USAC Silver Crown’s Hoosier Hundred Field Set For Friday At Indianapolis Raceway Park
Story By: RICHIE MURRAY / USAC – BROWNSBURG, IN – A field of 24 USAC Silver Crown drivers and cars will be roaring toward the green flag during the 68th running of the Hoosier Hundred this Friday night, May 23, during the Carb Night Classic at Brownsburg, Indiana’s Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park.
A pair of past Hoosier Hundred winners will attempt to claim the $15,000 top prize once more. Five-time and defending winner Kody Swanson (2014-15-16-18-24) will try for a record-tying sixth Hoosier Hundred win. A.J. Foyt has long held the record of six. Bobby Santos will go after win number two after scoring his Hoosier Hundred triumph in 2023.
Swanson and Santos are also engaged in a battle to become the winningest driver in USAC competition at IRP. Both Swanson and Santos, along with the retired Tracy Hines, owns 15 USAC IRP victories.
Three more drivers in Friday night’s field have previously raced to a runner-up result at the Hoosier Hundred. Russ Gamester took 2nd on the dirt at the Indiana State Fairgrounds in 1999 and also finished 4th on the pavement of IRP in 2024. On Friday, he’ll be gunning for a record 30th career Hoosier Hundred start, a tie he currently holds at 29 with Johnny Parsons.
C.J. Leary scored a 2nd on the dirt mile in 2020, but in 2024, he raced to a 3rd place finish after starting 22nd in a borrowed car. Logan Seavey has finished 2nd in each of the past two editions of the Hoosier Hundred but will be seeking his first pavement win on Friday.
Veteran Brian Tyler returns to the USAC Silver Crown lineup after a three year hiatus. He finished 3rd in the 2015 Hoosier Hundred and has won a USAC Silver Crown race at IRP in his career, doing so in 2006. Tyler Roahrig returns to the field after taking 3rd at the Hoosier Hundred in 2023.
Series point leader Justin Grant finished 4th at the “Hoosier” in 2019. Derek Bischak is back in action with the USAC Silver Crown series for the first time in a year and collected a 4th at the Hoosier Hundred in 2023. Taylor Ferns finished with a solid 5th at the 2023 running of the Hoosier Hundred.
A handful more drivers in Friday’s lineup have completed the Hoosier Hundred with a top-10 results, including Nathan Byrd (6th in 2023), Dakoda Armstrong (6th in 2024), Matt Westfall (7th in 2002), Mario Clouser (9th in 2023) and Kyle Steffens (10th in 2024).
USAC Silver Crown veterans returning to the Hoosier Hundred are Bryan Gossel (11th in 2023), Casey Buckman (11th in 2020), Gregg Cory (16th in 2024), Dave Berkheimer (22nd in 2024) and Kyle O’Gara (25th in 2023), who is a past midget feature winner at IRP.
Four Rookies are set to make their initial appearance at the Hoosier Hundred. The list includes Jake Trainor, Cody Gerhardt, Danny Jennings and Jackson Macenko.
RACE DETAILS
On Friday, May 23, the big cars of the USAC Silver Crown National Championship hit the pavement for the 146-lap, 100-mile Hoosier Hundred at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, located about 15 minutes from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Also on the event card are midgets, plus the USF Pro 2000 Presented by Continental Tire series and the USF Pro Championship Presented by Continental Tire.
