USAC’s “TED HORN 100” AT DuQUOIN SALUTES 3-TIME NATIONAL RACING CHAMPION


The name Ted Horn still commands respect in the auto racing industry, even though it’s been 61 years since he sat behind the wheel of a race car!


 


On Sunday night, September 6, the finest dirt-track racing talent in America will again pay homage to one of America’s most revered drivers when the “Ted Horn 100” USAC K & N Silver Crown race takes place at The Magic Mile at the DuQuoin (Ill.) State Fairgrounds.


 


Horn, who perished in a crash at DuQuoin in 1948, was the only driver to capture three consecutive National Driving Championships until Sebastian Bourdais won four straight under CART sanction between 2004 and 2007. He was posthumously declared the 1948 champion after winning the title in 1946 and 1947.


 


Horn also strung together a record of consistency at the Indianapolis 500 which had never before been equaled and still hasn’t in the past six decades! Despite never winning the 500, between 1936 and 1948 he posted nine consecutive finishes of fourth or better! He was second in 1936, followed by a third, fourth, fourth, fourth, third, third, third and fourth!


 


Horn never won in the Championship Cars at DuQuoin but his exploits elsewhere were legendary. A member of both the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America and the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame, Ted established track records everywhere and his record of victory in the potent world of Sprint car racing was truly amazing.


 


Championship racing at the DuQuoin mile dates back to the year of Horn’s accident, 1948. Horn had finished third at DuQuoin just over a month before his demise. Winners at the Magic Mile since read like a “who’s-who” of the sport and include Indianapolis 500 champions Lee Wallard, Johnnie Parsons, Sam Hanks, Jimmy Bryan, Rodger Ward, A.J. Foyt, Mario Andretti and Al Unser.