Preview of Hoosier 100
 

For IMMEDIATE RELEASE-contact Robert Sargent Track Enterprises 217-764-3200 for additional info.

Preview of the 61st Anniversary Hoosier 100

By Jay Hardin Track Enterprises Staff

Indianapolis May 21, 2014- Preview of 61st Anniversary Hoosier Hundred.

USAC Silver Crown Series Director Andy Hillenburg and race promoter Bob Sargent have been working diligently to renew enthusiasm in USAC's top tier series and it appears their hard work is going to pay off as an entry list of twenty-nine car and driver combinations was released this week by the sanctioning body with additional entries possible on race day. Here is a preview of the field for Thursday nights ( May 22) prestigious Hoosier Hundred at the Indiana State Fairgrounds.

Former Winners-2

Jerry Coons, Jr., Tucson, AZ-the 42 year old Coons won in 2011-12 and looked to make it three in a row last year before losing the lead late in the race. He returns with his RW Motorsports winning mount, expect the 2008 USAC silver crown champ to be a contender on race day.

Dave Darland, Lincoln, IN-1997 USAC Silver Crown champ won in 1995, 1996 and 2004. He is second among active drivers in miles completed and starts at the Indy Mile and in the top ten on the money won list. Car owner Marc Longworth has good equipment so don't count out the people's champ.

Former USAC Silver Crown Champions-2

Tracy Hines, New Castle, IN-2000 champion who has wins at Springfield and DuQuoin but Indy has eluded him, could become the 14th driver since 1953 to post wins on all three miles. Lightfoot racing has improved greatly to the point Hines was able to add to his win total at Belleville last year giving the team its first series win.

Bobby East, Brownsburg, IN-one of a number of pilots still looking for a mile track win. Won the last two USAC Silver Crown titles driving for Tony Stewart.

Veterans

Jon Stanbrough-Kokomo, IN. Recent entry has sent shudders into competitor garages as he teams with owner Galen Fox who makes a long anticipated return to the series. Stanbrough has won over 180 sprint car races, including several with Fox's sons. This pairing could lead to Stanbrough's first 100-mile race win.

A.J. Fike-Galesburg, IL. Fike won the last two Tony Bettenhausen 100 events at Springfield driving for his father Don. He also has ARCA stock car poles at Springfield and DuQuoin and came within an eyelash of joining Al Unser as the only driver to sweep the weekend at Springfield last August.

Russ Gamester, Peru, IN-veteran with victories at Springfield and DuQuoin, former USAC midget champ. Sat on pole here in 1997 and last year, led a good part of the race last year, active driver with most miles completed and most starts on Indy Mile. Family operation runs own chassis with Toyota power

Aaron Pierce, Indianapolis. Hometown hero originally from Muncie has never won on dirt, has three wins on pavement. Ran over 175 MPH at Homestead in 2006.

Other veterans

Kody Swanson, Kingsburg, CA-along with Stanbrough and Fike, one of the series regulars who could add his name to the list of winners at the Indy Mile. Won at DuQuoin in 2010 and at Terre Haute in April.

Chris Urish, Elkhart, IL-full time farmer scored an upset win at DuQuoin last year, has the equipment to be running at the end.

Randy Bateman of Murphysboro, IL is the oldest driver in the field and his series debut dates back to the 1980's. A regular in the division who timed in second at DuQuoin a few years ago.

Davey Ray, Davenport, IA-third generation midget driver with infrequent series starts. Drives for Eddie Sachs, Jr.

Relative Newcomers

Casey Shuman, Mesa, AZ-The son of 1992 Hoosier Hundred winner Ron “The Flying Shoe” Shuman, Casey has been a terror on central Indiana sprint car tracks winning numerous features. Made his big car debut here in 2013 and ran well until the engine gave out.

Shane Cockrum, Benton, IL-Shane Wade of the late Chuck Amati lineage has joined the Hardy racing team and they continue to upgrade equipment. Shane looked like a winner at DuQuoin until the fuel tank ran dry. His father Cliff was a legend on southern Indiana sprint car tracks.

Taylor Ferns, Shelby TWP, MI-The second year driver continues to learn and a top 5 or 10 finish Thursday would be a real feather in her cap.

Zach Daum, Pocahontas, IL-2013 POWRi midget champ was the 2009 Silver Crown Rookie of the Year. Has adapted well to the dirt miles.

Rookies-11

Headlining the 2014 rookie class is Oklahoman Chris Bell, who took over the ride from Brian Tyler last fall. Bell is just 19 yet he was he 2013 USAC midget champ. He hopes to repeat the win of another Okie rookie, forty years ago Jackie Howerton pulled off the upset beating AL Unser and Mario Andretti to the checkered flag. Fellow Okie John Hunt joins the field as well.
2012 Powri champ Andrew Felker of Missouri looks for his first start, as does Caleb Armstrong and Jacob Wilson of Indiana, along with fellow Hoosiers Jake Simmons, Grant Simpson and Dakota Jackson.

Race fans will remember the grandfather of rookie Joe Ligouri, Ralph ran second in the 1970 Hoosier 100 after passing A.J. Foyt. Another third generation driver brings another famous name back to the dirt, it has been 20 years since an Andretti sat in a dirt car at the fairgrounds, this time John’s son Jarrett joins the fray.

Tickets will be on sale at the box office, gates open at 3 with racing slated to begin at 7 p.m. at the Indiana State Fairgrounds.

Re: Preview of Hoosier 100
 

Jerry Coons is driving the Fred Gormly/RPM auto ent. #98

Hot laps on right now for the greatest race of the year...the Hoosier 100.

at Hoosier 100 do any of you have any info on Qualifying order?????

They have a nice video board why not put qual times on it?

Re: Preview of Hoosier 100
 

Bobby east fastest right now 36.759

Re: Preview of Hoosier 100
 

Now Tracy Hines fast qualifier with a 36.266

Re: Preview of Hoosier 100
 

Hines
East
Cockrum

Those were the top three qualifiers

Yes this is really BS
No help on twitter either
Anybody need a $6 hamburger?

Jeez finally
USAC Racing
Just now
Hines sets Fast Time over East Cockrum Armstrong Wilson Windom Stanbrough Swanson Fike Urish Gamester Daum Bell Coons Andretti Pierce Lawson Ray Jackson Hunt Felker Darland Bateman Liguori Simmons. Ferns is a scratch with engine issues.

Great night to be here. Modifieds running now.

Surprize, Schraeder 2nd in the mods, Cramer wins. Silver Crown next.

Re: Preview of Hoosier 100
 

Heard the track sucked! Dry as a bone! It is a shame for such a great race! No effort!

Re: Preview of Hoosier 100
 

Trouble on the first turn as Stanbrough and Dakota Jackson wreck in turn one

Re: Preview of Hoosier 100
 

Once again your not there, making all kinds of comments on how nobody tried, Guess you didn't know 20 miles south of the track got 4 inches of rain and hail last night and they probably sealed it so they could at least have a race.

Come on J.T. wheres the high road?

Re: Preview of Hoosier 100
 

Armstrong parks it in the turn four wall while running fourth. Swanson is FAST coming up in third. East leads

Re: Preview of Hoosier 100
 

Red flag for john hunt in turn three. He's out of the car. East had a 7 second lead over Hines

Jt stop running your mouth

You heard wrong! I'm here!

Re: Preview of Hoosier 100
 

29 laps dpwn. Stanbrough started on tail and is up to 17th at the red flag. About to go green!!!

Re: Preview of Hoosier 100
 

Restart 71 to go: East leads Hines Swanson Cockrum Windom Urish Coons Daum Fike Pierce Bell Wilson Gamester Ray Andretti Darland Stanbrough

Re: Preview of Hoosier 100
 

East now leads a six-car breakaway ahead of Hines Swanson Cockrum Windom & Coons

Re: Preview of Hoosier 100
 

Gamester slows and come to the pits on lap 37 as we stay green...

Re: Preview of Hoosier 100
 

60 to go: East leads Hines Swanson Cockrum Windom Coons Urish Daum Fike Bell Pierce Wilson Ray Darland Andretti Stanbrough Liguori Lawson

Re: Preview of Hoosier 100
 

Thank you so much Tim! Keep it up!

Re: Preview of Hoosier 100
 

Wilson surrenders 12th and pulls in

40 to go - East leads by 6.076 seconds over Hines Swanson Cockrum Windom Coons Urish Daum Fike Bell Pierce Ray Darland Andretti Stanbrough..

Charles, sorry I offended you. Everyone else has seen the same deal there for years. Besides I'm going by what a good friend told me that is sitting there. Make all the excuses you want, but they have run out.

Re: Preview of Hoosier 100
 

Yellow comes out just after Swanson takes second from Hines. He'll have to go back to third...Restart with 34 laps to go.

Re: Preview of Hoosier 100
 

Coons breaks into the top-five on lap 70 with a daring move into turn-one!

Re: Preview of Hoosier 100
 

Kody Swanson takes second from Hines on lap 73!

Re: Preview of Hoosier 100
 

25 to go - East leads Swanson Hines Cockrum Coons Windom Urish Daum Fike Bell Pierce Ray Darland Andretti Stanbrough Liguori Bateman...

Re: Preview of Hoosier 100
 

Swanson is ALL OVER East for the lead!

Re: Preview of Hoosier 100
 

Kody Swanson to the lead of the "Hoosier Hundred" on lap 78

Re: Preview of Hoosier 100
 

Coons passes Cockrum for 4th with another great move into turn-one on lap 85...

Re: Preview of Hoosier 100
 

Now Cockrum slips up and Windom takes fifth...

Re: Preview of Hoosier 100
 

That kid sure does have the big cars dialed in...!

Re: Preview of Hoosier 100
 

10 to go - Swanson has stretched it to 3.890 seconds over East Hines Coons Windom Cockrum Urish Daum Fike Bell Ray Pierce Liguori Darland...

Re: Preview of Hoosier 100
 

Daum gets by Urish for 7th with 7 to go...

Re: Preview of Hoosier 100
 

Daum with a big move to take 6th from Cockrum into turn-one on lap 96...

Re: Preview of Hoosier 100
 

Pierce is rolling now, as he takes two spots to climb to 9th!