At 18 years and 2 months Cole Whitt of Alpine, California became the youngest championship race winner at the Illinois State Fair as he led all 100 miles enroute to a historic win in the 49th Tony Bettenhausen 100 for the USAC K&N Filters Silver Crown Series on the Springfield Mile, besting veteran Jon Stanbrough and 2006 Bettenhausen 100 winner Tracy Hines in the process.
Starting from the pole by virtue of a new procedure introduced this morning Whitt out ran fellow front row starter Hines into the first turn and began to build a sizeable lead completing the first ten miles in less than 6 minutes. Stanbrough took a number of laps before he was able to work around Hines and attempted to catch the leader. The first of three cautions flew for the flat tire of Matt Westfall on lap 22, then caution flew on the restart as defending USAC National Champion Jerry Coons, Jr. Of Tucson, Arizona hit the turn 2 wall in the only accident of the day. Coons was not injured in the light contact with the outer wall.
Three time and defending race winner Brian Tyler suffered a broken oil line on the Fatheadz Toyota Powered Beast just before the lap 22 caution and the oil leak ended his day, despite the plfume of smoke Tyler had worked his way into contention for a top 5 spot.
Whitt pulled away on the restart and despite a late caution on lap 78 for a stalled car, was able to beat Stanbough to the checkered flag by several car lengths. A.J. Fike of Galesburg was fastest in the morning practice session and set quick time for the day at 29.618 but started sixth as the top six qualifiers were inverted for the 100-mile grind.
Springfield's Donnie Beechler thrilled the crowd on a sunny and pleasant day as he went from 15th to challenge for fifth before the engine gave way at the 75 mile mark. Complete results will be available later in the day at
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