LARSON TAKES SHOT AT 3RD DIRT MILE TRACK WIN AT SPRINGFIELD
By: Jay Hardin - Track Enterprises Staff
Springfield, Illinois (October 12, 2020)………The announcement yesterday of the entry of Kyle Larson for the Bettenhausen 100 presented by Fatheadz Eyewear means that a shot at the history books is possible for the Elk Grove, California driver this Sunday afternoon, October 18, at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield.
Larson has been the talk of the dirt track racing world for the last few months running and winning in everything from sprint cars to dirt late models to the mighty Silver Crown machines. No driver in the last decade has demonstrated the versatility of the 28-year-old. Larson enters Springfield as one of the favorites and could add his name to a short list of racing drivers who have won on all three of the dirt miles in a championship dirt car.
Larson has only 10 career Silver Crown starts, in those 10 starts he has three wins and four fast qualifier awards. His first victory came in September of 2011 under the lights of Du Quoin’s Magic Mile. “Yung Money” started 4th, took the lead from pole sitter Bryan Clauson on lap 23 and dominated the rest of the event riding a thin cushion just inches from the wall. Later that month, Larson added his name to the record books winning all three USAC features, sprint car, midget and Silver Crown at Eldora’s Four Crown Nationals.
Earlier this year Larson came to the Indiana State Fairgrounds with a brand-new car and a new team. All he did was set fast time (just a few ticks off the track record), accept a penalty for changing tires and start 22nd. By lap nine, he was up to the 4th slot and took the lead for the first time on lap 25. C.J. Leary would lead through lap 68 when Larson made a daring move into the first corner, seizing the lead for the final time.
A win at Springfield in the Bettenhausen would place Larson’s name on a list of Springfield championship race winners that reads like a Hall of Fame. The history of championship racing at Springfield goes back to 1934 making the Illinois State Fairgrounds the oldest continuous venue in the Silver Crown Series. A win Sunday would also give Larson the USAC Silver Crown “trifecta”, a win in the Ted Horn 100 at Du Quoin, a Hoosier Hundred win and a win in the Bettenhausen.
Since all three venues appeared on the same schedules just fourteen drivers have been able to post a champ car win on all three of the dirt miles. The fourteen include Jimmy Bryan, Rodger Ward, A.J. Foyt, Mario Andretti, Al Unser, Tom Bigelow, Pancho Carter, Gary Bettenhausen, George Snider, Chuck Gurney, Jack Hewitt, Jimmy Sills, J.J. Yeley and Kody Swanson who joined the group in 2014. Just three, Bryan, Foyt and Hewitt won all three events in the same season.
On Sunday, grandstand ticket sales will be limited to 20% capacity in order to promote a safe atmosphere and allow for proper social distancing. In addition, face coverings will be required, temperatures will be checked upon arrival, and multiple hand washing and sanitizing stations will be placed throughout the venue.
The Sunday, October 18 Bettenhausen 100 presented by Fatheadz Eyewear will feature the USAC Silver Crown Series in the 57th edition of the event. Grandstand capacity is set at 20% and tickets are available online at www.trackenterprises.com or by calling the Track Enterprises office at 217-764-3200. The advance sale tickets will also save fans a couple of bucks compared to purchasing them at the event.
Pit gates will open at 8am Central, grandstands and ticket office at 11am, practice at Noon, qualifying at 1:15pm, the last chance race at 2:15pm and the 57th running of the Bettenhausen 100 presented by Fatheadz Eyewear will take the green at 3pm. All times listed are central.
For more information or to order tickets, visit www.trackenterprises.com or call 217-764-3200.
The Bettenhausen 100 can also be watched LIVE on FloRacing at https://bit.ly/3frPoW6.