8/18 USAC Silver Crown Bettenhausen 100, 8/19 ARCA Allen Crowe 100 (Sptsmn BOTH DAYS)@ IL State Fair

[TEI PR]

Saturday-Sunday, August 18-19
Illinois State Fairgrounds
Springfield, IL

Saturday, August 18
USAC Racing Silver Crown Series
57th Annual Bettenhausen 100
+ 25th Annual Illinois Sportsman Nationals DIRTcar UMP Sportsman Prelims

SATURDAY, AUGUST 18 SPRINGFIELD TIMES:
7:00 AM Pits & Registration
9:00 AM Ticket Office & Grandstands
9:30 AM Drivers Meetings
10:00-11:10 AM Silver Crown Practice
11:30 AM Silver Crown Qualifying
12:00 PM Sportsman Hotlaps
12:30 PM Silver Crown B-Main
1:00 PM Sportsman Heats
1:30 PM Pre-Race Ceremonies
2:00 PM USAC Silver Crown 57th Annual Bettenhausen 100

Sunday, August 19
ARCA RACING SERIES presented by Menards
56th Annual Allen Crowe Memorial 100
+ 25th Annual Illinois Sportsman Nationals

SUNDAY, AUGUST 19 SPRINGFIELD TIMES:
5:30 AM Pits & Registration
7:30 AM Chapel Service
8:00 AM Drivers Meeting
8:30 AM Ticket Office & Grandstands
9:00 AM Practice
11:00 AM ARCA Qualifying
12:00 PM 25th Annual Illinois Sportsman Nationals
12:15 PM Driver Autograph Session
1:15 PM ARCA Driver Introduction
1:30 PM National Anthem
1:35 PM 56th Annual Allen Crowe Memorial 100

(*Don’t forget our two other local shows the same weekend, Lincoln Speedway Friday, August 17 and Macon Speedway Saturday night, August 18.)

SPRINGFIELD TICKET INFO:
Tickets will be available on raceday or by calling the State Fair office at 217-782-1979. Info and tickets can also be obtained by calling the Track Enterprises office at 217-764-3200. Discount tickets for Sunday also available at Menards.

RESERVED SEATING
Advance Tickets (Presale)
$25 Adults Per Day
$10 Children 11 & Under Per Day
Day Of Tickets (At Gate)
$30 Adults Per Day
$10 Children 11 & Under Per Day

INFIELD TICKETS
$20 Adults
$5 Children 11 & Under

PIT PASSES
$35 Adults Each Day
$20 Children 11 & Under Each Day
$50 Two-Day Pit Pass

INFIELD PARKING
$7 For Those Parking On Infield With No Infield Or Pit Passes

HOST HOTEL
Carpenter Street Hotel In Springfield
888-779-9100 or www.carpenterstreethotel.com

 

[TEI PR]

Illinois State Fair Races Fast Approaching
Springfield Mile To Again Feature USAC, ARCA, & Sportsman

The 2018 Illinois State Fair in Springfield opens its doors in just over a week, which means that race fans everywhere are putting together their travel plans for the historic races at the Springfield Mile. The racing action takes center stage each and every year on the final weekend of the fair. This year, the mile comes alive with the USAC Silver Crown Series Champ Cars, the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards, and the UMP Sportsman on Saturday and Sunday, August 18-19.

On Saturday, August 18, the USAC Silver Crown Champ Cars return for the Bettenhausen 100. The race has seen a great resurgence over the last couple of years and this year's event is expected to have a field well over 30 cars. The 2016 event saw 40 cars on the property with Jerry Coons, Jr. setting fast time and Justin Grant claiming the win. Brian Tyler also put on a great show, coming through the field to lead. Tyler fell out of the event in the late stages. Grant was followed across the line by Kody Swanson, Jeff Swindell, Coons, and Dave Darland.

Then on Sunday, August 19, the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards comes to town for the Allen Crowe Memorial 100. Last year’s event saw former ARCA champion, Grant Enfinger, take the victory in the Allgaier Motorsports prepared #16. Enfinger passed Christian Eckes on lap 63 of the 100 lap event. Austin Theriault ran Enfinger down in the late going but was unable to get by. Tyler Dippel, Sheldon Creed, and Shane Lee completed the top five.

Also racing that weekend will be the UMP Sportsman class. The Sportsman Nationals event will pay $1,500 to win and will have practice and qualifying heats on Saturday with the 20-lap feature on Sunday afternoon. Last season, Lovington, IL driver, Jeremy Nichols, won his fifth Sportsman Nationals event in a row. Entry forms are available on the Track Enterprises facebook page, website, and by calling 217-764-3200.

On Saturday, August 18, registration and pits will open at 7:00 AM, grandstands and ticket office at 9:00, Silver Crown practice at 10:00, qualifying at 11:30, Sportsman hotlaps at 12:00 noon, Silver Crown semi at 12:30, Sportsman heats at 1:00, and the Bettenhausen 100 at 2:00.

Sunday, August 19th times are 5:30 AM for registration and pit gates, 8:30 for grandstands and ticket office, 9:00 for practice, ARCA qualifying at 11:00, Sportsman feature at 12:00 noon, an ARCA autograph session at 12:15, and the Allen Crowe Memorial 100 will take the green at 1:35.

Advance reserved adult tickets can be purchased for either of the days for $25, a discount of $5. Children 11 and under are $10. Tickets may be purchased by calling Track Enterprises at 217-764-3200 or by contacting either of the two fairgrounds ticket offices. Discount tickets for Sunday's ARCA event can also be purchased at Central Illinois Menards stores.

The host hotel for the State Fair event is the Carpenter Street Hotel. The hotel is located in downtown Springfield, less than three miles from the Illinois State Fairgrounds. Hotel also features a shuttle service that will run most days during the fair. To reserve your room for the USAC/ARCA Illinois State Fair race weekend, visit www.carpenterstreethotel.com or call 217-789-9100. Please ask the front desk for details.

For more information, visit www.trackenterprises.com.

 

[ghost67]

Poster needs bigger pics of the USAC Silver Crown Cars

 

[xrcr]

Agree. Most people don't get the big butt girls....

 

[TEI PR]

Carpenter Street Hotel Again Featuring Racer Rate For State Fair Weekend

Officials from Track Enterprises in Macon, IL have announced that the Carpenter Street Hotel in Springfield, IL, will again be the official host hotel for the 2018 State Fair race weekend. The event takes place on Saturday and Sunday, August 18 and 19, the final two days of the Illinois State Fair and features USAC Racing, ARCA RACING SERIES, and DIRTcar Racing events.

Carpenter Street Hotel is located in downtown Springfield, less than three miles from the Illinois State Fairgrounds, 3 blocks from the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum, and just 4 miles from the Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport. The hotel features stylish guest rooms with contemporary boutique-style decor and furnishings. Rooms also include free WiFi, flat screen TVs, coffeemakers, refrigerator/microwave, and all others features that you would come to expect. Complimentary hot breakfast, and parking is included. Hotel also features a shuttle service that will run most days during the fair. Please ask the front desk for details.

A racer rate will be available by mentioning that you are attending the Illinois State Fair races. The hotel is located at 525 N 6th St., Springfield, IL 62702. To reserve your room for the USAC/ARCA Illinois State Fair race weekend, visit www.carpenterstreethotel.com or call 888-779-9100.

Track Enterprises is a racing promotion company that oversees popular racing events that feature top touring series like the ARCA Racing Series, USAC, World Of Outlaws, UMP, CRA, POWRi, and more. For more information on the upcoming racing schedule, visit www.trackenterprises.com.

 

[TEI PR]

 

[TEI PR]

Eleven Springfield-area Menards Selling Discounted Tickets for the Allen Crowe 100 at the Illinois State Fairgrounds

https://www.arcaracing.com/articles...n-crowe-100-at-the-illinois-state-fairgrounds

 

[TEI PR]

We are just about 10 days away from the DIRTcar UMP Sportsman taking to the track at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield, IL. We sent out an email blast with these, and are posting the entry forms here as well to make them as easy as possible to access.

 

[TEI PR]

DARLAND, GAMESTER SPRINGFIELD IRON MEN

By Jay Hardin Track Enterprises Staff-Springfield, IL-(August 7, 2018)-Past USAC Silver Crown champion Dave Darland and USAC Midget champion Russ Gamester are well known for their exploits in open wheel competition. Both are becoming known for their support of and longevity in the USAC Silver Crown Championship Series including participation in the prestigious one mile dirt track events like the Bettenhausen 100 at the Illinois State Fairgrounds. Should either or both of the veteran drivers appear at Springfield they will increase their record of accomplishments in the 80 plus years of championship racing on the Springfield Mile.

1989 USAC Midget champion Gamester won the 1998 running of the Tony Bettenhausen 100 driving his family owned dirt car. In fact, he made his series debut and the first of over 190 series starts on the Springfield mile in August of 1989 driving for the famed Mataka Brothers. Russ also made the starting field as a rookie at DuQuoin and the Hoosier Hundred for the same team that fielded midgets for Mario Andretti. In the approximately 30 years that Gamester has participated in USAC’s top tier series most of his starts and wins have come behind the wheel of his family owned operation. In 2016 Russ crashed hard at the Indiana State Fairgrounds in May and the accident took the team out of competition for the remainder of the season. Russ returned with a new machine for the 2017 season and started 22nd in the Bettenhausen, finishing 33rd when the engine expired after 7 miles. The start was Gamester’s 24th in the Bettenhausen 100, third on the all-time list behind George Snider’s 29 and Johnny Parsons 27.

1997 USAC Silver Crown champ Darland is a three-time Bettenhausen 100 winner (1997, 1999, 2003). Dave made his series debut in 1990 driving for Frank Faroute and made his first Bettenhausen 100 in August of 1993. Dave shook things up in the series when he swept both races at the Indiana State Fairgrounds driving for legendary owner Galen Fox, whose car Dave drove to all three victories at Springfield. After holding the Fox ride for around 17 seasons in the Silver Crown series Darland’s talents have been spread among several car owners including Springfield’s own Dennis McQuinn, Jim Dutcher, Steve and Carla Phillips and most recently as a teammate to Bill Rose. Dave passed leader Brian Tyler as the driver with the most series starts at Toledo earlier this year and should he make the field at Salem on August 11, will be looking for series start number 199 in his storied career.

Darland tied A.J. Foyt’s run of 18 consecutive Bettenhausen starts in 2009, however his participation at Springfield has been sporadic since then due to a number of circumstances. Last year marked the 23rd start in the Bettenhausen for the all-time feature win leader in the USAC Sprint Car series. While Darland is fourth behind Snider in championship starts at Springfield he is moving up the statistical ladder in other areas as well. His three Springfield wins are tied for third with Rodger Ward, Al Unser, Mario Andretti and the late Tony Bettenhausen. Darland is the all-time mileage leader at Springfield with 1,951, holds the record for most times running at the finish (15), tied for most times completing the 100-mile distance (13) and tied for the most top 10 finishes (13). He is 4th on the all-time money won list and 7th on the lap leader list at the Illinois State Fairgrounds.

On Saturday, August 18, registration and pits will open at 7:00 AM, grandstands and ticket office at 9:00, Silver Crown practice at 10:00, qualifying at 11:30, Sportsman hotlaps at 12:00 noon, Silver Crown semi at 12:30, Sportsman heats at 1:00, and the Bettenhausen 100 at 2:00.

 

[TEI PR]

Logan Seavey to Run Springfield and DuQuoin for Venturini Motorsports

Current USAC National Midget points leader Logan Seavey will make his ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards debut in the Allen Crowe 100 at the Springfield Mile, driving the No. 20 Craftsman Toyota for Venturini Motorsports. He will also compete in the General Tire Grabber 100 at the Southern Illinois State Fairgrounds in DuQuoin.

Seavey, 21, from Sutter, California, collected the 2017 POWRi Lucas Oil National Midget championship as well as rookie of the year honors. He won the 2018 Illinois Midget Week championship and has two USAC P1 Insurance National Midget wins while maintaining the series points lead.

Seavey made his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series debut earlier this season at Eldora Speedway driving for Kyle Busch Motorsports. Seavey led 53 laps on the night, leading the 150-lap main event until lap 144 before eventually crossing the finish line in eighth. Former ARCA Racing Series champions Chase Briscoe and Grant Enfinger finished first and second, respectively.
“I’m really excited and thankful to Toyota and Craftsman for the opportunity to come run these ARCA races with Venturini Motorsports,” says Seavey.
“We started out the year with plans to run the midget fulltime and things just kind of picked up from there, especially after the truck race. Eldora was a dream come true – we just missed it, but had a heck of a time leading laps and being there at the end. It was a great experience. And now I get a chance to run on the Springfield and DuQuoin dirt miles in the ARCA Series."
Seavey will lean heavily on another dirt tracker turned ARCA winner for Venturini Motorsports during his transition.
“I’m feeling good. Obviously there are a lot of differences between the two styles of racing," he said. "I’ll make the adjustments. I’ve got a lot of great support helping me along the way. (Christopher) Bell played a big role helping me with advice before the truck race – and I’ll call (Kevin) Swindell to get his input on the ARCA car. Both those guys have been there before and know how to get it done.”
Seavey is the latest member of Toyota Racing Development's open wheel program to make the leap into stock car racing, joining the likes of Christopher Bell, Tanner Thorson, and Rico Abreu. Bell and Thorson have also made ARCA starts for Venturini Motorsports, with Bell scoring a trio of victories in 2016 and 2017.

https://www.arcaracing.com/articles...ngfield-and-duquion-for-venturini-motorsports

 

[TEI PR]

Decker Looks to Be Tenth Female Driver in Crowe History

By Jay Hardin Track Enterprises Staff-Springfield, IL-(August 9, 2018)-Twenty-year old Natalie Decker of Wisconsin is in her first full season in the ARCA Racing Series and as a full-time driver has her sights set on competing in the 56th Allen Crowe 100 on the Illinois State Fair dirt. Should she be able to make the starting field she will become the tenth female driver to compete in the Springfield Mile stock car event, held annually on the last day of the Illinois State Fair, on Sunday, August 19.

Decker began racing karts at age 9 and moved eventually to four cylinder and super stocks at Marshfield Motor Speedway. She joined the ARCA Midwest Tour in 2013 and won Rookie of the Year. The following year she won 9 stock car features and joined the NASCAR Drive for Diversity program in 2015. She ran 7 ARCA events in 2017 winning the pole at Daytona and finishing fifth. The daughter of Chuck Decker, owner of the World Championship Snowmobile Derby in Wisconsin, will be looking for her first ever start in a full bodied stock car on dirt.
Shawna Robinson became the first female driver to make the Allen Crowe 100 at Springfield in 2000, starting 9th and finishing 12th as fellow female driver Karla Lampe finished 19th. Christi Passmore became the third woman participant in 2004 finishing 11th completing all 107 miles run. Gabi DiCarlo finished 18th and Amber Koch finished 31st in 2007, Alli Owens 30th in 2010, Taylor Ferns 9th and Milka Duno 21st in 2013, Ching 18th in 2015 and again in 2016.
The best finishing position for a female driver in the Allen Crowe 100 goes to Taylor Ferns who was just 17 years old when she posted that ninth place finish in 2013 driving for Venturini Motorsports. Ferns also has the best starting position of any female driver in ARCA at the Illinois State Fair, starting fifth in 2013.
ARCA practice begins at 9:00, ARCA qualifying at 11:00, Sportsman feature at 12:00 noon, an ARCA autograph session at 12:15, and the Allen Crowe Memorial 100 will take the green at 1:35.

 

[TEI PR]

Yentes: 'Mile Master' Swanson looks to add to records at Springfield

With a reputation for being a "Master of the Miles," California native Kody Swanson is looking forward to next weekend's Bettenhausen 100 USAC Silver Crown Series race at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield.

Swanson not only made his Silver Crown racing debut at Springfield 10 years ago, he scored back-to-back wins at the famed track in 2014-15 and is a leading favorite to grab another victory in this year's Aug. 18 race.

"I've always been fortunate to be with teams that had a great package for the mile races that has allowed us to be competitive," Swanson told The Pantagraph by phone this week. "With my driving style, the dirt miles fit me best in the way they race. Over the course of the 100 miles, they can become a 'precision' track and that's something that I've always enjoyed."

Swanson entered the series — one of the most historic in all of motor sports — with a pavement racing background that serves him well in the series' asphalt events.

On dirt he's also proven himself to be precise, especially at the state fairgrounds mile ovals in Springfield, Indianapolis and DuQuoin.

Swanson's first Silver Crown victory came at DuQuoin. This past May at the fairgrounds in Indy, he matched a mark set by the legendary Al Unser Sr. in winning the "Hoosier Hundred" for the fourth straight year.

Swanson has another record in sight that he can achieve this weekend in Salem, Ind. With a victory in the "Joe James/Pat O'Connor Memorial" on the paved, half-mile high banks of Salem Speedway, he would surpass Ohio great Jack Hewitt as the winningest driver in Silver Crown series history.

"It's pretty special to make it this far," Swanson said. "When you start out you hope for it, but I don't know that you give it any real thought. I've just enjoyed the ride and focused on each race as it comes. The best thing is, I've worked with and enjoyed having a good relationship some great people along the way."

Swanson's Silver Crown car is fielded by DePalma Motorsports and bears the same number 63 that Hewitt made famous.

In addition to the same number, "we've shared the same crew chief (Bob Hampshire) on dirt and a lot of the same friends and supporters out of Ohio," Swanson said.

Each time Swanson establishes a USAC record, he generally eclipses a mark established in an earlier era by an Andretti, Unser or Foyt, three of the most renowned names in motor sports history.

More recent generations of USAC drivers have included NASCAR champions Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart, just two among what's become in recent years a huge and continually growing throng of competitors who have made a seamless transition into stock car racing's major leagues from the USAC open-wheeled ranks.

NASCAR Cup series front runner Kyle Larson is the most recent. Reigning truck series champion and Xfinity series points leader Christopher Bell is following in Larson's footsteps.

Many longtime observers of the sport believe that young Californian Justin Grant could be next.

Grant was phenomenal in winning last year's Bettenhausen 100 at Springfield, masterfully fending off Swanson's late charge in an event that was entertaining from green to checkered. A.J., Mario, Al, Jeff or Tony never did it better in a Silver Crown car.

"Justin was incredible there last year," Swanson said. "I was good enough to be able to pressure him late. I was hoping he'd make a mistake, but he didn't."

With a healthy mix of "the stars of tomorrow," as well as a seasoned group of USAC warhorses like Jerry Coons Jr., Dave Darland and Russ Gamester, fans can expect more of the same next weekend in a series that has experienced a sudden resurgence.

Many point to the hiring of Andy Hillenburg as the Silver Crown series competition director a few years ago as a turning point.

Hillenburg had a driving career that took him from grassroots sprint cars to an ARCA championship to competing in all three of NASCAR's premier divisions. He also landed a car in the 2000 Indianapolis 500.

Hillenburg relinquished his role when he fell from a ladder and seriously injured his back in 2017. Levi Jones, a former Silver Crown Series champion while driving a car owned and fielded by Stewart, picked up where Hillenburg left off.

"Andy was a big part of the turning point and really got the ball rolling," Swanson said. "Levi's been able to keep the momentum going. They've not only increased the number of cars in the series, the fan base has grown and people are enjoying the bigger fields and good competition."

Swanson also gave kudos to Bob Sargent and his Macon-based Track Enterprises for their promotional efforts at the series' three state fairgrounds races, as well as Silver Crown events at Terre Haute and Lucas Oil Raceway in suburban Indianapolis.

"With all the history and tradition, to be associated with A.J., the Andrettis, we feel fortunate to be able to do it," Sargent said. "And now we're looking at record car counts, a big plus for the fans, and a real revived interest in open wheel racing across the board. Hopefully we'll see the continuation of the pattern of it increasing every year."

Bruce Yentes covers motor sports for The Pantagraph. Contact him at (309) 820-3391. Follow him on Twitter: @pg_yentes

https://www.pantagraph.com/sports/m...l&utm_source=facebook&utm_campaign=user-share

 

[TEI PR]

Nichols Becoming a Springfield Mile Legend

August 9, 2018-Springfield, IL
By Jay Hardin Track Enterprises Staff

When Jeremy Nichols made his first start in the annual Sportsman Nationals at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in 2012, he may have hoped for success but never imagined that he would join or pass the legendary names in the auto racing record books of the historic venue. Not only has the Lovington, Illinois driver joined the legends in the record books he has his own distinctive Springfield Mile record and stands on the verge of passing two other Springfield area legends.

Nichols finished 30th after starting 5th that first race, dropping out after 2 laps. The next year he won from the pole and led 19 of the 20 miles. Since then he has started on the front row every year, and led every lap of the last four Sportsman National events at the Illinois State Fair. The five wins tie him with Springfield’s own Wes O’Dell and Dennis Vandermeersch.

Nichols stands on the verge of becoming the first six-time winner in Springfield Sportsman history. Yet, he has accomplished something that no driver in Illinois State Fair history has ever done, dating all the way back to 1909. Not Chuck Gurney, not Frank Kimmel, not Dean Roper, no driver in the 100 plus years of auto racing at the Illinois State Fair has posted five consecutive wins in the same main event, other than Lovington’s Jeremy Nichols.

Frank Kimmel won four consecutive Allen Crowe 100 events at the start of the new millennium. Jimmy Wilburn won four consecutive sprint car mains surrounding World War II. Looking at other events, Sammy Swindell swept four races in the World of Outlaws show in 1997 but only one was a main event. Back in the Roaring Twenties Fred Horey won four events during an afternoon program in 1923. Before World War I Hughie Hughes, Louis Disbrow and Bob Burman all won four events during afternoon programs.

Nichols stands alone as the driver with the most consecutive main event wins and can add to that record Sunday, August 19 with a record sixth in the Sportsman Nationals. Heat races for the sportsman cars take place Saturday August 18, with the 25th Sportsman Nationals Sunday August 19.

 

[TEI PR]

FIELD OF 40+ GUNS FOR SATURDAY’S BETTENHAUSEN 100 AT SPRINGFIELD

By: Richie Murray – USAC Media

Springfield, Illinois (August 13, 2018)………A field of 40-plus USAC Silver Crown Champ Car drivers are expected to compete in this Saturday’s “Bettenhausen 100” at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield.

From top-to-bottom, the list includes seven Silver Crown championships, 13 “Bettenhausen 100” victories and 97 total Silver Crown wins, with 15 states represented.

One of those past race winners includes reigning “Bettenhausen 100” winner Justin Grant. The Ione, California native led 79 laps and staved off a hard-charge by Kody Swanson in the final laps, including a green-white-checkered finish, to capture his first career Silver Crown victory. In the process, he became the first driver to get his first series win at the Springfield Mile since fellow Californian Cole Whitt in 2009.

Two-time “Bettenhausen 100” winner Kody Swanson arrives as the white-hot talent, one who’s been undefeated in Silver Crown competition since the beginning of May, earning a Silver Crown record five consecutive victories over that span. Along the way, the Kingsburg, Calif. driver has constructed a 126-point lead over Grant in the standings. His victory on the paved high banks of Indiana’s Salem Speedway last Saturday was the 24th of his Silver Crown career, breaking Jack Hewitt’s 30-year old record as the winningest Silver Crown driver of all-time.

Brian Tyler owns four “Bettenhausen 100” wins. In last year’s race, the Pleasant Garden, N.C. driver shot to the front in a hurry and led 21 laps through the middle portion of the race before a gear issue halted his spectacular ride. In the last mile dirt race at the “Hoosier Hundred” on the Indy Mile, Tyler led 27 laps, and was leading, before a massive accident in turn one ended their night.

Lincoln, Indiana’s Dave Darland, a three-time winner on the Springfield Mile, has teamed up with Illinois car owner Gene Kazmark to compete in the “Bettenhausen 100.” Darland leads all drivers in series history with 198 career starts entering the event and has made five starts in 2018 with a best finish of 9th in May’s “Hoosier Hundred” at the Indiana State Fairgrounds after charging from the 28th starting spot.

Peru, Indiana’s Russ Gamester, the 1998 victor, aims to make his 25th “Bettenhausen 100” start. The 1989 USAC National Midget champ owns victories in all three USAC national divisions throughout his decorated racing career as he guns for Springfield win number two in the familiar red No. 51.

A.J. Fike is a familiar face in Illinois State Fairgrounds’ victory lane, earning back-to-back Silver Crown victories in 2012 and 2013 as well as an ARCA Stock Car triumph in 2015. The Galesburg, Illinois driver makes his return to Springfield behind the wheel of Dave and Dennis McQuinn’s No. 41 alongside teammate and 1982 Silver Crown champ Ken Schrader of Fenton, Missouri, who’s among five past Silver Crown titlists in the field, including Dave Darland (1997), 2017 pole sitter Jerry Coons, Jr. of Tucson, Ariz. (2008), Swanson (2014-15-17) and Chris Windom of Canton, Ill. (2016). Two-time USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Car champion Brady Bacon is looking for Silver Crown victory number one.

Drivers who’ve broken into victory lane in year’s past, but are seeking to get their first triumph at Springfield include C.J. Leary of Greenfield, Ind., who will debut Mickey Meyer’s new hand-lettered No. 10. Germantown, Tennessee’s Jeff Swindell charged from 28th to 3rd last year at Springfield will be joined by David Byrne (Shullsburg, Wisc.), Shane Cottle (Kansas, Ill.) and Tyler Courtney (Indianapolis, Ind.).

Windom and Fike are among the nine Illini entered to run along with two-time Du Quoin Silver Crown winner Shane Cockrum (Benton), one-time Du Quoin winner Shane Cottle (Kansas), Patrick Lawson (Edwardsville), J.C. Bland (Springfield), Joey Moughan (Springfield), Terry Babb (Decatur), Chris Urish (Elkhart) and Korey Weyant (Springfield).

Weyant is one of 11 series Rookies entered, along with leading series Rookie Travis Welpott (Pendleton, Ind.), Kevin Thomas, Jr. (Cullman, Ala.) Neil Shepherd (Warsaw, Ind), Kyle Robbins (New Castle, Ind.), Johnny Petrozelle (Denton, N.C.), Chris Dyson (Pleasant Valley, N.Y.), Keith Burch (Farmington, MO), Dave Berkheimer (Mechanicsburg, Pa.), Austin Mundie (Dallas, Texas) and Mike Haggenbottom (Levittown, Pa.).

The Rookie crop is complemented by a competitive group of veterans racing into Springfield such as Jacob Wilson (Crawfordsville, Ind.), Joe Liguori (Tampa, Fla.), Austin Nemire (Sylvania, Ohio), Jackie Burke (Houston, Texas), Matt Goodnight (Winchester, Ind.), Steve Buckwalter (Royersford, Pa.), Casey Shuman (Tempe, Ariz.), Bill Rose (Plainfield, Ind.), Chris Fetter (Troy, Mo.) and Danny Long (Bonne Terre, Mo.).

On Saturday, registration and pits will open at 7am, grandstands and ticket office at 9pm, Silver Crown practice at 10am, two-lap qualifying at 11:30am, Sportsman hot laps at noon, Silver Crown semi at 12:30pm, Sportsman heats at 1pm and the “Bettenhausen 100” at 2pm.

Advanced adult tickets are $25. Day of Race Adult 12 and older tickets are $30. Children 11 and under are $10. Pit passes are $35. Children pit passes (11 and under) are $20. Infield tickets for adults are $20.00. Children 6-11 are $5. Children under 5 are FREE!

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“BETTENHAUSEN 100” ENTRY LIST:

04 (R) NEIL SHEPHERD/Warsaw, IN (Shepherd Racing)

07 JACOB WILSON/Crawfordsville, IN (Wilson Brothers Racing)

2 PATRICK LAWSON/Edwardsville, IL (Patrick Lawson)

4 JOE LIGUORI/Tampa, FL (Liguori Racing)

5 J.C. BLAND/Springfield, IL (Bland Brothers Enterprises)

6 BRADY BACON/Broken Arrow, OK (Klatt Enterprises)

7 (R) KYLE ROBBINS/New Castle, IN (KR Racing)

8 (R) JOHNNY PETROZELLE/Denton, NC (Cornell-Petrozelle Racing)

9 (R) CHRIS DYSON/Pleasant Valley, NY (Chris Dyson Racing)

10 C.J. LEARY/Greenfield, IN (Mickey Meyer)

12 BRIAN TYLER/Mt. Pleasant, NC (Galas Motorsports)

14 KEN SCHRADER/Fenton, MO (Dennis & Dave McQuinn)

16 AUSTIN NEMIRE/Sylvania, OH (Nemire-Lesko Racing)

17 CHRIS WINDOM/Canton, IL (Gene Nolen Racing)

18 (R) TRAVIS WELPOTT/Pendleton, IN (Welpott Racing)

20 JERRY COONS, JR./Tucson, AZ (Gene Nolen Racing)

21 JEFF SWINDELL/Germantown, TN (Swanson Racing)

24 (R) KEITH BURCH/Farmington, MO (Keith Burch)

29 JOEY MOUGHAN/Springfield, IL (Joey Moughan)

31 (R) DAVE BERKHEIMER/Mechanicsburg, PA (Berkheimer Racing)

33 JACKIE BURKE/Houston, TX (Jackie Burke)

34 TERRY BABB/Decatur, IL (Terry Babb)

39 MATT GOODNIGHT/Winchester, IN (Goodnight Racing)

40 DAVID BYRNE/Shullsburg, WI (Byrne Racing)

41 A.J. FIKE/Galesburg, IL (Dave & Dennis McQuinn)

44 DANNY LONG/Bonne Terre, MO (Danny Long)

47 (R) AUSTIN MUNDIE/Dallas, TX (Les Butler)

51 RUSS GAMESTER/Peru, IN (Gamester Racing)

53 STEVE BUCKWALTER/Royersford, PA (SET Racing)

55 CASEY SHUMAN/Tempe, AZ (Bateman Racing)

56 (R) KEVIN THOMAS, JR./Cullman, AL (Foxco Racing)

63 KODY SWANSON/Kingsburg, CA (DePalma Motorsports)

66 BILL ROSE/Plainfield, IN (Bill Rose Racing)

71 SHANE COCKRUM/Benton, IL (Hardy Boys Racing)

77 CHRIS URISH/Elkhart, IL (Chris Urish)

81 SHANE COTTLE/Kansas, IL (Curtis Williams)

88 CHRIS FETTER/Troy, MO (Fetter Racing)

91 JUSTIN GRANT/Ione, CA (Hemelgarn Racing)

92 DAVE DARLAND/Lincoln, IN (Gene Kazmark)

97 TYLER COURTNEY/Indianapolis, IN (Hans Lein)

99 (R) KOREY WEYANT/Springfield, IL (Scott Weyant)

124 (R) MIKE HAGGENBOTTOM/Levittown, PA (Haggenbottom Racing)

(R) represents a USAC Silver Crown Champ Car Series Rookie of the Year contender.

 

[TEI PR]

Illinois State Fair Racing
Saturday-Sunday, August 18-19
Illinois State Fairgrounds
Springfield, IL

Saturday, August 18
USAC Racing Silver Crown Series
57th Annual Bettenhausen 100
+ 25th Annual Illinois Sportsman Nationals DIRTcar Racing Sportsman Prelims

SATURDAY, AUGUST 18 SPRINGFIELD TIMES:
7:00 AM Pits & Registration
9:00 AM Ticket Office & Grandstands
9:30 AM Drivers Meetings
10:00-11:10 AM Silver Crown Practice
11:30 AM Silver Crown Qualifying
12:00 PM Sportsman Hotlaps
12:30 PM Silver Crown B-Main
1:00 PM Sportsman Heats
1:30 PM Pre-Race Ceremonies
2:00 PM USAC Silver Crown 57th Annual Bettenhausen 100

Sunday, August 19
ARCA RACING SERIES presented by Menards
56th Annual Allen Crowe Memorial 100
+ 25th Annual Illinois Sportsman Nationals

SUNDAY, AUGUST 19 SPRINGFIELD TIMES:
5:30 AM Pits & Registration
7:30 AM Chapel Service
8:00 AM Drivers Meeting
8:30 AM Ticket Office & Grandstands
9:00 AM Practice
11:00 AM ARCA Qualifying
12:00 PM 25th Annual Illinois Sportsman Nationals
12:15 PM Driver Autograph Session
1:15 PM ARCA Driver Introduction
1:30 PM National Anthem
1:35 PM 56th Annual Allen Crowe Memorial 100

(*Don’t forget our two other local shows the same weekend, Lincoln Speedway Friday, August 17 and Macon Speedway Saturday night, August 18.)

SPRINGFIELD TICKET INFO:
Tickets will be available on raceday or by calling the State Fair office at 217-782-1979. Info and tickets can also be obtained by calling the Track Enterprises office at 217-764-3200. Discount tickets for Sunday also available at Menards.

RESERVED SEATING
Advance Tickets (Presale)
$25 Adults Per Day
$10 Children 11 & Under Per Day
Day Of Tickets (At Gate)
$30 Adults Per Day
$10 Children 11 & Under Per Day

INFIELD TICKETS
$20 Adults
$5 Children 11 & Under

PIT PASSES
$35 Adults Each Day
$20 Children 11 & Under Each Day
$50 Two-Day Pit Pass

INFIELD PARKING
$7 For Those Parking On Infield With No Infield Or Pit Passes

HOST HOTEL
Carpenter Street Hotel In Springfield
888-779-9100 or www.carpenterstreethotel.com

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=1268511986636692

View: https://www.facebook.com/TrackEnterprises/videos/1268511986636692/

 

[TEI PR]

These events are going to be an absolute treat you will not want to miss!

 

[TEI PR]

Kovski to Make ARCA Comeback at Springfield

August 13, 2018-Springfield, IL
By Jay Hardin Track Enterprises Staff

“He’s back”! That simple phrase would be selling short the story of Springfield, Illinois race driver Kelly Kovski. Kovski’s racing career, put on hold last February due to injuries from an accident, has re-started and according to the Automobile Racing Club of America today, the Springfield pilot will return to the ARCA series this Sunday in the Allen Crowe 100 at the Illinois State Fairgrounds. Kovski is a man with two victories on the Springfield mile as part of a crew and he will be undoubtedly one of the most popular drivers in the field.

Kelly Kovski’s career in auto racing has been both as a driver and a crew member/crew chief. He’s been the crew chief for Mike Allgaier’s ARCA racing team for over a decade helping Mike’s son Justin to a wildly popular victory in the 2006 Allen Crowe 100 at Springfield. Kovski put ARCA champion Grant Enfinger behind the wheel of his own Allgaier ARCA car last year and all Enfinger did was start second and score another popular victory in the Allen Crowe 100 for the home town team.

As a driver, Kovski’s driven modifieds and stock cars at several local short tracks in central Illinois for well over ten seasons. He made his first ARCA start on the dirt at Springfield in August of 2005 and finished a respectable 14th completing all 100 miles. The next year he finished 11th behind teammate Allgaier. Since 2006 he has 7 top 10 finishes on his home fairground race track with the best a third in 2015. In 12 starts he’s only failed to finish one race and completed an impressive 1214 out of a possible 1226 miles in that span.

Perhaps most impressive have been his drives from the back of the field. In 2007 he started 29th and finished 6th. When rain forced the field to be set by points in 2014 he drove from 27th to 6th at the end, and when rain came back in 2015 he went from 30th to the career best 3rd on the Springfield mile.

Kovski’s streak of 12 consecutive starts in the Allen Crowe 100 came to a sudden halt February of 2017, when he was struck in the pits of a Florida short track by a flipping sprint car. Serious injuries forced him to remain in a Florida hospital until he was able to be transported closer to home. Driving a race car was out of the question but by summer’s end Kovski was well enough to return to the Allgaier race shop and joined Enfinger in an emotional celebration in victory lane last year. Simply returning to run in the Illinois State Fair stock car race for the partisan crowd is a significant step, Kovski winning the Crowe 100 as a driver could set off a celebration that would top Allgaier’s in 2006!

ARCA practice begins at 9:00, ARCA qualifying at 11:00, Sportsman feature at 12:00 noon, an ARCA autograph session at 12:15, and the Allen Crowe Memorial 100 will take the green at 1:35. It's all part of the State Fair race weekend which will have the USAC Silver Crown Series on Saturday afternoon as well as racing at Lincoln Speedway on Friday night and Macon Speedway on Saturday evening.

 

[TEI PR]

RACE FAN GRAND PRIZE CONTEST!! BE THE GRAND PRIZE WINNER FOR FREE TICKETS TO ALL OF THIS WEEKEND'S ACTION!! Lincoln Speedway FRIDAY, Illinois State Fair SATURDAY & SUNDAY, & Macon Speedway SATURDAY NIGHT! ($180 Value)

LIKE & COMMENT on the Facebook post at

https://www.facebook.com/TrackEnterprises/posts/1272821296205761

View: https://www.facebook.com/TrackEnterprises/posts/1272821296205761
(ON THE TRACK ENTERPRISES FACEBOOK PAGE) for your chance to be the STATE FAIR RACE WEEKEND GRAND PRIZE WEEKEND. Don't forget to SHARE as well to help spread the word. Winner will receive a pair of tickets to each of the 4 Track Enterprise events this weekend. The lucky winner will be announced Thursday night!

 

[TEI PR]

NASCAR’s Ken Schrader Set For Busy Weekend In Central Illinois
Schrader Wearing Driver And Owner Hats

(Springfield, IL) Fenton, Missouri’s Ken Schrader, a retired NASCAR Cup star, will be a busy man this weekend, playing the part of a few different roles during the Illinois State Fair race weekend. Schrader will not only be racing a couple of different cars this weekend, he will also play the role of car owner and track owner.

Schrader’s weekend will start much like everyone else’s in the area on Friday at Lincoln Speedway, in Lincoln, IL. Schrader will be piloting his Federated Auto Parts/Hunt Brothers Pizza #9 Modified along with the rest of the highly talented competitors at the ¼-mile dirt track. Schrader typically makes a couple appearances a year at the speedway.

On Saturday afternoon, the racing veteran will get back behind the wheel of a USAC Silver Crown car at the world’s fastest 1-mile dirt oval, the Springfield Mile, at the Illinois State Fair. It will be Schrader’s first Silver Crown start at Springfield since 1985. He will be piloting the McQuinn #14, which he also drove at Du Quoin in 2017 and at this year’s Hoosier Hundred.

Saturday night, he will wear the hat of a race track owner/promoter. Schrader is one of four owners at Macon Speedway in Macon, IL, along with Kenny Wallace, Tony Stewart, and Bob Sargent. Schrader will be watching as the POWRi Lucas Oil National Midgets and Speedway Motors Micros race at the track for their final visit of the season. Schrader stays very much in tune with happenings at the 1/5-mile dirt track as well as Federated Auto Parts Raceway, in Pevely, Missouri, which he is also part owner.

Rounding out the weekend, Schrader will pop on the car owner hat for the #52 race team. This week, Munford, Alabama driver, Bret Holmes, will be behind the wheel of the Holmes II Excavating/Southern States Bank car. Holmes has a good amount of dirt racing experience, which should make for a good combination with the team that won the ARCA championship one year ago.

Full information on the four racing events can be found at www.trackenterprises.com, www.lincolnspeedwayil.com, or www.maconracing.com. For information on Ken Schrader and his team, visit www.schraderracing.com.

 

[TEI PR]

https://www.facebook.com/events/1768788843426939/ Bettenhausen 100 Facebook event