By Jay Hardin
Indianapolis, IN (May 1, 2012)-Defending Traxxas USAC Silver Crown champion Levi Jones looks to knock the proverbial gorilla off his back as he continues his quest for one of the first place trophies for winning one of the classic 100-mile national championship events. Jones gets yet another chance on May 25 in the traditional Hoosier Hundred at the Indiana State Fairgrounds.
In nine starts on the ‘Track of Champions’ the two-time USAC Silver Crown champ has two poles and led three events for 156 miles yet has not found victory lane on one of the big dirt miles. He came closest at the Indiana State Fairgrounds in May of 2006 leading 99 laps before being passed by teammate Josh Wise on the last turn of the final circuit. He also finished second last year to Jerry Coons, Jr.
Coons is expected to return to the Indiana State Fairgrounds as the defending Hoosier Hundred champion along with a stellar field of drivers in search of a win on the tricky dirt mile. Any number of USAC Silver Crown pilots could write their name alongside former winners such as Jimmy Bryan, A.J. Foyt, Mario Andretti, Al Unser, Chuck Gurney or Jack Hewitt in the auto racing history books with a win on May 25.
The third Indyana Classic for UMP Modifieds accompanies the big dirt cars on the Friday before the Indianapolis 500. NASCAR star and former USAC Silver Crown champ Ken Schrader won his second consecutive Indyana Classic last year.
Practice for the 2012 Hoosier Hundred is slated to begin at 5 p.m. EST with qualifying at 6 followed by modified racing. The 2012 Hoosier Hundred is slated to take the green flag at approximately 8 p.m.