STOCKON & SIMMONS PAIR UP FOR TERRE HAUTE USAC SILVER CROWN OPENER
By: Richie Murray – USAC Media
Terre Haute, Indiana (May 21, 2021)………It’s been almost six years since Chase Stockon last stepped foot in a USAC Silver Crown car. However, the hiatus will soon end as the Fort Branch, Ind. resident has been named as the driver of Tim & Jake Simmons’ No. 3 for the Sumar Classic at Indiana’s Terre Haute Action Track on Thursday night, May 27.
Stockon has made three career USAC Silver Crown starts, all of which came during the 2015 season for McQuinn Motorsports. Meanwhile, the Simmons – father, Tim, and son, Jake – have been involved in USAC Silver Crown competition in parts of the past decade. As a driver, Jake has made five career series starts, four of which came during the 2014 season and one, most recently, in 2020.
One thing Stockon and Simmons share together are that both of their Silver Crown careers began at Terre Haute. It seems fitting that, all these years later, the two have teamed up for the 2021 season opener at the famed western Indiana half-mile dirt oval.
“We go back a long way racing with those two,” Stockon revealed. “Jake and Tim ran with the Midwest Sprint Car Series way back in the day when my grandpa (Sam) ran it. They’ve always been a good group of guys, so I’m thinking it’ll be a fun deal.”
Stockon is renowned for his USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Car success at Terre Haute, having won three of his 14 career series features at the Action Track. His 11th place run at Terre Haute in his first ever Silver Crown start in 2015 was a contrast to what he was used to at that point in time.
“It was definitely different,” Stockon readily admitted. “The reaction of the car is a little bit slower, and as far as catching the car and stuff, that was the biggest difference in the Silver Crown car. When the car gets loose, it takes a little bit longer to catch up. It was a different experience, and one I’m very grateful for and excited to experience again.”
Six years away from one discipline can prove to be a challenge to overcome at first. Stockon, however, has certainly kept sharp, capturing the Indiana Sprint Week title in 2020 and racking up an all-time record 324 consecutive feature starts with the USAC National Sprint Cars in the meantime.
Despite the lengthy amount of time between Silver Crown appearances, Stockon aims for the re-learning curve following the half-a-decade absence to be considerably shorter than the curve that existed during his very first start.
“I think there’ll be a little bit of a learning curve, but I think we’re up for the challenge,” Stockon said. “They’ve got a good engine, a good shock package and we get along pretty well. The three of us together have quite a bit of knowledge to share, so I think we should be pretty all right.”
The 19th running of the Sumar Classic will also feature the Scott's Custom Colors DIRTcar Modifieds. Pits open at 2pm EDT, grandstands at 3pm, hot laps at 6:30pm with racing to follow. Adult general admission tickets are $30. Infield admission is $20. Pit passes are $35.
Track Enterprises, the promotion company for the Terre Haute Action Track, has also announced a three-day SUPERTICKET, which includes general admission for all three days of the Week of Indy events at Terre Haute for just $75, a $15 savings off the single day prices.
For advance sale Wednesday/Thursday tickets or the 3-day SUPERTICKET, visit www.tracpass.com. Tickets will also be available at the gates on each race day.
The race will be streamed live on FloRacing at https://bit.ly/3dgONXz.