For the first time in nearly ten years Illinois State Fair race fans will have four auto racing events over the final weekend of the Illinois State Fair as the Automobile Racing Club of America Lincoln Welders Truck Series joins the traditional Tony Bettenhausen 100 for the USAC Silver Crown Series on Saturday August 20, and the thirteenth annual Sportsman Nationals join the ARCA RE/MAX Stock Cars and the Allen Crowe 100 on Sunday August 21.
The ARCA trucks will be making their first appearance at Springfield, but not their first appearance on a mile dirt track as the mid-sized trucks ran at DuQuoin in 2003 with current ARCA RE/MAX driver and defending ARCA Truck champ Brett Rowe taking the 50-mile event. Approximately twenty of the mid-sized trucks are expected to be present at Springfield for the ninth of twelve scheduled events in 2006.
Paul Hahn of Canton, Michigan leads the current 2006 Lincoln Welders point standings thanks to wins in his 2005 Chevrolet Colorado at Sauble Speedway and Toledo Speedway. Hahn is looking for his first title having finished second to Rowe last year. Chasing Hahn is Toledo, Ohio’s John Kasmierski Jr., former ARCA Truck champ Bill Withers (winner at Flat Rock Speedway), Michigan’s Kyle Partridge, rookie Nick Gullatta of Ohio, veteran Norm Weaver of West Virginia, Brad Yunker of Ohio, Indiana’s Duane Bischoff, Michigan’s Craig Meyers and Ohio’s Ron Wells. Indiana native Steve Christman, a former competitor at Springfield during the Illinois Fall Nationals is 11th in the points, while two-time ARCA Truck champion Robbin Slaughter of Ohio is 14th
Saturday’s Best Western Classic for the trucks on the Springfield mile marks the first of three consecutive dirt track appearances for the Lincoln Welders Truck Series, they race again next Sunday at DuQuoin and then at Eldora on September 6 as the makeup date for an event that was postponed due to rain.
Local drivers take to the Springfield Mile on Sunday, August 21 for the 13th running of the popular Sportsman Nationals, the “Daytona 500” for area short track drivers.
The Sportsman Nationals seems to grow more popular each and every year during the Illinois State Fair, due to the close competition and the familiar names that have graced victory lane. Springfield’s Wes O’Dell is a 5-time Sportsman Nationals champion, while fellow Springfield resident Dennis Vandermeersch has won twice. Buffalo’s Jeff Leka is a three-time winner of the event, with New Berlin’s Steve Sheppard, Jr. the two time and defending winner of the Sportsman event.
ARCA Lincoln Welders Truck action is slated to begin with qualifying immediately after the practice session for the USAC Silver Crown Series on Saturday morning August 19, with the Best Western Classic main event for the ARCA Lincoln Welders trucks immediately prior to the 46th Tony Bettenhausen 100.
The Sportsman Nationals will have, if needed, qualifying races prior to their 20 mile main event. The 20-mile Sportsman National feature event is slated for 12 noon on Sunday, August 20 just before the 44th Allen Crowe 100 for the ARCA RE/MAX Series stock cars.
Tickets for both days are on sale now and can be obtained by calling the Illinois State Fair Box office at 217-782-1979, from promoter Track Enterprises at 217-764-3200 or any Ticketmaster outlet. Additional information can be found at www.trackenterprises.com or www.arcaracing.com.
The ARCA trucks will be making their first appearance at Springfield, but not their first appearance on a mile dirt track as the mid-sized trucks ran at DuQuoin in 2003 with current ARCA RE/MAX driver and defending ARCA Truck champ Brett Rowe taking the 50-mile event. Approximately twenty of the mid-sized trucks are expected to be present at Springfield for the ninth of twelve scheduled events in 2006.
Paul Hahn of Canton, Michigan leads the current 2006 Lincoln Welders point standings thanks to wins in his 2005 Chevrolet Colorado at Sauble Speedway and Toledo Speedway. Hahn is looking for his first title having finished second to Rowe last year. Chasing Hahn is Toledo, Ohio’s John Kasmierski Jr., former ARCA Truck champ Bill Withers (winner at Flat Rock Speedway), Michigan’s Kyle Partridge, rookie Nick Gullatta of Ohio, veteran Norm Weaver of West Virginia, Brad Yunker of Ohio, Indiana’s Duane Bischoff, Michigan’s Craig Meyers and Ohio’s Ron Wells. Indiana native Steve Christman, a former competitor at Springfield during the Illinois Fall Nationals is 11th in the points, while two-time ARCA Truck champion Robbin Slaughter of Ohio is 14th
Saturday’s Best Western Classic for the trucks on the Springfield mile marks the first of three consecutive dirt track appearances for the Lincoln Welders Truck Series, they race again next Sunday at DuQuoin and then at Eldora on September 6 as the makeup date for an event that was postponed due to rain.
Local drivers take to the Springfield Mile on Sunday, August 21 for the 13th running of the popular Sportsman Nationals, the “Daytona 500” for area short track drivers.
The Sportsman Nationals seems to grow more popular each and every year during the Illinois State Fair, due to the close competition and the familiar names that have graced victory lane. Springfield’s Wes O’Dell is a 5-time Sportsman Nationals champion, while fellow Springfield resident Dennis Vandermeersch has won twice. Buffalo’s Jeff Leka is a three-time winner of the event, with New Berlin’s Steve Sheppard, Jr. the two time and defending winner of the Sportsman event.
ARCA Lincoln Welders Truck action is slated to begin with qualifying immediately after the practice session for the USAC Silver Crown Series on Saturday morning August 19, with the Best Western Classic main event for the ARCA Lincoln Welders trucks immediately prior to the 46th Tony Bettenhausen 100.
The Sportsman Nationals will have, if needed, qualifying races prior to their 20 mile main event. The 20-mile Sportsman National feature event is slated for 12 noon on Sunday, August 20 just before the 44th Allen Crowe 100 for the ARCA RE/MAX Series stock cars.
Tickets for both days are on sale now and can be obtained by calling the Illinois State Fair Box office at 217-782-1979, from promoter Track Enterprises at 217-764-3200 or any Ticketmaster outlet. Additional information can be found at www.trackenterprises.com or www.arcaracing.com.
