HomeRace Track NewsIllinoisVeteran Swindell Can Join Legends List At Springfield Race On Sunday

Veteran Swindell Can Join Legends List At Springfield Race On Sunday

Published on

- Advertisement -

Swindell Can Join Legends List at Springfield Sunday
By Jay Hardin
Track Enterprises Staff

Springfield, IL (September 18, 2019)-Germantown, Tennessee veteran race car driver Jeff Swindell has achieved many milestones in his long and storied career.  From countless sprint car victories, to two Hoosier Hundred wins, to even serving as a member of A.J. Foyt’s pit crew, Jeff has put his name into many racing record books.  He has a chance at history one more time in the rescheduled USAC Silver Crown Bettenhausen 100 presented by Brandt Agricultural Products Sunday at the Illinois State Fairgrounds.  Jeff is the lone driver who can join a list of fourteen other racing legends who have won at least one championship dirt car race on the three fairground miles of the Midwest, Indianapolis, Springfield and DuQuoin.

Other active drivers have at least two of the three in their pocket.  Russ Gamester, Chris Windom and Brian Tyler have captured the Bettenhausen 100 at Springfield and the Ted Horn 100 at DuQuoin but none were able to win the Hoosier Hundred on what may soon be a defunct Indy mile.

The list of legends who have captured all three starts with the “Arizona Cowboy” Jimmy Bryan, one of four men who can claim they won the “triple crown” in the same season.  In fact, Bryan did so twice, in 1955 and again in 1956.  A.J. Foyt (1964), Al Unser (1970) and Jack Hewitt (1986) are the other same season trifecta winners.  The drivers who won on all three, but not in the same year, are Rodger Ward, Mario Andretti, Tom Bigelow, Pancho Carter, Gary Bettenhausen, George Snider, Chuck Gurney, Jimmy Sills, J.J. Yeley and the last to join the list, Kody Swanson.

Swindell won the prestigious Hoosier Hundred in 1991 driving for car owners Tim Delrose and Dale Holt and chief wrench Bob Galas, repeating again in 1993.  He won the 1990 Ted Horn 100 at DuQuoin driving for the same team and sat on the pole at Springfield for Delorse-Holt with a new world lap record in 1987, yet victory eluded him then at Springfield.

After a long absence Jeff rejoined the series in 2016 for owner Mark Swanson who passed away over the winter.  The team has continued with Jeff racing to a fourth on the DuQuoin mile, his third top five finish in his last four starts at DuQuoin.  Coming from twenty-eighth to third in the 2017 Bettenhausen showed race fans that Swindell can still get the job done in the big cars.

Sunday’s Bettenhausen 100 in Springfield gets underway with pits opening and registration starting at 7am (Central), the ticket office and grandstands opening at 9am, the drivers meeting at 9:30am, Silver Crown practice from 10am to 11:10am, DIRTcar Modified hot laps/qualifying at 11:15am, Fatheadz Silver Crown Qualifying at 11:35am, Silver Crown Qualifying Race at 12:30pm, Modified feature at 1pm, pre-race ceremonies at 1:30pm and the Bettenhausen 100-mile race at 2pm.

Tickets will be available on raceday or by calling the Track Enterprises at 217-764-3200.  Advance Tickets (Presale) are $25 for adults and $10 for children 11 and under.  On race day, tickets are $30 for adults and $10 for children 11 and under.  Infield tickets are $20 for adults and $5 for children 11 and under.  Pit passes are $35 for adults and $20 for children 11 and under.

- Advertisement -

Recent articles

Davenport Sweeps Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Action at Atomic

CHILLICOTHE, OH (March 24, 2024) – Jonathan Davenport was the driver to...

Steven Snyder Jr Earns $10K in POWRi Outlaw Micro KKM Challenge Championship Night Thrilling Win

Visalia, CA. (3/22/24) Steven Snyder Jr would thrill the capacity crowd...

Appeals Commission Upholds Findings and Process in Tire Penalties

Board adjusts impact to penalized drivers, all three eligible to race...

Farmington Empire Speedway Results – 3/23/24

12 entries 410 SPRINTS - WINGED A Feature 1 (25 Laps): 1. 3-Howard...

Brandon Sheppard Eager to Hunt For Fourth Illini 100 Win at Farmer City 

B-Shepp is currently tied with Billy Moyer for the most Illini...

Thomas Meseraull Makes History With First Xtreme Outlaw Midget Win

Open-wheel veteran looks to win again with Tim Engler at US36...

Schaeffer’s Oil Spring Nationals Visit Headlines Two-Day Show at I-75 Raceway

(SWEETWATER, TENNESSEE)  Schaeffer’s Oil Spring Nationals Series presented by Coltman Farms...

Howard Moore Opens ’24 in Victory Lane at Farmington Empire Speedway

WoO at Arrowhead Speedway Up Next MEMPHIS, Tenn. (03/27/24) – Howard Moore...

RELATED ARTICLES

Blake Hahn Handles POWRi National and West Midget League at Creek County Speedway Win

Sapulpa, OK. (3/28/24) Blake Hahn would use precision and a little bit of luck...

Bill Balog’s Rookie World of Outlaws Season Off to Hot Start

SEIZING AN OPPORTUNITY: Bill Balog’s Rookie World of Outlaws Season Off to Hot Start The...

Thomas Meseraull Makes History With First Xtreme Outlaw Midget Win

Open-wheel veteran looks to win again with Tim Engler at US36 and Sweet Springs...

Howard Moore Opens ’24 in Victory Lane at Farmington Empire Speedway

WoO at Arrowhead Speedway Up Next MEMPHIS, Tenn. (03/27/24) – Howard Moore triumphantly opened his...

POWRi 410 Wing & Non-Wing Sprints to Headline 2024 Hockett/McMillin Memorial

Belleville, IL. (3/22/2024) Ushering in a new era of excitement and exhilaration at the...