I thought the early 80's were sort of a boom time. Many outlaw teams had cars and drivers like Steve Kinser, Wolfgang, Swindells and others took part. They had a major event in Springfield one May called the "Dream Event", I think it was 1982. There were a number of cars from Oklahoma and California then also, such as the Ofixco(Shuman), Kearney(Vukovich) cars.

I think there is always an ongoing evolution in racing in general, it's not the publics direct interest in silver crown, but open wheel racing in general.
Speaking of the early 80's, Pancho Carter had moved up from USAC and was doing well in Indy Cars as other Silver Crown drivers would get Indy Car rides also.
How many times would you see Johnny Parson's on Indy bump day qualifying a car or trying to get in the Indy race in an exciting manner. Then you would go see JP put on a heck of a show at DuQouin. Other Indy drivers such as Roger Rager, Tom Bigelow, Larry Dickson, Larry Rice, and I am sure I am missing others who took part then in Silver Crown. Plus open wheel racers at the time such as Rich Vogler, Kenny Schrader, Jeff Gordon made Silver Crown interesting during the 1980's.
Of course you had the Delrose Holt car with Gary B, leading many a lap, he also being an Indy driver.

Seems during the later 1980's I can remember Chuck Gurney leading the pack a bunch in the Black Plastic Express car #30. That car seemed to make the grandstands shake.