USAC CHAMPS HOOD, TYLER RETURN FOR THE “HOOSIER HUNDRED”

Two of USAC’s greatest champions, Rickey Hood of Phoenix, Ariz. and Brian Tyler of Mount Pleasant, N.C., will make their return to the USAC Silver Crown Championship Series to compete in next week’s “Hoosier Hundred” at the Indiana State Fairgrounds in Indianapolis.

Round two of the 2015 championship is scheduled Thursday night, May 21, and this year’s expanded field provides a true challenge for Hood and Tyler. Tyler’s last Silver Crown start came in the 2013 “Tony Bettenhausen 100” in Springfield, Ill. while 19 years have passed since Hood’s last appearance, also at Springfield, in 1996.

Tyler, USAC’s 1996 and 1997 National Sprint Car Champion, has more Silver Crown victories (17) than anybody with the exception of all-time series leader Jack Hewitt (23). Hood recorded seven Silver Crown victories during his 15-year career. Tyler also leads the all-time list of Silver Crown drivers with 187 career starts.

Hood won his first Silver Crown start, at the Indiana mile in 1982. Tyler, whose initial series start came in 1990, is still seeking his first victory at the Indianapolis track despite winning four times at the Springfield, Ill. mile and once on the Magic Mile at  DuQuoin, Ill.

Hood won USAC’s 1984 and 1985 Sprint crowns and added the 1985 Silver Crown title. 

“I always had fun in the Silver Crown cars,” he says. “Actually, I was subbing for Doug Wolfgang in that 1982 debut and that win was one of the most satisfying of my career.”

Rickey, who competed in selected Arizona Sprint races in 2014, will pilot the Plastic Express/Jarvis Enterprises Beast/Chevy for car owner Galen Fox, who is no stranger to victory lane at the Indy mile. Now working daily at the Arizona Open Wheel Racing Museum and Motorsports Hall of Fame in Phoenix, Hood adds: “Galen (Fox) and I put this deal together and I’m really looking forward to it.”

Tyler, who runs a fabrication and maintenance shop at his 30-acre North Carolina spread and services all types of farm vehicles, has always enjoyed the challenge of Silver Crown racing. 

“The long races and the strategy needed to win have always intrigued me,” he says. “I’ve run well at Indy, but it seems like something always happens late in the race there that puts me on the sidelines. Hopefully we can change all that this time around.”

Tyler’s car owner next Thursday also returns after a series hiatus. Californian Ray “Junior” Kurtz will field Tyler’s Club 164 Beast/Chevy. Race fans will fondly remember the Kurtz entries driven to numerous Silver Crown victories by Chuck Gurney. Last year, Kurtz assisted Shane Cockrum in his victory at DuQuoin. 

“I’m looking forward to working with Junior and Bill Simpson and hope we can finally land that elusive Indy win,” adds Tyler.

Drivers will continue to chase Johnny Parsons’ 20-year-old track qualifying record of 114.726 mph. when qualifying opens for the May 21 event. Kenny Jacobs established the existing 100-mile race record of 106.977 mph. in 1987.

The race is the first of two for the USAC Silver Crown cars next week. The “Day Before the 500” Classic at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis will sport a 1:15 pm Silver Crown green flag.