Tidbits from the 49th Tony Bettenhausen 100

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By Jay Hardin

If the conversation between Gary Bettenhausen told Billy Vukovich III at DuQuoin 20 years ago is true, then Cole White became a man Saturday when he led all 100 miles of the 49th Tony Bettenhausen 100 USAC Silver Crown race at the Illinois State Fair on Saturday. Whitt earned the pole position by virtue of a new invert procedure implemented Saturday morning then proceeded to out run USAC stalwarts Jon Stanbrough and Levi Jones to the checkered flag. By the way, Bettenhausen allegedly told Billy III that the dirt miles were where the men were separated from the boys.

At 18 years and 2 months, Whitt became the youngest winner of a championship race in the 75-year history of such competition on the Springfield Mile besting a record set by Ricky Stenhouse in 2007. Youth was not only served at the Illinois State Fairgrounds over the weekend, youth put a hurt to the fast and treacherous Springfield Mile as Whitt won the dirt car race Saturday and 19-year-old Parker Kligerman took the stock car event Sunday.
It appears Whitt is the youngest winner of any major national championship event at Springfield in the 99-year history of competitive auto racing at the Illinois State Fairgrounds.

Whitt became the first driver in 30 years to capture his first USAC Silver Crown victory on the Springfield Mile, joining A.J. Foyt (1971), Larry Rice (1977), Gary Bettenhausen (1978), and Bobby Olivero (1979).

Whitt also became the 16th driver to win from the first starting position and the 16th driver to lead all 100-miles. The 18 year old became the first rookie to start from the first slot since Josh Wise in 2005 and the 13th overall, more amazingly he became just the 5th rookie to win a 100-mile championship race at Springfield and the first in over 46 years, the last being Rodger Ward in a June 1953 event. This means that Cole Whitt is the first rookie to win the Tony Bettenhausen Memorial event which assumed the mantle in August of 1961. He is also the 46th different driver to win a 100-mile dirt car race at Springfield and the 26th different winner in 49 editions of the Tony Bettenhausen 100.

If his youth and skill weren't enough, Cole Whitt had some extra special help Saturday. Owner Keith Kunz had the Eagle chassis set to perfection and this writer remarked to Whitt that his line and style resembled that of 7-time Bettenhausen winner Chuck Gurney. Whitt remarked that while he had not gotten tips from Gurney, a fellow Californian, he did have former Gurney car owner and crew chief Junior Kurtz helping with the car for the day.

Eight drivers bested the 120-mile an hour barrier Saturday with A.J. Fike narrowly missing a new track record with a lap of 29.618, (121.548). Fike's lap was the second best fast time in 75 years at the Illinois State Fairgrounds, however with the invert he was relegated to start 6th. Fike ended the day 4th after a spirited duel with Levi Jones in the late stages of the event.

To be technical 7 drivers were actually over 120 miles an hour, Shane Hollingsworth will get credit for a lap right at 120 though it was announced his actual speed was slightly less than 120 as the time taken out to 4 places was slightly over the 30 second barrier, however officially his lap was a 30 second flat clocking.
 




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