Tyler Courtney Eyes Record 4th Straight Eldora USAC Win
Tyler Courtney Eyes Record 4th Straight Eldora USAC Win
In the storied history of Eldora, no driver has won four-straight USAC National Sprint Car features. Tyler Courtney has that opportunity this Saturday.
In the long, storied history of Eldora Speedway, no individual has ever won four consecutive USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Car feature events. That record is in jeopardy this Saturday night in the 38th running of the 4-Crown Nationals.
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Tyler Courtney has won each of the last three in the division at Eldora dating to last year’s 4-Crown. The Indianapolis, Ind. driver then proceeded to win the next two in May and July of this season. At the moment, his three-straight victories, which match Jud Larson, who did it in 1964-65 and Bubby Jones in 1978-79, at The Big E equal the results of four other drivers.
There was an era of domination in the late 1980s and early 1990s when just two drivers stood in victory lane during a nine-race stretch between 1988 and 1991. Jack Hewitt had two non-consecutive three-race win streaks during that stretch with the first coming in 1988. Then he swept the years of 1990-91 at the half-mile dirt oval. Steve Butler sandwiched three consecutive victories between Hewitt’s streaks in 1988-89.
Larson saw his streak end with a 12th place finish in 1965, a race won by Red Riegel. Jones came up short for his fourth when he finished a 6th in 1979 behind winner Larry Rice. Hewitt’s first try for four in 1988 was a tough go. He was forced to bow out early and finished last while Butler began a three-race win streak of his own that was upended by Hewitt in the 1990 USAC season opener. Hewitt’s final try for four was the closest call of any of his previous competitors. He finished 3rd in the 1992 dirt opener behind Terry Shepherd and Kevin Huntley.
By comparison, in USAC midget competition at Eldora, nobody has been victorious more than twice in a row. Meanwhile, in the Silver Crown cars at Eldora, only one driver has won three-in-a-row and that was done by Hewitt in 1994-95-96.
When your name is tossed around as matching or defeating records set by the likes of Larson, Bubby, Hewitt and Butler at Eldora, you’re making history. And that’s just what Courtney’s up for this weekend.