SILVER CROWN EYES SEPTEMBER 26 “4-CROWN NATIONALS;”

COCKRUM REPEATS AS DuQUOIN’S “TED HORN 100” CHAMPION

Kody Swanson has spurted out to a comfortable 100-point lead as he attempts to repeat as USAC’s Silver Crown National champion.

Swanson finished third in Sunday night’s “Ted Horn 100” at the DuQuoin (Ill.) State Fairgrounds after winning the pole and leading 67 laps. He will try to hold off series runner-up Jerry Coons Jr. in the final two series events September 26 at Rossburg, Ohio and October 10 at Syracuse, N.Y.

Shane Cockrum of Benton, Ill. scored a popular repeat victory at DuQuoin, passing Swanson on lap 68 and leading the rest of the way in the Hardy Boys Financial Transportation Services/Four Seasons Ace Hardware Maxim/Chevy. Chris Windom finished second ahead of Swanson, Justin Grant and Casey Shuman.

The upcoming “4-Crown Nationals” at Eldora Speedway is the penultimate round of the 2015 championship and a top-10 finish by Swanson would virtually lock up the title.

A.J. Fike, Aaron Pierce, who challenged Swanson and Cockrum through the first half of Sunday’s race, and Windom, who secured second from Swanson with four laps to go, round out the updated series standings.