5/23/19 64th & FINAL Hoosier Hundred USAC Silver Crown Champ Cars & UMP Modifeds @ the Indiana State Faigrounds Indy Mile Night 2 USAC Week of Indy

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The Week of Indy is coming up before we know it as we are already 1 week in to the Month of May! Plan on going to all 3 events? Order your Super Ticket at https://usacracing.ticketspice.com/2019-week-of-indy-ticket-sales and lock in your ticket for these 3 great events and save some $$ in the process!

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Indy Mile, Hoosier Hundred Have Secure Place in Automotive History

By Jay Hardin Track Enterprises Staff
Indianapolis, Indiana-May 7, 2019

By now many race fans have heard the news that the 2019 Hoosier Hundred could be the last one run for some time, or even permanently, on the historic one-mile dirt track at the Indiana State Fairgrounds. However, that does not stop the mile of dirt from coming alive one more time for the annual running of the Hoosier Hundred as part of the “Week of Indy” which includes the Hulman Classic at Terre Haute and the Dave Steele Carb Night Classic at Lucas Oil Raceway Park. Race fans should soak up as much of the 116 year history of auto racing at the Indiana State Fairgrounds as they can during the May 23 Hoosier Hundred.

Auto racing first came to the Indiana State Fairgrounds in the spring of 1903. During a June meet legendary Barney Oldfield made automotive history by laying claim to the first one mile per minute lap on a closed course. One of his fellow drivers was none other than Carl Graham Fisher, future father and owner of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Fisher was present for a November 1905 meet on the mile held in cold conditions and featuring a 100-mile and 24 hour event. The 24 hour event had Presto-Lite lanterns placed around the dirt course and it has been said that while huddled around a campfire Fisher contemplated the race course later built at 16th and Georgetown in Speedway, Indiana.

For the next four decades auto racing competition was sporadic at the Indiana State Fairgrounds. “Big Car” events were even held during World War I all the way through the end of the 1920’s. The famous “Gold & Glory Sweepstakes” ran ten times between 1924 and 1936. Just before World War II the track hosted AAA Sprint Cars with Duke Nalon winning a 25-mile event.

1946 saw the first and almost the last 100-mile championship race at the fairgrounds. Rex Mays won the event in the Winfield V-8, but driver Al Putnam was killed in qualifications which led to the fair board essentially banning the sport from the track. That would change in 1953, as two Indiana men truly put the “Hoosier” into Hoosier Hundred.

Influential Indiana businessman and racing enthusiast Roger Wolcott teamed with Jo Quinn, Safety Director at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and bought racing back to the Indy mile with the first Hoosier Hundred. Quickly it became the second highest paying event on the championship trail and the richest dirt event in the nation. The first race might have been the most competitive with a blanket over the first four finishers and only one car dropping out of the grind.

Jim Bryan, Eddie Sachs, Jud Larson, Rodger Ward were winners during the 1950’s as local media blanketed the event with radio and television coverage. The Indianapolis Star put out a special Hoosier Hundred edition for nearly 30 years as well. Eventually national media took notice as ABC covered several races as part of the popular “Wide World of Sports”.

A.J. Foyt should have secured the title to the grounds after winning 6 times in 10 1960’s races. Not only did Foyt’s victories increase his name recognition it helped pad his bank account. A.J won over $161,000 in the Hoosier Hundred averaging nearly $8,000 every time he made the starting field. Al Unser had a good record on the Indy mile as well winning four consecutive races from 1970-1973, a feat equaled last year by Kody Swanson.

Andretti, Gurney, Hewitt, Carter, Jones and Bigelow are all names that are in an auto racing hall of fame in America, and all won at least once on the Indiana mile. In recent seasons, Coons, Yeley, Leffler and Swanson are just a few of the names who added themselves to the Hoosier Hundred win list.

If the list of chief mechanics such as Watson, Brawner, Bignotti and Hampshire or car owners such as Dean, Hopkins, Granatelli, Patrick, Kurtz and Stewart wouldn’t be enough to raise eyebrows then the list of celebrities who made it out to the fairgrounds might do the trick. From Tony Hulman giving the command to start engines, to Sid Collins and Paul Page on the microphones, to TV and radio personalities, the Hoosier Hundred was a big attraction.

The first one mile per minute lap, Carl Fisher in the dim light planning his track, the richest dirt track race in the nation, and a hall of fame list of participants and spectators the Indiana State Fairgrounds race track has a secure place in automotive and auto racing history no matter the final outcome of the latest decision by the fair board.
 
CALLING ALL MODIFIEDS!!!
The DIRTcar Modifieds are set for two events next week as part of Track Enterprises Week Of Indy. On Wednesday, May 22, the Modifieds will run along with the USAC Sprints at the Terre Haute Action Track. Full Terre Haute Modified schedule attached.
Then on Thursday, May 23, the final race at the Indiana State Fairgrounds will be held. The Modifieds will be running for $2,000 to win and $200 to start in their final event at the Indy Mile. Entry form is attached.

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WINDOM, OTHERS SEEK DIRT TRACK TRIPLE CROWN

By: Jay Hardin – Track Enterprises Staff


Indianapolis, Indiana (May 14, 2019)………2016 USAC Silver Crown champ Chris Windom faces a busy Memorial Day weekend with dirt track events and an Indy Lights Freedom 100 ride on his schedule.

The Canton, Illinois native has the an opportunity he may never get again in his career, the chance to join a very short list of race drivers who have won the Bettenhausen 100 at Springfield, the Ted Horn 100 at Du Quoin and the Hoosier Hundred at the Indiana State Fairgrounds during their career. With the remodel of the Indy mile this could be the last opportunity for Windom and others to capture the Silver Crown “Triple Crown”.

Windom won at Du Quoin in 2016 on his way to the USAC title and added a second Ted Horn 100 last year. Driving for Gene Nolen he made it an Illinois sweep as he won the Bettenhausen 100 at Springfield as well, becoming just the third central Illinois native to capture a dirt car win on the Springfield mile. A new team backed by Indiana native Matt Goodnight and Byrd Racing of Indy fame is the anticipated entry for Windom at the Indy fairgrounds on May 23. Windom is currently 9th in points behind leader Kody Swanson after two events on the schedule.

Two other active drivers have wins on both Illinois miles and are potential entrants for what may be the final Hoosier Hundred on the Indiana State Fair mile. Veteran Russ Gamester of Peru, Indiana won the 1989 USAC midget crown and nearly ten years later won his first 100-mile dirt track event at Du Quoin. One year later and Gamester found victory lane in the Bettenhausen 100 at Springfield. The Indiana driver has 25 Hoosier Hundred starts, third behind Johnny Parsons and George Snider and is fifth in miles completed with 1549. Gamester won the pole for the pole for the 2013 race and led 58 laps before dropping out after 88 miles. His best finish is second to winner Jimmy Sills in May of 1999.

Michigan’s Brian Tyler is a past USAC Sprint Car champ who moved to North Carolina several years ago. He began capturing mile dirt track events at Springfield in the 2004 Bettenhausen 100 and followed with three more wins on the Springfield mile. A lone win in the 2008 Ted Horn 100 gave Tyler two of the three Triple Crown events and the gentleman farmer who began naming cattle after his Silver Crown wins has five from the dirt miles. Unfortunately, none of them are named Indianapolis. Tyler has 17 starts in the Hoosier Hundred dating back to 1990.

However, Tyler’s best efforts may have come in his last two races. After his primary car gave up during practice in 2015, he took over the machine of Randy Bateman and started 27th and brought the machine up to 3rd completing all 100 miles. Reuniting in late 2016 with car owner Bob Galas, Tyler came back to Indianapolis last year with a vengeance. He started 5th and grabbed the lead on lap 29 from Kody Swanson. He was pulling away from the field when a brake rotor exploded on lap 56 in front of the grandstand and sent the orange and white machine into the first turn concrete.

Since 1953, just 14 drivers have been able to win championship dirt car races on all three of the dirt mile tracks in the Midwest. Rodger Ward, Mario Andretti, Tom Bigelow, Pancho Carter, George Snider, Gary Bettenhausen, Chuck Gurney, J.J. Yeley, Jimmy Sills and Kody Swanson won on all three tracks but in different years. Jimmy Bryan (1955 & 56), A.J. Foyt (1964), Al Unser (1970) and Jack Hewitt (1986) are the only drivers to win the 100-mile events at Springfield, Du Quoin and Indianapolis in the same year.

Tyler, Gamester or Windom could become number 15 and are among the anticipated entries for what may be the final Hoosier Hundred on the Indiana State Fair mile. The Hoosier Hundred is part of the “Week of Indy” which consists of the Hulman Classic at Terre Haute on May 22, the May 23 Hoosier Hundred, and the May 24 Dave Steele Carb Night Classic at Lucas Oil Raceway Park.

A great deal is available for those who don't want to miss a single lap of "The Week of Indy.” A Superticket is being sold for a savings of 25% off of the regular three-day prices for the Wednesday, May 22 “Tony Hulman Classic” for USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Cars at the Terre Haute Action Track, the Thursday, May 23 “Hoosier Hundred” for USAC Silver Crown at the Indiana State Fairgrounds and on Friday, May 24 for the Dave Steele “Carb Night Classic” Silver Crown race at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis.

For just $60, a savings of $20, a fan will receive general admission at Terre Haute and Lucas Oil Raceway as well as a reserved seat for the Hoosier Hundred. To purchase a Superticket, visit https://usacracing.ticketspice.com/2019-week-of-indy-ticket-sales.

For more information on any of the events, visit www.trackenterprises.com, www.usacracing.com, or call the Track Enterprises office at 217-764-3200.
 
HOOSIER HUNDRED ENTRY LIST REVEALED

Indianapolis, Indiana (May 18, 2019)………The entry list for the 64th running of the “Hoosier Hundred” brings 42 USAC Silver Crown cars and drivers to the Indiana State Fairgrounds on Thursday, May 23, for the final edition of the race at the legendary one-mile dirt oval.

The event features four past "Hoosier Hundred" winners in Kingsburg, California’s Kody Swanson, who’s racing for an unprecedented fifth consecutive “Hoosier Hundred” win dating to 2014. Also entered is 1995, 1996 and 2004 winner Dave Darland of Lincoln, Ind., 1991 and 1993 winner Jeff Swindell of Germantown, Tenn. and Chuck Leary of Greenfield, Ind., who was the victor in 1997.

Swanson (2014-15-17-18) and Darland (1997) are among three past Silver Crown champions entered along with Chris Windom (2016) of Canton, Ill.

Swanson, Darland and Swindell are included in a star-studded group of drivers who’ve conquered victory lane with the Silver Crown series, along with a host of others who’ve won in the series but are seeking their first "Hoosier Hundred" win: C.J. Leary (Greenfield, Ind.), Brian Tyler (Mt. Pleasant, N.C.), Aaron Pierce (Muncie, Ind.), Russ Gamester (Peru, Ind.), David Byrne (Shullsburg, Wisc.), Shane Cockrum (Benton, Ill.), Chris Urish (Elkhart, Ill.), Eric Gordon (Fortville, Ind.), Shane Cottle (Kansas, Ill.), Justin Grant (Ione, Calif.) and Tyler Courtney (Indianapolis, Ind.).

Not only vying for a first “Hoosier Hundred” win, but also their first career Silver Crown victory is a talent-laden list of drivers who’ve won in either USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Car or NOS Energy Drink National Midget competition during their career: Jacob Wilson (Crawfordsville, Ind.), Brady Bacon (Broken Arrow, Okla.), Billy Puterbaugh, Jr. (Brownsburg, Ind.), Jason McDougal (Broken Arrow, Okla.), Steve Buckwalter (Royersford, Pa.), Kevin Thomas, Jr. (Cullman, Ala.) and Bill Rose (Plainfield, Ind.).

Last year’s Silver Crown Rookie of the Year Kyle Robbins (New Castle, Ind.) is entered for his second “Hoosier Hundred” while 2019 leading Rookie Joey Schmidt (Ellisville, Miss.) prepares for his first. Drivers also making their first attempt on the Indy Mile include Chris Phillips (Plainfield, Ind.), Dallas Hewitt (Troy, Ohio), Casey Buckman (Chandler, Ariz.), Jimmy Light (West Springfield, Pa.) and Chad Kemenah (Alvada, Ohio).

Kemenah and Chris Dyson, who returns for his second “Hoosier Hundred” start, are drivers who’ve attained success in other racing disciplines, Kemenah as a multi-time champion with the All Star Circuit of Champions and Dyson as a two-time American LeMans Series titlist.

Returning veterans aiming for one more shot at the Indy Mile include Kyle Steffens (St. Louis, Mo.), Patrick Lawson (Edwardsville, Ill.), last year’s fifth place finisher Johnny Petrozelle (Denton, N.C.), Austin Nemire (Sylvania, Ohio), Travis Welpott (Pendleton, Ind.), Mike Haggenbottom (Levittown, Pa.), Dave Berkheimer (Mechanicsburg, Pa.), Matt Goodnight (Winchester, Ind.), Austin Mundie (Dallas, Texas), Korey Weyant (Springfield, Ill.) and Kenny Gentry (Henderson, Ky.).

"Hoosier Hundred" activities get underway with pits opening at noon eastern, grandstands at 3pm, drivers meeting at 4pm and practice from 4:45-6pm, with qualifications and racing to immediately follow. Tickets are $25 for advance adult general admission and $30 the day of the event. Infield tickets are $20, while general admission for children 11 and under is $10. Pit passes are $30 for members and $35 for non-members.

A great deal is available for those who don't want to miss a single lap of "The Week of Indy.” A Superticket is being sold for a savings of 25% off of the regular three-day prices for the Wednesday, May 22 “Tony Hulman Classic” for USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Cars at the Terre Haute Action Track, the Thursday, May 23 “Hoosier Hundred” for USAC Silver Crown at the Indiana State Fairgrounds and on Friday, May 24 for the Dave Steele “Carb Night Classic” Silver Crown race at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis.

For just $60, a savings of $20, a fan will receive general admission at Terre Haute and Lucas Oil Raceway as well as a reserved seat for the Hoosier Hundred. To purchase a Superticket, visit https://usacracing.ticketspice.com/2019-week-of-indy-ticket-sales.

For more information on any of the events, visit http://www.trackenterprises.com/, http://www.usacracing.com/, or call the Track Enterprises office at 217-764-3200.



2019 HOOSIER HUNDRED ENTRY LIST

# / DRIVER / HOMETOWN / TEAM


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

08 KYLE STEFFENS/St. Louis, MO (Kyle Steffens)

2 PATRICK LAWSON/Edwardsville, IL (Patrick Lawson)

4 ®CHRIS PHILLIPS/Plainfield, IN (Phillips-Nolen Racing)

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

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

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

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

10 C.J. LEARY/Greenfield, IN (DMW Motorsports)

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

14 DAVE DARLAND/Lincoln, IN (Dennis & Dave McQuinn)

15 ®CHAD KEMENAH/Alvada, OH (Bob Hampshire)

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

17 CHRIS WINDOM/Canton, IL (Goodnight-Byrd Racing)

18 TRAVIS WELPOTT/Pendleton, IN (Travis Welpott-Ernie Gorman Racing)

20 KODY SWANSON/Kingsburg, CA (Gene Nolen Racing)

21 JEFF SWINDELL/Germantown, TN (Mark Swanson Encore Team)

22 BILLY PUTERBAUGH, JR./Brownsburg, IN (Robbie Rice-PBR Motorsports)

24 MIKE HAGGENBOTTOM/Levittown, PA (John Haggenbottom)

25 ®JOEY SCHMIDT/Ellisville, MS (Sam Pierce)

26 AARON PIERCE/Muncie, IN (Sam Pierce)

27 ®JASON McDOUGAL/Broken Arrow, OK (Phillips Motorsports)

30 CHUCK LEARY/Greenfield, IN (Chuck & Tammi Leary)

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

39 MATT GOODNIGHT/Winchester, IN (Goodnight Racing)

40 DAVID BYRNE/Shullsburg, WI (Byrne Racing)

47 ®AUSTIN MUNDIE/Dallas, TX (Les & Patty Butler)

51 RUSS GAMESTER/Peru, IN (Gamester Racing)

53 STEVE BUCKWALTER/Royersford, PA (Five Three Motorsports)

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

57 ®DALLAS HEWITT/Troy, OH (Dallas Hewitt)

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

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

74 ®CASEY BUCKMAN/Chandler, AZ (C-Buck Motorsports)

77 CHRIS URISH/Elkhart, IL (Chris Urish)

78 ERIC GORDON/Fortville, IN (Armstrong/Slinkard Racing)

81 SHANE COTTLE/Kansas, IL (Curtis Williams)

91 JUSTIN GRANT/Ione, CA (Hemelgarn Racing)

97 TYLER COURTNEY/Indianapolis, IN (Hans Lein)

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

118 KENNY GENTRY/Henderson, KY (Kenny Gentry)

123 ®JIMMY LIGHT/West Springfield, PA (Two-Three Motorsports)

® = USAC Silver Crown Rookie of the Year contender
 
A heads up for this year regarding parking. We have no control over this but we would like our fans to be informed so there is no surprise. Thank you to everyone who supports one of the premier events in Indiana dirt track racing, the Hoosier Hundred. We look forward to putting on another fantastic show this May as a part of The Week of Indy!

 
HOOSIER HUNDRED SOUVENIR PROGRAM AVAILABLE ON RACEDAY
Indianapolis, Ind. (May 20, 2019)………A Hoosier Hundred souvenir program/retrospective will go on sale this Thursday, May 23, at the 64th and final edition of the prestigious USAC Silver Crown Champ Car Series event at the Indiana State Fairgrounds.
The 24-page booklet features recaps of all 63 previous Hoosier Hundreds ran, plus historic photos from the grand race dating from the 1950s to present, a myriad of statistics, and an introspective look at the Hoosier Hundred through the eyes of those who’ve lived and worked at the Hoosier Hundred over the years, including four-time winner Kody Swanson, announcer Dr. Pat Sullivan, as well as USAC Media’s Dick Jordan and Richie Murray.
The program will be on sale at the USAC Merchandise Trailer located underneath the main grandstands at Thursday’s Hoosier Hundred for just $5. A limited supply will be available, so don’t miss out on your chance to own a piece of history.
"Hoosier Hundred" activities get underway with pits opening at noon eastern, grandstands at 3pm, drivers meeting at 4pm and practice from 4:45-6pm, with qualifications and racing to immediately follow. Tickets are $25 for advance adult general admission and $30 the day of the event. Infield tickets are $20, while general admission for children 11 and under is $10. Pit passes are $30 for members and $35 for non-members.
A great deal is available for those who don't want to miss a single lap of "The Week of Indy.” A Superticket is being sold for a savings of 25% off of the regular three-day prices for the Wednesday, May 22 “Tony Hulman Classic” for USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Cars at the Terre Haute Action Track, the Thursday, May 23 “Hoosier Hundred” for USAC Silver Crown at the Indiana State Fairgrounds and on Friday, May 24 for the Dave Steele “Carb Night Classic” Silver Crown race at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis.
For just $60, a savings of $20, a fan will receive general admission at Terre Haute and Lucas Oil Raceway as well as a reserved seat for the Hoosier Hundred. To purchase a Superticket, visit https://usacracing.ticketspice.com/2019-week-of-indy-ticket-sales.
For more information on any of the events, visit http://www.trackenterprises.com/, http://www.usacracing.com/, or call the Track Enterprises office at 217-764-3200.
 
A HOOSIER HUNDRED LIFE LESSON

By: Richie Murray – USAC Media

(Part 1 of 4 in a series of introspective short stories from the Hoosier Hundred)

Indianapolis, Indiana (May 20, 2019)………In the hustle and bustle of working in auto racing, or life in general, sometimes it’s easy to get caught up in the next thing on the agenda. What do I have to do? Where am I going?

When do I need to be there? Sometimes that makes it easy to forget to stop and smell the roses, as they say, to enjoy the moment as its presented to you without any conditions.

That moment came for me in 2015. I was in my first full year working for USAC. In the midst of running from the USAC hauler to print more driver rosters and run them to the merchandise trailer, take photos, update social media, collect a few transponders, troubleshoot the video board, talk to teams who have questions about their Gerhardt starters (not in my realm), make sure the announcers have all the info they need, plus about 20 other things, I was sweating, stressed and, basically, running myself ragged.

I was hoping to have all this done prior to driver introductions, so I could grab a water, hit the bathroom one last time, grab my laptop and head into the covered grandstands to watch the race. As my eyes were darting and legs moving in opposite directions like a chicken with its head cut off, I heard the familiar voice of my mentor and friend, Dick Jordan, from the main stage on the front straightaway.

What he told me still resonates with me today, and every time, when I walk into or even drive by the Indiana State Fairgrounds. He turned to me and said, “Helluva deal. Remember this day. Now you can always say you’ve worked at the Hoosier Hundred.”

Immediately, everything around me began to slow down. As I finally turned my head and focused my eyes, I saw a full field of the most beautiful racecars on the planet, lined up and gridded on the front straightaway in anticipation for 100 miles. I glanced up into the crowd and saw where I once sat to watch the Hoosier Hundred year-after-year, dreaming that I could be standing down where I was standing at that exact moment.

Moments later, a booming voice came over the P.A. system, announcing driver introductions. This is the moment where I probably would’ve been sprinting like an Olympian through the infield, clipboard in hand, with tunnel-vision, completely focused on the next task I had to complete. Instead, I stood at the stage and took a few moments to enjoy a trip that took me back to my time as a kid watching my racing heroes from afar.

Instantly, seemingly every moment I’d ever seen at the one-mile dirt oval came back in a flood, as I transfixed my eyes on the front straightaway. I thought about one of my earliest memories, riding with my Dad and his friend while I sat in the bed of a pickup truck as they drove into the infield to witness the 1990 Hoosier Hundred. For the race, they had a lawn chair set up for me in the bed of the truck so that I had more of an eagle’s eye view of the on-track happenings.

Apparently, at one point, the excitement overwhelmed my four-year-old self, and the chair and I both fell over with a mighty crash in the back of that truck. This necessitated the first red flag ever caused by me, or so I thought. As I lied face first on the truck’s wheel well, out of my peripheral vision, as it turned out, my racing hero Jack Hewitt’s car burst into flames right in front us just moments later, causing the actual, official red flag, or so I’ve been told.

When I was a child, my bookshelf had a number of Golden Books and Disney-themed books that I would look through every night. For one reason or another, one centerpiece that was always on that shelf was the 1986 Hoosier Hundred program with Sheldon Kinser in Bey Leyba’s No. 6 on the cover.

I know for a fact there was a time or two or twelve, I had my mom read that souvenir program from cover-to-cover to entertain me as I drifted into dreamland. I’m not sure how that particular program ended up on that bookshelf, but I bet I was the only four-year-old who knew the names Terry Kawell, Manny Rockhold and Larry Hoppes, or what Warren Mockler’s nickname was.

From that day I mentioned in 2015, moving forward, I definitely haven’t taken a Hoosier Hundred for granted. Any moment you have in life, good, bad or indifferent, is fleeting. Enjoy what you have while you still have it, Hoosier Hundred or otherwise. And make sure bask in the moment of the first hot lap session, driver introductions, the start of the race and the final checkered flag. Perhaps those are the figurative roses you will take with you when you walk out the gate for the final time. If so, make sure you take the time to smell them every once in a while. I promise you won’t regret it.

"Hoosier Hundred" activities get underway with pits opening at noon eastern, grandstands at 3pm, drivers meeting at 4pm and practice from 4:45-6pm, with qualifications and racing to immediately follow. Tickets are $25 for advance adult general admission and $30 the day of the event. Infield tickets are $20, while general admission for children 11 and under is $10. Pit passes are $30 for members and $35 for non-members.

A great deal is available for those who don't want to miss a single lap of "The Week of Indy.” A Superticket is being sold for a savings of 25% off of the regular three-day prices for the Wednesday, May 22 “Tony Hulman Classic” for USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Cars at the Terre Haute Action Track, the Thursday, May 23 “Hoosier Hundred” for USAC Silver Crown at the Indiana State Fairgrounds and on Friday, May 24 for the Dave Steele “Carb Night Classic” Silver Crown race at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis.

For just $60, a savings of $20, a fan will receive general admission at Terre Haute and Lucas Oil Raceway as well as a reserved seat for the Hoosier Hundred. To purchase a Superticket, visit https://usacracing.ticketspice.com/2019-week-of-indy-ticket-sales.

For more information on any of the events, visit http://www.trackenterprises.com/, http://www.usacracing.com/, or call the Track Enterprises office at 217-764-3200.
 
The DIRTcar Modifieds will have a final chance to race at the Indy Mile this coming Thursday, May 23 as part of the Hoosier 100 event. Entry form below...

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HOOSIER HUNDRED CAR COUNT EXPECTED TO BE LARGEST IN 14 YEARS

By: Richie Murray – USAC Media

Indianapolis, Indiana (May 21, 2019)………A bustling pit area with Champ Cars, trailers, haulers and people milling about as far as the eye can see is a sight to behold, especially when it comes to the “Hoosier Hundred.”

You’ll see that once again this coming Thursday, May 23, in the final USAC Silver Crown Champ Car race that will be held at the Indiana State Fairgrounds one-mile dirt oval with 43 cars and drivers now entered for the prestigious race that’s been held annually since 1953.

Throughout the past 63 runnings of the event, the car count has varied from a high of 57 in 1981 and 1983 to a low of 22 in 1964, 1966 and 2012.* In recent years, the car count has rebounded and the series is at its strongest, most competitive point, from top-to-bottom, in a number of years.

This year’s anticipated car count of 43 is above the average of 38-39 cars between 1953-2018.* It’s expected to be the largest number of cars on hand since 45 machines graced the pit area in 2005, 14 years ago.* Interestingly enough, it wasn’t until the 25th running of the “Hoosier Hundred” in 1977 that the car count reached above 43.* In fact, only 17 editions of the Hoosier Hundred have had more cars than this year's field will have, and 46 races with less.

With only 18 cars starting in most of the early years, the competition was cutthroat to make the show.* The competition remains cutthroat and drivers are as hungry as ever now with 30 starters usually making the call to start the 100-lap main event.

With the field bigger than its been in nearly a decade-and-a-half, and with the emotional sentiment of finality in the air, this will be one for the record books – a sweet sendoff for one of America’s most legendary races featuring the stars of today with the presence of the ghosts of yesterday’s Indy Mile legends looking on.

*

HOOSIER HUNDRED CAR COUNTS BY YEAR

1953: 35

1954: 37

1955: 36

1956: 35

1957: 33

1958: 32

1959: 31

1960: 37

1961: 32

1962: 29

1963: 29

1964: 22

1965: 30

1966: 22

1967: 30

1968: 27

1969: 32

1970: 31

1971: 36

1972: 37

1973: 35

1974: 38

1975: 40

1976: 42

1977: 44

1978: 45

1979: 43

1980: 39

1981: 57

1982: 56

1983: 57

1984: 40

1985: 46

1986: 52

1987: 48

1988: 40

1989: 39

1990: 55

1991: 51

1992: 53

1993: 41

1994: 56

1995: 50

1996: 43

1997: 49

1998: 37

1999: 38

2000: 46

2001: 45

2002: 39

2003: 40

2004: 39

2005: 45

2006: 37

2007: Rained Out

2008: Rained Out

2009: 28

2010: 36

2011: 31

2012: 22

2013: 24

2014: 26

2015: 29

2016: 33

2017: Rained Out

2018: 38

*

2019 HOOSIER HUNDRED ENTRY LIST (43 CARS)

# / DRIVER / HOMETOWN / TEAM

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

08 KYLE STEFFENS/St. Louis, MO (Kyle Steffens)

2 PATRICK LAWSON/Edwardsville, IL (Patrick Lawson)

4 ®CHRIS PHILLIPS/Plainfield, IN (Phillips-Nolen Racing)

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

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

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

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

10 C.J. LEARY/Greenfield, IN (DMW Motorsports)

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

14 DAVE DARLAND/Lincoln, IN (Dennis & Dave McQuinn)

15 ®CHAD KEMENAH/Alvada, OH (Bob Hampshire)

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

17 CHRIS WINDOM/Canton, IL (Goodnight-Byrd Racing)

18 TRAVIS WELPOTT/Pendleton, IN (Travis Welpott-Ernie Gorman Racing)

20 KODY SWANSON/Kingsburg, CA (Gene Nolen Racing)

21 JEFF SWINDELL/Germantown, TN (Mark Swanson Encore Team)

22 BILLY PUTERBAUGH, JR./Brownsburg, IN (Robbie Rice-PBR Motorsports)

24 MIKE HAGGENBOTTOM/Levittown, PA (John Haggenbottom)

25 ®JOEY SCHMIDT/Ellisville, MS (Sam Pierce)

26 AARON PIERCE/Muncie, IN (Sam Pierce)

27 ®JASON McDOUGAL/Broken Arrow, OK (Phillips Motorsports)

30 CHUCK LEARY/Greenfield, IN (Chuck & Tammi Leary)

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

39 MATT GOODNIGHT/Winchester, IN (Goodnight Racing)

40 DAVID BYRNE/Shullsburg, WI (Byrne Racing)

43 JOHN HEYDENREICH/Bloomsburg, PA (A.J. Felker)

47 ®AUSTIN MUNDIE/Dallas, TX (Les & Patty Butler)

51 RUSS GAMESTER/Peru, IN (Gamester Racing)

53 STEVE BUCKWALTER/Royersford, PA (Five Three Motorsports)

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

57 ®DALLAS HEWITT/Troy, OH (Dallas Hewitt)

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

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

74 ®CASEY BUCKMAN/Chandler, AZ (C-Buck Motorsports)

77 CHRIS URISH/Elkhart, IL (Chris Urish)

78 ERIC GORDON/Fortville, IN (Armstrong/Slinkard Racing)

81 SHANE COTTLE/Kansas, IL (Curtis Williams)

91 JUSTIN GRANT/Ione, CA (Hemelgarn Racing)

97 TYLER COURTNEY/Indianapolis, IN (Hans Lein)

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

118 KENNY GENTRY/Henderson, KY (Kenny Gentry)

123 ®JIMMY LIGHT/West Springfield, PA (Two-Three Motorsports)

® = USAC Silver Crown Rookie of the Year contender

*

"Hoosier Hundred" activities get underway with pits opening at noon eastern, grandstands at 3pm, drivers meeting at 4pm and practice from 4:45-6pm, with qualifications and racing to immediately follow.* Tickets are $25 for advance adult general admission and $30 the day of the event.* Infield tickets are $20, while general admission for children 11 and under is $10.* Pit passes are $30 for members and $35 for non-members.

A great deal is available for those who don't want to miss a single lap of "The Week of Indy.”* A Superticket is being sold for a savings of 25% off of the regular three-day prices for the Wednesday, May 22 “Tony Hulman Classic” for USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Cars at the Terre Haute Action Track, the Thursday, May 23 “Hoosier Hundred” for USAC Silver Crown at the Indiana State Fairgrounds and on Friday, May 24 for the Dave Steele “Carb Night Classic” Silver Crown race at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis.

For just $60, a savings of $20, a fan will receive general admission at Terre Haute and Lucas Oil Raceway as well as a reserved seat for the Hoosier Hundred.* To purchase a Superticket, visit https://usacracing.ticketspice.com/2019-week-of-indy-ticket-sales

For more information on any of the events, visit http://www.trackenterprises.com/, http://www.usacracing.com/, or call the Track Enterprises office at 217-764-3200.
 
HOOSIER HUNDRED - WHAT IT MEANS TO ME

Written By: Kody Swanson - 4-Time Hoosier Hundred Winner

(Part 2 of 4 in a series of introspective short stories from the Hoosier Hundred)

As we look forward to one final ride, it is difficult to put into words just what the Hoosier Hundred, and racing at the Indiana State Fairgrounds means to me. I’m originally from Kingsburg, a small town in California, and moved to Indianapolis with my wife Jordan for the racing. Let’s be honest, it certainly wasn’t for the weather.

As an open wheel racer, Indianapolis has so many opportunities to race. There are different cars, series and divisions, there is hope that you’ll be able to make a name here, and maybe one day catch your break and find a way into the highest levels of our sport.

In 1953, the Inaugural Hoosier Hundred was contested, featuring the Championship Cars of the day on the one-mile dirt oval. While much has changed in our world since then, the Hoosier Hundred at the Indiana State Fairgrounds has fundamentally remained the same. Some of the greatest racers in history and legends of our sport have competed in the Hoosier Hundred, including former winners like Mario Andretti, Jimmy Bryan, A.J. Foyt, Parnelli Jones, Al Unser, Sr., and so many more. For someone like me, it is that tradition and the history passed on before us now, that makes competing in this race, at this racetrack, so special to be a small part of.

If you’ll take a break from the nostalgia with me for a moment – how about the race itself? No, it’s not your three-wide, wheels up, bullring. It’s not your draft to pass, aerodynamic wind tunnel, and it’s not your superspeedway, waiting for the “big one,” racing either. This is the Hoosier Hundred, the 100-miler that is held on one of the most storied tracks in the entire history of auto racing.

There are subtle things about this race and running on the mile, that not everyone notices, but those who do find them and have experienced them, know just what to look for and cherish every bit of it. From the driver’s seat, you get an incredible experience all your own, and completely unique to the Indiana State Fairgrounds.

You’ll try to keep some sort of traction all while you pick up speed down the long front-straightaway, your tires spinning in the loose dirt surface, and just hoping that you’ll have the car pointed back in the right direction before you duck past the gate into turn one.

You’ll try to match your car’s angle, your wheel spin and your momentum, to build all of the speed that you can before corner exit – while walking the tight-rope – keeping your left front tire off of the inside guardrail, and your right rear from sliding out into the dust (and the wall) at the outside of turn two.

You’ll peer through the sun shining in your eyes down the long back-straightaway, feeling the track continue to narrow in alongside on you, while you try to pick your entry to turn three and begin the long slide toward that beautiful red covered bridge just beyond the outside wall.

Then you’ll pick up the throttle, feeling the horsepower beneath your feet as you aim down off of turn four, with the Coliseum to your outside and that huge covered grandstand up ahead, ready to do it all over again – and that’s only hot laps.

The Hoosier Hundred, the race itself, is an experience that you won’t find anywhere else - even no other dirt mile has the shape nor the demeanor of the Indiana State Fairgrounds and the “Hoosier.” You get to race the track and your competition, and for a full 100 miles, the only constant is that everything is changing. Your tires and fuel burn away, while the track rubbers in, but with every tire that crosses ahead of you, the track itself changes some more. The pace will change, the racing line will change, throttle and braking points will change, all while some may never notice them happening – and no one able to notice them all.

I have loved this race for many different reasons, but to me, this might be my last real and tangible opportunity to be connected to the ‘big-time’ and the heroes cemented in the history of our sport. The Hoosier Hundred and the Indiana State Fairgrounds have the rich tradition and legacy that creates an atmosphere capable of sending chills down your spine, that has given us a chance to stand where the legends before us did, and that have turned a racetrack into a landmark for racers everywhere.

I am so thankful to have had the opportunity to drive one of USAC’s Championship Cars in the Hoosier Hundred at the Indiana State Fairgrounds Mile, and to have competed in one of the greatest traditions in our entire sport.

"Hoosier Hundred" activities get underway with pits opening at noon eastern, grandstands at 3pm, drivers meeting at 4pm and practice from 4:45-6pm, with qualifications and racing to immediately follow.* Tickets are $25 for advance adult general admission and $30 the day of the event.* Infield tickets are $20, while general admission for children 11 and under is $10.* Pit passes are $30 for members and $35 for non-members.

A great deal is available for those who don't want to miss a single lap of "The Week of Indy.”* A Superticket is being sold for a savings of 25% off of the regular three-day prices for the Wednesday, May 22 “Tony Hulman Classic” for USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Cars at the Terre Haute Action Track, the Thursday, May 23 “Hoosier Hundred” for USAC Silver Crown at the Indiana State Fairgrounds and on Friday, May 24 for the Dave Steele “Carb Night Classic” Silver Crown race at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis.

For just $60, a savings of $20, a fan will receive general admission at Terre Haute and Lucas Oil Raceway as well as a reserved seat for the Hoosier Hundred.* To purchase a Superticket, visit https://usacracing.ticketspice.com/2019-week-of-indy-ticket-sales

For more information on any of the events, visit http://www.trackenterprises.com/, http://www.usacracing.com/, or call the Track Enterprises office at 217-764-3200.
 
IT IS 64th Annual Hoosier Hundred RACE DAY! Day 2 of the 2019 The Week of Indy!

The Month of May is chock full of rich traditions, pagentary, history, and of course a need for speed. People of all ages from around the world flock to the heartland to come Back Home Again to Indiana. Tonight is most bittersweet as we are writing not just another chapter in the history books of the Hoosier 100, but the final chapter of a story that goes back 63 previous chapters. The Champ Cars of the USAC Racing Silver Crown Champ Car Series will thunder around the Indy Mile for the final time and after tonight, the rumbling echo of race cars will be silenced forever here.
A stout field of DIRTcar UMP Modifieds will be on hand for what is going to be a special event for them as well, as their main event will be a prelude to the Big Cars. There has been a lot of interest in drivers wanting to get one last chance to race at what has been only 1 of 3 active 1 mile dirt tracks in the United States racing automobiles. After we are finished this evening, only 2 in our neighbor to the west, Illinois, will remain with Springfield and DuQuoin.
Let's make this a night to remember! This time, after we are done, it is truly goodbye. But let's not focus on that now. Let's focus on the excitement and energy that make the Hoosier Hundred so special. Let's make chapter 64 of this saga one of the best ever! LET'S GO RACING!

Program Information:

Thursday May 23
64thrd Annual Hoosier 100

Divisions Racing:
USAC Racing Silver Crown Champ Car Series
DIRTcar UMP Modifieds

Times (ALL TIMES EASTERN):
Pit gates will open at 12:00
Grandstands at 3:00
USAC Drivers Merting 4:00
Crossover Gate Closes 4:40
USAC Silver Crown Hot Laps 4:45-6:00
DIRTcar UMP Modified Heats 6:00
Silver Crown Fatheadz Eyewear Qualifying 6:15
Vintage Cars 6:00
Silver Crown Consi 7:15 (If needed)
DIRTcar UMP Modified Feature 7:30
Hoosier 100 Opening Ceremonies begin 7:55
64th Annual Hoosier Hundred is scheduled for an 8:30 green flag.

Prices:
Grandstands – Presale $25/Day Of $30
Infield – Adults $15/Children $5
(Tickets Available At Gate On Raceday)

Pit Prices:
$30 For USAC/UMP Members
$35 For Non-Members

Hotels:
Quality Inn & Suites
Brownsburg, IN
(317) 852-5353
More information:

For more information about Track Enterprises check them out online at their website www.trackenterprises.com, like them on facebook (www.facebook.com/TrackEnterprises), and follow them on Twitter (@TEIRacing). More information is also available by calling the Track Enterprises offices at 217-764-3200.

For more information on the United States Auto Club (USAC) visit their website at www.usacracing.com, Like them on Facebook (www.facebook.com/usacracing), and follow them on Twitter (@USACNation)

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