Five past Ted Horn 100 winners are among the 24 USAC Silver Crown entries set to compete in this Saturday’s September 5th 72nd running of the event at the Du Quoin State Fairgrounds in southern Illinois.

5 PAST WINNERS

Among the five past Du Quoin winners in the field are defending winner C.J. Leary (2025), two-time winners Brian Tyler (2008 & 2021), Shane Cockrum (2014 & 2015), and Justin Grant (2023 & 2024), plus one-time winner Chris Urish (2013).

LEARY DOUBLE DIPPIN’

C.J. Leary is attempting to become the 11th driver to win the Ted Horn 100 in back-to-back years, following Sam Hanks (1953-1954), Jimmy Bryan (1955-1956), A.J. Foyt (1960-61 & 1963-64), Al Unser (1969-70), Mario Andretti (1973-74), Gary Bettenhausen (1982-83), Jack Hewitt (1986-87), Tracy Hines (2005-06), Shane Cockrum (2014-15), and Justin Grant (2023-24).

Leary has run his currently active streak to 15 consecutive top five finishes with the series dating back to last season, with two wins, a second, three thirds, and a fourth. He also enters with a 69-point lead in the season-long USAC Silver Crown standings.

DANNER YEAR FOR BRIGGS

Briggs Danner captured the victory on the other dirt mile on the circuit at the Illinois State Fairgrounds two weeks ago.

Danner finished 3rd on the Du Quoin Mile back in 2024 and is aiming for a bit of history on Saturday by sweeping to champ car victories at both Illinois dirt miles in the same season.

The only other drivers to achieve that particular feat are Tony Bettenhausen (1951), Sam Hanks (1953), Jimmy Bryan (1955 & 1956), Johnny Thomson (1958), A.J. Foyt (1964 & 1967), Al Unser (1970), Mario Andretti (1973 & 1974), Gary Bettenhausen (1983), Jack Hewitt (1986, 1987 & 1993), Chuck Gurney (1989, 1994 & 1996), Paul White (2001), J.J. Yeley (2002), Tracy Hines (2006), Brian Tyler (2008), Chris Windom (2018) & Justin Grant (2024).

GRANT BACK ON THE MILE MEND

Justin Grant won at Du Quoin in both 2023 and 2024 and also captured the pole position in both events. He was fourth last year.

Grant led the first 87 miles of the Springfield race a couple weeks ago before engine difficulties stifled his bid for victory.

Grant, who ranks second in series points, remains on the hunt for his first victory of the 2026 USAC Silver Crown season. He captured his sixth Chili’s Sprint Car Smackdown score just last weekend at Kokomo.

SOUND THE SIREN FOR SHANE

Shane Cockrum is the hometown hero at Du Quoin and took a double dip into the infield pond/lake back in 2014 and 2015 in front of a crowd of adoring fans.

From nearby Benton, Illinois, the city’s fire chief has made 12 career Ted Horn 100 starts dating back to 2011 and has also finished as the runner-up in both 2017 and 2022. He took 9th at the Springfield Mile two weeks ago.

Cockrum, along with Justin Grant and Brian Tyler, are vying for a third champ car win at Du Quoin, a feat that has been achieved by the elite of the discipline: A.J. Foyt (6), Gary Bettenhausen (5), Mario Andretti (3), Tony Bettenhausen (3), Tom Bigelow (3), Chuck Gurney (3), and Jack Hewitt (3).

AND TYLER TOO!

Brian Tyler is shooting for his 23rd career Ted Horn 100, and he’s as good as ever.

He won the race for a second time in 2021 in spectacular fashion from the 11th starting position, and last year, he advanced 16th to 6th, then restarted at the tail and drove back through the field to finish 5th! He also won the race in 2008.

Tyler made a similarly spectacular charge at Springfield a couple weeks back, racing from 19th to 5th before his engine went sour. Of note, no driver has passed more cars in USAC Silver Crown history than Tyler with 843.

MOVIN’ ON UP

Three more drivers collected career bests at the Springfield Mile in August and look to carry that momentum into Du Quoin on Saturday.

Jake Swanson was strong, as he equaled his career best series result of 2nd while also garnering his finest performance yet on a dirt mile at the wheel of the Klatt Enterprises No. 6.

Saban Bibent ran near the front all day at Springfield and came home with a 5th place finish in his Sammy & Mouren Fetter owned machine. That marked Bibent’s best career finish in USAC national competition.

Don’t look now, but Chelby Hinton is making a bid for Rookie of the Year honors in the Silver Crown division. After three top 10 results in all three of his starts this year, including a 10th at Springfield in a second Klatt car, Hinton is just 34 points behind Rookie leader Hayden Reinbold.

RACE DETAILS:

The 72nd running of the Ted Horn 100 features the USAC Silver Crown National Championship along with the 32nd Annual Bill Oldani Memorial Prelims for Modifieds.

Registration and pit gates open at 7am Central. Grandstands and ticket office open at 9am with the drivers meeting set for 9:30am. USAC Silver Crown practice is slated to run from 10-11:10am. Modified hot laps and qualifying will run at 12:15pm. USAC Silver Crown qualifying is scheduled for 11:30am followed by Modified heats at 12:15pm and the USAC Ted Horn 100 feature at 1pm.

Tickets will be available on race day or by calling the Du Quoin Fair office at 618-542-1535. Info and tickets can also be obtained by calling the Track Enterprises office at 217-764-3200. Advance tickets are $25 for ages 12 and up and $10 for children age 11 and under. Race day tickets at the gate are $30 for ages 12 and up and $10 for children 11 and under. Pit passes are $35 for members and $40 for non-members ages 12 and up. Pit passes for children age 11 and under are $20.

The Ted Horn 100 can be watched live on FloRacing at https://flosports.link/usac2026.

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2026 TED HORN 100 ENTRY LIST

3 (R) ARIC GENTRY/Robards, KY (Tim & Linda Simmons)

6 JAKE SWANSON/Anaheim, CA (Klatt Enterprises)

10 BRIGGS DANNER/Allentown, PA (DMW Motorsports)

11 KAYLEE BRYSON/Muskogee, OK (Abacus Racing Powered by Droplight)

14 (R) COLTEN COTTLE/Kansas, IL (McQuinn Motorsports)

15 CHRIS FETTER/Troy, MO (Chris Fetter)

19 MITCHEL MOLES/Raisin City, CA (Reinbold-Underwood Motorsports)

20 MARIO CLOUSER/Auburn, IL (Team AZ-Petty-Rossi-Curb-Agajanian Racing)

21 (w) C.J. LEARY/Greenfield, IN (Team AZ-Petty-Rossi-Curb-Agajanian Racing)

26 (R) CHASE CABRE/Tampa, FL (AP Driver Development)

27 TREY OSBORNE/Columbus, OH (Shawn Wood)

31 DAVE BERKHEIMER/Mechanicsburg, PA (Dave Berkheimer Motorsports)

32 GREGG CORY/Shelbyville, IN (Williams-Cory Racing)

52 CARMEN PERIGO/Stoystown, PA (Stehman Motorsports)

62 (R) CHELBY HINTON/Dubberly, LA (Klatt Enterprises)

64 (R) STEVE GENNETTEN/Gravois Mills, MO (GGR Motor Racing)

69 CHASE STOCKON/Fort Branch, IN (Pink 69 Racing)

77 (w) CHRIS URISH/Elkhart, IL (Urish Racing)

81 (w) BRIAN TYLER/Parma, MI (BCR Group)

88 SABAN BIBENT/Cincinnati, OH (Sammy & Mouren Fetter)

91 (w) JUSTIN GRANT/Ione, CA (Hemelgarn Racing)

97 (w) SHANE COCKRUM/Benton, IL (Hans Lein)

118 JIMMY LIGHT/West Springfield, PA (Mike Thomas)

119 (R) HAYDEN REINBOLD/Gilbert, AZ (Reinbold-Underwood Motorsports)

(R) represents a USAC Silver Crown Rookie

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USAC SILVER CROWN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS: 1-C.J. Leary-482, 2-Justin Grant-413, 3-Mario Clouser-374, 4-Briggs Danner-368, 5-Gregg Cory-286, 6-Kyle Steffens-249, 7-Dave Berkheimer-238, 8-Dakoda Armstrong-217, 9-Kaylee Bryson-203, 10-Hayden Reinbold-186.

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TRACK RECORDS FOR USAC SILVER CROWN AT Du QUOIN:

1 Lap – 9/5/2004 – Tyler Walker – 29.138 – 123.550 mph

10 Laps – 9/10/1994 – George Snider – 5:14.78 – 114.366 mph

12 Laps – 9/4/1989 – Tom Bigelow – 6:29.73 – 110.846 mph

15 Laps – 9/1/2002 – Brian Tyler – 7:53.24 – 114.107 mph

100 Laps – 9/7/1992 – Johnny Parsons – 56:03.00 – 107.047 mph

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AAA/USAC CHAMP CAR WINNERS AT Du QUOIN:

1948: Lee Wallard & Johnnie Parsons

1949: Tony Bettenhausen

1951: Tony Bettenhausen & Tony Bettenhausen

1952: Chuck Stevenson

1953: Sam Hanks

1954: Sam Hanks

1955: Jimmy Bryan

1956: Jimmy Bryan

1957: Jud Larson

1958: Johnny Thomson

1959: Rodger Ward

1960: A.J. Foyt

1961: A.J. Foyt

1963: A.J. Foyt

1964: A.J. Foyt

1965: Don Branson

1966: Bud Tingelstad

1967: A.J. Foyt

1968: Mario Andretti

1969: Al Unser

1970: Al Unser

1971: George Snider

1972: Tom Bigelow & A.J. Foyt

1973: Mario Andretti

1974: Mario Andretti

1975: Tom Bigelow

1976: Bubby Jones

1977: Tom Bigelow

1978: Pancho Carter

1979: Billy Vukovich

1980: Gary Bettenhausen & Gary Bettenhausen

1981: Rich Vogler

1982: Gary Bettenhausen

1983: Gary Bettenhausen

1984: Joe Saldana

1985: Rick Hood

1986: Jack Hewitt

1987: Jack Hewitt

1988: Gary Bettenhausen

1989: Chuck Gurney

1990: Jeff Swindell

1991: Stevie Reeves

1992: Johnny Parsons

1993: Jack Hewitt

1994: Chuck Gurney

1995: Johnny Parsons

1996: Chuck Gurney

1997: Russ Gamester

1998: Jimmy Sills

1999: Tony Elliott

2000: Kasey Kahne

2001: Paul White

2002: J.J. Yeley

2003: Rich Tobias, Jr.

2004: Tyler Walker

2005: Tracy Hines

2006: Tracy Hines

2007: Shane Cottle

2008: Brian Tyler

2010: Kody Swanson

2011: Kyle Larson

2013: Chris Urish

2014: Shane Cockrum

2015: Shane Cockrum

2016: Chris Windom

2017: Kody Swanson

2018: Chris Windom

2019: Jacob Wilson

2020: Not Held

2021: Brian Tyler

2022: Logan Seavey

2023: Justin Grant

2024: Justin Grant

2025: C.J. Leary

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AAA/USAC CHAMP CAR WINS AT Du QUOIN:

6-A.J. Foyt

5-Gary Bettenhausen

3-Mario Andretti, Tony Bettenhausen, Tom Bigelow, Chuck Gurney & Jack Hewitt

2-Jimmy Bryan, Shane Cockrum, Justin Grant, Sam Hanks, Tracy Hines, Johnny Parsons, Kody Swanson, Brian Tyler, Al Unser & Chris Windom

1-Don Branson, Pancho Carter, Shane Cottle, Tony Elliott, Russ Gamester, Rick Hood, Bubby Jones, Kasey Kahne, Jud Larson, Kyle Larson, C.J. Leary, Johnnie Parsons, Stevie Reeves, Joe Saldana, Logan Seavey, Jimmy Sills, George Snider, Chuck Stevenson, Jeff Swindell, Johnny Thomson, Bud Tingelstad, Rich Tobias, Jr., Chris Urish, Rich Vogler, Billy Vukovich, Tyler Walker, Lee Wallard, Rodger Ward, Paul White, Jacob Wilson & J.J. Yeley

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Du QUOIN USAC SILVER CROWN FAST QUALIFYING TIMES:

4-Jerry Coons Jr.

3-Kody Swanson

2-Gary Bettenhausen, Shane Cottle, Dave Darland, Justin Grant, Chuck Gurney, Jack Hewitt, Larry Rice, Jimmy Sills, Al Unser & Tyler Walker

1-Mark Alderson, Mario Andretti, Teddy Beach, Donnie Beechler, Tom Bigelow, Ed Carpenter, Pancho Carter, Bryan Clauson, Shane Cockrum, Tyler Courtney, Larry Dickson, Bobby East, Tony Elliott, A.J. Fike, Tracy Hines, Rick Hood, Kasey Kahne, Arnie Knepper, Lee Kunzman, Johnny Parsons, George Snider, Jeff Swindell, Rich Vogler, Billy Vukovich, Greg Weld & Jacob Wilson

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