Randy, AAA/USAC Champ cars ran an annual 25 mile exhibition at Williams Grove from 1950 to 1959. Troy Ruttman won in '50 & '51, Paul Russo in '52, Jimmy Davies in '53 & '54, Jimmy Bryan in '55 & '56, Jud Larson in '57 & '58, and Rodger Ward in '59. Dirt Champ cars returned for two races (1980 - 1981) and were rained out in 1982. Sheldon Kinser and Eddie Leavitt won those two. They have not been to the Grove since.

As far as Silver Crown cars on half miles, the biggest key is the ability to sell enough TICKETS to pay the bills.
I remember the Silver Crown race at Salem back in 1988. Rained out the first time it was to run. On the rain date, only about 14 cars showed up and the grandstands were, at best, half full. The promoters cut the race to 50 laps, cut the purse and probably still lost money. And, he ticked off the fans that did show up.


I remember the day Duke finished second in the Hulman Classic. The track was rougher than a cob and and it was colder than heck. Toby's rear suspension broke and he could not even make it back to victory lane, probably only the Hulman Classic winner to come in on a wrecker.
Duke did the smart thing -- finished. Several good cars dropped out. One more lap and he might have been the winner of the biggest sprint car race at that time.
His car, I believe, was No. 48. It was red on one side and blue on the other, so the drunks would be confused about which car it was.
Duke also drove several races in a backup car to Rollie Beale in 1973, giving Beale the shot he needed to win the championship.

Duke might be abrasive at times, but he can drive.

Jim Morrison

I just wish USAC would go a litle further south during their eastern swing. Virginia Motor Speedway would be a great facility for the SC cars to run for a 1/2 mile. Unfortunately, with USACs lack of promotion along with Virginia being pretty much Nascar country, I don't see it happening anytime soon. And aside from being a nice track, the rest of the facility is top-notch, with modern stands to hold (i think) somewhere around 8,000, plus a nice clean pit area and infield.

I'd really, really really love to see some wingless sprints or SC cars run on this place.

Regarding racing the same night as the local PA Posse Sprints, this year's USAC Sprint race at Hagerstown was on a Sat, head to head with the PA Posse running at Lincoln & Port Royal. I think USAC'd have better luck head to head drawing a crowd with SC's rather than nonwing Sprints (just my guess). Do any of the PA Posse drivers have SC experience?

Steve Buckwater
Chappy Knaack
and I believe Keith Kauffman

Keith Kauffman won a USAC SC race on the dirt at Nazareth in December of '82. Billy Pauch finished 2nd to Gary Bettenhausen at Nazareth in March of '83.

:thumb ...if the weather cooperates, I'll be watching KK* this Fri & Sat @ the Grove & Port.
Billy Pauch is still coaxed back into a racecar a couple times a year.
Wish I'd have known about those Dirt Champ races at the Grove in 80-81, I could've made those.

* http://www.keithkauffman.com/ --> picture his potato chip paint job on a Silver Crown car.

Thanks to all for playing along with my :kookoo ideas. Gotta think about something besides the pump price on those long drives to & from the races.

Agree with the comments on the facility over there. VMS is a top notch place. But....I'm not sure it's a 1/2 mile. Ideal for sprints, but Silver Crown? Not so sure. I asked Rollie a few years ago about the USAC guys also racing at VMS along with Richmond. Didn't happen obviously.

Why not run SC, Midgets, and Sprints at Knoxville over a weekend. They already have a good midget race, why not add SC, and Sprints there as well.

Probably not thought of, but what about I-96 Speedway up in Michigan? That place is a big ol' 1/2 mile that would put on a great race for those cars.

dec 82????????? Was it cold??? Who car did keith drive? It was no 1/2 mile!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Bout 1 mile!

The track isn't out east but a place that I think would be neat to see a SC race would be where the midgets are at right now...Belleville. Think that would be a pretty neat race.
Just my .02