at Big Diamond Raceway and turned a few heads when he set fast time and won a heat race. In the 40-lap feature he finished a respectable 10^th.

             “That was awesome. I never expected to set fast time or win a heat race. My heat race had a bunch of heavy hitters with the Outlaws and we beat them. You’re racing with some of the best guys in the country and to be able to run with them, I think that was pretty cool,” said Rine.

             Rine will get another chance to compete with the WoO when the group holds its season finals at the Dirt Track at Lowe’s Motor Speedway in November.

             This season also saw the first Late Model Speedweek event staged at selected Pennsylvania tracks and as a top gun among the area’s racers, Rine felt it was a much needed attraction for the class.

             “I thought that was a great event and I’m really looking forward to next year’s event.”

             As the season heads into the second half look for Rine to continue his stronghold at Selinsgrove and once he finds a some luck at Bedford, expect the wins to follow.