August 13, 2025 Springfield, IL-A forty car entry list featuring eleven series rookies, six former winners and two past national champions await race fans attending the 62nd USAC Bettenhausen 100 Saturday at the Illinois State Fairgrounds. The 100-mile championship race on the historic Springfield Mile continues a tradition that began in 1934 and is slated for 2 p.m.
Four time winner Brian Tyler (2004, 2005, 2008, 2011) leads the list of past winners, along with Kody Swanson (2014, 2015, 2021), two time winners Justin Grant (2017, 2024), A.J. Fike (2012, 2013) and single victors Russ Gamester (1998) and Shane Cockrum (2022). Fike and Cockrum are part of the nine championship race winners from the state of Illinois. Grant and Swanson are past Silver Crown titlists, with Swanson having a record eight championships.
Kaylee Bryson returns to the scene of one of the most memorable Bettenhausen events in recent years. Bryson, who has been driving everything from winged sprint cars to ARCA stock cars to SCCA Trans AM cars, led most of the 2022 Bettenhausen by riding inches from the outside wall while the car was running on seven cylinders.
Young Mitchell Moles, Jake Swanson, Chase Stockon and Saben Bibent are part of a group of young lions seeking their first victory on one of the prestigious mile dirt tracks. Veteran Shane Cottle is a past winner at DuQuoin while Bill Rose is a candidate for a strong finish at Springfield.
Several Illinois drivers dot the entry list. Local favorite Mario Clouser is talented and hungry to keep the Bettenhausen’s top prize in Sangamon county. Springfield’s Joey Moughan has shown the ability to run up front in the champ cars. Elkhart’s Chris Urish won at DuQuoin in 2013. Rookie Will Armitage is a top runner in the MOWA Sprint Car series. Saybrook’s Kyle Wissmiller is a dirt track veteran of the Midwest.
It’s all part of a huge weekend of racing in Central Illinois that opens on Friday, August 15 with MOWA Sprint cars at Lincoln Speedway before going to the Springfield Mile on Saturday, August 16 for USAC Silver Crown and Sportsman and then returning Sunday, August 17 for the ARCA Menards Series and the Sportsman Nationals.
Fans can save big by purchasing advance sale discount tickets for the Springfield events by calling Track Enterprises at 217-764-3200. Additionally, Menards stores throughout the region are offering discounted ARCA Menards Series tickets, making it even easier to bring the whole family out for a day at the races.
For more information on the Illinois State Fair Racing Weekend, including full schedules and event details, visit http://www.trackenterprises.com