Usac: Gunning for 50! Macon’s $10,000-to-win saturday finale

admin · 7/5/23, 4:30 PM

7/5/23 2:46 PM GUNNING FOR 50! MACON’S $10,000-TO-WIN SATURDAY FINALE PRESENTS UNIQUE CHALLENGE

https://www.usacracing.com/news/spri...ique-challenge

GUNNING FOR 50! MACON’S $10,000-TO-WIN SATURDAY FINALE PRESENTS UNIQUE CHALLENGE

By: Richie Murray – USAC Media

Macon, Illinois (July 5, 2023)………Fifty-lap feature events for the USAC AMSOIL Sprint Car National Championship are few and far between these days.

In fact, the last such race of that particular distance took place nearly 11 years ago on the banks of Ohio’s Eldora Speedway in 2012.

However, as far as 50-lap sprint car races go, we haven’t seen one quite like the one we’re about to witness this Saturday night, July 8, at Illinois’ Macon Speedway, the second of two-straight nights for the series in the tight-knit central Illinois town with a population of just a hair over 1,000.

Macon’s 1/5-mile confines are compact, unyielding and intense, hence this weekend’s event embracing the promotional motto of “Top Gun” and “Fighter Jets in a Gymnasium” as the series competes for 40 laps and $5,000-to-win on Friday, July 7, followed by the grand finale paying $10,000-to-win over the course of 50 circuits on Saturday night.

Since 1956, 164 50-lap USAC National Sprint Car events have been held with 66 of them taking place on dirt.* However, only four dirt 50-lappers have been held since the turn of the century in 2000.

In 2004-05, the first two editions of the Oval Nationals sanctioned by USAC took place at California’s Perris Auto Speedway.* Both years, the final night’s event was 50 laps in length.* Cory Kruseman ripped the lead away from Josh Ford on the final lap to score in 2004.* Dave Darland came back the following year in 2005 with a sterling performance, leading the final 48 circuits en route to victory.

The late Jesse Hockett captured the Eastern Storm opener at Pennsylvania’s Grandview Speedway in 2009, leading all 50 laps in the process.* The USAC Sprint round at Grandview now bears his name with the Jesse Hockett Classic being held annually since his unexpected passing in 2010.

The most recent 50-lap USAC Sprint Car race of any kind was held at Eldora in 2012 and was won by Dave Darland.* The event was scheduled as 50 laps in length based on it being the famed half-mile’s 50th anniversary season.

Furthermore, the first ever 50-lap USAC Sprint Car showcase was held on the dirt during the series’ inaugural season in 1956.* Pat O’Connor, who was among the first racing drivers to appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated, captured that day’s round at Pennsylvania’s Heidelberg Raceway aboard Bob Estes’ No. 9.

Pancho Carter is the leader in the clubhouse with 18 career 50-lap USAC National Sprint Car feature victories between 1973-78, seven more than his closes compatriot, Gary Bettenhausen with 11.

On four occasions, Carter swept both ends of twin 50-lap features on the same day at the same track.* The first such instance came in 1973 at Winchester (Ind.) Speedway, but in 1976, his tour of terror in USAC’s Thunder & Lightning division resulted in Twin 50-lap sweeps at Eldora and Winchester on consecutive weekends.* In 1977, he returned to his personal ATM of Winchester, taking both 50-lappers on the day.

Making Carter and car owner Steve Stapp’s four sets of 50-lap sweeps even more impressive is that no other driver in series history has achieved this feat more than once.* Jim Hurtubise was the first to do so in 1961 at the Terre Haute (Ind.) Action Track.* Mario Andretti accomplished it at New York’s Oswego Speedway in 1967.* Greg Weld opened up his 1968 season as the reigning series champion with two in one day at Pennsylvania’s Reading Fairgrounds.

A.J. Foyt made a triumphant return to USAC Sprint Car racing in 1974 and promptly won both ends at the Indiana State Fairgrounds, then two days later, started from the pole position at the Indianapolis 500.* Marvin Carman captured both of his career USAC Sprint Car feature wins in one day at Winchester in 1975.* Tom Bigelow swept the Indiana State Fairgrounds in 1977 as did Billy Cassella in 1979 at Eldora.

While a 50-lap sweep isn’t quite up for grabs with Friday’s affair scheduled for 40 laps, either way, a 50-lap USAC National Sprint Car triumph isn’t one that comes along very often, or very easily.

Fittingly, in terms of 50-lap USAC Sprint Car features, the very first in 1956 at Heidelberg, the most recent in 2012 at Eldora and the next one this Saturday night at Macon have all, or will, take place in the month of July.

It’s the time of the season in more ways than one, and now it’s time for someone to step up and grab the lengthiest win of their USAC National Sprint Car careers. As a matter of fact, Logan Seavey, Justin Grant, Brady Bacon and C.J. Leary are all USAC National Champions, but all possess 50-lap wins in either USAC Silver Crown or USAC NOS Energy Drink Midget National Championship competition as well.

Perhaps they hold the edge, but USAC Sprint Car racing at Macon Speedway is a different kind of animal.* None of us have ever seen it, but you and I know full well it’s going to take an animal-like approach to be the last one standing at the end of 50 come Saturday night.

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RACE DETAILS:

Top Gun Weekend at Macon Speedway marks the debut of USAC National Sprint Car racing at the 1/5-mile dirt oval.* Two-straight nights of action commence for the series on Friday, July 7, and Saturday, July 8.

On Friday, the USAC AMSOIL Sprint Car National Championship is joined by the HART Non-Wing Micro Sprints plus a huge fireworks display.* Pits open at 3pm Central with the front gates opening at 4pm and cars on track at 6pm followed by qualifying and racing.

Saturday’s event features the USAC AMSOIL Sprint Car National Championship, plus Hornets and Vintage Full Body Stock Cars.* Pits open at 3pm Central with the front gates opening at 4pm and cars on track at 6pm followed by qualifying and racing.

Advance tickets for both nights are on sale now at: https://www.myracepass.com/tracks/20...s/package/1005.

General admission tickets at the gate on race day are $30 for adults and $10 for kids age 11 and under. *Pit passes are $40 apiece while pit passes for kids age 11 and under are $20.

Single day advance general admission is $30.* Single day advance reserved tickets are $35.* Two-day advance reserved tickets are $65.* Adult two-day reserved tickets are $80.* Advance two-day tickets for children age 11 and under are $40.* Three-day advanced reserved tickets are $90 and three-day advance general admission tickets are $75.

On Thursday night, July 6, during the “Hell Tour” for late models at Macon, three USAC drivers will face off against three late model drivers in a hornet match race.

Fans can save $15 by purchasing a three-day general admission ticket in advance for Thursday, Friday and Saturday.* Adult three-day tickets are $120 while children age 11 and under are $60.

Free camping and parking will be available as will a giant carnival slide for kids and the young at heart.

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