Illinois State Fairgrounds Racetrack

Last updated

Illinois State Fairgrounds Racetrack
The Springfield Mile
Location Springfield, Illinois
Time zoneGMT-6
Coordinates 39°50′17″N89°38′20″W / 39.838°N 89.639°W / 39.838; -89.639
OwnerState of Illinois
OperatorBob Sargent / Track Enterprises
Openedc. 1853
Major events ARCA Racing Series
Allen Crowe Memorial
USAC Silver Crown Series
Bettenhausen 100
American Flat Track
Oval
SurfaceClay
Length1 miles (1.6 km)
Turns4
Illinois State Fairgrounds
USA Illinois location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Usa edcp location map.svg
Red pog.svg
LocationJct. of Sangamon Ave. and Peoria Rd., Springfield, Illinois
Area366 acres (148 ha)
Built1894
ArchitectHammond, Charles Herrick
Architectural style Classical Revival
MPS Historic Fairgrounds in Illinois MPS
NRHP reference No. 90000720 [1]
Added to NRHPMay 14, 1990

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. [2] 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. [2] 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.

Contents

The Illinois State Fair mile currently hosts the Allen Crowe Memorial 100 ARCA stock car race, USAC Silver Crown dirt cars, UMP Late Models and Modifieds and the A.M.A. Grand National Championship. The only driver who has won races in three disciplines of racing in Ken Schrader who won in ARCA cars (1998), UMP Modifieds (1998), and midgets. [2]

Billy Winn won the first national championship dirt track race held at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in 1934. A.J. Foyt ran his first national championship race there in August 1957. The track is host to two of the older memorial events in the United States, the Bettenhausen 100 for the USAC dirt championship cars, first run in 1961 and the Allen Crowe Memorial 100 stock car event for USAC, now ARCA, stock cars, first held in 1963. Both races are now held on the last weekend of the Illinois State Fair. Chuck Gurney is the only seven-time winner of the Bettenhausen 100, while ARCA driver Frank Kimmel won the Allen Crowe Memorial for the seventh time in 2008.

The Bettenhausen 100 was part of the AAA/USAC Championship Car schedule from 1934 to 1940, 1947 to 1970 and again in 1981 and 1982, and has been a Silver Crown race since then.

From 1946 to 1953, the A.M.A. Grand National Champion was crowned based solely on the results of the Springfield Mile held at the fairground racetrack. [3] The 2020 Silver Crown race was delayed until October 18 by the COVID-19 pandemic; it was the latest that a race has been held at the track in a year and became the series' finale of the season. [4] The 2022 Silver Crown race was also postponed to October, this time by rain.

AAA/USAC Champ Car/Silver Crown race history

All winners were Flag of the United States.svg American

SeasonDateWinning DriverTeamCar
1934August 25 Billy Winn James Winn Miller FD
1935August 24 Billy Winn James Winn Miller FD
1936August 22 Wilbur Shaw Wilbur Shaw Miller-Offy
1937August 21 Mauri Rose Wilbur Shaw Miller-Offy
1938August 20 Tony Willman  ?Cragar-Ford
1939August 19 John Crone  ? Miller
October 15 Emil Andres Emil AndresAdams-Offy
1940August 24 Rex Mays Bowes Racing TeamStevens-Winfield
1947September 28 Tony Bettenhausen Belanger MotorsStevens-Offy
1948August 21 Ted Horn Ted Horn EnterprisesHorn-Offy
September 19 Myron Fohr Carl MarcheseMarchese-Offy
1949August 20 Mel Hansen Bowes Racing Team Lesovsky-Offy
September 25 Johnnie Parsons Kurtis Kraft Inc. Kurtis Kraft-Offy
1950August 19 Paul Russo Russo-Nichels Russo-Nichels-Offy
October 1 Tony Bettenhausen Belanger Motors Kurtis Kraft-Offy
1951August 18 Tony Bettenhausen Belanger Motors Kurtis Kraft-Offy
1952August 16 Bill Schindler Harry Allen Chapman Russo-Nichels-Offy
1953June 21 Rodger Ward M.A. Walker Electric Kurtis Kraft-Offy
August 22 Sam Hanks Bardahl/Ed Walsh Kurtis Kraft-Offy
1954August 21 Jimmy Davies Pat Clancy Ewing-Offy
1955August 20 Jimmy Bryan Dean Van Lines Kuzma-Offy
1956August 19 Jimmy Bryan Dean Van Lines Kuzma-Offy
1957August 17 Rodger Ward Roger Wolcott Lesovsky-Offy
1958August 16 Johnny Thomson Racing Associates, Inc. Kuzma-Offy
1959August 22 Len Sutton Central Excavating Kuzma-Offy
1960August 20 Jim Packard Stearly Motor Freight Lesovsky-Offy
1961August 21 Jim Hurtubise Barnett Brothers Kuzma-Offy
1962August 19 Jim Hurtubise Barnett Brothers Kuzma-Offy
1963August 17 Rodger Ward Leader Card Racers Watson-Offy
1964August 22 A. J. Foyt Ansted-Thompson Racing Meskowski-Offy
1965August 21 A. J. Foyt Ansted-Thompson Racing Meskowski-Offy
1966August 20 Don Branson Leader Card Racers Watson-Offy
1967August 19 A. J. Foyt Ansted-Thompson Racing Meskowski-Offy
1968August 17 Roger McCluskey Lindsey Hopkins Racing Kuzma-Offy
1969August 18 Mario Andretti STP Corporation Kuzma-Offy
1970August 22 Al Unser Vel's Parnelli Jones Racing King-Ford
1971August 22 A. J. Foyt Gilmore Racing Meskowski-Foyt
1972August 20 Al Unser Vel's Parnelli Jones Racing King-Foyt
1973August 19 Mario Andretti Vel's Parnelli Jones Racing King-Foyt
1974August 18 Mario Andretti Vel's Parnelli Jones Racing King-Foyt
1975August 16 Al Unser Vel's Parnelli Jones Racing King-Foyt
1976August 21 Tom Bigelow Leader Card Racers Watson-Foyt
1977August 20 Larry Rice David LefrevreLefevre-Chevrolet
1978August 19 Gary Bettenhausen Agajanian-King RacingKing-Chevrolet
1979August 18 Bobby Olivero Leader Card Racers Watson-Chevrolet
1980August 19 Pancho Carter Emcee, Inc.King-Chevrolet
1981August 15 George Snider David LefevreLefevre-Chevrolet
1982August 14 Bobby Olivero Hodgdon-Curb Racing Watson-Chevrolet
1983August 20 Gary Bettenhausen Delrose-Holt RacingKing-Chevrolet
1984August 18 Chuck Gurney Transportation Computer Systems Watson-Chevrolet
1985August 17 Chuck Gurney Transportation Computer Systems Watson-Chevrolet
1986August 16 Jack Hewitt Bob Hampshire RacingStanton-Chevrolet
1987August 22 Jack Hewitt Bob Hampshire RacingStanton-Chevrolet
1988August 20 Steve Chassey Delmar McClureAdkins-Chevrolet
1989August 19 Chuck Gurney Transportation Computer Systems Watson-Chevrolet
1990August 18 Chuck Gurney Transportation Computer Systems Watson-Chevrolet
1991August 17 Chuck Gurney Transportation Computer Systems Watson-Chevrolet
1992August 22 Jimmy Sills Bob Consani RacingBeast-Chevrolet
1993August 21 Jack Hewitt Team 6R RacingBeast-Chevrolet
1994August 20 Chuck Gurney Foxco EngineeringBeast-Chevrolet
1995August 19 Kenny Irwin Calderwood RacingBeast-Chevrolet
1996August 14 Chuck Gurney Johnny Vance RacingBeast-Chevrolet
1997August 16 Dave Darland Foxco EngineeringBeast-Chevrolet
1998August 22 Russ Gamester Russ GamesterBeast-Chevrolet
1999August 21 Dave Darland Foxco EngineeringBeast-Chevrolet
2000August 19 Jack Hewitt Dewitt MotorsportsBeast-Chevrolet
2001August 18 Paul White Paul Cook RacingBeast-Chevrolet
2002August 17 J. J. Yeley East-Stewart RacingBeast-Ford
2003August 16 Dave Darland Foxco EngineeringBeast-Chevrolet
2004August 21 Brian Tyler Team 6R RacingBeast-Chevrolet
2005August 21 Brian Tyler Team 6R RacingBeast-Mopar
2006August 19 Tracy Hines Indiana UndergroundBeast-Chevrolet
2007August 18 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Tony Stewart RacingEagle-Mopar
2008August 16 Brian Tyler Team 6R RacingBeast-Toyota
2009August 21 Cole Whitt Keith Kunz MotorsportsEagle-Chevrolet
2011August 20 Brian Tyler Team 6R RacingBeast-Chevrolet
2012August 18 A. J. Fike RFMS RacingBeast-Chevrolet
2013August 17 A. J. Fike RFMS RacingBeast-Chevrolet
2014September 7 Kody Swanson DePalma MotorsportsMaxim-Chevrolet
2015August 22 Kody Swanson DePalma MotorsportsMaxim-Chevrolet
2017August 19 Justin Grant Carli-Hemelgarn Racing DRC-Ford
2018August 18 Chris Windom Nolen RacingBeast-Chevrolet
2020October 18 Kyle Larson [5] Sean Michael Motorsports
2021August 21 Kody Swanson Chris Dyson Racing
2022October 15 Shane Cockrum [6]
2023August 19 Logan Seavey [7]
2024August 17 Justin Grant [8]

AMA Class C / Grand National / American Flat Track

YearRider
1937Lester Hillbish
1938Roul Castonguay
1939Stanley Witinski
1940Melvin Rhoades
1941Wilfred Castonguay
1942-45Not held
1946Chet Dykgraaf
1947Jimmy Chann
1948Jimmy Chann
1949Jimmy Chann
1950Larry Headrick
1951 Bobby Hill
1952 Bobby Hill
1953Bill Tuman
1954 Joe Leonard
1955Everett Brashear
1956Everett Brashear
1957 Joe Leonard
1958 Joe Leonard
1959Carroll Resweber
1960Troy Lee
1961Carroll Resweber
1962Bart Markel
1963George Roeder
1964Sammy Tanner
1965Ralph White
1966Gary Nixon
1967-81Not held
1982Ricky Graham
1983 (spring)Ricky Graham
1983 (fall)Ricky Graham
1984 (summer)Ricky Graham
1984 (fall)Ted Boody
1985 (spring) Bubba Shobert
1985 (fall)Ricky Graham
1986 (spring)Ricky Graham
1986 (fall) Bubba Shobert
1987 (spring)Scott Parker
1987 (fall) Bubba Shobert
1988 (spring) Bubba Shobert
1988 (fall)Scott Parker
1989 (July)Scott Parker
1989 (fall)Scott Parker
1990 (spring)Scott Parker
1990 (fall)Scott Parker
1991 (spring)Ricky Graham
1991 (fall)Scott Parker
1992 (spring)Scott Parker
1992 (fall)Scott Parker
1993 (spring)Ricky Graham
1993 (fall)Ricky Graham
1994Scott Parker
1995 (spring) Chris Carr
1995 (fall)Scott Parker
1996 (fall)Dave Camlin
1996 (fall)Dave Camlin
1997 (fall)Scott Parker
1997 (fall)Kevin Atherton
1998 (spring)Scott Parker
1998 (fall) Chris Carr
1999 (spring)Kevin Atherton
1999 (fall)Rich King
2000 (spring)Jay Springsteen
2000 (fall race 1)Scott Parker
2001 (spring) Chris Carr
2001 (fall) Chris Carr
2002 (spring) Chris Carr
2002 (fall) Chris Carr
2003 (spring)Rich King
2003 (fall)Rich King
2004 (spring)Rich King
2004 (fall) Chris Carr
2005 (spring)Rich King
2005 (fall) Chris Carr
2006 (spring) Chris Carr
2006 (fall)Bryan Smith
2007 (spring) Kenny Coolbeth
2007 (fall) Chris Carr
2008 (race 1) Kenny Coolbeth
2008 (race 2) Chris Carr
2009 (spring) Kenny Coolbeth
2009 (fall)Jake Johnson
2010 (spring)Jake Johnson
2010 (fall)Bryan Smith
2011 (spring) Jared Mees
2011 (fall)Willie McCoy
2012 (spring)Willie McCoy
2012 (fall)Bryan Smith
2013 (race 1)Brandon Robinson
2013 (race 2)Brandon Robinson
2014 (spring)Bryan Smith
2014 (fall) Kenny Coolbeth
2015 (spring)Bryan Smith
2015 (fall)Bryan Smith
2016 (spring)Bryan Smith
2016 (fall) Kenny Coolbeth
2017 (spring)Bryan Smith
2017 (fall) Jared Mees
2018 (spring)Jeffrey Carver Jr.
2018 (fall)Bryan Smith
2019 (race 1) Jared Mees
2019 (race 2) Jared Mees
2020 (race 1)Sammy Halbert
2020 (race 2) Jared Mees
2021 (race 1) Jared Mees
2021 (race 2) Jared Mees
2022Cancelled
2023 (race 1) Jared Mees
2023 (race 2)Briar Bauman

References: [9] [10]

See also

References

  1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places . National Park Service. November 2, 2013.
  2. 1 2 3 "USAC Bettenhausen 100 at Springfield". USAC Silver Crown. August 21, 2021. Event occurs at 2 hr 38 minutes. FloRacing.
  3. The First Sixty Years; An Illustrated History of the American Motorcyclist Association. American Motorcyclist. January 1984. Retrieved January 1, 2011.
  4. "Bettenhausen 100". USAC Silvercrown. October 18, 2020. Event occurs at 14:12. FloRacing.
  5. "Bettenhausen 100". USAC Silvercrown. October 18, 2020. Event occurs at 15:30. FloRacing.
  6. "Illinois native pulls rare dirt mile double with USAC victory". The State Journal-Register. Springfield, IL. October 15, 2022. Retrieved January 26, 2025.
  7. "Seavey Springs Forwards Late To Win The Bettenhausen 100". United States Auto Club. August 20, 2023. Retrieved January 26, 2025.
  8. "Justin Grant wins Tony Bettenhausen 100 race". The State Journal-Register. Springfield, IL. August 18, 2024. Retrieved January 26, 2025.
  9. "Motorcycle tripleheader at fairgrounds". The State Journal-Register. August 30, 2008.
  10. "2020 Media Guide". American Flat Track.