[SC12]

My contribution to the forum-the preview from the promoter, plus a TENTATIVE ENTRY LIST. Some we have confirmed through calls or word of mouth, some we are making assumptions (many don't enter until the very last minute).

Thanks in advance to all who attend and support this prestigious event.

ILLINOIS STATE FAIRGROUNDS

49th Tony Bettenhausen 100

Tyler Seeks 4th Bettenhausen 100 Victory!


Parma, Michigan’s Brian Tyler put himself in some heady company last year when he captured his third Tony Bettenhausen 100 at the Illinois State Fairgrounds last August and he can reach further into the motorsports history stratosphere should he post victory number 4 at Springfield on August 22 in the 49th Tony Bettenhausen 100, the 7th of 10 events on the 2009 USAC K&N Filters Silver Crown Championship Series schedule. The 2009 Tony Bettenhasuen 100 marks the diamond anniversary of the first national championship event held on the Springfield Mile, won by Billy Winn in August of 1934.


Not only did Tyler give Toyota Motor Company their first ever 100-mile dirt track championship victory, he became just the 9th driver in the 99 year history of auto racing at the Illinois State Fair to win three or more of the coveted championship dirt car events. Tyler dominated last year’s event leading all 100-miles, the 15th driver to do so in the 74 national championship events held on the one mile dirt track.
Tyler leads what could be a field in excess of 30 cars to visit the legendary Springfield Mile on Saturday, August 22 including several former winners of the Tony Bettenhausen 100 and the current top ten in the K&N national title chase. However, of the top ten only two drivers, including Tyler who is at press time third in the chase, have posted victories in 100-mile championship dirt car races.
Leading the K&N Silver Crown standings is two-time national champ Bud Kaeding of Campbell, California with a lead (at press time) of 21 over 2000 USAC Silver Crown champion and 2006 Tony Bettenhausen 100 winner Tracy Hines of New Castle, Indiana. Hines and Kaeding are joined by three Illinois drivers in search of a USAC National championship and a win at Springfield. Galesburg’s A.J. Fike is fourth in the points and may pull double duty in the ARCA stock car event the next day. Young Zach Daum of Pocohantas, a regular with the Powri midget car series, is 5th in the points and made his Silver Crown debut at Manzanita in February. Daum finished 7th in the Hoosier Hundred in May in his mile track debut. Olney’s Levi Jones, a crowd favorite and two-time USAC Sprint Car champ, led half of the abbreviated Tony Bettenahusen 100 in 2007 and is 7th in the 2009 USAC Silver Crown points.

Former NASCAR Driver Shane Hmeil, son of NASCAR Team Manager Steve Hmiel, is 6th after a strong mile track debut at Indy in May. His teammate, Jerry Coons, Jr. of Tuscon, Arizona is the defending USAC Silver Crown champion and currently 8th in points but still looking for a mile dirt track win. Derek Hagar of Arkansas is 9th in the standings, with Missouri’s Jesse Hockett rounding out the top ten.
Veteran Dave Darland of Lincoln, Indiana is a three time (1997-99-2004) winner of the Tony Bettenhausen 100 and he ran a strong second to Brian Tyler at Springfield last year. The three-time Bettenhausen 100 winner is looking for his 18th overall start at Springfield, and his17th consecutive. Darland also resides third on the all-time money won list in championship machinery at the Illinois State Fair.
Jon Stanbrough of Kokomo, Indiana has taken over the 2006 winning car piloted by Tracy Hines. Young lion Shane Hollingsworth of Indianapolis, a second generation driver, won the Hoosier Hundred in May for the team which had Johnny Parsons and Tony Elliot drive to victory lane at DuQuoin and the Indiana State Fairgrounds. Elliot returns to the series, having won once at DuQuoin and twice in the Hoosier Hundred, now driving for Benton, Illinois car owner Ricky Nix. Former Springfield one-lap track record holder Josh Wise of California returned to the series driving for Carl Edwards as part of a three car operation. Peru, Indiana veteran Russ Gamester won the Tony Bettenhausen 100 in 1998 and returns for the 2009 race, also looking for his 18th start. Youngster Cole Whitt of California looks for his first ever start at Springfield and just his second on a dirt mile.
Including Fike, Jones and Daum, the state of Illinois stands to be well represented at Springfield with six or more drivers from the Prairie State figuring to be part of the entry list. Springfield’s Donnie Beechler, a five time starter at the Indianapolis 500, continues his quest for a win on the Springfield Mile. Elkhart’s Chris Urish surprised everyone at the May Hoosier Hundred with a strong run to sixth, his best ever series finish. Murphysboro’s Randy Bateman is a long-time entrant in the Silver Crown cars while Champaign’s Patrick Bruns returns for his second season in the series.
Drivers coming to Springfield know they will be racing on hallowed ground, fertile Midwestern earth that has taken the best that hall of fame drivers have thrown at the mile dirt track. When Brian Tyler won his third championship dirt car event in 2008, he joined the late Tony Bettenhausen, Jimmy Bryan, Rodger Ward, Al Unser, Mario Andretti and Dave Darland in the three-time winner’s club, while trailing legends such as Jack Hewitt (4), A.J. Foyt (4) and Chuck Gurney (7) on Springfield’s all-time win list. The exclusive Springfield championship winners club includes 9 Indianapolis 500 winners (accounting for 20 Indy 500 wins), 9 national driving champions and ten USAC Silver Crown champions.
Tyler and around thirty other drivers begin a quest for racing immortality at 9 a.m. Saturday, August 22 with the start of USAC Silver Crown practice. Timed qualifications begin at approximately 10:30 with Tracy Hines holding the one lap track record at 29.305 seconds (122.305 MPH) set during qualifications on August 19, 2006. Jack Hewitt still holds the 100-mile race record of 56:07.00 (106.920) set on August 22, 1987. The flying start of the 49th Tony Bettenhausen 100 is slated for around 1:30.

TENTATIVE ENTRY LIST

NO Driver-Hometown Car-Chassis-Engine
4 Contos Racing/Beast/Chevrolet
5 Cole Carter/Brownsburg, IN Baldwin Brothers Beast/Chevrolet
6 Derek Hagar/Marion, AR Klatt Motorsports/J&J/ford
7 Matt Westfall/Ludlow Falls, OH SC Racing/Beast/Chevrolet
10 Levi Jones/Olney, IL Bass Pro Shops/Maxim/Chevrolet
12 Galas Racing Special/Magnum/Chevrolet
14 Donnie Beechler/Springfield, IL A.J. Foyt/Stanton/Mopar
17 Shane Hmiel/Pleasant Garden. NC RW Motorsports/Beast/Mopar
19 Kody Swanson!Kingsburg, CA Fatheadz Sunglasses/Beast/Toyota
20 Shane Hollingsworth/Indianapolis, IN Ray Skillman/Comp. Welding/Chevrolet
21 Brian Tyler/Parma, MI Fatheadz Sunglasses/Beast/Toyota
26 Aaron Pierce/Indianapolis, IN Sam Pierce Chevrolet/Beast/Chevrolet
27 Jerry Coons Jr./Tuscon,AZ RW Motorsports/Beast/Mopar
28 Pierson Racing/Beast/Chevrolet
29 Bud Kaeding!Campbell, CA Kaeding Performance/JEI/Chevrolet
32 A.J. Fike/Galesburg, IL Liberty Village-RFMS/Eagle/Chevrolet
33 John Barrick/Lincoln, IL Barrick Distributing
36 Miller Machine/Stealth/Chevrolet
37 Jon Stanbrough/Kokomo, IN Indiana Underground Construction/Beast/Chevy
43 Tony Elliot/Warsaw, IN Nix Tire Service/Beast/Chevrolet
50 Zach Daum/Pocahontas, IL Daum Insurance/Beast/Chevrolet
51 Russ Gamester/Peru, IN First Financial of Terre Haute/F5/Chevro let
55 Randy Bateman/Murphysboro, IL Bateman Racing/Beast/Chevrolet
56 Dave Darland/Lincoin, IN Jarvis Enterprises-Plastic Express/Beast /Chevrolet
65 Kle Steffens/St. Charles, MO Chuck’s Auto Salvage/J&J/Chevrolet
71 Cole Whitt/Apline,Ca Red Bull-CW ManagementSpecial
77 Chris Urish/Elkhart, IL Team Purple/Beast/Chevrolet
81 Patrick Bruns/Champaign, IL Predator/Chevrolet
83 Mike Stroehie
98 Bill Rose/Plainfield, IN Lesko Enterprises/Beast/Chevrolet
151 Daiiry Queen/Hess Motorsports
153 Tom Capie/Trevose, PA Indy RV Center/Beast/Chevrolet
155 Joey Moughan/Springfield, IL Baker Auto & Truck Salvage
199 Josh Wise/Riverside, CA RE Technolgies/J&J/Ford
991 Jesse Hockett/Warsaw, MO RE Technolgies/J&J/Ford

[miledirt]

Originally Posted by SC12 My contribution to the forum-the preview from the promoter, plus a TENTATIVE ENTRY LIST. Some we have confirmed through calls or word of mouth, some we are making assumptions (many don't enter until the very last minute). Thanks in advance to all who attend and support this prestigious event. ILLINOIS STATE FAIRGROUNDS 49th Tony Bettenhausen 100 Tyler Seeks 4th Bettenhausen 100 Victory! Parma, Michigan’s Brian Tyler put himself in some heady company last year when he captured his third Tony Bettenhausen 100 at the Illinois State Fairgrounds last August and he can reach further into the motorsports history stratosphere should he post victory number 4 at Springfield on August 22 in the 49th Tony Bettenhausen 100, the 7th of 10 events on the 2009 USAC K&N Filters Silver Crown Championship Series schedule. The 2009 Tony Bettenhasuen 100 marks the diamond anniversary of the first national championship event held on the Springfield Mile, won by Billy Winn in August of 1934. Not only did Tyler give Toyota Motor Company their first ever 100-mile dirt track championship victory, he became just the 9th driver in the 99 year history of auto racing at the Illinois State Fair to win three or more of the coveted championship dirt car events. Tyler dominated last year’s event leading all 100-miles, the 15th driver to do so in the 74 national championship events held on the one mile dirt track. Tyler leads what could be a field in excess of 30 cars to visit the legendary Springfield Mile on Saturday, August 22 including several former winners of the Tony Bettenhausen 100 and the current top ten in the K&N national title chase. However, of the top ten only two drivers, including Tyler who is at press time third in the chase, have posted victories in 100-mile championship dirt car races. Leading the K&N Silver Crown standings is two-time national champ Bud Kaeding of Campbell, California with a lead (at press time) of 21 over 2000 USAC Silver Crown champion and 2006 Tony Bettenhausen 100 winner Tracy Hines of New Castle, Indiana. Hines and Kaeding are joined by three Illinois drivers in search of a USAC National championship and a win at Springfield. Galesburg’s A.J. Fike is fourth in the points and may pull double duty in the ARCA stock car event the next day. Young Zach Daum of Pocohantas, a regular with the Powri midget car series, is 5th in the points and made his Silver Crown debut at Manzanita in February. Daum finished 7th in the Hoosier Hundred in May in his mile track debut. Olney’s Levi Jones, a crowd favorite and two-time USAC Sprint Car champ, led half of the abbreviated Tony Bettenahusen 100 in 2007 and is 7th in the 2009 USAC Silver Crown points. Former NASCAR Driver Shane Hmeil, son of NASCAR Team Manager Steve Hmiel, is 6th after a strong mile track debut at Indy in May. His teammate, Jerry Coons, Jr. of Tuscon, Arizona is the defending USAC Silver Crown champion and currently 8th in points but still looking for a mile dirt track win. Derek Hagar of Arkansas is 9th in the standings, with Missouri’s Jesse Hockett rounding out the top ten. Veteran Dave Darland of Lincoln, Indiana is a three time (1997-99-2004) winner of the Tony Bettenhausen 100 and he ran a strong second to Brian Tyler at Springfield last year. The three-time Bettenhausen 100 winner is looking for his 18th overall start at Springfield, and his17th consecutive. Darland also resides third on the all-time money won list in championship machinery at the Illinois State Fair. Jon Stanbrough of Kokomo, Indiana has taken over the 2006 winning car piloted by Tracy Hines. Young lion Shane Hollingsworth of Indianapolis, a second generation driver, won the Hoosier Hundred in May for the team which had Johnny Parsons and Tony Elliot drive to victory lane at DuQuoin and the Indiana State Fairgrounds. Elliot returns to the series, having won once at DuQuoin and twice in the Hoosier Hundred, now driving for Benton, Illinois car owner Ricky Nix. Former Springfield one-lap track record holder Josh Wise of California returned to the series driving for Carl Edwards as part of a three car operation. Peru, Indiana veteran Russ Gamester won the Tony Bettenhausen 100 in 1998 and returns for the 2009 race, also looking for his 18th start. Youngster Cole Whitt of California looks for his first ever start at Springfield and just his second on a dirt mile. Including Fike, Jones and Daum, the state of Illinois stands to be well represented at Springfield with six or more drivers from the Prairie State figuring to be part of the entry list. Springfield’s Donnie Beechler, a five time starter at the Indianapolis 500, continues his quest for a win on the Springfield Mile. Elkhart’s Chris Urish surprised everyone at the May Hoosier Hundred with a strong run to sixth, his best ever series finish. Murphysboro’s Randy Bateman is a long-time entrant in the Silver Crown cars while Champaign’s Patrick Bruns returns for his second season in the series. Drivers coming to Springfield know they will be racing on hallowed ground, fertile Midwestern earth that has taken the best that hall of fame drivers have thrown at the mile dirt track. When Brian Tyler won his third championship dirt car event in 2008, he joined the late Tony Bettenhausen, Jimmy Bryan, Rodger Ward, Al Unser, Mario Andretti and Dave Darland in the three-time winner’s club, while trailing legends such as Jack Hewitt (4), A.J. Foyt (4) and Chuck Gurney (7) on Springfield’s all-time win list. The exclusive Springfield championship winners club includes 9 Indianapolis 500 winners (accounting for 20 Indy 500 wins), 9 national driving champions and ten USAC Silver Crown champions. Tyler and around thirty other drivers begin a quest for racing immortality at 9 a.m. Saturday, August 22 with the start of USAC Silver Crown practice. Timed qualifications begin at approximately 10:30 with Tracy Hines holding the one lap track record at 29.305 seconds (122.305 MPH) set during qualifications on August 19, 2006. Jack Hewitt still holds the 100-mile race record of 56:07.00 (106.920) set on August 22, 1987. The flying start of the 49th Tony Bettenhausen 100 is slated for around 1:30. TENTATIVE ENTRY LIST NO Driver-Hometown Car-Chassis-Engine 4 Contos Racing/Beast/Chevrolet 5 Cole Carter/Brownsburg, IN Baldwin Brothers Beast/Chevrolet 6 Derek Hagar/Marion, AR Klatt Motorsports/J&J/ford 7 Matt Westfall/Ludlow Falls, OH SC Racing/Beast/Chevrolet 10 Levi Jones/Olney, IL Bass Pro Shops/Maxim/Chevrolet 12 Galas Racing Special/Magnum/Chevrolet 14 Donnie Beechler/Springfield, IL A.J. Foyt/Stanton/Mopar 17 Shane Hmiel/Pleasant Garden. NC RW Motorsports/Beast/Mopar 19 Kody Swanson!Kingsburg, CA Fatheadz Sunglasses/Beast/Toyota 20 Shane Hollingsworth/Indianapolis, IN Ray Skillman/Comp. Welding/Chevrolet 21 Brian Tyler/Parma, MI Fatheadz Sunglasses/Beast/Toyota 26 Aaron Pierce/Indianapolis, IN Sam Pierce Chevrolet/Beast/Chevrolet 27 Jerry Coons Jr./Tuscon,AZ RW Motorsports/Beast/Mopar 28 Pierson Racing/Beast/Chevrolet 29 Bud Kaeding!Campbell, CA Kaeding Performance/JEI/Chevrolet 32 A.J. Fike/Galesburg, IL Liberty Village-RFMS/Eagle/Chevrolet 33 John Barrick/Lincoln, IL Barrick Distributing 36 Miller Machine/Stealth/Chevrolet 37 Jon Stanbrough/Kokomo, IN Indiana Underground Construction/Beast/Chevy 43 Tony Elliot/Warsaw, IN Nix Tire Service/Beast/Chevrolet 50 Zach Daum/Pocahontas, IL Daum Insurance/Beast/Chevrolet 51 Russ Gamester/Peru, IN First Financial of Terre Haute/F5/Chevro let 55 Randy Bateman/Murphysboro, IL Bateman Racing/Beast/Chevrolet 56 Dave Darland/Lincoin, IN Jarvis Enterprises-Plastic Express/Beast /Chevrolet 65 Kle Steffens/St. Charles, MO Chuck’s Auto Salvage/J&J/Chevrolet 71 Cole Whitt/Apline,Ca Red Bull-CW ManagementSpecial 77 Chris Urish/Elkhart, IL Team Purple/Beast/Chevrolet 81 Patrick Bruns/Champaign, IL Predator/Chevrolet 83 Mike Stroehie 98 Bill Rose/Plainfield, IN Lesko Enterprises/Beast/Chevrolet 151 Daiiry Queen/Hess Motorsports 153 Tom Capie/Trevose, PA Indy RV Center/Beast/Chevrolet 155 Joey Moughan/Springfield, IL Baker Auto & Truck Salvage 199 Josh Wise/Riverside, CA RE Technolgies/J&J/Ford 991 Jesse Hockett/Warsaw, MO RE Technolgies/J&J/Ford

they actually get 35 cars....will I'll be tickled happy!

I'd be tickled with that line up

[MHess]

Pretty sure you can count out the 151...it didn't make it through the fire.

[SC12]

Mike

I was told this week by someone (I thought to be reliable) that the car was back together. Is that not the case?

[ThrowbackRacingTeam]

scratch the #83 of mike stroehle . our new/used engine isn't ready and
my father/financier has been battling an illness all summer. however i'll be in attendance
for the 30th straight year and hopefully the car will be ready for duquoin!
also, davey ray was slated to run his ex jj yeley #3 but is sitting out due to
his knee injury.
i also talked to a baldwin #5 crew member at osky after some australian
destroyed their sprint car and he said they weren't going to springfield either.
sorry to diminish your hopes but after only 28 cars showed at the beach in indy
i wouldn't expect more than 26.

[sprntr]

Originally Posted by ThrowbackRacingTeam scratch the #83 of mike stroehle . our new/used engine isn't ready and my father/financier has been battling an illness all summer. however i'll be in attendance for the 30th straight year and hopefully the car will be ready for duquoin! also, davey ray was slated to run his ex jj yeley #3 but is sitting out due to his knee injury. i also talked to a baldwin #5 crew member at osky after some australian destroyed their sprint car and he said they weren't going to springfield either. sorry to diminish your hopes but after only 28 cars showed at the beach in indy i wouldn't expect more than 26.

Mike,
Be sure to stop by the 43 pits. Enjoyed meeting you at Terre Haute in May & chatting with you at the Fairgrounds.

steiny

Originally Posted by MHess Pretty sure you can count out the 151...it didn't make it through the fire.

[petey]

I believe Hines is missing from that list but it looks good. Hope there are about that many at Du Quoin.

[illiNOISE]

Am I the only one wondering why they refer to this as the 49th Bettenhausen 100, instead of the 75 year aniversary of the 1st race in '34? I mean, I understand that this is the 49th year the race has been named after Tony Bettenhausen Sr., and I also know that it still wouldn't be the 75th race, because of the racing ban in WWII.

But think of how cool a "75 years" t-shirt or race program cover would have been for this year's race.