[Macon Racing]

Anticipation continues to build as a new tradition begins with the 61st running of the Hoosier Hundred at the Indiana State Fairgrounds Thursday. With a shift to Thursday for the USAC Silver Crown race on the one-mile dirt track, the Hoosier Hundred serves as the kickoff to the nation’s biggest racing weekend. By running on Thursday, the Hoosier Hundred reduces conflicts with the events at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway leading up to the Indy 500, and race fans can take advantage of great ticket prices for the 100-lapper on the fast fairgrounds track.

Tickets start at $15 for infield seating and $5 for children. Tickets in the Hoosier Lottery Grandstand are just $30 on the day of the race. With the UMP modified division going wheel to wheel before the Silver Crown cars rumble past the green flag, it’s a great night of racing the whole family will enjoy.

The fun begins before the race. There’s no charge to view the vintage race cars on display outside the main grandstand. Winners from the bygone era will bring back memories to the days when Bettenhausen, Vukovich, Andretti, Foyt and Unser were the dominant names in dirt-track racing, just like they were at the Indy 500.

Last season, Levi Jones won the Hoosier Hundred to end the three-peat hopes of Jerry Coons Jr. of Tucson, Ariz. Coons aimed to become the third driver to win three in a row. Al Unser won four straight from 1970-1973 and Jimmy Bryan won from 1954-1956.

The Hoosier Lottery Grandstand opens at 3 p.m. Thursday for the Hoosier Hundred with practice at 5 p.m., qualifying at 6 p.m. and racing at 7 p.m.