USAC SPRINTS TOP #300 AT ELDORA

This Saturday night’s USAC AMSOIL Sprintcar National Championship event is slated to be the 300th USAC national points-paying open wheel event contested at Rossburg, Ohio’s Eldora Speedway. (Chris Pedersen Photo)

By: Richie Murray – USAC Media

Rossburg, Ohio (September 21, 2022)………There are five of a kind in USAC AMSOIL Sprintcar National Championship competition headed to Rossburg, Ohio’s Eldora Speedway this Saturday night, September 24, for the 40th running of the 4-Crown Nationals Presented by NKTELCO.

Five past 4-Crown USAC National Sprintcar winners are all seeking a second career triumph to match their recent glory in the event at the famed half-mile dirt oval in what will be a milestone race in USAC’s six decade history at Eldora.

Two-hundred-ninety-seven points-paying USAC national open wheel racing events have been held at Eldora since 1962. That 297 total entering this weekend reads: 203 Sprint, 53 Midget and 41 Silver Crown. Following Midget races this Friday and Saturday, Saturday’s USAC Sprintcar race is slated to be event number 300.

Robert Ballou (2007), Chris Windom (2013), Brady Bacon (2014), Justin Grant (2016) and CJ Leary (2017) have all had a prime night at the 4-Crown and intend to do so once again this Saturday.

Ballou (Rocklin, California) is a six-time Eldora USAC Sprintcar winner with the second of those six coming during the 4-Crown in 2007. At the 4-Crown, the 2015 series titlist has also chalked up a third in 2017 and a fifth in 2013.

Leary (Greenfield, Indiana) has finished inside the top-two twice in his 4-Crown USAC Sprintcar career, notching a 2017 victory followed by a second place result in 2018. The 2019 series champion came away from his first 4-Crown visit with a sixth in 2012 followed by a seventh in 2014.

Grant (Ione, California) laid down a victory in the 2016 4-Crown Nationals USAC Sprintcar race. The 2020 USAC Silver Crown champ sandwiched the triumph between top-five finishes in 2014, where he finished third, in addition to a fifth in 2017, a third in 2019 and a fourth in 2021. He owns a total of three career USAC Sprintcar wins at Eldora.

Bacon (Broken Arrow, Oklahoma) got his 4-Crown USAC Sprint win in a Sunday matinee during the 2014 campaign. The 2014-16-20 series king earned his first career “podium” finish at the 4-Crown in 2006, a third. Since then, he’s added a second in 2017, another third in 2016 and a fifth in 2019. He also scored a second Eldora win in May of 2018.

Windom (Canton, Ill.) doubled up in 2013 by winning both the USAC Sprint and Silver Crown main events at the 4-Crown. The 2017 series champion has been masterful at the 4-Crown in a USAC Sprintcar, adding a second place finish in 2016 and 2019, a third in 2012 and 2021 and a fifth in 2018.

Matt Westfall (Pleasant Hill, Ohio) scored his one career USAC National Sprintcar victory at Eldora in 2006. His 4-Crown USAC Sprint record is marvelous with a fourth in 2004 as his best, followed by a seventh in 2019, an eighth in 2016, a ninth in 2010 and 2021, and a pair of 10th place results in 2006 and 2017.

Logan Seavey’s 4-Crown USAC Sprintcar debut in 2021 was phenomenal as he led a race-high 13 laps and finished as the runner-up. He reached 4-Crown victory lane with the Silver Crown cars in the 2021 night capper.

Kevin Thomas Jr. (Cullman, Alabama) has finished inside the top-seven in his last four 4-Crown USAC Sprint starts with a fourth place result in 2017, 2018 and 2019 in addition to a seventh in 2021 he seeks his first Eldora victory.

Experience at the Big E is a key component of getting around the half-mile dirt oval, and this group definitely has an abundance of it. Shane Cottle (Kansas, Illinois ) finished second during the 4-Crown USAC Sprint race in 2005 and finished fifth the year prior in 2004. In 2021, he came home eighth after starting back in 18th.

Scotty Weir (Marion, Indiana) has earned a plentiful amount of top-flight performances at the 4-Crown, slotting into third in 2009, fifth in 2015, sixth in 2017, ninth in 2008 and tenth in 2012.

Chase Stockon (Fort Branch, Indiana) possesses six career 4-Crown top-tens with a best of fourth in 2012, a pair of sixth place results in 2015 and 2018, as well as a seventh in 2016, an eighth in 2019 and a ninth in 2017.

Dallas Hewitt (Troy, Ohio), nephew of the all-time king in terms of 4-Crown feature wins with 19 total wins, Jack Hewitt, has had a handful of solid performances in his career at Eldora during the 4-Crown, finishing sixth in both 2016 and 2019, and was seventh in 2015. Back in May of 2017, Hewitt earned his best career USAC Sprintcar finish with a second..

Jadon Rogers (Worthington, Indiana), who finished as high as third with the USAC Sprints at Eldora back in May, 2021, was superb in his 4-Crown debut in 2021, earning hard charger honors as he started 22nd and finished tenth.

Emerson Axsom and Mitchel Moles have been the two most impressive USAC National Sprintcar Rookies in 2022. Each have won twice this season, but neither has made a series start at Eldora just yet. Axsom did earn an 8th place result at Eldora in his first midget start at the track in 2021. Meanwhile, Alex Bright (Collegeville, Ohio), the reigning USAC East Coast Sprint Car Champion, will pilot a car for owner A.J. Felker.

Getting back after it in a USAC Sprintcar at the 4-Crown are Broken Arrow, Oklahoma’s Jason McDougal (12th in 2019); Auburn, Illinois’ Mario Clouser (14th in 2019); Terre Haute, Indiana’s Brandon Mattox (15th in 2014); Plainfield, Indiana’s Chris Phillips (15th in 2019), Loomis, California’s Max Adams (16th in 2021), Winchester, Indiana’s Matt Goodnight (18th in 2016) and Anaheim, California’s Jake Swanson (20th in 2021).

Clarklake, Michigan brothers Brian Ruhlman and Chad Ruhlman are no strangers to victory at the 4-Crown Nationals. Brian scored the UMP Modified victory during the event on three occasions in 2002-04-05 while Chad captured the most recent 4-Crown mod feature in 2007.

Looking to make their first 4-Crown feature start this Saturday night are Midwest Sprintcar Series Rookie of the Year Carson Garrett (Littleton, Colo.), Korbyn Hayslett (Troy, Ohio), Anton Hernandez (Arlington, Texas), Tayte Williamson (Rushylvania, Ohio), Lee Underwood (Troy, Ohio), Hunter Maddox (Bedford, Indiana), Nathan Moore (Kaufman, Texas), Ryan Barr (Piqua, Ohio), Braxton Cummings (Bedford, Indiana), Jack James (Harlan, Indiana) and more.

On Saturday, it’s full programs for the USAC NOS Energy Drink Midget National Championship, USAC AMSOIL Sprintcar National Championship, USAC Silver Crown and the Tezos All Star Circuit of Champions. Spectator gates open at Noon Eastern with a driver autograph session scheduled from 3-4 pm in the Fan Zone, followed by the drivers meeting at 5pm and hot laps at 6pm.

On Friday at Eldora, general admission tickets are $34 for adults and free for ages 12 and under. Reserved tickets are $39 for adults and $9 for ages 12 and under.

On Saturday at Eldora, general admission tickets are $39 for adults and free for ages 12 and under. Reserved tickets are $44 for adults and $9 for ages 12 and under.

The USAC portions on Friday night can be watched LIVE on FloRacing at https://flosports.link/3OivVbj as will the entirety of Saturday’s program.

=========================

4-CROWN NATIONALS USAC NATIONAL SPRINTCAR WINS:

5-Jack Hewitt

3-Tyler Courtney & Tracy Hines

2-Steve Butler, Tony Elliott, Levi Jones, Bud Kaeding & Steve Kinser

1-Brady Bacon, Robert Ballou, Jerry Coons Jr., Dave Darland, Kevin Doty, Dickie Gaines, Justin Grant, Kyle Larson, C.J. Leary, Thomas Meseraull, Larry Rice, Jimmy Sills, Danny Smith, Tony Stewart, Brad Sweet, Rich Vogler & Chris Windom

4-CROWN NATIONALS USAC NATIONAL SPRINTCAR WINNERS:

1981: Steve Kinser (10/11)             1982: Steve Kinser (10/3)

1983: Jack Hewitt (9/25)               1984: Rained Out

1985: Larry Rice (10/6)                  1986: Rich Vogler (9/28)

1987: Tony Elliott (9/27)                1988: Steve Butler (9/25)

1989: Steve Butler (9/24)               1990: Jack Hewitt (9/30)

1991: Jack Hewitt (9/22)                1992: Danny Smith (10/4)

1993: Tony Elliott (10/3)                1994: Kevin Doty (9/25)

1995: Tony Stewart (9/23)             1996: Jimmy Sills (9/28)

1997: Jack Hewitt (9/20)                1998: Jack Hewitt (9/26)

1999: Dave Darland (9/25)             2000: Tracy Hines (9/30)

2001: Bud Kaeding (9/22)               2002: Bud Kaeding (9/21)

2003: Not Held                                   2004: Dickie Gaines (9/25)

2005: Levi Jones (9/24)                    2006: Tracy Hines (9/23)

2007: Robert Ballou (9/22)               2008: Brad Sweet (9/20)

2009: Jerry Coons Jr. (9/26)             2010: Levi Jones (9/25)

2011: Kyle Larson (9/24)                    2012: Tracy Hines (9/22)

2013: Chris Windom (9/21)               2014: Brady Bacon (9/21)

2015: Thomas Meseraull (9/26)       2016: Justin Grant (9/24)

2017: C.J. Leary (9/23)                       2018: Tyler Courtney (9/22)

2019: Tyler Courtney (9/28)             2020: Not Held

2021: Tyler Courtney (9/25)

ELDORA SPEEDWAY USAC NATIONAL SPRINTCAR WINS:

13-Jack Hewitt

9-Larry Dickson & Tracy Hines

7-Pancho Carter & Rich Vogler

6-Robert Ballou, Rollie Beale, Tom Bigelow, Tyler Courtney & Bubby Jones

5-Dave Darland & Jac Haudenschild

4-Steve Butler, Kevin Doty, Jay Drake, Tony Elliott, Kevin Huntley & Sam Sessions

3-Billy Cassella, Rob Chaney, Jerry Coons Jr., Justin Grant, Rick Hood, Frankie Kerr, Sheldon Kinser, Lee Kunzman, Jud Larson, Greg Weld & J.J. Yeley

2-Brady Bacon, Gary Bettenhausen, Don Branson, Larry Cannon, Derek Davidson, Levi Jones, Bud Kaeding, Steve Kinser, Jan Opperman, Larry Rice, Mickey Shaw, George Snider, Bruce Walkup & Chris Windom

1-Mario Andretti, Chad Boespflug, Stan Bowman, Bryan Clauson, Allen Crowe, Dickie Gaines, Tray House Jackie Howerton, Arnie Knepper, Kyle Larson, C.J. Leary, Eddie Leavitt, Roger McCluskey, Thomas Meseraull, Don Nordhorn, Dave Peperak, Jerry Poland, Bill Puterbaugh, Byron Reed, Boston Reid, Red Riegel, Johnny Rutherford, Joe Saldana, Terry Shepherd, Jimmy Sills, Danny Smith, Jon Stanbrough, Robbie Stanley, Tony Stewart, Brad Sweet, Clark Templeman, Brian Tyler, Rick Ungar & Matt Westfall.

ELDORA SPEEDWAY USAC NATIONAL SPRINT WINNERS:

1962: Stan Bowman (4/22) & Roger McCluskey (7/29)

1963: Allen Crowe (5/12)

1964: Johnny Rutherford (4/5) & Jud Larson (7/5)

1965: Jud Larson (4/18), Jud Larson (5/9), Red Riegel (7/3) & Don Branson (10/17)

1966: Arnie Knepper (4/3), Larry Dickson (4/17), Don Branson (7/3) & Mario Andretti (9/4)

1967: Rollie Beale (4/16), Mickey Shaw (7/2) & Rollie Beale (7/22)

1968: Rollie Beale (4/7), Larry Dickson (7/20) & Mickey Shaw (9/29)

1969: Tom Bigelow (4/6), Larry Cannon (6/8) & Greg Weld (7/26)

1970: Gary Bettenhausen (4/5), Greg Weld (5/2), Larry Dickson (7/25), Greg Weld (8/15) & Larry Dickson (9/11)

1971: Gary Bettenhausen (4/4), Sammy Sessions (6/12), Larry Dickson (7/24) & Bill Puterbaugh (9/19)

1972: Rollie Beale (4/2), Sammy Sessions (6/10), Lee Kunzman (7/22), Jerry Poland (9/17), Sammy Sessions (10/22) & Don Nordhorn (10/22)

1973: George Snider (4/1), Sammy Sessions (4/29), Lee Kunzman (8/11), Pancho Carter (9/16), Lee Kunzman (10/21) & Pancho Carter (10/21)

1974: Jan Opperman (3/31), Bruce Walkup (7/13), Pancho Carter (10/6) & Larry Cannon (10/6)

1975: Tom Bigelow (4/13), Rollie Beale (6/21), Billy Cassella (7/12), Rollie Beale (10/5) & Larry Dickson (10/5)

1976: Sheldon Kinser (3/28), Larry Dickson (4/11), Jackie Howerton (6/19), Clark Templeman (6/20), Jan Opperman (7/10), Tom Bigelow (8/7), Pancho Carter (9/19), Tom Bigelow (10/9), Pancho Carter (10/10) & Pancho Carter (10/10)

1977: Tom Bigelow (4/10), Bubby Jones (4/17), George Snider (4/17), Tom Bigelow (6/18), Bruce Walkup (6/19), Pancho Carter (7/9), Bubby Jones (9/18), Eddie Leavitt (10/9) & Bubby Jones (10/9)

1978: Joe Saldana (6/17) & Bubby Jones (9/17)

1979: Bubby Jones (4/29), Bubby Jones (6/2), Larry Rice (8/25), Billy Cassella (10/14) & Billy Cassella (10/14)

1980: Rich Vogler (4/6), Larry Dickson (7/26), Sheldon Kinser (10/12) & Larry Dickson (7/12)

1981: Dave Peperak (4/25), Sheldon Kinser (6/20), Rich Vogler (7/3) & Steve Kinser (10/11)

1982: Jack Hewitt (4/24), Jac Haudenschild (7/17) & Steve Kinser (10/3)

1983: Rich Vogler (6/4) Jack Hewitt (8/2) & Jack Hewitt (9/25)

1984: Jac Haudenschild (4/1), Steve Butler (4/28), Rick Hood (7/14) & Jack Hewitt (8/16)

1985: Jac Haudenschild (4/27), Rick Hood (4/28) & Larry Rice (10/6)

1986: Rich Vogler (4/5), Rick Hood (4/26) & Rich Vogler (9/28)

1987: Rich Vogler (3/28), Rick Ungar (4/25), Rich Vogler (6/13) & Tony Elliott (9/27)

1988: Jac Haudenschild (3/27), Jack Hewitt (4/23), Jack Hewitt (5/14), Jack Hewitt (6/18), Steve Butler (7/16) & Steve Butler (9/25)

1989: Steve Butler (9/24)

1990: Jack Hewitt (4/7) & Jack Hewitt (9/30)

1991: Jack Hewitt (9/22)

1992: Terry Shepherd (3/28) & Danny Smith (10/4)

1993: Robbie Stanley (3/27), Jack Hewitt (8/11) & Tony Elliott (10/3)

1994: Frankie Kerr (4/2), Tray House (6/25), Frankie Kerr (8/10) & Kevin Doty (9/25)

1995: Kevin Doty (4/1), Byron Reed (8/9) & Tony Stewart (9/23)

1996: Frankie Kerr (8/7) & Jimmy Sills (9/28)

1997: Kevin Huntley (3/29), Kevin Huntley (6/22), Brian Tyler (8/6) & Jack Hewitt (9/20)

1998: Kevin Doty (5/2), Dave Darland (5/24), Kevin Doty (6/20) & Jack Hewitt (9/26)

1999: Derek Davidson (3/27), Derek Davidson (5/1), Tracy Hines (5/30), Tracy Hines (7/28) & Dave Darland (9/25)

2000: Jay Drake (4/1), Dave Darland (4/29), Tony Elliott (5/28) & Tracy Hines (9/30)

2001: Tracy Hines (4/28), Jay Drake (6/22), J.J. Yeley (6/23) & Bud Kaeding (9/22)

2002: J.J. Yeley (5/26), Tony Elliott (6/22) & Bud Kaeding (9/21)

2003: Boston Reid (5/3), J.J. Yeley (5/25), Jon Stanbrough (6/21) & Jac Haudenschild (9/20 – Non-Points Special Event)

2004: Jay Drake (6/19), Kevin Huntley (8/7) & Dickie Gaines (9/25)

2005: Jay Drake (4/30), Rob Chaney (5/29), Kevin Huntley (6/18), Rob Chaney (8/6) & Levi Jones (9/24)

2006: Jerry Coons Jr. (4/1), Rob Chaney (4/29), Matt Westfall (6/17) & Tracy Hines (9/23)

2007: Robert Ballou (4/28) & Robert Ballou (9/22)

2008: Tracy Hines (5/10), Tracy Hines (6/14) & Brad Sweet (9/20)

2009: Jerry Coons Jr. (4/11) & Jerry Coons Jr. (9/26)

2010: Robert Ballou (5/12) & Levi Jones (9/25)

2011: Kyle Larson (9/24)

2012: Tracy Hines (4/21), Dave Darland (7/28) & Tracy Hines (9/22)

2013: Chris Windom (9/21)

2014: Dave Darland (4/19) & Brady Bacon (9/21)

2015: Robert Ballou (5/8), Justin Grant (5/9) & Thomas Meseraull (9/26)

2016: Bryan Clauson (5/6), Chad Boespflug (5/7) & Justin Grant (9/24)

2017: Justin Grant (5/12), Robert Ballou (5/13) & C.J. Leary (9/23)

2018: Brady Bacon (5/11), Chris Windom (5/12) & Tyler Courtney (9/22)

2019: Tyler Courtney (5/10), Tyler Courtney (7/17) & Tyler Courtney (9/28)

2021: Tyler Courtney (5/8), Robert Ballou (5/8) & Tyler Courtney (9/25)