(TOLEDO, Ohio - August 30, 2012) - Two drivers in Monday's Southern Illinois 100 presented by Federated Car Care at the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds will be pulling double duty.
Galesburg, Ill. driver A.J. Fike (pictured) is one of the two. A three-time winner of the Menards Pole Award presented by Ansell at DuQuoin, Fike is entered for Sunday's USAC Silver Crown Series race as well as Monday's ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards event on the dirt mile.
Fike won the Silver Crown race at the Illinois State Fairgrounds earlier this month, but failed to finish the ARCA race the next day. He finished in an ARCA car at DuQuoin in 2009, one of the three years he won the pole (2007, 2010).
Shane Cockrum of Benton, Ill. is the other driver entered for both races.
Following is a collection of other news and notes, facts and figures, and insider information for Monday's Southern Illinois 100.
Eight Illinoisans Entered, Including UMP National Late Model Champ Unzicker
DuQuoin always attracts an interesting assortment of Illinoisans to the lineup. This year's entry list includes a strong contingent from the Land of Lincoln, including Mark Littleton (Arenzville), Fike (Galesburg), Kelly Kovski (Springfield), Rodney Melvin (Benton), Joe Cooksey (Centralia), Joseph Hughs (Springfield), Cockrum (Benton), and Ryan Unzicker (El Paso). Unzicker is the 2011 UMP Late Model national champion.
Team Messina Rookie Challenge, Aaron's Lap Leader Battle Big to DuQuoin
Brennan Poole (The Woodlands, Texas) is the current Team Messina Rookie Challenge leader leading into the race at DuQuoin. However, Poole's lead is closely contested by Tucson, Ariz.'s Alex Bowman. Bowman, who drives for Cunningham Motorsports, trails Poole by just 12 points for the 2012 Team Messina Rookie Challenge title. Bowman, however, currently leads Poole in the Aaron's Lap Leader Award category, having led 487 laps in 11 races. Poole trails in second with 472 laps led in seven races.
Three Former Southern Illinois 100 Winners in the Field
Five-time DuQuoin winner Frank Kimmel will be joined by two other former DuQuoin winners in the field, including Fort Frances, Ont.s Steve Arpin, who won for Venturini Motorsports in 2010, and Chris Buescher, who won for Roulo Brothers Racing in 2011.
Oldest to Youngest
Sixty-one years separate the oldest driver from the youngest driver entered for Monday's Southern Illinois 100. James Hylton, who turned 78 just last Sunday on the day of the Madison race, is the oldest. High school senior Mason Mingus is the youngest at just 17. Mingus, who drives the No. 32 Diamond Equipment Toyota for Win-Tron Racing, is the captain of his school's state championship wrestling team in Tennessee. Hylton was the 1966 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Rookie of the Year.
To read more notes previewing Monday's Southern Illinois 100, click here or visit the Team News section of ARCARacing.com at ARCA Nation.
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