HomeIllinoisDuQuoin State FairgroundsDuQuoin State Fair Ted Horn 100 Post Race Wrap Up

DuQuoin State Fair Ted Horn 100 Post Race Wrap Up

Published on

- Advertisement -

DuQuoin State FairDuQuoin, IL (September 9, 2015) By Jay Hardin Track Enterprises Staff

If those in attendance walked out of the DuQuoin “Magic Mile” grandstand Sunday night less than satisfied with the 63rd Ted Horn 100, then I fear for the future health of our sport. Thirty gleaming championship cars lined up under the lights on a warm and muggy night, carnival going full bore behind the grandstand, Fiddlesticks being served on the grounds and a three car battle for the lead throughout the event. Throw in several good battles back in the pack and four and maybe five wide racing on some restarts, plus a cushion that was literally pushed to the fence. What more could any race fan, dirt or paved, oval or road course, want for an event?

The “Flyin Fireman” Shane Cockrum made it two in a row and he had a large army from his nearby Franklin County home in attendance. A second generation driver, Shane has become one of the stars of the division and the Hardy Boys team a threat to run up front wherever they go. They are just one example of the smaller teams within this series that are capable of posting top finishes, showing that the victories don’t always go to the teams backed by the most money. It’s one of the great things about the dirt champ cars (Silver Crown Series, if you will) and one of the reasons that the cars have such a loyal core following of fans.

For those of you who like the historical facts, Shane becomes the 12th driver since 1948 win more than one dirt car win on the Magic Mile. He is the 9th driver with back-to-back wins, the last Tracy Hines in 2005-06. Furthermore, he joins an exclusive club. Between Springfield and DuQuoin, 11 home state drivers have won 100-mile championship dirt races. Five have won more than once. Tony Bettenhausen won three times at Springfield and three at DuQuoin. Son Gary won twice at Springfield and five times at DuQuoin. Don Branson split two victories between Springfield and DuQuoin. A.J. Fike has won twice at Springfield, and now Shane Cockrum has two wins at DuQuoin.

He also continued a tradition long gone, jumping in the lake after a win. This time not only the crew but his better half joined him in the water. Fortunately Shane washed the uniform before the next day’s stock car event. Unfortunately long-time announcer Jim Childers was supposed to go in with them but strangely Childers could not be found when it came time to take a dip in the infield lake. Grant Enfinger, who won Monday’s ARCA event under a blistering sun declined to follow Cockrum’s lead.

In case you were wondering, yes Shane did slow down late in the race after running out to a seven second advantage. Seems he was a bit fuel conscious after 2013 and thought he should save a gallon or two.

Sunday night marked the 68th 100-mile championship dirt car race run to completion at the southern Illinois oval and the 72nd scheduled. It was the 63rd running of Ted Horn’s memorial event. It was the second victory for a car carrying number 71 (Kyle Larson in 2011 the other) and the largest entry list and starting field since 2007. It is the 7th time a race winner has started from the inside of the 3rd row, the 32nd victory for a car powered by a Chevrolet V-8 and the 17th victory for a car shod with Hoosier tires.

Kody Swanson set quick time Sunday night with a fast lap of 30.784 (116.944) as the 23rd scheduled qualifier and was out in front until Cockrum took over on lap 68, but that lead was precarious at best. Kody was under attack most laps from either Cockrum or Aaron Pierce and only a few times was able to get much of a lead. He did manage to finish second and has a near insurmountable 100 point lead over Jerry Coons in the title chase. It looks like Swanson will just about repeat what Jack Hewitt did in the division in 1986 and 1987.

Aaron Pierce may not have made it the full 100-miles but he was spectacular to say the least while he was on track. Fast at Springfield two weeks ago he was spectacular then too, especially when the engine belched flames as it quit. Pierce put the car back together for DuQuoin but the engine sounded amiss during practice and the thought was a hole in the header. Even with the strange noise the car was still as fast as the top runners in hot laps, and though Pierce missed his spot in line by one or two cars he was still able to post second quick time in qualifying. During the 100-miler he ran the cushion in a way that reminded me of retired dirt car driver Bill Engelhart. Pierce was hard on the cushion, inches from the wall with the elbows up and two handfuls of steering wheel. He and Cockrum had a tremendous battle for second until Pierce took the spot away. Pierce bounced the car off the turn three-four wall once and kept going. He did likewise in turns one-two with a shower of sparks yet still kept on the hammer. Unfortunately the third time was a charm as he caught the turn four fence on lap 61 and was done.

Casey Shuman continues to impress as the sub for popular veteran Randy Bateman. After a 7th at Springfield the young “Flying Shoe” started 8th and finished 5th, the 3rd top 10 finish for Bateman Racing on the miles in 2015. By the way, it was really nice to see Bateman Racing using the word “Special” when describing their dirt car on the entry list.

Some nice rides came from deep in the pack. 2013 Ted Horn 100 winner Chris Urish started at the back and came to 11th, David Byrne 17th to 9th, Steven Russell went from 20th to 13th and fellow third generation driver Austin Nemire from 19th to 12th. The guy that won the Ted Horn 100 30 years ago got his 3rd top 10 on the dirt miles as 1985 Silver Crown champ Rick Hood went from 16th to 10th.

Cockrum and A.J. Fike were set for double duty in the ARCA event on Monday but it worked out better for Fike than Cockrum. A.J. started 2nd and finished 6th while Cockrum went out on lap 38 in the final appearance of the Brad Hill Ford.

Dave Darland made his 19th DuQuoin start Sunday and remains third on the all-time miles completed list in championship cars on the Magic Mile.

Speaking of Magic Mile, where’s the sign? There used to be a sign in turn four declaring this the “Magic Mile” and the sign is now gone. It would be great to get the sign back up again.

Nice to see Rich Tobias back with a car, a neat looking one at that. His appearance meant seven former Ted Horn 100 winners in the field.

Did anyone notice the paint job on J.C. Bland’s car? Did it look familiar? Check out Bland’s machine and the paint job on the Bowes Seal Fast 5 of A.J. Foyt when he won his first championship car race in the Ted Horn 100 at DuQuoin in 1960. You might notice a lot of similarities.

Great to see the USAC Silver Crown Series continue with the momentum which really started at Springfield last year when 24 cars made the makeup date, and probably ramped up when 29 made it to the Indiana State Fairgrounds in May. There were just a few no show cars, Tyler Courtney in the Capie 153, Tad Roach in the 84, Russ Gamester in the 51 and Rex Norris III in the 16. C.J. Leary didn’t make it to sew up the track championship at Kokomo and Chase Stockon and the 14 were out since Chase was running the Louie Vermeil Classic at Calistoga.

Sadly, two men who have been an integral part of the series and the Ted Horn 100 made this year their last events as participants, but participants of a different nature. Two-time Silver Crown champ Levi Jones announced this would be his last event as a driver since he has been named as USAC’s Midget Series director. He had a good run going in the Jack Rogers 57 until the car simply quit on the main chute. Levi retired once before after getting his long awaited 100-mile dirt track win in the 2013 Hoosier Hundred at the Indiana State Fairgrounds. It’s doubtful anyone would mind if he decided to come back to the big cars once again.

And, the long-time voice of motorsports at Springfield and DuQuoin, Jim Childers called his final 100-mile championship dirt car race Sunday night. Childers called his first event at DuQuoin in 1983 and has been a part of auto racing at the fair ever since. He’s also been the PA voice on the grounds for a number of years. This place holds special meaning to the southern Illinois native and he got a lot of recognition including plaques from USAC and Track Enterprises, interviews in newspapers, on radio and television as well as being the honorary Grand Marshal for the fair parade. His enthusiasm and professionalism will be sorely missed.

- Advertisement -

Recent articles

Carson Macedo Holds Off Gravel to Top World of Outlaws Kennedale Debut

CONQUERING KENNEDALE: Carson Macedo Holds Off Gravel to Top World of...

Dale Howard wins UCSC Winter Heat Series Finale at Clayhill

ATWOOD, TN  –March 23, 2024 - Dale Howard of Byhalia, MS...

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

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

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...

Scotland County Speedway Results – 3/23/24

11 entries MODIFIEDS A Feature 1 (20 Laps): 1. 11-Ethan Braaksma; 2. 90M-Chase...

Chris Simpson Seeking A Fast Start To 2024 With Lucas Oil MLRA

Wheatland, Missouri (March 22, 2024) – Leaving the Lucas Oil Speedway...

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...

RELATED ARTICLES

Highland Speedway Results – 3/23/24

16 entries DIRTCAR UMP MODIFIEDS A Feature 1 (20 Laps): 1. 14-Rick Conoyer; 2. 8T-TJ Eilers;...

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 100 victories FARMER CITY,...

Cannon McIntosh Wins Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series Finale at Southern Illinois Center

MAC IS BACK: Cannon McIntosh Wins Xtreme Outlaw Series Finale at Southern Illinois Center Race-long...

DuQuoin’s Midwest Winter Nationals Results – 3/15/24

11 entries JUNIOR SPRINTS A Feature 1 (20 Laps): 1. 3X-Keatin Lyons; 2. 110-Keizer Kramer; 3....