By Jay Hardin Track Enterprises Staff

(Springfield, IL) August 7, 2024-California’s Logan Seavey looks to become the first back-to-back winner of the Bettenhausen 100 in nine years on Saturday, August 17 at the Illinois State Fairgrounds.  Since 2020, the 2023 USAC Silver Crown champion has finishes of eighth, second, third, and first in the 100-mile classic.  Last year’s win helped the Sutter, California native to his first Silver Crown national championship and deliver a coveted trophy to car owner Robbie Rice.  Rice’s father, the late Larry Rice, also won the Bettenhausen in 1977 enroute to the first of his two Silver Crown titles.

Last August, Seavey set quick time in qualifications of nearly 115 miles an hour, then watched as rookie Emerson Axsom led the opening lap from the outside of the front row.  Seavey took the lead on lap 2 and led through lap 41 before veteran Shane Cottle took over the top slot.  Cottle looked like a winner until Seavey caught and passed him on lap 88 and captured his first Bettenhausen win.  In doing so, Seavey became the 19th Springfield winner from the pole position and the 5th different winner since 2015.  He also became the 24th Springfield winner from the state of California.

Seavey entered the 2024 season with 8 career wins in the USAC series, tied for fifteenth all time.  This season he sits third in the USAC Silver Crown point standings, 50 behind 7-time national champion and fellow Californian Kody Swanson (entering the August 10 event at Jennerstown).  Two events, including a date at Worldwide Technology Raceway near St. Louis pre-date the Bettenhausen.    A possible 76 points are at stake at Springfield.  Seavey has yet to post a win in the big cars in 2024, as his best finishes are a second on the asphalt at Lucas Oil Raceway in May and a second in the July Salt City 100 at the Kansas State Fairgrounds.

Seavey’s mile track success isn’t an accident.  He made his mile dirt track debut in an ARCA stock car in 2018 on the tricky DuQuoin “Magic Mile” starting fourth and leading 35 miles on his way to an ARCA victory.  He came to Springfield in 2019 in the ARCA series, set fast time that day then backed it up with a strong fourth place run and leading 34 laps.  Seavey also won the Ted Horn 100 at DuQuoin in 2022 showing the steady drive that’s made him a threat in the big cars.

The 61st Bettenhausen is part of a huge weekend of racing that begins Friday night, August 16 at Lincoln Speedway featuring MOWA Sprint Cars, Saturday afternoon, August 17 with USAC Silver Crown and Sportsman at the Illinois State Fairgrounds, and Sunday afternoon, August 18 with the ARCA Allen Crowe Memorial 100 and the Sportsman Nationals at the Illinois State Fair.

Advance tickets for the Illinois State Fair races are available by calling the Track Enterprises office at 217-764-3200, by calling the Illinois State Fair box office at 217-782-1979, or by stopping by the Illinois State Fair box office.

Advance sale discounted tickets for the ARCA Menards Series event on Sunday, August 18 can be purchased in Central Illinois area Menards stores for a price of just $20. Stores selling tickets include Champaign, Danville, Effingham, Forsyth, Normal, Pekin, Peoria, Quincy, Springfield North/South, and Washington.

For more information, visit www.usacracing.com, www.arcaracing.com, or www.trackenterprises.com.

*Mark Funderburk Photo