Released on = August 14, 2006, 5:56 pm

Press Release Author = Jay Hardin

Industry = Construction

Press Release Summary = Tyler Seeks Third Consecutive Bettenhausen Win as WIse Looks
for $25,000 Bonus

Press Release Body = Tyler Seeks Third Bettenhausen 100 Win, Wise Looking for
$25,000 Bonus

Two time and defending race winner Brian Tyler of Michigan and Californian Josh Wise
lead a strong contingent of around forty stars and cars heading to the storied
Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield, Illinois for the 46th running of the Tony
Bettenhausen 100 featuring the championship dirt cars of the United States Auto Club
Silver Crown Series presented by K & N Filters. For the first time in the 72 year
history of national championship dirt track racing at the Springfield Mile the dirt
cars share center stage with the Automobile Racing Club of America Lincoln Welders
Truck Series as they compete in the Best Western Classic on the "World's Fastest One
Mile Dirt Track".

The 2006 Tony Bettenhausen 100 takes on even more significance this year as many
drivers are eying a large amount of cash in conjunction with the event. USAC
announced earlier this year that the 2006 point fund would be a total of $250,000,
about three times the amount posted last year. In addition, Illinois and DuQuoin
State Fair promoter Bob Sargent of Track Enterprises took over promotion of the
Hoosier Hundred at the Indiana State Fairgrounds earlier this year and with
sponsorship from former USAC car owner Don Smith has posted the First Financial Bank
Triple Crown, a $25,000 cash bonus to the driver that can sweep the races on the
three dirt miles this season, the Hoosier Hundred at the Indiana State Fairgrounds,
the Tony Bettenhausen 100 and the Ted Horn 100 at DuQuoin in September.

With the new USAC Silver Crown pavement car still in the early stages of development
the dirt track events have become even more important in determining the 2006
national champion. The thirty eight year old Tyler may be the odds on favorite to
capture his first Silver Crown national title this year as he comes into Springfield
18 points out of the lead on the strength of wins at Homestead and O\'Reilly Raceway
Park and a top ten in the Hoosier Hundred. Piloting a Beast owned by 6R Racing the
former USAC sprint champ started sixteenth in last year's Bettenhausen 100 before
taking the lead near the halfway point and becoming the first driver since Chuck
Gurney in 1990 and 1991 to post back to back wins at Springfield.

As one half of the Tony Stewart Mopar Racing stable Josh Wise enters the
Bettenhausen 100 as the driver with the chance to claim the First Financial Bank
Triple crown prize having won the prestigious Hoosier Hundred in May thanks to a
thrilling last lap pass of his teammate. Wise has two wins in the Silver Crown
Series, both on the dirt and is well accustomed to the Springfield dirt having set a
brand new track record in excess of 122 miles an hour last year during
qualifications. Should Wise win at Springfield and then at DuQuoin, he will become
just the 14th man in dirt track racing history to win on all three of the Midwest
dirt miles and the first man since Al Unser in 1978 to win an open wheel racing
"Triple Crown". Wise would also be the first driver since Jack Hewitt in 1986 to
win the Hoosier Hundred, Bettenhausen 100 and Horn 100 all in the same year. In
addition he would pocket nearly $55,000 for his efforts.

Six to eight drivers in the top ten in the USAC Silver Crown point chase will be
trying to stop the charge of Tyler and Wise, led by the leader in the current USAC K
& N Filter point standings Bud Kaeding. The third generation driver from Campbell,
California has recovered from a sprint car crash a few years ago to emerge as a
serious contender for the USAC Silver Crown title. Kaeding has three wins this
season driving for former USAC champ and current NASCAR driver Jason Leffler.
Floridian Wayne Reutimann won the 100-mile race at Milwaukee and his first win has
propelled him to third in the current point chase. Two time and defending USAC
Silver Crown champ Dave Steele of Tampa, Florida was going to run a limited schedule
as a teammate to Brian Tyler but a win at Phoenix and the lure of big money had him
put a dirt car together and the pavement ace is fifth in the standings. Fourth in
the points is Indiana's Aaron Pierce after a win on the big Chicagoland track in
July. Sixth is Bryn Gohn, followed by Tim Barber, Wise and Australian Peter
Shepherd.

Four-time Bettenhausen winner Dave Darland of Lincoln, Indiana is now eleventh in
the points and strong runs on the dirt would place him higher in the standings.
Darland's run in the Hoosier Hundred and some sporadic pavement rides vaulted him
toward a top ten perch in the point standings even though he lacks a full time ride
in the series. Darland should be joined at Springfield by 1998 Bettenhausen 100
winner Russ Gamester of Peru, Indiana and 2001 winner and former Silver Crown champ
Paul White of Temple, Texas putting at least four former winners of the event on the
entry list.

USAC veterans fighting for a starting slot in the 46th Tony Bettenhausen 100 figure
to include 2000 USAC Silver Crown champ Tracy Hines of New Castle, Indiana. Hines
recently vacated his NASCAR Busch Series ride and returns to the USAC wars in the
same car that he won the Ted Horn 100 last year at DuQuoin. Other USAC regulars
include veterans such as 2004 Springfield pole winner Jerry Coons of Arizona, Jay
Drake of California (currently tenth in points), John Heydenreich of Pennsylvania
and Kevin Huntley of Indiana, along with the ageless Indianapolis 500 veteran Johnny
Parsons who will turn 62 this August! Youngsters on the entry list should include
third generation driver Cole Carter of Indiana and fellow Hoosiers Ron Gregory,
Shane Hollingsworth and Shane Cottle. Former DuQuoin track record holder and 2005
Hoosier Hundred winner Teddy Beach of Ohio should be at Springfield as well as
rookie and second generation driver Ricky Stenhouse Jr., driving for the Carl
Edwards-RE Technologies team.

A number of area drivers have rides in the Silver Crown division and stand a good
chance at a top finish or pulling into victory lane. Hard charging Levi Jones of
Olney, Illinois is the defending USAC National Sprint Car champion and teammate to
Josh Wise on the Tony Stewart Mopar team. The former Olney High School basketball
star led 99 of the 100 laps of the Hoosier Hundred and appeared on his way to
victory before Wise passed him for the win.

There is perhaps no driver more popular on the Tony Bettenhausen 100 entry list than
Springfield's own Justin Allgaier. The twenty-year old led several laps of last
year's ARCA Southern Illinois 100 and is the stock car track record holder at
Springfield. Allgaier could be one of three drivers pulling double duty in dirt cars
and stock cars on the final weekend of the Illinois State Fair. Other Illinois
drivers who have Silver Crown rides include veteran Randy Bateman of Murphysboro,
former Midwest Sprint Car Series champion Alex Shanks of Marion, Chris Urish of
Elkhart, Tim Siner of Dupo and A.J. Fike of Galesburg. Fike has driven ARCA stock
cars on both the Springfield and DuQuoin miles and in 2004 became the first driver
in 33 years to drive three different race cars at DuQuoin on Labor Day weekend. The
Harris Racing Team of Sikeston, Missouri has installed midget ace Derrick King
behind the wheel of their machine for the remainder of 2006.

The 46th Tony Bettenhusen 100 also marks the return t the dirt miles of one of the
most potent driver-crew chief combinations in USAC Silver Crown history as two time
Hoosier Hundred winner and former Springfield track record holder Jeff Swindell of
Memphis, Tennessee returns to the cockpit. Swindell teams up with long time
O\'Fallon, Illinois car owner Bob Galas as the two try to re-create the success they
had in the late 1980\'s and early 1990\'s as part of the Delrose -Holt Racing Team
based near Chicago.

Around forty of the finest dirt track drivers in the world follow in the footsteps
of arguably the best driver in American motor sports during the early 1950's,
Illinois' own Tony Bettenhausen. Nicknames such as the "Tinley Park Express" and
"Der Panzer" came easily for the Tinley Park, Illinois farmer once fans and media
members saw his bolt upright, hard charging style behind the wheel of a championship
dirt car. The first three-time winner of championship races at the Illinois State
Fairgrounds quickly became a fan favorite across the nation while pursuing his dream
of an Indianapolis 500 victory. The forty-four year old Bettenhausen was the odds
on favorite for that elusive "500" win in 1961, flirting with the magical 150 mile
per hour barrier in practice. Sadly, that dream ended in tragedy when Bettenhausen
was killed testing the car of a friend, Chicago's Paul Russo the day before
qualifications for the 1961 Indianapolis 500. The popular driver left behind a
legacy of success in racing with 21 National Championship wins and two National
titles. He also left behind three racing sons, one (Gary) would win capture an
emotional win in his father's race in 1978.

Springfield's long history of national championship racing has seen victors such as
Wilbur Shaw, Mauri Rose, Ted Horn, Jimmy Bryan, Rodger Ward, A.J. Foyt, Al Unser,
Mario Andretti, Jack Hewitt and Chuck Gurney, all Hall of Fame members. The 72-year
history of upright National Championship racing at the Illinois State Fair continues
with the 46th Tony Bettenhausen 100 on Saturday, August 19. Practice for the USAC
cars is scheduled for 9 a.m., with a new 'pack' qualifying format at 10:25. The
last chance race is slated for noon, with the 46th Bettenhausen 100 at 1:30. Adding
a new twist is the first appearance of television for the Tony Bettenhausen 100 in
over 20 years as the Outdoor Channel will tape the 46th Bettenhausen 100 and replay
the race Saturday September 2.

Tickets are on sale at the Illinois State Fair Box Office at 217-782-1979, Track
Enterprises at 217-764-3200 or Ticketmaster. Tickets are $20 in advance for adult,
$10 in advance for children. Additional information can be found at
www.usacracing.com or www.trackenterprises.com.


2006 Point Standings
Prior to August 19 race at Springfield, IL
POS. DRIVER POINTS
1. Bud Kaeding 460
2. Brian Tyler 442
3. Wayne Reutimann Jr. 388
4. Aaron Pierce 377
5. Dave Steele 357
6. Bryn Gohn 270
7. Tim Barber 267
8. Josh Wise 258
9. Pete Shepherd III 228
10. Jay Drake 203
11. Dave Darland 194
12. Rodney Weesner 189
13. Thiago Medeiros 176
14. Pablo Donoso 174
15. Levi Jones 114
16. Rich Tobias Jr. 100
17. Cole Carter 95
18. Jerry Coons Jr. 91
19. Greg Furlong 78
20. Mat Neely 73


2006 National Silver Crown Series Schedule
01/22/06 Phoenix International Raceway (TV) 50 M
03/25/06 Homestead Miami Speedway (TV) 100 M
05/26/06 Indiana State Fairgrounds 100 M
06/16/06 Kentucky Speedway (TV) 100 M
06/24/06 Richmond International Raceway (TV) 100 L
07/07/06 Chicagoland Speedway (TV) 100 M
07/23/06 Milwaukee Mile (TV) 100 M
08/03/06 Indianapolis Raceway Park (TV) 100 L
08/05/06 Terre Haute Action Track (TV) 100 L
08/19/06 Illinois State Fairgrounds (TV) 100 M
09/03/06 DuQuoin State Fairgrounds (TV) 100 M
09/16/06 Iowa Speedway (TV) 100 L
09/23/06 Eldora Speedway (TV) 100 L
09/30/06 Kansas Speedway (TV) 100 M




Web Site = http://www.trackenterprises.com

Contact Details = Bob Sargent
POB 79
Macon, IL 62525
217-764-3200
track@trackenterprises.com