The most magical mile of them all is the Du Quoin State Fairgrounds.

That’s been true since the day it was built and remains true all these decades later as the USAC Silver Crown National Championship makes its annual once-a-year pilgrimage to the southern Illinois dirt mile for the Ted Horn 100.

The Ted Horn 100 dates to the year 1948 when the three-time AAA National champion in 1946, 1947 and 1948 and namesake of the race, lost his life on the very same Du Quoin track that the brave souls of today still try to conquer.

It’s the most tenured dirt race on the Silver Crown slate, celebrating its 70th running this Saturday, August 31, during the daylight hours of the early morning and afternoon with the sight of the Ferris wheel and the smell of deep fried fair food entrenched into the atmosphere’s backdrop.

Let’s celebrate with six of the key champ car storylines you should be watching this Saturday at Du Quoin!

A SIX PACK OF TED HORN WINNERS

Six past Ted Horn 100 winners are represented in this Saturday’s Ted Horn 100 at the Du Quoin State Fairgrounds.

Defending Ted Horn 100 winner Justin Grant leads a cast of 33 USAC Silver Crown entries this weekend at the one-mile dirt oval. Grant’s main nemeses in the championship in the 2024 series title fight are Kody Swanson (Kingsburg, Calif.), a two-time winner of the event in 2010 and 2017, as well as Logan Seavey (Sutter, Calif.), a victor of the race in 2022.

Two-time Ted Horn 100 winner Shane Cockrum (Benton, Ill.) grew up and resides just down the road from the Magic Mile where he won back-to-back in 2014-15. Peru, Indiana’s Russ Gamester, the 1997 race winner, is the most experienced in the field with 23 Ted Horn 100 starts dating back to 1989. Elkhart, Illinois’ Chris Urish (2013) scored his first and only Silver Crown win on the Du Quoin Mile as well.

Interestingly, for four of the six past winners in Saturday’s field, their Du Quoin win also marked their first career USAC Silver Crown victory. That includes Swanson, Cockrum, Gamester and Urish who all hold The Magic Mile near and dear to their hearts.

GRANT CAN SEE FOR MILES

Only once in the past 15 years has a driver swept to champ car victories on both the Illinois dirt miles in a single season. After scoring at the Springfield Mile two weeks ago, Justin Grant has the opportunity to achieve this feat.

On 22 occasions, a AAA or USAC Champ Car driver has won at both the Illinois State Fairgrounds and the Du Quoin State Fairgrounds in the same calendar year: Tony Bettenhausen (1951), Sam Hanks (1953), Jimmy Bryan (1955-56), Johnny Thomson (1958), A.J. Foyt (1964 & 1967), Al Unser (1970), Mario Andretti (1973-74), Gary Bettenhausen (1983), Jack Hewitt (1986-87-93), Chuck Gurney (1989-94-96), Paul White (2001), J.J. Yeley (2002), Tracy Hines (2006), Brian Tyler (2008) and Chris Windom (2018).

Furthermore, after winning at Du Quoin a year ago in 2023, Grant also has the chance to become the first driver in a decade to win there in consecutive years. The only drivers to do that include Tony Bettenhausen (1949-51), Sam Hanks (1953-54), Jimmy Bryan (1955-56), A.J. Foyt (1960-61-63-64), Al Unser (1969-70), Mario Andretti (1973-74), Gary Bettenhausen (1980), Gary Bettenhausen (1982-83), Jack Hewitt (1986-87), Tracy Hines (2005-06) and Shane Cockrum (2014-15).

3-HORSE RACE FOR THE TITLE

With four races remaining in the USAC Silver Crown season, the championship race is tight between point leader Kody Swanson, second-running Justin Grant and third-place Logan Seavey.

If you think you’ve seen these characters up front in the title race before, you’re right and you don’t have to look back too far. These same drivers finished 1-2-3 in the 2023 final standings with Seavey the champ, Swanson second and Grant in third.

Additionally, these same three finished 1-2-3 in the most recent USAC Silver Crown race at Springfield on August 17 with Grant winning, Swanson second and Seavey third.

All three have also won with the USAC Silver Crown series at Du Quoin, making the tussle for position between the three paramount this coming weekend.

Entering Du Quoin, Swanson holds the upper hand in the standings by just 21 points over Grant with Seavey in third, 58 points back as he seeks his first series victory of 2024.

A FOND FAREWELL TO BATEMAN RACING

This Saturday’s Ted Horn 100 marks the farewell of one USAC Silver Crown racing’s longest tenured teams – Bateman Racing. Team principal Patty Bateman recently announced that this would be the final appearance for the familiar No. 55 at Du Quoin, located less than a half-hour away from the Bateman residence in Murphysboro, Ill.

Bateman Racing made its USAC Silver Crown debut in September of 1982 with Patty’s husband, Randy Bateman, at the wheel. Randy was a longtime competitor with the series through the 2015 season before Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis claimed his life in 2017.

Patty soldiered on with the team, which finished a best of 4th at Du Quoin in 2016 with driver Casey Shuman and again in 2021 with Jerry Coons Jr. behind the wheel. Coons also gave the team its best ever Silver Crown finish of 2nd at the Terre Haute (Ind.) Action Track in 2022.

On Saturday, Coons will attempt to earn a first win at Du Quoin for both him and the Bateman Racing team, a victory that would surely bring the house down.

CLOSE TO CLOSING IT OUT

Oftentimes, one must experience the agony of defeat to truly appreciate the thrill of victory. A number of drivers have found that to be the case over the years.

Justin Grant, Chris Windom, Logan Seavey and Shane Cottle are among the group of drivers who’ve previously finished second at the Ted Horn 100 before ultimately winning the race in their career.

C.J. Leary (Greenfield, Ind.) finished second in last year’s edition at Du Quoin after leading the opening lap. The year before, in 2022, he was leading with seven laps remaining when the driveline broke on him.

A little good fortune would be a welcome sight for both car Leary and car owner Terry Klatt on Saturday, both of whom have long chased that elusive first Ted Horn 100 victory.

A FIRST CLASS OPPORTUNITY

Although the streak of three consecutive first-time USAC Silver Crown winners on dirt ended at Springfield with Justin Grant’s score, it’s never too late to start a new streak.

No track on the USAC Silver Crown schedule has seen more first-time USAC Silver Crown winners break through than Du Quoin. Since the series’ inception in 1971, 14 different drivers have earned their first career Silver Crown victory at The Magic Mile and this year’s class is hellbent on trying to make that 15.

Top veterans are included in this group are USAC National Sprint Car winners Chase Stockon (Fort Branch, Ind.) and Matt Westfall (Pleasant Hill, Ohio), plus Kyle Steffens (Saint Charles, Mo.), a modified winner on the Du Quoin mile. Also in this group are Mario Clouser (Auburn, Ill.), Trey Burke (Alvin, Texas), Chris Fetter (Troy, Mo.), Matt Goodnight (Winchester, Ind.), Casey Buckman (Chandler, Ariz.), Dave Berkheimer (Mechanicsburg, Pa.), Gregg Cory (Shelbyville, Ind.), Danny Long (Bonne Terre, Mo.). Korey Weyant (Springfield, Ill.) and Jimmy Light (West Springfield, Pa.).

Daison Pursley (Locust Grove, Okla.) is already a USAC Silver Crown winner (at Port Royal, Pa.) as he prepares to take on Du Quoin for the first time. Fellow Rookies in the field seeking their shot at both a first Du Quoin and first Silver Crown win include the likes of Rookie point leader Trey Osborne (Columbus, Ohio), plus USAC National Sprint Car winners Briggs Danner (Allentown, Pa.), Mitchel Moles (Raisin City, Calif.) and Dave Peperak (Clinton, Ind.) along with Nathan Moore (Kaufman, Texas), Aric Gentry (Robards, Ky.), Danny Jennings (Norman, Okla.), Saban Bibent (Cincinnati, Ohio), Kip Hughes (North Enid, Okla.) and Knoxville Raceway Hall of Famer Don Droud Jr. (Lincoln, Neb.), who is making his Silver Crown debut.

RACE DETAILS:

The 70th running of the Ted Horn 100 features the USAC Silver Crown National Championship along with the 30th Annual Bill Oldani Memorial Prelims for DIRTcar Modifieds.

Registration and pit gates open at 7am Central. Grandstands and ticket office open at 9am. USAC Silver Crown practice is slated to run from 10-11:10am. USAC Silver Crown qualifying is scheduled for 11:30am followed by DIRTcar Modified hot laps and qualifying at 12:15pm and the USAC Silver Crown qualifying race at 12:30pm. DIRTcar Modified heats are on tap at 1pm followed by the USAC Ted Horn 100 feature at 2pm.

Tickets will be available on race day or by calling the Du Quoin Fair office at 618-542-1535. Info and tickets can also be obtained by calling the Track Enterprises office at 217-764-3200. Advance tickets are $25 for ages 12 and up and $10 for children age 11 and under. Race day tickets at the gate are $30 for ages 12 and up and $10 for children 11 and under. Pit passes are $35 for members and $40 for non-members ages 12 and up. Pit passes for children age 11 and under are $20.

The Ted Horn 100 can be watched live on FloRacing at https://flosports.link/usac.

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2024 TED HORN 100 ENTRY LIST: (33)

07 TREY BURKE/Alvin, TX (John Tosti)

08 KYLE STEFFENS/St. Charles, MO (Steffens Motorsports)

3 ®ARIC GENTRY/Robards, KY (Tim Simmons)

6 C.J. LEARY/Greenfield, IN (Klatt Enterprises)

8 ®DON DROUD JR./Lincoln, NE (Cornell Racing Stables)

9 BRADY BACON/Broken Arrow, OK (Chris Dyson Racing)

10 ®BRIGGS DANNER/Allentown, PA (DMW Motorsports)

15 CHRIS FETTER/Troy, MO (Chris Fetter)

21 ®DAISON PURSLEY/Locust Grove, OK (Team AZ Racing)

22 LOGAN SEAVEY/Sutter, CA (Rice Motorsports-Abacus Racing)

24 MATT GOODNIGHT/Winchester, IN (John Haggenbottom)

25 CASEY BUCKMAN/Chandler, AZ (C-Buck Motorsports – Eddie Sachs Jr.)

31 DAVE BERKHEIMER/Mechanicsburg, PA (Berkheimer Racing)

32 GREGG CORY/Shelbyville, IN (Williams-Cory Racing)

44 DANNY LONG/Bonne Terre, MO (Danny Long)

48 ®NATHAN MOORE/Kaufman, TX (Chip Thomas-Joe Moore)

51 RUSS GAMESTER/Peru, IN (Gamester Racing)

54 MATT WESTFALL/Pleasant Hill, OH (Westfall Racing)

55 JERRY COONS JR./Tucson, AZ (Patty Bateman)

60 MARIO CLOUSER/Auburn, IL (Legacy Autosport-Robert Wilson Racing)

61 ®DANNY JENNINGS/Norman, OK (David Grace Motorsports)

69 CHASE STOCKON/Fort Branch, IN (Pink 69 Racing)

77 KODY SWANSON/Kingsburg, CA (Doran-Binks Racing)

81 ®TREY OSBORNE/Columbus, OH (BCR Group)

88 ®SABAN BIBENT/Cincinnati, OH (Sammy & Mouren Fetter)

91 JUSTIN GRANT/Ione, CA (Hemelgarn Racing)

97 SHANE COCKRUM/Benton, IL (Hans Lein)

99 KOREY WEYANT/Springfield, IL (Scott Weyant)

118 JIMMY LIGHT/West Springfield, PA (Wingo Brothers Racing)

119 ®MITCHEL MOLES/Raisin City, CA (Reinbold-Underwood Motorsports)

160 ®KIP HUGHES/North Enid, OK (Kip Hughes)

177 CHRIS URISH/Elkhart, IL (Chris Urish)

777 ®DAVE PEPERAK/Clinton, IN (Dave Peperak Motorsports)

(R) represents a USAC Silver Crown Rookie of the Year contender

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USAC SILVER CROWN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS: 1-Kody Swanson-608, 2-Justin Grant-587, 3-Logan Seavey-550, 4-C.J. Leary-499, 5-Kaylee Bryson-388, 6-Kyle Steffens-386, 7-Bobby Santos-366, 8-Trey Osborne-337, 9-Dakoda Armstrong-329, 10-Gregg Cory-316.

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TRACK RECORDS FOR USAC SILVER CROWN AT Du QUOIN:

1 Lap - 9/5/2004 - Tyler Walker - 29.138 - 123.550 mph

10 Laps - 9/10/1994 - George Snider - 5:14.78 - 114.366 mph

12 Laps - 9/4/1989 - Tom Bigelow - 6:29.73 - 110.846 mph

15 Laps - 9/1/2002 - Brian Tyler - 7:53.24 - 114.107 mph

100 Laps - 9/7/1992 - Johnny Parsons - 56:03.00 - 107.047 mph

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AAA/USAC CHAMP CAR WINNERS AT Du QUOIN:

1948: Lee Wallard & Johnnie Parsons

1949: Tony Bettenhausen

1951: Tony Bettenhausen & Tony Bettenhausen

1952: Chuck Stevenson

1953: Sam Hanks

1954: Sam Hanks

1955: Jimmy Bryan

1956: Jimmy Bryan

1957: Jud Larson

1958: Johnny Thomson

1959: Rodger Ward

1960: A.J. Foyt

1961: A.J. Foyt

1963: A.J. Foyt

1964: A.J. Foyt

1965: Don Branson

1966: Bud Tingelstad

1967: A.J. Foyt

1968: Mario Andretti

1969: Al Unser

1970: Al Unser

1971: George Snider

1972: Tom Bigelow & A.J. Foyt

1973: Mario Andretti

1974: Mario Andretti

1975: Tom Bigelow

1976: Bubby Jones

1977: Tom Bigelow

1978: Pancho Carter

1979: Billy Vukovich

1980: Gary Bettenhausen & Gary Bettenhausen

1981: Rich Vogler

1982: Gary Bettenhausen

1983: Gary Bettenhausen

1984: Joe Saldana

1985: Rick Hood

1986: Jack Hewitt

1987: Jack Hewitt

1988: Gary Bettenhausen

1989: Chuck Gurney

1990: Jeff Swindell

1991: Stevie Reeves

1992: Johnny Parsons

1993: Jack Hewitt

1994: Chuck Gurney

1995: Johnny Parsons

1996: Chuck Gurney

1997: Russ Gamester

1998: Jimmy Sills

1999: Tony Elliott

2000: Kasey Kahne

2001: Paul White

2002: J.J. Yeley

2003: Rich Tobias Jr.

2004: Tyler Walker

2005: Tracy Hines

2006: Tracy Hines

2007: Shane Cottle

2008: Brian Tyler

2009: Rained Out

2010: Kody Swanson

2011: Kyle Larson

2012: Rained Out

2013: Chris Urish

2014: Shane Cockrum

2015: Shane Cockrum

2016: Chris Windom

2017: Kody Swanson

2018: Chris Windom

2019: Jacob Wilson

2020: Not Held

2021: Brian Tyler

2022: Logan Seavey

2023: Justin Grant

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AAA/USAC CHAMP CAR WINS AT Du QUOIN:

6-A.J. Foyt

5-Gary Bettenhausen

3-Mario Andretti, Tony Bettenhausen, Tom Bigelow, Chuck Gurney & Jack Hewitt

2-Jimmy Bryan, Shane Cockrum, Sam Hanks, Tracy Hines, Johnny Parsons, Kody Swanson, Brian Tyler, Al Unser & Chris Windom

1-Don Branson, Pancho Carter, Shane Cottle, Tony Elliott, Russ Gamester, Justin Grant, Rick Hood, Bubby Jones, Kasey Kahne, Jud Larson, Kyle Larson, Johnnie Parsons, Stevie Reeves, Joe Saldana, Logan Seavey, Jimmy Sills, George Snider, Chuck Stevenson, Jeff Swindell, Johnny Thomson, Bud Tingelstad, Rich Tobias Jr., Chris Urish, Rich Vogler, Bill Vukovich, Tyler Walker, Lee Wallard, Rodger Ward, Paul White, Jacob Wilson & J.J. Yeley