SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (July 26, 2017) – The Herr’s Potato Chips 100 national championship stock car race at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield, featuring the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards, is turning 55.

The 55th running of the Herr’s Potato Chips 100, one of the capital city’s largest sporting events, takes center stage on the world’s fastest mile dirt track Sunday afternoon August 20 alongside the 165th annual Illinois State Fair.

The Herr’s Potato Chips 100 will be the 356th ARCA race on a dirt track since the series’ inception in 1953.

“The Illinois State Fair mile dirt venues are vitally important to the character and identity of the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards,” said ARCA President Ron Drager. “It’s a conscious effort on our part to continue to recognize the role non-pavement tracks played in the development of our series, and motorsports as a whole, and the role dirt racing continues to play today.”

The on-going legacy of one of America’s oldest state fairs has included a sizeable chunk of auto racing, going back more than 80 years to 1934 when Billy Winn won the first-ever championship race event on the mile horse track. And it’s on that same horse track where the annual championship stock car race grew roots since the inaugural 100-lap event in 1950 – Jay Frank the first championship stock car winner.

Pre-entries already include Illinois favorites Ryan Unzicker (El Paso) and former Springfield winner AJ Fike (Galesburg). Championship contenders Austin Theriault (Fort Kent, Maine/Ken Schrader Racing) and Dalton Sargeant (Boca Raton, Florida/Cunningham Motorsports) are locked in a tight battle for the national championship. Neither driver has ever raced on a dirt track. NASCAR Camping World Truck Series racer Christopher Bell is also entered in one of  three Toyotas from the Venturini Motorsports camp, veteran Tom Hessert and Californian Zane Smith the others.

Discounted Tickets at Menards

Fans can save $10 off the $30 gate price at two Menards stores in Springfield (Menards North and South), as well as stores in Champaign, Effingham, Forsyth, Normal, Pekin, Peoria, Quincy and Washington. Discounted tickets are $20 at Menards for ages 12 on up. Kids, 11 and under, are still $10 at the gate.

Springfield winners

10-time ARCA Racing Series national champion Frank Kimmel is the all-time Springfield winner with eight wins, his most recent in 2012. Over the years, championship stock car winners at Springfield include Curtis Turner (’63), Don White (’66, ’67, ’72), Al Unser (’72), Jack Bowsher (’73), Roger McCluskey (’74), Ramo Stott (’76, ’77, ’80), AJ Foyt (’79), Joe Ruttman (’80), Dean Roper (’81, ’82, ’83, ’83, ’85, ’86), Bob Keselowski (’87, ’88, ’89, ’93), Bobby Bowsher (’91, ’92), Tim Steele (’96, ’97), Ken Schrader (’98), Bill Baird (’99, ’04), Justin Allgaier (’06), Parker Kligerman (’09), Kimmel (’00, ’01, ’02. ’03, ’05, ’07, ’08, ’12), Kevin Swindell (’14), AJ Fike (’15) and Justin Haley (’16).

Herr’s Potato Chips 100 schedule

Practice for the Herr’s Potato Chips 100 is scheduled from 9-10 a.m. with General Tire Pole Qualifying following at 11. The 55th annual Herr’s Potato Chips 100 starts at 1:30 p.m. All times are local Central.