1997 WINNER CHUCK LEARY RETURNS TO HOOSIER HUNDRED LINEUP
By: Richie Murray – USAC Media
Indianapolis, Indiana (May 16, 2019)………Chuck Leary, winner of the 1997 “Hoosier Hundred,” will return to the cockpit of a USAC Silver Crown Champ Car for the first time in nearly two decades when the series rolls into the Indiana State Fairgrounds on Thursday, May 23, for the 64th running of the “Hoosier Hundred.”
Leary, of Greenfield, Ind. will drive the Chuck & Tammi Leary-owned No. 30, sponsored by Leary Construction – GreenTech Lubricants/DRC/1-Way Toyota in the 100-miler, the very same car that his son, C.J. Leary, used to win last Fall’s “4-Crown Nationals” at Eldora Speedway.
Chuck, the recipient of the 1993 USAC National Midget and 1995 Silver Crown Rookie of the Year awards, has made four Hoosier Hundred starts in his career: a 6th place finish in 1995, a 1st in 1997, a 23rd in 1998 and a 5th in 1999. His most recent start with the Silver Crown series came at the Du Quoin (Ill.) State Fairgrounds in 2000, where he finished 23rd.
Son C.J. is a burgeoning star on the USAC Silver Crown, AMSOIL National Sprint and NOS Energy Drink National Midget trails. He leads the sprint points, is third in the midget standings and resides 18th in the Silver Crown points. He will be competing in his fourth “Hoosier Hundred” aboard the DMW Motorsports No. 10.
The Hoosier Hundred will provide a rare opportunity for father and son to compete in the Hoosier Hundred. Chuck and C.J. have previously raced against each other in karts and TQ Midgets, where they once started a feature event alongside each other, but this will mark their first instance against one another in a USAC event.
While a number of second-generation drivers have followed in their father, or grandfather’s, footsteps to become a Hoosier Hundred starter, this will mark just the second time in “Hoosier Hundred” history that father and son will attempt to compete in the same race. Jim and James McElreath were the first in 1976 with son James getting the best of his father that day, earning a 10th with Jim grabbing a 19th.
Among the other multiple generation starters include three generations of Carters: Duane, his sons Pancho and Dana, and Duane’s grandson Cole. Tony Bettenhausen and sons Gary and Merle competed as did Bill and Billy Puterbaugh, Jr., Ron and Casey Shuman, Brent and Bud Kaeding, Bob and Bobby East, Mike and Mike Mosley, Jr., Parnelli and Page Jones, John and Jarett Andretti, Blake and Shane Hollingsworth, Jerry and Steven Russell, Billy Vukovich, Jr. and Billy Vukovich III as well as Jim Moughan, Jr. and Joey Moughan.
Hoosier Hundred activities get underway with pits opening at noon eastern, grandstands at 3pm, drivers meeting at 4pm and practice from 4:45-6pm, with qualifications and racing to immediately follow. Tickets are $25 for advance adult general admission and $30 the day of the event. Infield tickets are $20, while general admission for children 11 and under is $10. Pit passes are $30 for members and $35 for non-members.
A great deal is available for those who don't want to miss a single lap of "The Week of Indy.” A Superticket is being sold for a savings of 25% off of the regular three-day prices for the Wednesday, May 22 “Tony Hulman Classic” for USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Cars at the Terre Haute Action Track, the Thursday, May 23 “Hoosier Hundred” for USAC Silver Crown at the Indiana State Fairgrounds and on Friday, May 24 for the Dave Steele “Carb Night Classic” Silver Crown race at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis.
For just $60, a savings of $20, a fan will receive general admission at Terre Haute and Lucas Oil Raceway as well as a reserved seat for the Hoosier Hundred. To purchase a Superticket, visit https://usacracing.ticketspice.com/2019-week-of-indy-ticket-sales.
For more information on any of the events, visit http://www.trackenterprises.com/, http://www.usacracing.com/, or call the Track Enterprises office at 217-764-3200.