By Jay Hardin Track Enterprises Staff
(August 25, 2014)-Ken Schrader waited 27 years to post his first win at the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds, a place he visited as a youngster and where he made his USAC Stock Car debut in 1979. When he won the Southern Illinois 100 in 2006, it marked his first 100-mile race win at DuQuoin and the wins have come with increased frequency since then. Three ARCA Racing Series wins, a crate late model win and two UMP Modified victories give him six since September of 2006. Ken will try for win number four in the 61st Federated Southern Illinois 100 at the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds on Labor Day.
At age 59, Schrader is the oldest race winner in ARCA history. By chance, he is also the oldest race winner at DuQuoin winning last year’s race at age 58. Two others from the ‘graybeard’ society should join Schrader and are former winners of the event.
Fifty-two year old Frank Kimmel is a five time winner of the Southern Illinois 100 and a ten time ARCA Racing Series presented by Menard’s champion. He is currently third in the 2014 ARCA chase and had a strong run on the dirt at Springfield. The other veteran is 65 year old Bob Strait of Manteno, Illinois. Strait won the 1991 stock car event at DuQuoin and was a strong ARCA competitor for many years. His last run at DuQuoin was in 2008, this year he reunites with Normal car owner Bill Hendren who is celebrating his 40th anniversary of bringing stock cars to Southern Illinois.
Strait teams with former UMP National driving champ Ryan Unzicker of El Paso, just part of an Illinois contingent that continues to be a threat for victory on the dirt miles in ARCA competition. Galesburg’s A.J. Fike is a strong threat at DuQuoin having won pole positions and led laps on the ‘Magic Mile’. Springfield’s Kelly Kovski went from 27th to near briefly take the lead at Springfield, he too has led laps at DuQuoin. Other Illinois drivers include Mark Littleton (Arenzville) and Dale Shearer (Alhambra).
One Prairie State entry that has local fans talking is that of West Frankfort’s Brad Hill who has “Sugar” Shane Cockrum behind the wheel again of the team’s Ford. Cockrum’s father Cliff is a southern Illinois racing legend, Shane himself nearly won the USAC Ted Horn 100 at DuQuoin last year. Hill’s crew is mostly from southern Illinois and was recently featured on local television.
A tight ARCA point battle invades the ‘Magic Mile’ with two youngsters looking for their first title. Iowa’s Mason Mitchell and Alabama’s Grant Enfinger are locked in a title fight with Mitchell just 25 markers ahead of Enfinger. Each driver led at Springfield on the dirt. Dirt track veteran Tom Hessert of New Jersey is fourth, while most recent ARCA winner Justin Boston is in the fifth slot.
The Southern Illinois 100 on Labor Day marks the finale segment of the Bill France Four Crown comprised of finishes on the road course at New Jersey Motorsports Park, Chicagoland, Berlin and DuQuoin. Schrader currently leads the chase for the France Four Crown and would love nothing better than to cap it off with a victory in Southern Illinois.
The 61st Federated Car Care-Southern Illinois 100 takes place Labor Day at the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds. ARCA practice begins at 9 a.m., with Menard’s Pole Qualifying at 11 and the 100-mile race taking place at 1:30 p.m.