USAC SILVER CROWN AT DU QUOIN AUGUST 30
(Chris Pedersen Photo)
By: Richie Murray – USAC Media
Du Quoin, Illinois (August 27, 2025)………Four past Ted Horn 100 winners across four different decades are among the 30 United States Auto Club (USAC) Silver Crown entries set to compete in this Saturday’s August 30th 71st running of the event at the Du Quoin State Fairgrounds in southern Illinois.
4 PAST WINNERS
Among the four past Du Quoin winners in the field are Justin Grant who was won each of the past two Ted Horn 100s on the one-mile dirt oval in both 2023 and 2024 and is coming in fresh off a USAC AMSOIL National Sprintcar Smackdown victory last Saturday at Indiana’s Kokomo Speedway. He also enters Du Quoin while nursing a broken left foot suffered one month ago. Despite it, in his two Silver Crown start since, he finished second at Salem Speedway and fourth at the Illinois State Fairgrounds.
Grant is also the Silver Crown point leader by 77 markers over CJ Leary. Grant could clinch the 2025 Silver Crown title this Saturday if he finishes the Du Quoin event 77 or more points ahead of CJ Leary. The maximum points available in a single event Silver Crown event is 76.
Grant is joined by fellow two-time Du Quoin winners, Michigan’s Brian Tyler (2008 & 2021) as well as local favorite Shane Cockrum (2014 & 2015) from Benton, Illinois. Peru, Indiana’s Russ Gamester returns for his 25th Du Quoin start after winning the event in 1997.
CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE Du QUOIN KIND
Kevin Thomas Junior will make his USAC Silver Crown season debut this Saturday at Du Quoin. He’ll be driving the same John Haggenbottom owned car that just won on the other Illinois dirt mile at Springfield two weeks earlier with Kody Swanson at the wheel.
Swanson will be competing in a Must See Racing Xtreme Sprintcar Series event in Owosso, Michigan this weekend and will not compete at Du Quoin.
Thomas, who finished second at Du Quoin in 2018, will be joined by fellow runner-up CJ Leary who took second in 2023. AJ Fike finished third in 2013 while veteran Ken Schrader, the 1982 USAC Silver Crown Champion, is back for his first series start of the season in a second Hans Lein owned ride alongside teammate Shane Cockrum. Schrader finished a best of third with the USAC Champ Cars at Du Quoin in 1983.
Jake Swanson also took third at Du Quoin in 2021 as did Briggs Danner in 2024, while Casey Buckman finished a career best 5th back in 2022.
EYING MAGIC ON THE MILE
Mario Clouser is back in the seat of the Rice Motorsports-Abacus Racing No. 22 machine, which won the 2022 Du Quoin event with Logan Seavey driving. Clouser finished 6th at the race in 2024, and just recently ran third at Springfield two weeks ago.
Kyle Steffens, who is the youngest winner on the Du Quoin Mile in a modified at the age of 16 in 2001, is now a veteran wheelman who finished a best of seventh with the Silver Crown series in 2024. Kyle Robbins took eighth in 2021 while Matt Westfall finished with a tenth at Du Quoin in 2022. Westfall took second on the Springfield Mile earlier this month.
Du QUOIN VETS IN THE FIELD
All but six of the 30 drivers entered have previously started a Du Quoin USAC Silver Crown main event.
Among the veteran group are Korey Weyant (11th in 2024), Jimmy Light (12th in 2019), Chase Stockon (12th in 2022), Kip Hughes (14th in 2024), Dave Berkheimer (15th in 2023), Mitchel Moles (15th in 2024), Saban Bibent (18th in 2024), Danny Jennnigs (20th in 2024) and Kenny Gentry (26th in 2015).
FIRST TED TALK
Drivers seeking their first career Ted Horn 100 starts this Saturday at Du Quoin include Aric Gentry, whose uncle, Leon Gentry, finished 13th in the 1986 race. Travis Mahoney will make his Du Quoin debut after his father, Jim Mahoney, made four Du Quoin starts between 1988-1992, finishing a best of fifth in 1989.
Will Armitage will be back in the seat after getting upside down early in the race at Springfield in mid-August, while Tom Savage, Rob Caho Jr. and Tim Kent will all get their first taste of action at Du Quoin.
RACE DETAILS:
The 71st running of the Ted Horn 100 features the USAC Silver Crown National Championship along with the 31st Annual Bill Oldani Memorial Prelims for DIRTcar Modifieds.
Registration and pit gates open at 7am Central. Grandstands and ticket office open at 9am with the drivers meeting set for 9:30am. USAC Silver Crown practice is slated to run from 10-11:10am. USAC Silver Crown qualifying is scheduled for 11:30am followed by DIRTcar Modified hot laps and qualifying at 12:15pm. DIRTcar Modified heats are on tap at 1pm followed by the USAC Ted Horn 100 feature at 1:30pm.
Tickets will be available on race day or by calling the Du Quoin Fair office at 618-542-1535. Info and tickets can also be obtained by calling the Track Enterprises office at 217-764-3200. Advance tickets are $25 for ages 12 and up and $10 for children age 11 and under. Race day tickets at the gate are $30 for ages 12 and up and $10 for children 11 and under. Pit passes are $35 for members and $40 for non-members ages 12 and up. Pit passes for children age 11 and under are $20.
The Ted Horn 100 can be watched live on FloRacing at https://flosports.link/usac.
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2025 TED HORN 100 ENTRY LIST: (30)
3 ®ARIC GENTRY/Robards, KY (Tim & Linda Simmons)
6 JAKE SWANSON/Anaheim, CA (Klatt Enterprises)
7 KYLE ROBBINS/New Castle, IN (KR Racing)
8 KYLE STEFFENS/St. Charles, MO (Steffens Motorsports)
10 BRIGGS DANNER/Allentown, PA (DMW Motorsports)
17 ®WILL ARMITAGE/Athens, IL (Will Armitage Racing)
18 KENNY GENTRY/Henderson, KY (Gentry Motorsports)
19 MITCHEL MOLES/Raisin City, CA (Reinbold-Underwood Motorsports)
21 CJ LEARY/Greenfield, IN (Team AZ-Petty-Rossi Racing)
22 MARIO CLOUSER/Auburn, IL (Rice Motorsports-Abacus Racing)
24 KEVIN THOMAS JR./Cullman, AL (John Haggenbottom)
25 CASEY BUCKMAN/Chandler, AZ (C-Buck Motorsports-Eddie Sachs Jr.)
31 DAVE BERKHEIMER/Mechanicsburg, PA (Dave Berkheimer Motorsports)
38 ®TOM SAVAGE/Red Lion, PA (Savage Motorsports)
39 AJ FIKE/Galesburg, IL (A.J. Fike Racing)
51 (w) RUSS GAMESTER/Peru, IN (Gamester Racing)
54 MATT WESTFALL/Pleasant Hill, OH (4 Kings Racing)
61 ®DANNY JENNINGS/Norman, OK (David Grace)
65 ®TRAVIS MAHONEY/Oglesby, IL (SV Motorsports)
69 CHASE STOCKON/Fort Branch, IN (Pink 69 Racing)
78 ®ROB CAHO JR./Rush City, MN (Rob Caho Jr.)
79 ®TIM KENT/Bristow, OK (James Hoover)
81 (w) BRIAN TYLER/Parma, MI (BCR Group)
88 ®SABAN BIBENT/Cincinnati, OH (Sammy & Mouren Fetter)
91 (w) JUSTIN GRANT/Ione, CA (Hemelgarn Racing)
97 (w) SHANE COCKRUM/Benton, IL (Hans Lein)
99 KOREY WEYANT/Springfield, IL (Scott Weyant)
118 JIMMY LIGHT/West Springfield, PA (Mike Thomas)
160 ®KIP HUGHES/North Enid, OK (Kip Hughes)
197 KEN SCHRADER/Fenton, MO (Hans Lein)
(R) represents a USAC Silver Crown Rookie of the Year contender
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USAC SILVER CROWN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS: 1-Justin Grant-713, 2-CJ Leary-636, 3-Matt Westfall-530, 4-Kody Swanson-493, 5-Kyle Steffens-427, 6-Mario Clouser-386, 7-Dakoda Armstrong-345, 8-Dave Berkheimer-326, 9-Taylor Ferns-299, 10-Bobby Santos-272.
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TRACK RECORDS FOR USAC SILVER CROWN AT Du QUOIN:
1 Lap – 9/5/2004 – Tyler Walker – 29.138 – 123.550 mph
10 Laps – 9/10/1994 – George Snider – 5:14.78 – 114.366 mph
12 Laps – 9/4/1989 – Tom Bigelow – 6:29.73 – 110.846 mph
15 Laps – 9/1/2002 – Brian Tyler – 7:53.24 – 114.107 mph
100 Laps – 9/7/1992 – Johnny Parsons – 56:03.00 – 107.047 mph
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AAA/USAC CHAMP CAR WINNERS AT Du QUOIN:
1948: Lee Wallard & Johnnie Parsons
1949: Tony Bettenhausen
1951: Tony Bettenhausen & Tony Bettenhausen
1952: Chuck Stevenson
1953: Sam Hanks
1954: Sam Hanks
1955: Jimmy Bryan
1956: Jimmy Bryan
1957: Jud Larson
1958: Johnny Thomson
1959: Rodger Ward
1960: A.J. Foyt
1961: A.J. Foyt
1963: A.J. Foyt
1964: A.J. Foyt
1965: Don Branson
1966: Bud Tingelstad
1967: A.J. Foyt
1968: Mario Andretti
1969: Al Unser
1970: Al Unser
1971: George Snider
1972: Tom Bigelow & A.J. Foyt
1973: Mario Andretti
1974: Mario Andretti
1975: Tom Bigelow
1976: Bubby Jones
1977: Tom Bigelow
1978: Pancho Carter
1979: Billy Vukovich
1980: Gary Bettenhausen & Gary Bettenhausen
1981: Rich Vogler
1982: Gary Bettenhausen
1983: Gary Bettenhausen
1984: Joe Saldana
1985: Rick Hood
1986: Jack Hewitt
1987: Jack Hewitt
1988: Gary Bettenhausen
1989: Chuck Gurney
1990: Jeff Swindell
1991: Stevie Reeves
1992: Johnny Parsons
1993: Jack Hewitt
1994: Chuck Gurney
1995: Johnny Parsons
1996: Chuck Gurney
1997: Russ Gamester
1998: Jimmy Sills
1999: Tony Elliott
2000: Kasey Kahne
2001: Paul White
2002: J.J. Yeley
2003: Rich Tobias Jr.
2004: Tyler Walker
2005: Tracy Hines
2006: Tracy Hines
2007: Shane Cottle
2008: Brian Tyler
2009: Rained Out
2010: Kody Swanson
2011: Kyle Larson
2012: Rained Out
2013: Chris Urish
2014: Shane Cockrum
2015: Shane Cockrum
2016: Chris Windom
2017: Kody Swanson
2018: Chris Windom
2019: Jacob Wilson
2020: Not Held
2021: Brian Tyler
2022: Logan Seavey
2023: Justin Grant
2024: Justin Grant
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AAA/USAC CHAMP CAR WINS AT Du QUOIN:
6-A.J. Foyt
5-Gary Bettenhausen
3-Mario Andretti, Tony Bettenhausen, Tom Bigelow, Chuck Gurney & Jack Hewitt
2-Jimmy Bryan, Shane Cockrum, Justin Grant, Sam Hanks, Tracy Hines, Johnny Parsons, Kody Swanson, Brian Tyler, Al Unser & Chris Windom
1-Don Branson, Pancho Carter, Shane Cottle, Tony Elliott, Russ Gamester, Rick Hood, Bubby Jones, Kasey Kahne, Jud Larson, Kyle Larson, Johnnie Parsons, Stevie Reeves, Joe Saldana, Logan Seavey, Jimmy Sills, George Snider, Chuck Stevenson, Jeff Swindell, Johnny Thomson, Bud Tingelstad, Rich Tobias Jr., Chris Urish, Rich Vogler, Bill Vukovich, Tyler Walker, Lee Wallard, Rodger Ward, Paul White, Jacob Wilson & J.J. Yeley
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Du QUOIN USAC SILVER CROWN FAST QUALIFYING TIMES:
4-Jerry Coons Jr.
3-Kody Swanson
2-Gary Bettenhausen, Shane Cottle, Dave Darland, Justin Grant, Chuck Gurney, Jack Hewitt, Larry Rice, Jimmy Sills, Al Unser & Tyler Walker
1-Mark Alderson, Mario Andretti, Teddy Beach, Donnie Beechler, Tom Bigelow, Ed Carpenter, Pancho Carter, Bryan Clauson, Shane Cockrum, Tyler Courtney, Larry Dickson, Bobby East, Tony Elliott, Tracy Hines, Rick Hood, Kasey Kahne, Arnie Knepper, Lee Kunzman, Johnny Parsons, George Snider, Jeff Swindell, Rich Vogler, Billy Vukovich, Greg Weld & Jacob Wilson.
