DuQuoin State Fairgrounds Racetrack
| The DuQuoin "Magic Mile" | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Location | Du Quoin, Illinois |
| Coordinates | 37°58′58″N 89°13′23″W / 37.9828°N 89.2231°W |
| Owner | State of Illinois |
| Operator | Bob Sargent / Track Enterprises |
| Opened | 1946 |
| Major events | Current ARCA Menards Series Audubon Park 100 (1948–1949, 1950–1970, 1981–2011, 2013–2019, 2021–present) USAC Silver Crown Series Ted Horn 100 (1948–1949, 1951–1961, 1963–2011, 2013–2019, 2021–present) American Flat Track DuQuoin Mile (1955, 1958, 1977–1989, 1994–1998, 2001–2005, 2015–2019, 2021–present) |
| Oval | |
| Surface | Clay |
| Length | 0.99 mi (1.6 km) |
| Turns | 4 |
| Race lap record | 31.805 ( Sheldon Creed, Toyota Camry, 2018, Stock car) |
DuQuoin State Fairgrounds Racetrack | |
 Photo of the grandstands in 1946 | |
  Location within Illinois  Location within the United States | |
| Location | US 51 N of jct. with SR 14, Du Quoin, Illinois, United States |
| Part of | DuQuoin State Fairgrounds (ID90000719[1]) |
| MPS | Historic Fairgrounds in Illinois MPS |
| Designated CP | July 11, 1990 |
The DuQuoin State Fairgrounds Racetrack is a one-mile (1.6-km) clay oval motor racetrack in Du Quoin, Illinois, about 90 miles (140 km) southeast of St Louis, Missouri.
Opened in 1946, the track has hosted competitive auto racing. Since 1993, the venue is managed by Bob Sargent's Track Enterprises. It is a stop on the ARCA Menards Series, USAC Silver Crown Series and American Flat Track.
History
[edit]The DuQuoin State Fair was founded in 1923 by local businessman William R. "W.R." Hayes, who owned the fair and ran it.[2] It did not become run by the state of Illinois as a true "state fair" until the 1980s; it is now officially called the Illinois State Fair in DuQuoin, as opposed to the longtime one at state capital Springfield. At the start Hayes had a half-mile harness-racing track on his 30-acre site, with wooden grandstands that seated 3000. In 1939 Hayes started buying adjoining strip-mined land to develop its potential as parkland, replanting it and turning the strip pits into family-friendly ponds and lakes. He eventually expanded his little fairgrounds into 1200 acres.
The DuQuoin "Magic Mile" racetrack was constructed on reclaimed strip-mined land in 1946 by W.R. Hayes. The track's first national championship race was held in September 1948. In the second race on October 10, popular AAA National driving champion Ted Horn was killed in the fourth turn when a spindle on his championship car broke.[3] The national championship race for the USAC Silver Crown dirt cars is held in his honor.
In 1957 the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds became the third longtime home of the Hambletonian, America's premier harness racing event (established 1926).[4] The grandstands and bleachers were expanded to seat 18,000. When the Hambletonian left DuQuoin after 1980 to be raced at the Meadowlands, the Fair became the home of the World Trotting Derby. This race was held from 1981 until it was discontinued after the 2009 race. Harness racing is still a fan-favorite at the fairgrounds,[5] and admission is free.[6]
Music concerts are also held at the track, especially during the state fair. The stage is at center at the foot of the grandstand, backed up against the protective cyclone fence that shields the stands from the track.
Race winners
[edit]ARCA Menards Series
[edit]AAA/USAC Champ Car/Silver Crown race winners
[edit]All winners were American
| Season | Date | Winning driver | Chassis | Engine |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1948 | September 4 | Lee Wallard | Meyer | Offy |
| October 10 | Johnnie Parsons | Kurtis | Offy | |
| 1949 | September 3 | Tony Bettenhausen | Kurtis | Offy |
| 1950: Not held | ||||
| 1951 | September 1 | Tony Bettenhausen | Kurtis | Offy |
| September 3 | Tony Bettenhausen | Kurtis | Offy | |
| 1952 | September 1 | Chuck Stevenson | Kurtis | Offy |
| 1953 | September 7 | Sam Hanks | Kurtis | Offy |
| 1954 | September 6 | Sam Hanks | Kurtis | Offy |
| 1955 | September 5 | Jimmy Bryan | Kuzma | Offy |
| 1956 | September 3 | Jimmy Bryan | Kuzma | Offy |
| 1957 | September 2 | Jud Larson | Watson | Offy |
| 1958 | September 1 | Johnny Thomson | Kuzma | Offy |
| 1959 | September 7 | Rodger Ward | Watson | Offy |
| 1960 | September 5 | A. J. Foyt | Meskowski | Offy |
| 1961 | September 4 | A. J. Foyt | Meskowski | Offy |
| 1962: Not held - Rain | ||||
| 1963 | September 2 | A. J. Foyt | Meskowski | Offy |
| 1964 | September 7 | A. J. Foyt | Meskowski | Offy |
| 1965 | September 6 | Don Branson | Watson | Offy |
| 1966 | September 5 | Bud Tingelstad | Meskowski | Offy |
| 1967 | September 4 | A. J. Foyt | Meskowski | Offy |
| 1968 | September 2 | Mario Andretti | Kuzma | Offy |
| 1969 | September 1 | Al Unser | King | Ford |
| 1970 | September 7 | Al Unser | King | Ford |
| 1971 | September 6 | George Snider | Watson | Offenhauser |
| 1972 | September 4 | A. J. Foyt | Meskowski | Offenhauser |
| 1973 | September 3 | Mario Andretti | King | Ford |
| 1974 | September 2 | Mario Andretti | King | Ford |
| 1975 | August 24 | Tom Bigelow | Watson | Ford |
| 1976 | August 29 | Bubby Jones | ||
| 1977 | August 28 | Tom Bigelow | Watson | |
| 1981 | August 30 | Rich Vogler | Shores | Chevrolet |
| 1982 | September 6 | Gary Bettenhausen | King | Chevrolet |
| 1983 | September 5 | Gary Bettenhausen | King | Chevrolet |
| 1984 | September 3 | Joe Saldana | ||
| 1985 | September 2 | Rick Hood | ||
| 1986 | September 1 | Jack Hewitt | ||
| 1987 | September 7 | Jack Hewitt | ||
| 1988 | September 4 | Gary Bettenhausen | ||
| 1989 | September 3 | Chuck Gurney | ||
| 1990 | September 2 | Jeff Swindell | ||
| 1991 | September 1 | Stevie Reeves | ||
| 1992 | September 6 | Johnny Parsons | ||
| 1993 | September 5 | Jack Hewitt | ||
| 1994 | September 4 | Chuck Gurney | ||
| 1995 | September 3 | Johnny Parsons | ||
| 1996 | September 1 | Chuck Gurney | ||
| 1997 | August 31 | Russ Gamester | ||
| 1998 | September 6 | Jimmy Sills | ||
| 1999 | September 5 | Tony Elliott | ||
| 2000 | September 3 | Kasey Kahne | ||
| 2001 | September 2 | Paul White | ||
| 2002 | September 1 | J. J. Yeley | ||
| 2003 | August 31 | Tony Elliott | ||
| 2004 | September 5 | J. J. Yeley | ||
| 2005 | September 4 | Tracy Hines | ||
| 2006 | September 3 | Tracy Hines | ||
| 2007 | September 2 | Shane Cottle | ||
| 2008 | August 31 | Brian Tyler | ||
| 2009 | September 6 | Brian Tyler | ||
| 2010 | September 5 | Levi Jones | ||
| 2011 | September 4 | Levi Jones | ||
| 2012: Not held - Rain | ||||
| 2013 | September 1 | Bobby East | ||
| 2014 | August 31 | Shane Cockrum | ||
| 2015 | September 6 | Shane Cockrum | ||
| 2016 | September 3 | Chris Windom | ||
| 2017 | September 3 | Kody Swanson | ||
| 2018 | September 2 | Justin Grant | ||
| 2019 | September 1 | Chris Windom | ||
| 2020: Not held - COVID-19 pandemic | ||||
| 2021 | September 4 | Brian Tyler | ||
| 2022 | September 3 | Logan Seavey | ||
| 2023 | September 2 | Justin Grant | ||
| 2024 | August 31 | Justin Grant | ||
| 2025 | August 30 | C. J. Leary | ||
| 2026 | September 5 | C. J. Leary | ||
Lap records
[edit]As of July 2024, the fastest official race lap records at the DuQuoin State Fairground Racetrack are listed as:
| Category | Time | Driver | Vehicle | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oval (1946–present): 1.609 km | ||||
| USAC Silver Crown | 0:29.138[7] | Tyler Walker | Silver Crown Car | 2004 Ted Horn 100 |
| AFT Singles | 0:30.385[8] | Jared Lowe | Honda CRF450R | 2024 DuQuoin Mile - Main Event |
| ARCA Menards Series | 0:31.805[9] | Sheldon Creed | Toyota Camry | 2018 General Tire Grabber 100 |
| USAC IndyCar | 0:33.950[10] | Don Branson | Watson-Offenhauser | 1964 Ted Horn Memorial/Du Quoin 100 |
| AFT SuperTwins | 0:36.032[8] | Jared Mees | Indian FTR750 | 2024 DuQuoin Mile - Heat 2 |
References
[edit]- ↑ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
- ↑ Huff Sr., Fred (July 21, 2022). "The Du Quoin State Fair at 100 - The 1920s In the beginning, there was William R. Hayes". Carbondale Times. Retrieved May 9, 2025.
- ↑ "Ted Horn Killed at DuQuoin". The Courier-Journal. October 11, 1948. p. 12. Retrieved May 9, 2025.
- ↑ Jeremiah, Tax (August 19, 1957). "THE 'HAMBO' HITS DU QUOIN". Sports Illustrated.
- ↑ "DuQuoin State Fair Has Harness Racing, Entertainment Scheduled For Track". thexradio.com. August 19, 2025.
- ↑ "DuQuoin State Fair, Illinois.gov".
- ↑ "FIELD OF 36 SET FOR SATURDAY'S TED HORN 100 AT Du QUOIN". www.usacracing.com. Retrieved July 4, 2025.
- 1 2 "Results - 2024 DuQuoin Mile". American Flat Track. Retrieved July 4, 2025.
- ↑ "2018 ARCA Racing Series". Retrieved October 23, 2022.
- ↑ "1964 Du Quoin Indycars". Retrieved October 24, 2022.
External links
[edit]- DuQuoin State Fairgrounds Racetrack race results at Racing-Reference
| Authority control databases: Geographic |
|---|
- Motorsport venues in Illinois
- ARCA Menards Series tracks
- USAC Stock Car tracks
- NASCAR tracks
- Buildings and structures in Perry County, Illinois
- Tourist attractions in Perry County, Illinois
- Historic district contributing properties in Illinois
- Sports venues completed in 1946
- 1946 establishments in Illinois
- Current ARCA Menards Series tracks