Du Quoin, Illinois (August 29, 2024)………USAC AMSOIL Sprint Car National champions Brady Bacon and second generation driver C.J. Leary are among the field of 33 entered for the 70th Ted Horn 100 at the Du Quoin State Fairgrounds on Saturday, August 31.
Both are among the most visible and most popular star drivers of the United States Auto Club. Yet for all their accomplishments among the three top USAC divisions – midget, sprint and Silver Crown – one of the coveted mile track victories has eluded them. In some cases, it has slipped right from their grasp. Both pilots look to fill the gap in their resumes in the final one-mile dirt track contest for 2024.
Bacon made his mile track debut almost 10 years to the date at Du Quoin driving for Dennis McQuinn. He started 10th and finished third for the small budget team, then went to Springfield for the make-up date for the Bettenhausen where he started third and finished 10th.
In 2015, Bacon attempted both Springfield and Du Quoin, finishing 23rd in the Bettenhausen and missing the Ted Horn 100. In 2016, driving for the Martens team, he won the pole at the Hoosier Hundred and finished sixth at Du Quoin as Springfield was a victim of rain.
Bacon did not attempt the miles in 2017 but came back in 2018 driving the Klatt Enterprises machine currently driven by Leary. A 25th at Indy was followed by an eighth at Springfield and a 21st at Du Quoin. After a fifth at Indy and a fifth at Du Quoin, it appeared the combination was on the verge of victory. COVID wreaked havoc with the 2020 Silver Crown schedule. Du Quoin was a no go, Indy ran in August and Springfield was pushed to October. Bacon qualified third at Indy and ran fourth at Springfield. Prior to Springfield two weeks ago, he had not run one of the 100-mile dirt events since 2020. He picked up a fifth for Chris Dyson Racing at Springfield.
Leary’s story is a bit different than the past USAC Sprint Car champs. Leary’s dad, Chuck Leary, won the 1997 Hoosier Hundred and was a frequent midget and Silver Crown competitor. C.J. made his debut at Du Quoin as well in 2014 for 6R Racing, finishing 20th. In 2015, he ran for the family operation and 6R. Following a fourth at Indy and a sixth at Springfield, he appeared to be on the verge of joining his father as a winner. He led the 2017 and 2018 Ted Horn 100s at Du Quoin and led the 2020 Hoosier Hundred before getting passed in spectacular fashion by Kyle Larson.
Leary’s biggest heartbreaks seem to come on Du Quoin’s Magic Mile. In 2018, he led a with 13 to go before fuel issues caused him to slow. In 2022, he was leading with seven laps to go when the driveline conked out and left him stranded on the back stretch. Last year, he led the opening lap before being passed by eventual winner Justin Grant.
Two of USAC’s biggest names continue to chase that prestigious mile dirt track win. They are joined by six former winners (Grant, Russ Gamester, Kody Swanson, Chris Urish, Logan Seavey and local hero Shane Cockrum) on the entry list, plus some hungry veterans and impressive Rookies. Grant won at Springfield while Bacon got a top-five and Leary suffered mechanical woes.
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.
