By Dick Jordan
Christopher Bell, the 18-year-old Norman, Okla. driver who has spurted to the top of the Honda USAC National Dirt Midget standings with spectacular victories so far this season, will make his TRAXXAS USAC Silver Crown debut Sunday night in the “Ted Horn 100” at the DuQuoin (Ill.) State Fairgrounds.
Bell will drive for one of the winningest car owners in series history, Six-R Racing of Westfield, Ind. Six-R has amassed 27 wins in series competition, including 1993, 2008 and 2010 DuQuoin victories with drivers Jack Hewitt, Brian Tyler and Kody Swanson respectively.
Wins at Putnamville, Ind., Kokomo, Ind., Belleville, Ill. and the recent Belleville (Kans.) Midget Nationals have helped propel Bell to the top ranking in the Honda National Dirt Midgets. He has also competed in this year’s AMSOIL USAC Sprint cars. In addition, he earned his initial Honda National Pavement Midget victory recently at Schererville, Ind.
Bell will face a formidable field at DuQuoin, including former race winners Tracy Hines, Kody Swanson, Shane Cottle and Russ Gamester plus title challengers Jerry Coons Jr., Chris Windom and defending champion Bobby East.
“I’m really excited,” says Bell, who admits this will be his first outing on a mile. “The biggest track I’ve been on so far was probably at Lucas Oil Raceway (.686) so Sunday will be a new experience. Keith (Kunz, his Midget and Sprint mechanic), has briefed me on what to expect and given me some good tips on how Kyle Larson adapted in his Silver Crown debut. I’m sure I’ll ease into it in hot laps and go from there. The race will be a whole new challenge, with tire wear critical and the changing fuel load presenting new problems for me, but I’m optimistic.”