The winner of the 55th Hoosier Hundred will have the inside track on the First Financial Corporation of Indiana Cup thanks to a bonus posted by the First Financial Corporation and it’s president Don Smith as they, in conjunction with promoter Track Enterprises have again posted a $25,000 bonus for the USAC Silver Crown Series driver that can capture the Hoosier Hundred at the Indiana State Fairgrounds on Friday, the 47th Tony Bettenhausen 100 at Springfield on August 18 and the 57th Ted Horn 100 on September 2. Should a driver in the K&N filters Silver Crown Series be able to pull off the dirt track ‘triple crown’ he could pocket over $34,000 at DuQuoin on Labor Day weekend.
First Financial and former USAC car owner and promoter Don Smith posted the award last season and while Tracy Hines posted wins at Springfield and DuQuoin the Hoosier Hundred eluded his grasp going to Josh Wise. With Hines out of action due to an injury suffered in a motorcycle accident the chase for the First Financial Cup appears to be wide open though some veterans might have an advantage over the younger stars of the Silver Crown series.
Three time Hoosier Hundred winner Dave Darland has wins at the Indy mile and Springfield but DuQuoin has not been as kind to the 1997 USAC champ. Tony Elliot has two Hoosier Hundred wins to his credit and a win at DuQuoin but has yet to win at Springfield. Paul White won at Springfield and DuQuoin in his 2001 title run but success on the tricky Indiana State Fair mile has been hard to come by for the Texan.
In fact, since 1948 only four drivers have been able to sweep the “Big 3” on the fairground dirt tracks of Indiana and Illinois, either during the National Championship series prior to 1971 or during the USAC Silver Crown slate. The Arizona Cowboy and 1958 Indy 500 winner Jimmy Bryan won at Springfield, DuQuoin and the Indy mile in 1955 and again in 1956. “Super Tex” A. J. Foyt won on all three tracks during his super season of 1964 and the last National Champion to win all three dirt track races was Al Unser in 1970. In the 37 year history of the Silver Crown series, only Troy, Ohio’s Jack Hewitt was able to pull off the hat trick, winning on the three dirt miles in 1986. Since 1971 ten drivers have won two of the three events but failed to capture the ‘triple crown’.
The Hoosier Hundred is the first leg in the quest for the First Financial Corporation of Indiana Cup and the championship dirt car ‘triple crown’. Practice for the 55th Hoosier Hundred begins at 5 p. m. EDT and the 100-mile grind is slated for 8. Tickets can be obtained by calling 317-927-1482 and a discount coupon good on race day purchases is available at participating Indianapolis Kroger stores.
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