SEVERAL USAC DRIVERS CHASING HISTORY IN SUNDAY’S HOOSIER HUNDRED
By: Jay Hardin – Track Enterprises Staff
Indianapolis (August 18, 2020)………The Indiana State Fairgrounds has a unique place in automobile racing history. The flat mile dirt track on 38th street in Indianapolis was the site of the first one mile per minute lap, by Barney Oldfield in Henry Ford’s famous 999 in June 1903.
Reports suggest that Carl Fisher in November of 1905 discussed plans for a large racetrack in Indianapolis. That same month, Charles Merz circled the dirt oval aided by Fisher’s Prest-O lights hung around the track, in what was one of the first 24-hour endurance events in the world.
The Gold and Glory Sweepstakes made history as African American drivers ran on the dirt mile during the Great Depression, and the Hoosier Hundred set records as the richest dirt track championship race in the world. In Sunday’s 65th Hoosier Hundred several drivers, should they be entered, will be chasing records for the history books as well.
Fourteen drivers can claim the dirt track “triple crown”, a win in the Bettenhausen 100 at Springfield, the Ted Horn 100 at Du Quoin and the Hoosier Hundred. With the resurgence of the Hoosier Hundred, two active drivers have a shot at becoming number 15, 2016 Silver Crown champ Chris Windom, past USAC Sprint Car champ Brian Tyler and 1989 USAC Midget champ Russ Gamester. Windom led the first 5 miles last year before walking away from a frightening accident at the start finish line.
Gamester continues to chase the record 29 starts of Johnny Parsons with 26 going in the books last year. Gamester holds the record for consecutive starts in the Hoosier Hundred with his 23rd in a row coming last year. Russ is also in the top ten in miles completed in the Hoosier Hundred with 1649, good for 5th on the list. Tyler is moving up on the starts list as well, with start 18 coming last year.
Three-time winner Dave Darland is now tied for 4th with A.J. Foyt on the all-time starts list with 21. Darland is one of 11 drivers who can lay claim to listing an Indiana town as his home when they won the Hoosier Hundred. Dave is 6th on the all-time money won list in the Hoosier Hundred with just over $65,000 and 3rd in miles completed with 1797, just 132 behind 1971 Silver Crown champ George Snider. Dave is also tied with Foyt for the most times running at the end of the Hoosier Hundred, 16.
Five-time Silver Crown champ Kody Swanson saw his chance at a record setting 5th consecutive win slip from his grasp last year as Tyler Courtney went to victory lane. Kody remains tied with Al Unser for the most consecutive Hoosier Hundred wins, however he can become just the second driver to have at least 5 Hoosier Hundred wins on Sunday night. A.J. Foyt is the all-time leader in Hoosier Hundred victories with 6.
Just 4 rookies have won the Hoosier Hundred with the last coming in 1974 as Jackie Howerton beat Al Unser and Mario Andretti to the checkered flag. Depending on the entries, rookies such as Logan Seavey, Kyle Cummins, Jake Swanson, Bryan Gossel, Carmen Perigo and Ronnie Wuerdeman, just to name a few, have a chance to become the 5th.
Last year’s race saw a couple of interesting records. Eric Gordon set a record between Hoosier Hundred starts, 21 years! He last made the race in 1998 before making the show again in 2019! And the three drivers that led the Hoosier Hundred, Chris Windom, Kevin Thomas Jr. and Tyler Courtney, had never led a lap on the Indy Mile prior to 2019.
Practice for the 65th Hoosier Hundred starts at 4 p.m. EDT, with qualifications at 5:15, the last chance race at 7:15 and the Hoosier Hundred at 8 p.m. Tickets are available online at www.usactickets.com.
The event, a promotion of Track Enterprises, will be held with strict policing of head count limits and sanitation guidelines in accordance with the CDC and state and local policies. Attendees are required to wear masks upon entry.