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12/7/17 10:29 AM BALANCED PAVEMENT/DIRT MIX THE INGREDIENT FOR 2018 USAC SILVER CROWN SCHEDULE

http://usacracing.com/news/silver-cr...crown-schedule



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BALANCED PAVEMENT/DIRT MIX THE INGREDIENT FOR 2018 USAC SILVER CROWN SCHEDULE

By: Richie Murray – USAC Media

Indianapolis, Indiana………A helping of six pavement and five dirt races make up a balanced USAC Silver Crown Champ Car Series schedule for the 2018 season, which marks the series’ return to the state of Wisconsin for the first time since 2011.

The Silver Crown cars will make their debut appearance on the half-mile, paved Madison International Speedway on June 29 for the “Cheesemakers 100.”* While it’s the big cars’ first go at the Oregon, Wisconsin joint, USAC’s National Sprint and Midget series did make a visit to the track in 1997 when Dave Steele (Sprint) and Jimmy McCune (Midget) captured their respective ends of the doubleheader.* Bobby East won Silver Crown’s last race in the Badger State at the Milwaukee Mile six years ago.

Madison is the lone addition to a schedule that features the most pavement races on the series’ card since 2007.* Of those six paved races, the largest in terms of size on the schedule is the season-opening “Phoenix Copper Cup” April 7 on Arizona’s one-mile ISM Raceway (formerly known as Phoenix International Raceway).* May brings two more to the hardtop on the 4th at Ohio’s Toledo Speedway for the “Rollie Beale Classic” and to Brownsburg, Indiana and Lucas Oil Raceway for the “Carb Night Classic” on the 25th.* The prestigious “Joe James-Pat O’Connor Memorial,” a race with origins that date to 1953, is back on the high banks of Salem (Ind.) Speedway on August 11.* Lucas Oil Raceway’s “Rich Vogler Classic” closes out the pavement set of the season on September 8.

The dirt schedule is solidified with a lineup of some of the most legendary and historic racetracks in the sport.* The “Sumar Classic” comes to the half-mile Terre Haute (Ind.) Action Track on April 29.* The 63rd running of the “Hoosier Hundred” on May 24 at the Indiana State Fairgrounds precedes the following night’s pavement stop at Lucas Oil Raceway, marking just the fifth occurrence of dirt and pavement Silver Crown races taking place within a 24-hour span.

Deep fried corn dogs and elephant ears signal the State Fair season to some, but to race fans, it means Silver Crown racing on two of the most-storied one-mile dirt ovals in the history of auto racing.* First up is the “Bettenhausen 100” at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield where racing’s daredevils have competed for over a century.* Two weeks later, on Labor Day weekend September 2, the call of the “Magic Mile” beckons for the “Ted Horn 100” on the scenic Du Quoin State Fairgrounds mile.

On 14 occasions, Ohio’s Eldora Speedway has served in its role as the Silver Crown season-ender.* The 2018 season will carry on that tradition with the 37th running of the “4-Crown Nationals” on September 22, which provides the only opportunity for fans to witness all three of USAC’s national divisions, plus the Arctic Cat All Star Circuit of Champions, at one event.

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2018 USAC SILVER CROWN CHAMP CAR SERIES SCHEDULE

Apr 7: **(P) ISM Raceway (Phoenix, AZ)

Apr 29: (D) Terre Haute Action Track (Terre Haute, IN)

May 4: (P) Toledo Speedway (Toledo, OH)

May 24: (D) Indiana State Fairgrounds (Indianapolis, IN)

May 25: (P) Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis (Brownsburg, IN)

Jun 29: (P) Madison International Speedway (Oregon, WI)

Aug 11: (P) Salem Speedway Fueled by the Hoosier Lottery (Salem, IN)

Aug 18: **(D) Illinois State Fairgrounds (Springfield, IL)

Sep 2: (D) Du Quoin State Fairgrounds (Du Quoin, IL)

Sep 8: (P) Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis (Brownsburg, IN)

Sep 22: (D) Eldora Speedway (Rossburg, OH)

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** represents a daytime event.

(D) represents an event at a dirt track.

(P) represents an event at a pavement track.

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[davidm]

Why no Williams Grove?

[HardyBoysRacing]

With the dirt side of the series growing immensely the last 4 years, it almost baffles me that we only have 5 dirt events this year. There were 15 cars at DuQuoin in 2013, 35 in 2017. Not going to point the fingers at anyone but we need more dirt races and it just isn't feasible for new teams to build a car for 5 races in a season.

[PAW]

Probably because this year's race wasn't very good and nobody showed up.

[davidm]

Originally Posted by PAW Probably because this year's race wasn't very good and nobody showed up.

But that was because of the weather. Rain all-around the area all day, and it did rain off and on a bit during the program. With the success of the first year I just can't understand why this is a two year and done event! Plus with having USAC in the area for Eastern Storm the logistics have to be a bit earlier than having this as a solo event.

[Stealth87]

Just have to post and say that I am BEYOND excited to see a date at Madison International Speedway booked. This place is awesome! Its like a high banked Martinsville. Every 10 lap run will produce glowing brakes and its a sight to see any type of car going into turn 3 and the brakes all lit up. Its definitely a drivers track. That should be a heck of a show!

[miledirt]

Wish I had Santa's sleigh full of 100 bills to promote a champ dirt car race at Sedalia during the Missouri State Fair

[PJ Wright]

Originally Posted by PAW Probably because this year's race wasn't very good and nobody showed up.

According to last week's Area Auto Racing News, it was a scheduling issue and they plan on having it back in 2019.