SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – After Bryan Clauson won the POWRi midget feature at Lincoln Speedway Friday night in a thrilling battle with Christopher Bell and Rico Abreu, the attention turns to the Springfield Mile at the Illinois State Fairgrounds for the Tony Bettenhausen 100 for USAC Silver Crown cars Saturday. The largest field in three years is expected for the 80th anniversary of the national championship race.
Defending champ A.J. Fike of Galesburg goes for only the second three-peat in the race’s history, and a star-studded field will roll onto a track billed as the world’s fastest mile dirt track. Silver Crown practice starts at 9 a.m. with qualifying at 10:25 and the feature set at 2 p.m. Sportsman Nationals heat races are set to go at 11 a.m.
Stay up-to-date on news on track conditions today by joining the Macon Speedway text club or by going online to Maconracing.com and Trackenterprises.com.
Later Saturday, the POWRi machines take to lightning fast Macon Speedway for a program that includes double features in the POWRi midgets and Ken Schrader racing his UMP modified. Beach House Mini-Sprints will challenge the POWRi Outlaw Micros, and the winged mini-sprints always put on an amazing show. With Billingsley Towing Modifieds, Street Stocks, Outlaw Hornets and Stock Hornets also racing, the Macon Speedway pits will likely reach overflow capacity. It’s a great night to buy a pit pass to get up close and personal with the POWRi stars and some amazing machinery. Gates open at 5 p.m. with racing at 7.
On Sunday, the Central Illinois SuperChevyStores.com 100 is the first time the ARCA Racing Series by Menards hits the dirt this season after making stops at Daytona, Talladega, Pocono and Michigan, among other legendary racing meccas. The 100-lapper will likely start more than 30 cars, and the race always brings drivers from varied backgrounds as they attempt to claim a win on the storied mile.
A year ago, Brennan Poole captured the win after Kelly Kovski and Fike were black-flagged for jumping a late restart. Kovski is a Springfield racer who was attempting a rare win by a hometown driver on the famed mile. NASDCAR star Ken Schrader, a former race winner, will be going for another win. Practice starts at 9 a.m. with qualifying at 11:15 and the 100-lap race at 1:35 p.m. The Sportsman Nationals will also race a feature at noon.
Tickets for Illinois State Fair events are on sale at the State Fair ticket office (217-782-1979) and Track Enterprises (217-764-3200). For each event, advance tickets are $25 for adults and $10 for children 11 and under. Tickets sold on day of the race are $30 for adults and $10 for children 11 and under. Pit passes are sold race day only for $35. A two-day pass is $40. Infield tickets are sold race-day only for $20 for adults, including the $5 entry fee to the fair. Children 6-11 are $5, and children 5 and under are free.
Macon Speedway is located nine miles south of Decatur on U.S. 51, then 0.6 miles west on Andrews Street, then south to 205 N. Wiles. Macon Speedway hosts racing every Saturday night, plus many weeknight specials. For more information, follow Macon Speedway at (www.maconracing.com), Facebook (www.facebook.com/maconracing) and Twitter (@maconspeedway). It’s easy to join the Macon Speedway Text service. Fans can text MSFANS to 74574 to receive fan information. Drivers text MSDRIVERS to 74574 to receive driver information. Message and data rates may apply.