 | |
| Location | Du Quoin, Illinois |
|---|---|
| Opened | 1946 |
| Major events | ARCA Menards Series Southern Illinois 100 USAC Silver Crown Series Ted Horn 100 American Flat Track DuQuoin Mile |
| 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 is a one-mile (1.6-km) clay oval motor racetrack inDu Quoin, Illinois, about 90 miles (140 km) southeast ofSt Louis, Missouri. It is a stop on theARCA Menards Series,USAC Silver Crown Series andAmerican Flat Track.
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TheDuQuoin State Fair was founded in 1923 by local businessman William R. "W.R." Hayes, who owned the fair and ran it.[1] 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 firstnational championship race was held in September 1948. In the second race on October 10, popular AAA National driving championTed Horn was killed in the fourth turn when a spindle on his championship car broke.[2] The national championship race for theUSAC Silver Crown dirt cars is held in his honor.
In 1957 the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds became the third longtime home of theHambletonian, America's premier harness racing event (established 1926).[3] The grandstands and bleachers were expanded to seat 18,000. When the Hambletonian left DuQuoin after 1980 to be raced atthe 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,[4] and admission is free.[5]
Music concerts are also held at the track, especially during the state fair (in 2012 from August 25 through Labor Day, September 3). 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.
| Category | Time | Driver | Vehicle | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oval (1946–present): 1.609 km | ||||
| USAC Silver Crown | 0:29.138[6] | Tyler Walker | Silver Crown Car | 2004 Ted Horn 100 |
| AFT Singles | 0:30.385[7] | Jared Lowe | Honda CRF450R | 2024 DuQuoin Mile - Main Event |
| ARCA Racing Series | 0:31.805[8] | Sheldon Creed | Toyota Camry | 2018 General Tire Grabber 100 |
| USACIndyCar | 0:33.950[9] | Don Branson | Watson-Offenhauser | 1964 Ted Horn Memorial/Du Quoin 100 |
| AFT SuperTwins | 0:36.032[7] | Jared Mees | Indian FTR750 | 2024 DuQuoin Mile - Heat 2 |
Authority control databases: Geographic |
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37°58′58″N89°13′23″W / 37.98278°N 89.22306°W /37.98278; -89.22306
