[TEI PR]

Saturday-Sunday, August 18-19
Illinois State Fairgrounds
Springfield, IL

Saturday, August 18
USAC Racing Silver Crown Series
57th Annual Bettenhausen 100
+ 25th Annual Illinois Sportsman Nationals DIRTcar UMP Sportsman Prelims

SATURDAY, AUGUST 18 SPRINGFIELD TIMES:
7:00 AM Pits & Registration
9:00 AM Ticket Office & Grandstands
9:30 AM Drivers Meetings
10:00-11:10 AM Silver Crown Practice
11:30 AM Silver Crown Qualifying
12:00 PM Sportsman Hotlaps
12:30 PM Silver Crown B-Main
1:00 PM Sportsman Heats
1:30 PM Pre-Race Ceremonies
2:00 PM USAC Silver Crown 57th Annual Bettenhausen 100

Sunday, August 19
ARCA RACING SERIES presented by Menards
56th Annual Allen Crowe Memorial 100
+ 25th Annual Illinois Sportsman Nationals

SUNDAY, AUGUST 19 SPRINGFIELD TIMES:
5:30 AM Pits & Registration
7:30 AM Chapel Service
8:00 AM Drivers Meeting
8:30 AM Ticket Office & Grandstands
9:00 AM Practice
11:00 AM ARCA Qualifying
12:00 PM 25th Annual Illinois Sportsman Nationals
12:15 PM Driver Autograph Session
1:15 PM ARCA Driver Introduction
1:30 PM National Anthem
1:35 PM 56th Annual Allen Crowe Memorial 100

(*Don’t forget our two other local shows the same weekend, Lincoln Speedway Friday, August 17 and Macon Speedway Saturday night, August 18.)

SPRINGFIELD TICKET INFO:
Tickets will be available on raceday or by calling the State Fair office at 217-782-1979. Info and tickets can also be obtained by calling the Track Enterprises office at 217-764-3200. Discount tickets for Sunday also available at Menards.

RESERVED SEATING
Advance Tickets (Presale)
$25 Adults Per Day
$10 Children 11 & Under Per Day
Day Of Tickets (At Gate)
$30 Adults Per Day
$10 Children 11 & Under Per Day

INFIELD TICKETS
$20 Adults
$5 Children 11 & Under

PIT PASSES
$35 Adults Each Day
$20 Children 11 & Under Each Day
$50 Two-Day Pit Pass

INFIELD PARKING
$7 For Those Parking On Infield With No Infield Or Pit Passes

HOST HOTEL
Carpenter Street Hotel In Springfield
888-779-9100 or www.carpenterstreethotel.com

[TEI PR]

Illinois State Fair Races Fast Approaching
Springfield Mile To Again Feature USAC, ARCA, & Sportsman

The 2018 Illinois State Fair in Springfield opens its doors in just over a week, which means that race fans everywhere are putting together their travel plans for the historic races at the Springfield Mile. The racing action takes center stage each and every year on the final weekend of the fair. This year, the mile comes alive with the USAC Silver Crown Series Champ Cars, the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards, and the UMP Sportsman on Saturday and Sunday, August 18-19.

On Saturday, August 18, the USAC Silver Crown Champ Cars return for the Bettenhausen 100. The race has seen a great resurgence over the last couple of years and this year's event is expected to have a field well over 30 cars. The 2016 event saw 40 cars on the property with Jerry Coons, Jr. setting fast time and Justin Grant claiming the win. Brian Tyler also put on a great show, coming through the field to lead. Tyler fell out of the event in the late stages. Grant was followed across the line by Kody Swanson, Jeff Swindell, Coons, and Dave Darland.

Then on Sunday, August 19, the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards comes to town for the Allen Crowe Memorial 100. Last year’s event saw former ARCA champion, Grant Enfinger, take the victory in the Allgaier Motorsports prepared #16. Enfinger passed Christian Eckes on lap 63 of the 100 lap event. Austin Theriault ran Enfinger down in the late going but was unable to get by. Tyler Dippel, Sheldon Creed, and Shane Lee completed the top five.

Also racing that weekend will be the UMP Sportsman class. The Sportsman Nationals event will pay $1,500 to win and will have practice and qualifying heats on Saturday with the 20-lap feature on Sunday afternoon. Last season, Lovington, IL driver, Jeremy Nichols, won his fifth Sportsman Nationals event in a row. Entry forms are available on the Track Enterprises facebook page, website, and by calling 217-764-3200.

On Saturday, August 18, registration and pits will open at 7:00 AM, grandstands and ticket office at 9:00, Silver Crown practice at 10:00, qualifying at 11:30, Sportsman hotlaps at 12:00 noon, Silver Crown semi at 12:30, Sportsman heats at 1:00, and the Bettenhausen 100 at 2:00.

Sunday, August 19th times are 5:30 AM for registration and pit gates, 8:30 for grandstands and ticket office, 9:00 for practice, ARCA qualifying at 11:00, Sportsman feature at 12:00 noon, an ARCA autograph session at 12:15, and the Allen Crowe Memorial 100 will take the green at 1:35.

Advance reserved adult tickets can be purchased for either of the days for $25, a discount of $5. Children 11 and under are $10. Tickets may be purchased by calling Track Enterprises at 217-764-3200 or by contacting either of the two fairgrounds ticket offices. Discount tickets for Sunday's ARCA event can also be purchased at Central Illinois Menards stores.

The host hotel for the State Fair event is the Carpenter Street Hotel. The hotel is located in downtown Springfield, less than three miles from the Illinois State Fairgrounds. Hotel also features a shuttle service that will run most days during the fair. To reserve your room for the USAC/ARCA Illinois State Fair race weekend, visit www.carpenterstreethotel.com or call 217-789-9100. Please ask the front desk for details.

For more information, visit www.trackenterprises.com.

[ISF]

For us, the Bettenhausen Memorial is a highly anticipated event due to the overwhelming success that we saw last year in regards to car count, the overall quality of the starting field and the race itself. The racing throughout last years' 100 mile event was as good as any racing we saw last year, and to this point this year. That is no exaggeration, either.

We sincerely hope the highly entertaining and exciting race last year inspires more spectators to come and watch what has become a very unique and classy style of racing. These 100 milers on the mile dirt tracks have been whittled down to a precious 3 events. All three mile dirt track races last year showed these events can be, and are, well worth the effort and expense to attend. There also is the added attraction of the Illinois State Fair and the food, activities and charm that go along with that experience.

Several years ago we lost the Hulman Hundred, more recently we lost the Hut Hundred and just this year we lost the Belleville Nationals and those are just the events that come to mind. Let's all see to it that we don't lose the Hoosier, the Bettenhausen, and the Horn too!

See ya'll there!

[TEI PR]

Carpenter Street Hotel Again Featuring Racer Rate For State Fair Weekend

Officials from Track Enterprises in Macon, IL have announced that the Carpenter Street Hotel in Springfield, IL, will again be the official host hotel for the 2018 State Fair race weekend. The event takes place on Saturday and Sunday, August 18 and 19, the final two days of the Illinois State Fair and features USAC Racing, ARCA RACING SERIES, and DIRTcar Racing events.

Carpenter Street Hotel is located in downtown Springfield, less than three miles from the Illinois State Fairgrounds, 3 blocks from the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum, and just 4 miles from the Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport. The hotel features stylish guest rooms with contemporary boutique-style decor and furnishings. Rooms also include free WiFi, flat screen TVs, coffeemakers, refrigerator/microwave, and all others features that you would come to expect. Complimentary hot breakfast, and parking is included. Hotel also features a shuttle service that will run most days during the fair. Please ask the front desk for details.

A racer rate will be available by mentioning that you are attending the Illinois State Fair races. The hotel is located at 525 N 6th St., Springfield, IL 62702. To reserve your room for the USAC/ARCA Illinois State Fair race weekend, visit www.carpenterstreethotel.com or call 888-779-9100.

Track Enterprises is a racing promotion company that oversees popular racing events that feature top touring series like the ARCA Racing Series, USAC, World Of Outlaws, UMP, CRA, POWRi, and more. For more information on the upcoming racing schedule, visit www.trackenterprises.com.

[TEI PR]

[Steve Wendel]

It would probably be a good time to tell us about your Friday and Saturday night races.

[TEI PR]

Originally Posted by Steve Wendel It would probably be a good time to tell us about your Friday and Saturday night races.

Just posted a new thread about the Friday event. Will also post that information here as well. Will do the same with Macon as soon as the flier is done.

Friday August 17
Night Before State Fair Race

Divisions:
410 Non-Wing Sprint Cars
DIRTcar UMP Modifieds
DIRTcar Racing UMP Pro Crate Late Models
NuTech Seed, LLC DII Midgets By Bailey Chassis Company

Times:
Pits: 3:00
Stands: 5:00
Pill Draw Ends: 5:50
Hotlaps: 6:00
Racing: 7:00

Grandstand Pricing:
Adults – $15
Children 11 & Under – FREE

Hotels:
Hampton by Hilton - Lincoln IL
Holiday Inn Express - Lincoln IL
Mention the Lincoln Speedway discount

Location:
Lincoln Speedway is located at the Logan County Fairgrounds, in Lincoln, IL. The physical address is 1408 Short 11th St., Lincoln, IL 62656.

More Information:
For more information on the track, follow Lincoln Speedway online at www.lincolnspeedwayil.com, on Facebook (www.facebook.com/LincolnILSpeedway), and Twitter (@LincolnILSpdwy). Updates are also available by calling the Track Enterprises office at 217-764-3200.

For more information on Track Enterprises, follow them online at www.trackenterprises.com, on Facebook (www.facebook.com/TrackEnterprises) and Twitter (@TEIRacing)

Lincoln Speedway races a number of UMP classes as well as specials on a near bi-weekly schedule of Friday and Sunday evenings. Lincoln Speedway is a proud member of the Contingency Connection's $150,000 Racer Rewards Program.

[SC12]

DARLAND, GAMESTER SPRINGFIELD IRON MEN

By Jay Hardin Track Enterprises Staff-Springfield, IL-(August 7, 2018)-Past USAC Silver Crown champion Dave Darland and USAC Midget champion Russ Gamester are well known for their exploits in open wheel competition. Both are becoming known for their support of and longevity in the USAC Silver Crown Championship Series including participation in the prestigious one mile dirt track events like the Bettenhausen 100 at the Illinois State Fairgrounds. Should either or both of the veteran drivers appear at Springfield they will increase their record of accomplishments in the 80 plus years of championship racing on the Springfield Mile.

1989 USAC Midget champion Gamester won the 1998 running of the Tony Bettenhausen 100 driving his family owned dirt car. In fact, he made his series debut and the first of over 190 series starts on the Springfield mile in August of 1989 driving for the famed Mataka Brothers. Russ also made the starting field as a rookie at DuQuoin and the Hoosier Hundred for the same team that fielded midgets for Mario Andretti. In the approximately 30 years that Gamester has participated in USAC’s top tier series most of his starts and wins have come behind the wheel of his family owned operation. In 2016 Russ crashed hard at the Indiana State Fairgrounds in May and the accident took the team out of competition for the remainder of the season. Russ returned with a new machine for the 2017 season and started 22nd in the Bettenhausen, finishing 33rd when the engine expired after 7 miles. The start was Gamester’s 24th in the Bettenhausen 100, third on the all-time list behind George Snider’s 29 and Johnny Parsons 27.

1997 USAC Silver Crown champ Darland is a three-time Bettenhausen 100 winner (1997, 1999, 2003). Dave made his series debut in 1990 driving for Frank Faroute and made his first Bettenhausen 100 in August of 1993. Dave shook things up in the series when he swept both races at the Indiana State Fairgrounds driving for legendary owner Galen Fox, whose car Dave drove to all three victories at Springfield. After holding the Fox ride for around 17 seasons in the Silver Crown series Darland’s talents have been spread among several car owners including Springfield’s own Dennis McQuinn, Jim Dutcher, Steve and Carla Phillips and most recently as a teammate to Bill Rose. Dave passed leader Brian Tyler as the driver with the most series starts at Toledo earlier this year and should he make the field at Salem on August 11, will be looking for series start number 199 in his storied career.

Darland tied A.J. Foyt’s run of 18 consecutive Bettenhausen starts in 2009, however his participation at Springfield has been sporadic since then due to a number of circumstances. Last year marked the 23rd start in the Bettenhausen for the all-time feature win leader in the USAC Sprint Car series. While Darland is fourth behind Snider in championship starts at Springfield he is moving up the statistical ladder in other areas as well. His three Springfield wins are tied for third with Rodger Ward, Al Unser, Mario Andretti and the late Tony Bettenhausen. Darland is the all-time mileage leader at Springfield with 1,951, holds the record for most times running at the finish (15), tied for most times completing the 100-mile distance (13) and tied for the most top 10 finishes (13). He is 4th on the all-time money won list and 7th on the lap leader list at the Illinois State Fairgrounds.

On Saturday, August 18, registration and pits will open at 7:00 AM, grandstands and ticket office at 9:00, Silver Crown practice at 10:00, qualifying at 11:30, Sportsman hotlaps at 12:00 noon, Silver Crown semi at 12:30, Sportsman heats at 1:00, and the Bettenhausen 100 at 2:00.

[TEI PR]

Yentes: 'Mile Master' Swanson looks to add to records at Springfield

With a reputation for being a "Master of the Miles," California native Kody Swanson is looking forward to next weekend's Bettenhausen 100 USAC Silver Crown Series race at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield.

Swanson not only made his Silver Crown racing debut at Springfield 10 years ago, he scored back-to-back wins at the famed track in 2014-15 and is a leading favorite to grab another victory in this year's Aug. 18 race.

"I've always been fortunate to be with teams that had a great package for the mile races that has allowed us to be competitive," Swanson told The Pantagraph by phone this week. "With my driving style, the dirt miles fit me best in the way they race. Over the course of the 100 miles, they can become a 'precision' track and that's something that I've always enjoyed."

Swanson entered the series — one of the most historic in all of motor sports — with a pavement racing background that serves him well in the series' asphalt events.

On dirt he's also proven himself to be precise, especially at the state fairgrounds mile ovals in Springfield, Indianapolis and DuQuoin.

Swanson's first Silver Crown victory came at DuQuoin. This past May at the fairgrounds in Indy, he matched a mark set by the legendary Al Unser Sr. in winning the "Hoosier Hundred" for the fourth straight year.

Swanson has another record in sight that he can achieve this weekend in Salem, Ind. With a victory in the "Joe James/Pat O'Connor Memorial" on the paved, half-mile high banks of Salem Speedway, he would surpass Ohio great Jack Hewitt as the winningest driver in Silver Crown series history.

"It's pretty special to make it this far," Swanson said. "When you start out you hope for it, but I don't know that you give it any real thought. I've just enjoyed the ride and focused on each race as it comes. The best thing is, I've worked with and enjoyed having a good relationship some great people along the way."

Swanson's Silver Crown car is fielded by DePalma Motorsports and bears the same number 63 that Hewitt made famous.

In addition to the same number, "we've shared the same crew chief (Bob Hampshire) on dirt and a lot of the same friends and supporters out of Ohio," Swanson said.

Each time Swanson establishes a USAC record, he generally eclipses a mark established in an earlier era by an Andretti, Unser or Foyt, three of the most renowned names in motor sports history.

More recent generations of USAC drivers have included NASCAR champions Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart, just two among what's become in recent years a huge and continually growing throng of competitors who have made a seamless transition into stock car racing's major leagues from the USAC open-wheeled ranks.

NASCAR Cup series front runner Kyle Larson is the most recent. Reigning truck series champion and Xfinity series points leader Christopher Bell is following in Larson's footsteps.

Many longtime observers of the sport believe that young Californian Justin Grant could be next.

Grant was phenomenal in winning last year's Bettenhausen 100 at Springfield, masterfully fending off Swanson's late charge in an event that was entertaining from green to checkered. A.J., Mario, Al, Jeff or Tony never did it better in a Silver Crown car.

"Justin was incredible there last year," Swanson said. "I was good enough to be able to pressure him late. I was hoping he'd make a mistake, but he didn't."

With a healthy mix of "the stars of tomorrow," as well as a seasoned group of USAC warhorses like Jerry Coons Jr., Dave Darland and Russ Gamester, fans can expect more of the same next weekend in a series that has experienced a sudden resurgence.

Many point to the hiring of Andy Hillenburg as the Silver Crown series competition director a few years ago as a turning point.

Hillenburg had a driving career that took him from grassroots sprint cars to an ARCA championship to competing in all three of NASCAR's premier divisions. He also landed a car in the 2000 Indianapolis 500.

Hillenburg relinquished his role when he fell from a ladder and seriously injured his back in 2017. Levi Jones, a former Silver Crown Series champion while driving a car owned and fielded by Stewart, picked up where Hillenburg left off.

"Andy was a big part of the turning point and really got the ball rolling," Swanson said. "Levi's been able to keep the momentum going. They've not only increased the number of cars in the series, the fan base has grown and people are enjoying the bigger fields and good competition."

Swanson also gave kudos to Bob Sargent and his Macon-based Track Enterprises for their promotional efforts at the series' three state fairgrounds races, as well as Silver Crown events at Terre Haute and Lucas Oil Raceway in suburban Indianapolis.

"With all the history and tradition, to be associated with A.J., the Andrettis, we feel fortunate to be able to do it," Sargent said. "And now we're looking at record car counts, a big plus for the fans, and a real revived interest in open wheel racing across the board. Hopefully we'll see the continuation of the pattern of it increasing every year."

Bruce Yentes covers motor sports for The Pantagraph. Contact him at (309) 820-3391. Follow him on Twitter: @pg_yentes

https://www.pantagraph.com/sports/mo...ign=user-share

[TEI PR]

Nichols Becoming a Springfield Mile Legend

August 9, 2018-Springfield, IL
By Jay Hardin Track Enterprises Staff

When Jeremy Nichols made his first start in the annual Sportsman Nationals at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in 2012, he may have hoped for success but never imagined that he would join or pass the legendary names in the auto racing record books of the historic venue. Not only has the Lovington, Illinois driver joined the legends in the record books he has his own distinctive Springfield Mile record and stands on the verge of passing two other Springfield area legends.

Nichols finished 30th after starting 5th that first race, dropping out after 2 laps. The next year he won from the pole and led 19 of the 20 miles. Since then he has started on the front row every year, and led every lap of the last four Sportsman National events at the Illinois State Fair. The five wins tie him with Springfield’s own Wes O’Dell and Dennis Vandermeersch.

Nichols stands on the verge of becoming the first six-time winner in Springfield Sportsman history. Yet, he has accomplished something that no driver in Illinois State Fair history has ever done, dating all the way back to 1909. Not Chuck Gurney, not Frank Kimmel, not Dean Roper, no driver in the 100 plus years of auto racing at the Illinois State Fair has posted five consecutive wins in the same main event, other than Lovington’s Jeremy Nichols.

Frank Kimmel won four consecutive Allen Crowe 100 events at the start of the new millennium. Jimmy Wilburn won four consecutive sprint car mains surrounding World War II. Looking at other events, Sammy Swindell swept four races in the World of Outlaws show in 1997 but only one was a main event. Back in the Roaring Twenties Fred Horey won four events during an afternoon program in 1923. Before World War I Hughie Hughes, Louis Disbrow and Bob Burman all won four events during afternoon programs.

Nichols stands alone as the driver with the most consecutive main event wins and can add to that record Sunday, August 19 with a record sixth in the Sportsman Nationals. Heat races for the sportsman cars take place Saturday August 18, with the 25th Sportsman Nationals Sunday August 19.