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75th Anniversary National Championship Race Highlights
2009 Track Enterprises State Fairground Events
MACON, IL (Dec 17) - Track Enterprises CEO Bob Sargent confirmed today at
least five race dates for the three state fairground one mile dirt tracks at
Springfield, DuQuoin and Indianapolis including the 75th anniversary
celebration of the first national championship dirt track race held at the
Illinois State Fairgrounds.
Three of the five dates are part of the 2009 K&N Filters USAC Silver Crown
Championship Series schedule while two dates see the return of the full
bodied stock cars of the ARCA RE/MAX Series to the historic fairground dirt
tracks.
The first mile dirt track to open up and see action is the "Track of
Champions" at the Indiana State Fairgrounds as Indianapolis hosts the 57th
Hoosier Hundred for the USAC Silver Crown Series Friday night, May 22 as
part of the Indianapolis 500 racing weekend. Mother Nature won the last two
scheduled Hoosier Hundred events, raining out the most famous dirt track
championship race in the world in 2007 and 2008. Josh Wise added his name to
the list of legends such as Foyt, Bryan, Andretti, Unser and Bettenhausen as
he passed Levi Jones on the last lap to take the 2006 event.
Mile dirt track racing returns during the 'dog days' of August as the
Illinois State Fair celebrates the 75th anniversary of the first
championship dirt track race held in Springfield with the 49th running of
the Tony Bettenhausen 100 for the USAC Silver Crown Series Saturday August
22. Billy Winn made history when he won the AAA championship race on the
"World's Fastest One Mile Dirt Track" on August 17, 1934 and Brian Tyler
made history last year capturing his third Tony Bettenhausen 100 while
giving Toyota Motor Company it's first ever 100-mile dirt track victory.
Stock cars take to the Springfield mile the next day, Sunday August 23 for
the 47th running of the Allen Crowe100 for the ARCA RE/MAX Series stock
cars. Nine time ARCA champ Frank Kimmel won an unprecedented seventh Crowe
Memorial in dominating fashion last year including setting a world record in
qualifications. The local dirt track machines also return for the 16th
Sportsman Nationals event with Dennis Vandermeersch of Springfield the
defending sportsman champion.
One hundred and fifty miles to the south lies one of four one mile dirt
tracks still in operation, built by visionary businessman Bill Hayes for
Illinois second state fair. DuQuoin is a name that is synonymous with speed,
not only in horse racing but in automobile racing circles as well.
Cars take to the "Magic Mile" on the traditional Labor Day racing weekend as
the USAC Silver Crown Series comes to town Sunday night, September 6 for the
59th Ted Horn 100. Brian Tyler made it two dirt track championship wins in a
row for Toyota when he led all 100-miles of the 2008 Ted Horn 100.
Sharing the track Sunday night are the UMP Modifieds as they run heat races
to determine the lineup for Monday's Bill Oldani Memorial.
The 57th running of the Federated Auto Parts-Southern Illinois 100 takes
center stage at the "Magic Mile" on Labor Day as the ARCA RE/MAX Series
takes on a NASCAR flavor with the expected return of two-time Southern
Illinois 100 winner Ken Schrader and perhaps others coming from the NASCAR
event Sunday in Atlanta. Frank Kimmel added Federated-Southern Illinois 100
trophy number 5 to his collection in 2008, dominating the 100-mile event and
breaking Schrader's hold on the "Magic Mile". The UMP Modifieds also take
the track for the 20-mile Bill Oldani Memorial, Missouri's John O'Neal is
the defending champion.
Other announcements concerning events at the one-mile dirt ovals are
expected n the coming months. Ticket information can be obtained by calling
Track Enterprises at 217-764-3200 or visiting
www.trackenterprises.com .
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