A NEW CHALLENGE: SANTOS, USAC SILVER CROWN TAKE ON WINCHESTER’S HIGH BANKS

By: Winchester Speedway

Winchester, Indiana (July 20, 2021).........Bobby Santos will be one of a select few drivers in Thursday night’s Rich Vogler Classic field that has previous experience at Winchester Speedway.

The former Little 500 champion was in USAC’s most recent appearance at the World’s Fastest Half Mile back in 2011 with the USAC Sprint Cars. He has also raced in the most recent open-wheel series to converge on Winchester, the Auto Value Super Sprints.

Santos hopes to use that past experience in USAC Silver Crown’s first race on the high banks Sunday afternoon as he searches for his first win with the series since 2018 at Phoenix Raceway (AZ).

Santos was one of several drivers to take part in the open test session held on Sunday, May 2, just before the originally scheduled date for the Rich Vogler Classic presented by Pallet Builder, making his first laps around Winchester in a Silver Crown car.

“These things are just a little bit lazier than the Sprint Cars. I personally enjoy these cars more around this place. I think these are a little bit easier to get comfortable in than a Sprint Car.”

While Thursday will be Silver Crown’s first race at Winchester, the series does have recent history at another high-banked half-mile, at Salem Speedway in Southern Indiana. While the tracks are similar in appearance, there is one major difference between past races at Salem and Sunday’s race at Winchester – the lap count.

The Joe James/Pat O’Connor Memorial has historically been 75 laps, while Sunday’s race will be 100. Santos expects the extra distance to have the potential to change how drivers attack the race and the racetrack.

It’s a potential change that Santos welcomes with open arms, giving him an old-school feel with how to make it to the end of the race while balancing going after the checkered flag.

“There’s going to be a lot of throttle control that will come into play in this race. I think through practice and qualifying it’s going to be up on the wheel and laying down the best lap you can lay down. As soon as we go green in the race, I think tire wear is going to be something to keep an eye on. It’ll be a matter of managing throttle. In my opinion, that’s how racing should be. That’s old-school: manage your tires, manage your equipment racing; I miss that kind of racing. I wish we did more of it.”

While Santos has a considerable amount of experience at both of Indiana’s high-banked tracks, it has not translated to wins. He hopes to change his luck around Thursday and take the Rich Vogler Classic trophy with him back to the Northeast.

“I love this division; I love Silver Crown cars. To go to such historic racetracks like this (Winchester), it’s pretty neat. I’ve raced here a handful of times and I’ve raced at Salem a handful of times.  I feel like I’m overdue to get my first win on the banks. This one is going to be pretty awesome.”

The 2021 version of the Rich Vogler Classic will celebrate open wheel racing’s rich history at the “World’s Fastest Half Mile” while paying homage to the legendary life and career of one of motorsport’s greatest talents, the late Rich Vogler. 

The 100-lap main event will showcase the beauty and blazing speed of the renowned Silver Crown machines while testing the bravery and skill of some of the world’s best drivers upon the fabled high banks of Winchester.

Thursday’s event marks USAC’s first trip to Winchester since 2011, when the Sprint Cars came to town for the Rich Vogler Classic.

Joining the USAC Silver Crown Thursday night will be the Midwest Old Timers Vintage Racing Club, featuring upwards of 40 vintage open-wheel cars.  Fans will be able to witness the progression of the open-wheel machines through the decades.

On race day, the pits open at Noon ET with the drivers meeting set for 3pm on the front stretch, practice at 4pm, Fatheadz Qualifying at 6pm, a driver’s autograph session at 6:30pm in the midway, driver introductions at 7:45pm, opening ceremonies at 8pm and the 100-lap main event at 8:15pm.

Reserved seats are $30 apiece, while general admission tickets are $20, and just $10 for children aged 6 to 12.  Tickets are available in advance at www.winchesterspeedway.com/tickets.

The race will be shown LIVE on FloRacing at https://bit.ly/3frPoW6.

For more information regarding the event, please visit the track’s website at www.winchesterspeedway.com.  You can follow @FastestHalfMile on Twitter and Instagram and be sure to like the Winchester Speedway Facebook page.  For additional info on the USAC Silver Crown Champ Car Series, go to www.usacracing.com.