Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. - Photo by Rich Edwards!
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. of Olive Branch, Miss. became the youngest winner of the "Tony Bettenhausen 100" Saturday at the Illinois State Fairgrounds, driving Tony Stewart's Chevrolet/Bass Pro Shops Maxim/Chevy to victory in the curfew-shortened 75-mile event. Stenhouse trailed his teammate and pole winner Levi Jones for the first 28 laps, then took the lead on a restart and led the rest of the way. Jones pressured Stenhouse until his right rear tire blew two laps from the checkered flag, relegating him to a 23rd-place finish.
Billy Wease finished second with a late-race charge, followed by new K & N Silver Crown Silver Crown Series point leader Bud Kaeding, Paul White and Shane Cottle.
Kaeding, the defending series champion, emerged with a 26-point lead over Wayne Reutimann Jr., which finished 16th in Saturday's race, which was shortened from 100 to 75 miles.
Saturday's race also feature the largest starting field in series history on dirt, as 39 cars faced the green flag after rains washed out qualifications.
Stenhouse, who also won the only previous Silver Crown race on dirt this season at Phoenix, Ariz. in February, earned $11,000 for his win.
“Tony Bettenhausen 100” FEATURE: (75 laps) 1. Ricky Stenhouse Jr., 2. Billy Wease, 3. Bud Kaeding, 4. Paul White, 5. Shane Cottle, 6. ohnny Parsons, 7. Kevin Huntley, 8. John Heydenreich, 9. Donnie Beechler, 10. Brian Tyler
