[Stevensville Mike]

Originally Posted by Joe Schaub The only time the pavement side of the series puts on a good show is when they race at Winchester or Salem.

I don't know, Joe. SC used to run there in the 80s on the old Saturday Night Thunder. The track suited them well. They weren't as exciting as the sprints and midgets, but they were okay. I say give it a chance. After jumping in bed with NASCAR and pretty much DESTROYING the series with their aero bathtubs and big track ventures, the Silver Crowns are on the uptick these days. IRP is the perfect place for them - to go back to.

[chop]

It was not a usac race. But the race was run with silver crown cars at Berlin a few years ago. It was a good race. It was run on a weeknight the week of the nascar race at MIS. Can't remember the people that put it on. Seem like it was a former silver crown driver that promoted the race.

[nathans1012]

Anyone remember the PRA Big Car Series? I saw a race at Illiana on June 13th, 2006 with that series. South Shore 125 was the race and Eric Gordon won. That was around the time USAC jumped in bed with NASCAR on the Aero. I could of swore it was Jason McCord or someone that run the deal.

Results from that race

Finish - Car# & Driver
-
01 - 4 Eric Gordon
02 - 37 Tracy Hines
03 - 77 Chet Fillip
04 - 25 Jay Drake
05 - 92 Dave Darland
06 - 32 A.J. Fike
07 - 20 Ron Gregory
08 - 5 Jimmy Kite
09 - 21 Brian Tyler
10 - 51 Russ Gamester
11 - 17 Kenny Jacobs
12 - 15 Teddy Beach
13 - 153 Tom Capie
14 - 198 Michael Roselli
15 - 90 John Heydenreich
16 - 99 Paul White
17 - 110 Brad Armstrong
18 - 1 Dave Steele

[captrat]

Fine replies, but ultimately what harmed and probably mortally wounded dirt cars on miles was the Speedway and Indy car owners saying it was antiquated and did not deserve to be a part of the National Championship Series. Thank you Dan Gurney for your white paper, Pat Patrick for your acquiesce, Roger Penske for no understanding of American oval track racing, and USAC for being nothing more than an acolyte for the Speedway.

[flagboy55]

Not often I disagree with my buddy Brent but I will on this point. Dilution of the race to pavement does nothing to retain the greatness that is/was the Hoosier Hundred. Someone remind me when we last ran the Hut Hundred. It still lives as a pinnacle midget race even if it’s never run again. If they took it to Anderson and ran a 100 lap race and called it the same, it would be equally illegitimate. I was always irritated when they ran Turkey Night on pavement. And besides the surface, especially when it comes to big cars, it’s not nearly the same level of competition. You could almost say pavement racing these days should be a club sport as less than a handful have a shot to win. That’s not the same on dirt. Call it what you want, but the Hoosier Hundred is a dirt race. Maybe it will fade away with us old guy’s, but it will will die with it’s deserved reverence

[opnwhlmnd]

Ultimately what wounded dirt cars on the miles was the plane crash on April 23rd 1978. That opened the door for CART and USAC has never recovered.

Yes now days USAC has a niche product that they can call a National Series but get outside of Indiana or Southern Kalifornia and it is tough to draw a crowd and SoCal doesn't even draw that well anymore.

[ronmil]

Originally Posted by BrentTFunk Were you at the last Hut Hundred won by Cole Whitt? The car count was very light. Maybe 400 people in attendance. Would you lose your money to keep it alive? No one else wanted to either. As for the Hoosier 100, the state of Indiana decided to get rid of it. How could anyone stop that? By the way, I attended my first Hoosier 100 in 1978, and my first Hut hundred in 1982. Yes, I wish everything was like it was in the 1970's, but it isn't. You can't turn the clock back.

My first Hut Hundred and Hoosier Hundred were both in 1967. It seems I remember 110 midgets there. Just had roll bars; Mel Kenyon won. Ralphie the Racer Liguori flipped the Math Schneider #67. Broken nose was only injury. I believe every car was an Offy.

[Hubie48]

I attended my first Hoosier 100 in 1978

What took you so long? :-)

[jdull99]

Originally Posted by nathans1012 Anyone remember the PRA Big Car Series? I saw a race at Illiana on June 13th, 2006 with that series. South Shore 125 was the race and Eric Gordon won. That was around the time USAC jumped in bed with NASCAR on the Aero. I could of swore it was Jason McCord or someone that run the deal. Results from that race Finish - Car# & Driver - 01 - 4 Eric Gordon 02 - 37 Tracy Hines 03 - 77 Chet Fillip 04 - 25 Jay Drake 05 - 92 Dave Darland 06 - 32 A.J. Fike 07 - 20 Ron Gregory 08 - 5 Jimmy Kite 09 - 21 Brian Tyler 10 - 51 Russ Gamester 11 - 17 Kenny Jacobs 12 - 15 Teddy Beach 13 - 153 Tom Capie 14 - 198 Michael Roselli 15 - 90 John Heydenreich 16 - 99 Paul White 17 - 110 Brad Armstrong 18 - 1 Dave Steele

3 of us were also in attendance.

[treecitytornado]

The Pepsi 150 was 150 Laps the first few years at IRP. Then it went to Twin 75s, then finally just a 100 Lapper.

If they couldn't do 150 way back then, definitely don't see them doing 160, without a Stop!!