COTTLE DEFENDS"TED HORN 100" TITLE SUNDAY NIGHT AT DuQUOIN

Shane Cottle of Kokomo, Ind. will defend his"Ted Horn 100" title Sunday night at the DuQuoin (Ill.) State Fairgrounds in round seven of the 2008 USAC K & N Silver Crown Championship Series presented by Optima Batteries. If the form holds true Sunday's race will be just as unpredictable as the rest of this year's slate.

Six different drivers have won the six races contested so far in 2008 and Cottle is sixth in the standings, his best finish a third at Terre Haute, Ind. in July.

Series point leader Jerry Coons Jr. has a 41-point lead over Dave Darland with 66 points available Sunday. Coons finished sixth in last year's DuQuoin race.

Darland would like to add DuQuoin to his resume, since he's won at the other two mile dirt ovals, the Indiana and Illinois State Fairgrounds in Indianapolis and Springfield respectively.

Brian Tyler and Tracy Hines are tied for third in the current standings. Tyler won the"Tony Bettenhausen 100" at Springfield August 16 and Hines won at DuQuoin in 2005 and 2006.

Coons and Hines are both seeking to become USAC"Triple Crown Champions." Coons needs both the 2008 Silver Crown and National Sprint titles, while Hines needs the National Midget title to join former USAC"Triple Crown Champs" Darland, J.J. Yeley, Pancho Carter and Tony Stewart. Coons is second in the Sprint points and Hines is leading the Midget standings.

Sunday night's race is a 100-miler and continues a tradition dating back to 1948!