Du Quoin, Illinois (August 30, 2024)………Illinois is unique in that it is home to two state fairs and the last two active one-mile dirt tracks that host auto racing.
Twenty-three times, the driver that won the championship race at Springfield followed it up with a win in the Ted Horn 100 at the Du Quoin State Fairgrounds. Winning the Bettenhausen 100 at Springfield gives California’s Justin Grant the chance to be the 24th this Saturday, August 31 at the Magic Mile in southern Illinois.
There will be some similarities between the 70th Ted Horn 100 and the 61st Bettenhausen 100 for Grant. He comes into the event chasing point leader Kody Swanson; the race is on a one-mile dirt track that he’s won on before; and like Springfield, it will be a daytime race.
Past that, Du Quoin is a different animal than the mile at Springfield, but one Grant is familiar with as the defending winner of the Ted Horn 100. Last year, Grant started from the pole after going out nearly last in qualifying, then took the lead on lap two and was never headed. This year at Springfield, Grant set fast time and led all 100 miles from the pole position.
Grant clinched the USAC Silver Crown championship at Springfield in 2020. This year, he has spent most of the year chasing seven-time Silver Crown champion Kody Swanson for the title. Swanson’s misfortune at WWT Raceway and Grant’s Springfield win drew him within 21 points of the championship. With a maximum of 76 available at Du Quoin, plus dirt events at Eldora and Terre Haute and the season ender on the pavement at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, Grant can get even closer to a second championship by winning at the Magic Mile.
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.
