“JOE JAMES-PAT O’CONNOR” SILVER CROWN RACE AT SALEM SATURDAY
The “Joe James-Pat O’Connor Memorial” this Saturday night at Salem (Ind.) Speedway Fueled by the Hoosier Lottery salutes the memory of two of America’s greatest 1950s auto racing stars.
This year, the 75-lap event features the stars and cars of the USAC Silver Crown Championship Series in only the second appearance ever for the series at the storied .555 high-banked pavement oval.
Bob Frey won a 50-lap race at Salem in 1988 and it’s been six years since USAC has visited Salem. Shane Hmiel won the “James-O’Connor” 50-lap Sprint race there in 2010.
The history of the “James-O’Connor” race dates back to 1953. James was fatally injured in a 1952 race at San Jose, Calif. and O’Connor suffered fatal injuries on the opening lap of the 1958 Indianapolis 500.
Drivers like Indianapolis 500 champions Bob Sweikert, A.J. Foyt, Parnelli Jones, Mario Andretti and Bobby Unser are all among the race champions, along with USAC National Champions like Roger McCluskey, Rollie Beale, Sam Sessions, Gary Bettenhausen, Tom Bigelow, Pancho Carter, Rich Vogler, Greg Leffler, Larry Rice, Steve Butler, Kenny Irwin Jr., Tony Stewart, Jay Drake, Dave Darland, Tracy Hines, Brian Tyler and Bryan Clauson.
Kody Swanson enters Saturday’s race with a seven-point lead over Chris Windom in the latest standings. Justin Grant is third, 61 points back, while Jerry Coons Jr. is fourth, 85 behind.
Swanson has been on the podium in five of the six races so far this year, winning the Hoosier Hundred at the Indiana State Fairgrounds in May and the most recent “Rich Vogler Classic” at Lucas Oil Raceway in Brownsburg, Ind.
Windom, seeking his initial USAC National driving title, has finished no worse than fifth in all six Silver Crown races this season, including a victory at Williams Grove, Pa. in June.
Along with the Silver Crown cars, the Scott County Visitors Commission “Joe James/Pat O’Connor Memorial” presented by the Kentuckiana Ford Dealers features the the Lucas Oil Great American Stocks and the Midwest Oldtimers Vintage Race Car Club.
Pits open at 12:30 p.m. Spectator gates open at 3:00 p.m. Practice begins at 3:30 p.m. with ProSource Qualifying set for 5:45 p.m. and racing at 7:00 p.m.
Adult and teen tickets are $23. Tickets for those between the ages of 7-12 are $5. Advanced reserve seating is $28.
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UPCOMING USAC SILVER CROWN CHAMPIONSHIP EVENT:
DATE: Saturday, August 13, 2016
SERIES: USAC Silver Crown Championship
TRACK: Salem Speedway fueled by the Hoosier Lottery (Salem, Indiana) – .555-mile paved oval
EVENT: Scott County Visitors Commission “Joe James/Pat O’Connor Memorial” presented by the Kentuckiana Ford Dealers featuring the USAC Silver Crown Championship, the Lucas Oil Great American Stocks and the Midwest Oldtimers Vintage Race Car Club.
STARTING TIMES: Pits Open 12:30 p.m. (EDT), Spectator Gates Open 3:00 p.m., Practice 3:30 p.m., Qualifications 5:45 p.m., First Race 7:00 p.m.
TICKETS: Adults & Teens: $23. Ages 7-12: $5. (ADVANCED RESERVED SEATING): $28
TRACK ADDRESS: 2729 IN-56, Salem, IN 47167
TRACK PHONE: (812) 883-6504
TRACK WEBSITE: http://salemspeedway.com/
MEDIA COVERAGE: Live updates on https://www.facebook.com/usacracing/ and https://twitter.com/USACNation
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ALL-TIME “JOE JAMES/PAT O’CONNOR MEMORIAL WINNERS”:
1953: Larry Crockett, 1954: Pat O’Connor, 1955: Bob Sweikert. 1956: Eddie Sachs, 1957: Pat O’Connor, 1958: Eddie Sachs, 1959: A.J. Foyt, 1960: Parnelli Jones, 1961: Parnelli Jones, 1962: A.J. Foyt, 1963: Roger McCluskey, 1964: Mario Andretti, 1965: Bobby Unser, 1966: Mario Andretti, 1967: Sonny Ates, 1968: Rollie Beale, 1969: Sam Sessions, 1970: Gary Bettenhausen, 1971: Rollie Beale, 1972: Lee Kunzman, 1973: Tom Bigelow, 1974: Pancho Carter, 1975: Pancho Carter, 1976: Pancho Carter, 1977: Pancho Carter, 1978: Rich Vogler, 1979: Greg Leffler, 1980: Greg Leffler, 1981: Eddie Leavitt, 1982: Larry Rice, 1988: Bob Frey, 1989: Wayne Hammond, 1990: Rich Vogler, 1991: Steve Butler, 1992: Jim Mahoney, 1993: Jim Keeker, 1994: Kenny Irwin, Jr., 1995: Tony Stewart, 1996: Chet Fillip, 1997: Dave Steele, 1998: Jay Drake, 1999: Dave Darland, 2000: Eric Gordon, 2001: Tracy Hines, 2002: Ed Carpenter, 2003: Michael Lewis, 2004: Dave Steele, 2005: Brian Tyler, 2006: Bryan Clauson, 2008: Jacob Wilson, 2009: Tracy Hines, 2010: Shane Hmiel
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2016 USAC SILVER CROWN CHAMPIONSHIP DRIVER POINT STANDINGS (TOP-10):
1. (385) Kody Swanson (Kingsburg, CA)
2. (378) Chris Windom (Canton, IL)
3. (324) Justin Grant (Ione, CA)
4. (300) Jerry Coons, Jr. (Tucson, AZ)
5. (276) Shane Cottle (Kokomo, IN)
6. (274) David Byrne (Shullsburg, WI)
7. (262) Casey Shuman (Tempe, AZ)
8. (251) Austin Nemire (Sylvania, OH)
9. (213) Tanner Swanson (Kingsburg, CA)
10. (186) Joe Liguori (Tampa, FL)
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2016 USAC SILVER CROWN CHAMPIONSHIP “ROOKIE” DRIVER POINT STANDINGS (TOP-10):
1. (262) Casey Shuman (Tempe, AZ)
2. (186) Joe Liguori (Tampa, FL)
3. (101) Mark Smith (Sunbury, PA)
4. (95) Joe Axsom (Franklin, IN)
5. (65) Neil Shepherd (Warsaw, IN)
6. (61) Robert Stout (Brownsburg, IN)
7. (49) Hunter Schuerenberg (Sikeston, MO)
8. (37) Kevin Studley (Plainfield, IN)
9. (36) J.C. Bland (Springfield, IL)
10. (29) Dave Berkheimer (Mechanicsburg, PA)
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2016 USAC SILVER CROWN CHAMPIONSHIP OWNER POINT STANDINGS (TOP-10):
1. (385) DePalma Motorsports #63
2. (330) RPM/Fred Gormly #98
3. (324) Chris Carli #8
4. (300) Nolen Racing #20
5. (276) Curtis Williams #81
6. (274) Byrne Racing #40
7. (262) Patty Bateman #55
8. (251) Hemelgarn Enterprises #91
9. (245) RPM/Fred Gormly #99
10. (213) Bowman Racing #02
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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
WINNER: Kody Swanson
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) Kody Swanson (Indiana State Fairgrounds on May 26 & Lucas Oil Raceway on July 21)
(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) Chris Windom (Williams Grove Speedway on June 10)
LAPS LED:
1. (134) Kody Swanson
2. (101) Justin Grant
3. (88) Chris Windom
4. (80) Bobby Santos
5. (55) Tanner Swanson
6. (36) C.J. Leary
7. (32) Jerry Coons, Jr.
8. (25) Brady Bacon
9. (9) Shane Cottle
TOP-FIVE FINISHES:
1. (6) Chris Windom
2. (5) Kody Swanson
3. (3) Tanner Swanson
4. (2) Brady Bacon, Bryan Clauson, Jerry Coons, Jr. & Justin Grant
8. (1) David Byrne, Shane Cottle, C.J. Leary, Joe Liguori, Austin Nemire, Aaron Pierce, Bobby Santos & Robert Stout
TOP-TEN FINISHES:
1. (6) Chris Windom
2. (5) Jerry Coons, Jr., Justin Grant & Kody Swanson
5. (4) Shane Cottle
6. (3) David Byrne, Bryan Clauson, Joe Liguori & Tanner Swanson
10. (2) Joe Axsom, Brady Bacon, Shane Cockrum, Dave Darland, C.J. Leary, Casey Shuman & Mark Smith
17. (1) Steve Buckwalter, Austin Nemire, Ryan Newman, Aaron Pierce, Davey Ray, Bobby Santos, Hunter Schuerenberg, Robert Stout & Jacob Wilson
PROSOURCE FAST QUALIFYING TIMES:
1. (1) Brady Bacon, Justin Grant, C.J. Leary, Bobby Santos, Kody Swanson & Tanner Swanson
RACE STARTS:
1. (6) David Byrne, Jerry Coons, Jr., Shane Cottle, Justin Grant, Austin Nemire, Casey Shuman, Kody Swanson & Chris Windom
9. (5) Shane Cockrum & Joe Liguori
11. (3) Brady Bacon, Steve Buckwalter, Bryan Clauson, Dave Darland, Patrick Lawson, C.J. Leary, Billy Puterbaugh, Jr., Tanner Swanson & Jacob Wilson
20. (2) Joe Axsom, Terry Babb, J.C. Bland, Terry James, Aaron Pierce, Bobby Santos, Neil Shepherd & Mark Smith
28. (1) Robert Ballou, Dave Berkheimer, Chris Fetter, A.J. Fike, Russ Gamester, John Heydenreich, Danny Long, Joey Moughan, Ryan Newman, Billy Pauch, Jr., Davey Ray, Tad Roach, Hunter Schuerenberg, Robert Stout, Kevin Studley, 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)
July 21: Lucas Oil Raceway – Joe Axsom (9th)
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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)
July 21: Lucas Oil Raceway – Casey Shuman (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 & 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