WINDOM-SWANSON BATTLE IN THURSDAY’S “RICH VOGLER CLASSIC,” 12 NEW USAC HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES TO BE CELEBRATED
Chris Windom and Kody Swanson renew their battle for the 2016 USAC Silver Crown Championship Thursday night when the “Rich Vogler/USAC Hall of Fame Classic” unfolds at Lucas Oil Raceway in Brownsburg, Ind.
Swanson, seeking his record third consecutive series title, trails Windom by 11 points in the latest standings. Windom, USAC’s 2013 Silver Crown “Rookie of the Year,” continues to seek his initial USAC National Championship.
Thursday’s race honors the winningest driver in USAC history and also serves as the backdrop for USAC’s fifth Hall of Fame induction ceremony, which honors a dozen participants from USAC’s past. Inductees Thursday include (in alphabetical order) Steve Butler, Russ Clendenen, Jimmy Davies, Willie Davis, Bob Higman, Tommy Hinnershitz, Dick King, Rick Mears, Pat O’Connor, Kevin Olson, Tony Stewart and Bob Tattersall.
Windom and Swanson will need to halt the recent Lucas Oil Raceway success of Kody’s brother Tanner if they expect to prevail Thursday. Tanner not only won this year’s “Carb Night Classic” at LOR, but he also won both of last year’s Silver Crown races at LOR. Since 2013, he has won five times in seven LOR starts!
Kody was second in both 2015 races and in this year’s May race. He scored his third consecutive “Hoosier Hundred” victory at the Indiana State Fairgrounds in May and has been on the podium four times in five starts this year.
Windom has five “top-five” finishes in five 2016 starts, including a victory in the “Horn-Schindler Memorial” last month in Williams Grove, Pa.
David Byrne, who beat the Swanson brothers in the 2014 “Rich Vogler Classic,” also figures to be a top contender Thursday. He ranks fourth in the latest series standings, only 81 behind Windom.
Justin Grant, third in the current points, won the pole for this year’s series opener at Terre Haute and has a second, a fifth and two sixths in five starts.
Less than 100 points separate seven drivers in the standings with five races remaining in the 2016 season.
Pits open at 2:00, grandstands at 4:00, CRA Stock Car testing at 4:15, Thunder Roadster practice/qualifying at 5:15, USAC Silver Crown practice at 5:30, Thunder Roadster heats at 6:05, Silver Crown qualifying at 6:30, and a final CRA test at 6:45.
Feature racing will begin for the Thunder Roadsters at 7:30, followed by Vintage car laps at 7:45 and the Hall of Fame Induction ceremony at 8:00. The green flag should wave for the USAC Silver Crown “Rich Vogler Classic” 100-lap race around 9:00.
Adult general admission is $25. Advance tickets are available at https://usacracing.ticketspice.com/track-enterprises.
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UPCOMING USAC SILVER CROWN CHAMPIONSHIP EVENT:
DATE: Thursday, July 21, 2016
SERIES: USAC Silver Crown Championship
TRACK: Lucas Oil Raceway (Brownsburg, Indiana) – .686-mile paved oval
EVENT: “Rich Vogler/Hall of Fame Classic” featuring the USAC Silver Crown Championship and Thunder Roadsters
STARTING TIMES: Pits open at 2:00, grandstands at 4:00, CRA Stock Car testing at 4:15, Thunder Roadster practice/qualifying at 5:15, USAC Silver Crown practice at 5:30, Thunder Roadster heats at 6:05, Silver Crown qualifying at 6:30, and a final CRA test at 6:45. Feature racing will begin for the Thunder Roadsters at 7:30, followed by Vintage car laps at 7:45 and the Hall of Fame Induction ceremony at 8:00. The green flag should wave for the USAC Silver Crown “Rich Vogler Classic” 100-lap race around 9:00.
TICKETS: Advance tickets available at https://usacracing.ticketspice.com/track-enterprises. Adult general admission: $25.
TRACK ADDRESS: 10267 US-136, Indianapolis, IN 46234
TRACK PHONE: (317) 291-4090
TRACK WEBSITE: http://www.lucasoilraceway.com/
MEDIA COVERAGE: Live updates on https://www.facebook.com/usacracing/ and https://twitter.com/USACNation
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ALL-TIME USAC SILVER CROWN CHAMPIONSHIP RACE WINNERS AT LUCAS OIL RACEWAY AT INDIANAPOLIS:
1. (5) Mike Bliss & Tanner Swanson
3. (3) Bobby East & Bobby Santos
5. (2) Kenny Irwin, Jr., Jim Keeker, Jason Leffler & Ken Schrader
9. (1) Pat Abold, Jeff Bloom, David Byrne, Bob Cicconi, Jay Drake, Bruce Field, Russ Gamester, Tracy Hines, Rick Hood, Kasey Kahne, Jason McCord, Ryan Newman, Johnny Parsons, George Snider, Dave Steele, Tony Stewart, Kody Swanson, Brian Tyler & J.J. Yeley
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2016 USAC SILVER CROWN CHAMPIONSHIP DRIVER POINT STANDINGS (TOP-10):
1. (320) Chris Windom (Canton, IL)
2. (309) Kody Swanson (Kingsburg, CA)
3. (272) Justin Grant (Ione, CA)
4. (239) David Byrne (Shullsburg, WI)
5. (236) Jerry Coons, Jr. (Tucson, AZ)
6. (235) Shane Cottle (Kokomo, IN)
7. (221) Casey Shuman (Tempe, AZ)
8. (212) Austin Nemire (Sylvania, OH)
9. (177) Bryan Clauson (Noblesville, IN)
10. (154) Shane Cockrum (Benton, IL)
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2016 USAC SILVER CROWN CHAMPIONSHIP “ROOKIE” DRIVER POINT STANDINGS (TOP-10):
1. (221) Casey Shuman (Tempe, AZ)
2. (143) Joe Liguori (Tampa, FL)
3. (101) Mark Smith (Sunbury, PA)
4. (65) Neil Shepherd (Warsaw, IN)
5. (61) Robert Stout (Brownsburg, IN)
6. (49) Joe Axsom (Franklin, IN) & Hunter Schuerenberg (Sikeston, MO)
8. (36) J.C. Bland (Springfield, IL)
9. (29) Dave Berkheimer (Mechanicsburg, PA)
10. (22) Billy Pauch, Jr. (Milford, NJ)
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2016 USAC SILVER CROWN CHAMPIONSHIP OWNER POINT STANDINGS (TOP-10):
1. (309) DePalma Motorsports #63
2. (272) RPM/Fred Gormly #98
3. (272) Chris Carli #8
4. (245) Curtis Williams #81
5. (239) Byrne Racing #40
6. (236) Nolen Racing #20
7. (221) Patty Bateman #55
8. (212) Hemelgarn Enterprises #91
9. (202) RPM/Fred Gormly #99
10. (177) Klatt Enterprises #6
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2016 USAC SILVER CROWN CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE & RESULTS:
Apr 3: Terre Haute, IN - Terre Haute Action Track
WINNER: C.J. Leary
Apr 30: Toledo, OH - Toledo Speedway
WINNER: Rained Out
May 26: Indianapolis, IN - Indiana State Fairgrounds
WINNER: Kody Swanson
May 27: Brownsburg, IN - Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis
WINNER: Tanner Swanson
Jun 10: Mechanicsburg, PA - Williams Grove Speedway
WINNER: Chris Windom
Jun 25: @ Madison, IL - Gateway Motorsports Park
WINNER: Tanner Swanson
Jul 21: Brownsburg, IN - Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis
Aug 13: Salem, IN - Salem Speedway
Aug 20: @ Springfield, IL - Illinois State Fairgrounds
Sep 3: Du Quoin, IL – Du Quoin State Fairgrounds
Sep 24: Rossburg, OH - Eldora Speedway
**Races noted with @ represent an afternoon race.
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2016 USAC SILVER CROWN CHAMPIONSHIP STATISTICS:
RACE WINS:
1. (2) Tanner Swanson (Lucas Oil Raceway on May 27 & Gateway Motorsports Park on June 25)
2. (1) C.J. Leary (Terre Haute Action Track on April 3)
(1) Kody Swanson (Indiana State Fairgrounds on May 26)
(1) Chris Windom (Williams Grove Speedway on June 10)
LAPS LED:
1. (101) Justin Grant
2. (88) Chris Windom
3. (80) Bobby Santos
4. (55) Tanner Swanson
5. (36) C.J. Leary
6. (34) Kody Swanson
7. (32) Jerry Coons, Jr.
8. (25) Brady Bacon
9. (9) Shane Cottle
TOP-FIVE FINISHES:
1. (5) Chris Windom
2. (4) Kody Swanson
3. (2) Brady Bacon, Bryan Clauson, Justin Grant & Tanner Swanson
7. (1) David Byrne, Jerry Coons, Jr., Shane Cottle, C.J. Leary, Joe Liguori, Austin Nemire, Aaron Pierce & Robert Stout
TOP-TEN FINISHES:
1. (5) Chris Windom
2. (4) Jerry Coons, Jr., Shane Cottle, Justin Grant & Kody Swanson
6. (3) David Byrne & Bryan Clauson
8. (2) Brady Bacon, Shane Cockrum, Dave Darland, C.J. Leary, Joe Liguori, Casey Shuman, Mark Smith & Tanner Swanson
16. (1) Joe Axsom, Steve Buckwalter, Austin Nemire, Aaron Pierce, Davey Ray, Hunter Schuerenberg & Robert Stout
PROSOURCE FAST QUALIFYING TIMES:
1. (1) Brady Bacon, Justin Grant, C.J. Leary, Bobby Santos & Tanner Swanson
RACE STARTS:
1. (5) David Byrne, Jerry Coons, Jr., Shane Cottle, Justin Grant, Austin Nemire, Casey Shuman, Kody Swanson & Chris Windom
9. (4) Shane Cockrum & Joe Liguori
11. (3) Brady Bacon, Steve Buckwalter, Bryan Clauson, Dave Darland, C.J. Leary & Billy Puterbaugh, Jr.
17. (2) Terry Babb, J.C. Bland, Terry James, Patrick Lawson, Aaron Pierce, Neil Shepherd, Mark Smith, Tanner Swanson & Jacob Wilson
26. (1) Joe Axsom, Robert Ballou, Dave Berkheimer, Chris Fetter, A.J. Fike, Russ Gamester, John Heydenreich, Danny Long, Joey Moughan, Billy Pauch, Jr., Davey Ray, Tad Roach, Bobby Santos, Hunter Schuerenberg, Robert Stout, Jeff Swindell & Mitch Wissmiller
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TOP “ROOKIE” FINISHER OF THE RACE:
Apr. 3: Terre Haute Action Track – Casey Shuman (12th)
May 26: Indiana State Fairgrounds – Mark Smith (9th)
May 27: Lucas Oil Raceway – Robert Stout (4th)
June 10: Williams Grove Speedway – Mark Smith (6th)
June 25: Gateway Motorsports Park – Joe Liguori (5th)
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KSE RACING PRODUCTS “HARD CHARGER” OF THE RACE:
Apr. 3: Terre Haute Action Track – Bryan Clauson (6 positions)
May 26: Indiana State Fairgrounds – Terry James (13 positions)
May 27: Lucas Oil Raceway – Shane Cockrum (7 positions)
June 10: Williams Grove Speedway – Bryan Clauson (14 positions)
June 25: Gateway Motorsports Park – Joe Liguori (4 positions)
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ALL-TIME USAC SILVER CROWN CHAMPIONSHIP RACE WINS:
1. [23 wins] Jack Hewitt
2. [17 wins] Brian Tyler
3. [16 wins] Dave Steele
4. [15 wins] J.J. Yeley
5. [14 wins] Dave Darland & Chuck Gurney
7. [13 wins] Kody Swanson
8. [12 wins] Jimmy Sills
9. [11 wins] Bobby East
10. [10 wins] Gary Bettenhausen & Mike Bliss
12. [9 wins] Tracy Hines
13. [7 wins] Jerry Coons Jr., Rick Hood, George Snider & Tanner Swanson
17. [6 wins] Tom Bigelow, Russ Gamester, Kenny Irwin Jr., Jason Leffler, Bobby Santos, Ken Schrader & Al Unser
24. [5 wins] Mario Andretti, Donnie Beechler, Pancho Carter, Jay Drake, Tony Elliott, Bud Kaeding, Sheldon Kinser, Larry Rice
32. [4 wins] Jeff Swindell & Rich Vogler
34. [3 wins] Steve Butler, Shane Cockrum, Cameron Dodson, A.J. Fike, Levi Jones, Kasey Kahne, Jim Keeker, Steve Kinser, Bobby Olivero, Johnny Parsons, Aaron Pierce, Ron Shuman, Tony Stewart, Tyler Walker, Paul White & Chris Windom
50. [2 wins] Pat Abold, Steve Chassey, Bryan Clauson, Larry Dickson, Bill Engelhart, A.J. Foyt, Jeff Gordon, Kyle Larson, Ryan Newman, Joe Saldana, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Cole Whitt, Josh Wise & Doug Wolfgang
64. [1 win] Teddy Beach, Christopher Bell, Jeff Bloom, David Byrne, Marvin Carman, Shane Carson, Bob Cicconi, Herb Copeland, Shane Cottle, Bruce Field, Aaron Fike, Chet Fillip, Bob Frey, Eric Gordon, John Heydenreich, Gary Hieber, Shane Hmiel, Shane Hollingsworth, Jimmy Horton, Jackie Howerton, Kevin Huntley, Kenny Jacobs, Bubby Jones, Keith Kauffman, Jimmy Kite, Chuck Leary, C.J. Leary, Eddie Leavitt, Jason McCord, Jim McElreath, Lealand McSpadden, Mat Neely, Brad Noffsinger, Stevie Reeves, Wayne Reutimann Jr., Danny Smith, Kevin Thomas, Rich Tobias Jr., Chris Urish & Billy Vukovich
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ALL-TIME USAC SILVER CROWN DRIVER CHAMPIONS:
1971: George Snider; 1972: A.J. Foyt; 1973: Al Unser; 1974: Mario Andretti; 1975: Jimmy Caruthers; 1976: Billy Cassella; 1977: Larry Rice; 1978: Pancho Carter; 1979: Bobby Olivero; 1980: Gary Bettenhausen; 1981: Larry Rice; 1982: Ken Schrader; 1983: Gary Bettenhausen; 1984: Dave Blaney; 1985: Rick Hood; 1986: Jack Hewitt; 1987: Jack Hewitt; 1988: Steve Butler; 1989: Chuck Gurney; 1990: Jimmy Sills; 1991: Jeff Gordon; 1992: Steve Butler; 1993: Mike Bliss; 1994: Jimmy Sills; 1995: Tony Stewart; 1996: Jimmy Sills; 1997: Dave Darland; 1998: Jason Leffler; 1999: Ryan Newman; 2000: Tracy Hines; 2001: Paul White; 2002: J.J. Yeley; 2003: J.J. Yeley; 2004: Dave Steele; 2005: Dave Steele; 2006: Bud Kaeding; 2007: Bud Kaeding; 2008: Jerry Coons Jr.; 2009: Bud Kaeding; 2010: Levi Jones; 2011: Levi Jones; 2012: Bobby East; 2013: Bobby East; 2014: Kody Swanson; 2015: Kody Swanson