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The United States Auto Club (USAC) is one of the sanctioning bodies of auto racing in the United States. From 1956 to 1979, USAC sanctioned the United States National Championship, and from 1956 to 1997 the organization sanctioned the Indianapolis 500. USAC serves as the sanctioning body for a number of racing series, including the Silver Crown Series, National Sprint Cars, National Midgets, Speed2 Midget Series, .25 Midget Series, Stadium Super Trucks, and Pirelli World Challenge. Seven-time USAC champion Levi Jones is USAC's Competition Director.
American open-wheel car racing, generally known as Indy car racing, or more formally Indianapolis car racing, is a category of professional automobile racing in the United States. As of 2024, the top-level American open-wheel racing championship is sanctioned by IndyCar. Competitive events for professional-level, open-wheel race cars have been conducted under the auspices of various sanctioning bodies, tracing its roots as far back as 1902. A season-long, points-based, National Championship of drivers has been officially recognized in 1905, 1916, and each year since 1920. As such, for many years, the category of racing was known as Championship car racing. That name has fallen from use, and the term Indy car racing has become the preferred moniker.
Steve Butler is an American former auto racing driver. He won six national driving championships in USAC Sprint Car and Silver Crown open-wheel racing. Butler was highly regarded for his technical skills and performed chief mechanic duties on several of his winning race cars. He also communicated his view of racing to fans both as author and television commentator. Despite a relatively brief racing career (1981–1993), Butler is an inductee into the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame, the USAC Hall of Fame, and the Hoosier Auto Racing Fan's Hall of Fame. He retired at age 37 to pursue both an engineering career and more time with his growing family. Butler currently resides in Kokomo, IN.
Eldora Speedway is a 0.5 mi (804.672 m) high-banked clay dirt oval. Located north of Rossburg, Ohio in the village of New Weston, Ohio, its website claims capacity for 22,886 spectators in the permanent grandstand, and unlimited admittance for the grass hillside spectator area. The permanent grandstand and VIP suite seats make it the largest sports stadium in the Dayton, Ohio-region according to the Dayton Business Journal.
Illinois State Fairgrounds Racetrack is a one mile long clay oval motor racetrack on the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield, the state capital. It is frequently nicknamed The Springfield Mile. Constructed in the late 19th century and reconstructed in 1927, the track has hosted competitive auto racing since 1910, making it one of the oldest speedways in the United States. The original mile track utilized the current frontstretch and the other side was behind the current grandstands and the straightaways were connected by tight turns. It is the oldest track to continually host national championship dirt track racing, holding its first national championship race in 1934 under the American Automobile Association banner. It is the home of five world records for automobile racing, making it one of the fastest dirt tracks in the world. Since 1993, the venue is managed by Bob Sargent's Track Enterprises.
The 1971 USAC Championship Car season consisted of 12 races, beginning in Rafaela, Argentina on February 28 and concluding in Avondale, Arizona on October 23. The USAC National Champion was Joe Leonard and the Indianapolis 500 winner was Al Unser. For 1971 it was decided that there should be three separate points championships, for paved ovals, dirt ovals, and road courses.
The 1981–82 USAC Championship Car season consisted of six races, beginning in Speedway, Indiana, on May 24, 1981, and concluding at the same location on May 30, 1982. The USAC National Champion was George Snider. The season included two Indianapolis 500 races. The 1981 winner was Bobby Unser, while the 1982 winner was Gordon Johncock. The schedule included dirt courses for the first time since 1970.
The 1983–84 USAC Championship Car season consisted of two races, beginning in Du Quoin, Illinois, on September 5, 1983, and concluding in Speedway, Indiana, on May 27, 1984. The USAC National Champion and Indianapolis 500 winner was Rick Mears. This was the last year that the Championship comprised more than one race, and the Ted Horn Memorial was the last ever Indycar race on a dirt or clay surface.
The USAC Stock Car division was the stock car racing class sanctioned by the United States Auto Club (USAC). The division raced nationally; drivers from USAC's open wheel classes like Indy cars, Silver Crown, sprints, and midgets frequently competed in races and won championships. Several NASCAR drivers raced in USAC Stock Cars at various points in their careers.
The Hoosier Hundred is a USAC Silver Crown Series race scheduled for Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park as of 2023. It is a revival of the original race held from 1953-2020 at the Indiana State Fairgrounds Speedway, a one-mile dirt oval in Indianapolis, Indiana. The race was first held in 1953, and through 1970 was part of the National Championship.
The 2015 USAC Traxxas Silver Crown Champ Car Series season was the 44th season of the USAC Silver Crown Series. The series began with the Hemelgarn Racing/Super Fitness Rollie Beale Classic at the Toledo Speedway on May 1, and ended on October 10 at New York State Fairgrounds. Kody Swanson began the season as the defending champion and retained his title.
The 2016 USAC Silver Crown Champ Car Series season was the 45th season of the USAC Silver Crown Series. The series began with the Sumar Classic at the Terre Haute Action Track on April 3, and ended with the 4 Crown Nationals at Eldora Speedway on September 24. Kody Swanson entered the 2016 season as the defending champion, and Chris Windom was the season champion.
The 2017 USAC Silver Crown Champ Car Series presented by Traxxas season is the 46th season of the USAC Silver Crown Series. The series began with the Sumar Classic at the Terre Haute Action Track on April 2, and will end with the 4 Crown Nationals at Eldora Speedway on September 23. Chris Windom entered the 2017 season as the defending champion. Kody Swanson won the 2017 season championship driving for DePalma Motorsports in the #63 Maxim / Hampshire Chevrolet.
The 2014 USAC Traxxas Silver Crown Champ Car Series season was the 43rd season of the USAC Silver Crown Series. The series began with the Sumar Classic at the Terre Haute Action Track on April 6, and ended on October 11 at New York State Fairgrounds. Bobby East began the season as the defending champion, and Kody Swanson was the season champion.
The 2013 USAC Traxxas Silver Crown Champ Car Series season was the 42nd season of the USAC Silver Crown Series. The series began with the Sumar Classic at the Terre Haute Action Track on April 28, and ended on September 21 at the Four Crown Nationals at Eldora Speedway. Bobby East began the season as the defending champion retained his title.
The 2012 USAC Traxxas Silver Crown Champ Car Series season was the 41st season of the USAC Silver Crown Series. The series began with the Hall of Fame Classic at Indianapolis Raceway Park on May 19, and ended on October 13 at the Sumar Classic at the Terre Haute Action Track. Levi Jones began the season as the defending champion, and Bobby East was the season champion.
The 2011 USAC Traxxas Silver Crown Champ Car Series season was the 40th season of the USAC Silver Crown Series. The series began with the Sumar Classic at the Terre Haute Action Track on April 23, and ended on October 15 at the Rollie Beale Classic at Toledo Speedway. Levi Jones began the season as the defending champion and retained his title over Jerry Coons Jr. by a three point margin. It was his seventh USAC title which tied him with Rich Vogler, A. J. Foyt, and Mel Kenyon for the most USAC open wheel titles. Jones' co-owner Tony Stewart recorded his sixth Silver Crown title and co-owner Curb Agajanian Performance Group recorded its second. Kyle Larson was the series' Rookie of the Year.
The 2018 USAC Silver Crown Champ Car Series is the 47th season of Silver Crown racing under the USAC banner. The series will begin with the Phoenix Copper Cup at ISM Raceway on April 7, and will end with the 4 Crown Nationals at Eldora Speedway on September 22. Kody Swanson entered the 2018 season as the defending champion. Swanson won the 2018 season title, becoming a 4-time series champion. Swanson also joined Al Unser as one of the only two drivers in history to win four consecutive Hoosier Hundred races in a row in 2018. Swanson also became the all-time wins leader in Silver Crown at Salem with 24 wins.
The 2019 USAC Silver Crown Champ Car Series was the 48th season of Silver Crown racing under the USAC banner. The season began with the Memphis 100 at Memphis International Raceway on March 23, and ended with the 4 Crown Nationals at Eldora Speedway on September 28. The original 12-race season for 2019 was to be an equal split of races on dirt and asphalt however as the season progressed, two dirt races were rained out and unable to be rescheduled so the final tally was six asphalt races and four dirt races. The 2019 season also featured full-season broadcast coverage on FloSports. Kody Swanson will enter the 2019 season as the defending champion.
The 2022 USAC Silver Crown Champ Car Series was the 51st season of Silver Crown racing under the USAC banner. The season began with the Sumar Classic at Terre Haute Action Track on May 1 and ended at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park on October 22. The entire season was featured live and on-demand on FloRacing. Kody Swanson won his seventh USAC Silver Crown title.