Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Hinch enjoying racing stardom
LONG POND, Pa. — James Hinchcliffe just tried to act like a friendly tourist during a visit to Philadelphia. When he saw four people on a city sidewalk trying to squeeze into a selfie frame in front of Independence Hall, Hinchcliffe volunteered to snap the photo for them.
Turned out, just blocks from Ben Franklin’s grave, Betsy Ross’ house and the Liberty Bell, the top attraction was the guy holding the iPhone.
“Hey, wait a minute, aren’t you …”
Yes, one of the women in the group instantly recognized the former Dancing With The Stars contestant.
“The first thing this lady said to me was, ‘We were so mad you didn’t win!’ It’s just so funny how invested they get in the show,” he said.
Hinchcliffe and his professional partner Sharna Burges were runner-ups last November in the popular dance competition television series. “Hinch” has noticed an uptick in getting recognized since he freestyled his way into the national spotlight. His dancing shoes came with some perks — they put him one step closer to living like an A-lister; well, maybe at least an easier time scoring a reservation at the latest hot spot.
“If you want to go somewhere, they return your phone call. That’s the big difference,” he said, laughing. “It’s not just, ‘Who?’ ”
Hinchcliffe, 30, from Ontario, Canada, was already a popular presence around the IndyCar paddock. He’s the Mayor of Hinchtown and his comeback from a life-threatening injury two years ago at Indianapolis Motor Speedway earned him deeper respect among his peers.
But there are still a few more goals Hinchcliffe would like to reach that would mean more than any Mirrorball Trophy. He heads into today’s race at Pocono Raceway looking for his second victory of the season and his first multi-victory season since 2013. He wants to firm up his future with Schmidt-Peterson Motorsports and he still has an eye on landing a ride in NASCAR’s second-tier Xfinity Series.
Need more Hinch updates? Download and subscribe to his podcast, The Mayor On Air. Hinchcliffe was set to tape his latest episode from the Pocono infield on Saturday night with his guests, fellow IndyCar drivers Marco Andretti and Will Power. Hinchcliffe loves the informal Q&As with some of his best friends that showcase a different side of the drivers to a fan base he works tirelessly to build.
“When you watch on TV, all you see is a helmet, a car and going in circles,” he said over a plate of fish tacos. “You don’t learn a lot about the people. For us, social media has been a huge tool, a huge aid in getting our personalities out there.”
IndyCar CEO Mark Miles keeps pestering Hinchcliffe for a spot on the show.
“I’m a bit nervous to have the boss on,” he said, laughing.
His most popular requests from fans aren’t the drivers.
“Gotta get the WAGs,” he cracked.
Hinchcliffe’s “Dancing” fame surely lifted him into a higher tax bracket — and even a bit of new zip code. He had a guest spot on the crime-solving series Private Eyes directed by former Beverly Hills 90210 star Jason Priestley. Hinchcliffe has appeared on Celebrity Family Feud, developed his own beer brands — the Hinchtown Hammerdown and The Bricks — and is a partner in a Toronto-based video production company.