Springfield, Illinois (August 15, 2024)………Kody Swanson entered the 2024 USAC Silver Crown season on uncertain footing, so to speak.
A Christmas morning incident at his parents’ home left him with a broken foot. Multiple surgeries required to repair the damage meant a longer than anticipated recovery. However, the seven-time USAC national champion has shown little after effects, winning the season opener at Toledo in April.
Wins at Winchester and Lucas Oil Raceway in May, plus Jennerstown on Saturday, followed and propelled him to the top of the point standings after eight events. His Doran-Binks Racing owned mount appears ready to help him to an unprecedented eighth USAC Silver Crown.
A win in the Bettenhausen 100 at Springfield’s Illinois State Fairgrounds on August 17 would go a long way to ease the pain of recovery. A fourth Springfield win for Swanson would place him in rare company. Only Chuck Gurney, A.J. Foyt and Jack Hewitt have as many 100-mile dirt car wins in the Illinois capitol.
The Californian is the all-time series victory leader, with 44 at press time. Eleven victories have come on the one-mile dirt tracks and Swanson hasn’t won a big car race on the dirt since the rain shortened August 2021 Bettenhausen 100.
An ability to keep the car straight and turn consistent laps made Swanson a contender on the dirt miles since his first Bettenhausen start in 2008. In 13 starts on the Springfield Mile, Kody Swanson has been running at the end of 10, completed the distance nine times and led four times for 178 laps. He has 10 top-10 finishes on the Springfield clay and is fifth on the all-time money won list at Springfield.
Swanson’s point lead stands at 55 over 2017 Bettenhausen 100 winner Justin Grant, and 62 over 2023 Bettenhausen winner Logan Seavey after the August 10 race on the pavement at Jennerstown. A pavement event at World Wide Technology Raceway is also on the schedule prior to Springfield on F. Twenty-one race winners at Springfield have gone on to win a national championship, 12 of them in the Silver Crown Series since 1971. The last was Logan Seavey in 2023.
The August 17 Bettenhausen 100 continues a tradition of 100-mile national championship racing that celebrates the 90th anniversary of the first national championship race at the Illinois State Fairgrounds as well as celebrating a tradition of competitive auto racing at the fair that goes back at least 114 years.
The “Springfield Mile” holds a legendary distinction among 4-wheel and 2-wheel competitors. The championship race became a model for races at the Du Quoin and the Indiana State Fairgrounds. The track itself was used as a basis for other tracks across the country. The Springfield Mile is one of the oldest and most historic motorsport venues in the United States.
RACE DETAILS:
On Saturday, August 17, in Springfield, Illinois, pits and registration open at 7am Central with the ticket office and grandstands opening at 9am, the drivers meeting at 9:30am, practice from 10am-11am, Honest Abe Roofing Qualifying at 11:30am, followed by the qualifying race at 12:30pm, pre-race ceremonies at 1:30pm and the 100-lap main event at 2pm.
Tickets will be available on race day or by calling the State Fair office at 217-782-1979. Info and tickets can also be obtained by calling the Track Enterprises office at 217-764-3200.
Advance tickets are $25 for adults and $10 for children 11 and under. At the gate on race day, adults are $30 and $10 for children 11 and under. Infield tickets are $20 for adults, $5 for children age 6-11 and free children age 5 & under. Pit passes are $35 for USAC members and $40 for non-members. Infield parking is $5 for those parking in the infield with no infield or pit passes. All drivers/pit crews should enter through gate 7 or 8. The infield tunnel is gate 6.
Every lap of Saturday’s Bettenhausen 100 will be aired live on FloRacing at https://flosports.link/usac.
