Southern Illinois 100 Explained

The Southern Illinois 100 (formerly the Rust-Oleum Automotive Finishes 100) is an ARCA Menards Series stock car race held annually on the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds Racetrack during the DuQuoin State Fair on Labor Day weekend.

It is one of two dirt races on the ARCA schedule, the other being the Springfield ARCA 100 at the Illinois State Fairgrounds Racetrack, both of which are longtime events on the series schedule. These two races are part of the Performance Seed Dirt Double, which is a $20,000 bonus that is given to a driver who wins both races (the last time it happened was Parker Kligerman in 2009) and if not, bonuses are given to the drivers with the three best average finishes in the two races ($7,500 for first best, $5,000 for second best and $2,500 for third best).[1]

Race history

The first 100-mile stock car race at the track was held in 1950. It has been a part of a national stock car circuit annually since 1954. AAA sanctioned the race until 1955, USAC from 1956 to 1984, and ARCA took over solely in 1985 after co-sanctioning the race in 1983 and 1984.

In the 2000s and 2010s, the race saw participation from NASCAR Cup Series regulars Tony Stewart and Ken Schrader. Stewart won the race in 2003, and Schrader was victorious in 2006, 2007, and 2013.

Starting in 2022, ARCA would offer a $20,000 bonus if a driver were to win this race and the other dirt race at the Illinois State Fairgrounds Racetrack. No driver has won it in both years of it being offered. This bonus is sponsored by Performance Seed.[2] [3]

Race winners

YearWinner
1950Jay Frank
1954Don O'Dell
1955Frank Mundy
1956Marshall Teague
1957 (USAC)Jerry Unser
1957 (ARCA)Jimmy Bryan
1958Fred Lorenzen
1959Fred Lorenzen
1960Norm Nelson
1961Paul Goldsmith
1962Paul Goldsmith
1963Norm Nelson
1964Joe Leonard
1965Paul Goldsmith
1966Don White
1967Norm Nelson
1968Don White
1969A. J. Foyt
1970Norm Nelson
1971Verlin Eaker
1972Jack Bowsher
1973Butch Hartman
1974Butch Hartman
1975Butch Hartman
1976Bay Darnell
1977Paul Feldner
1978Don White
1979Rusty Wallace
1980Sal Tovella
1981Dean Roper
1982Rick O'Brien
1983Dean Roper
YearWinner
1984David Goldsberry
1985Lee Raymond
1986Dean Roper
1987Dean Roper
1988Bob Keselowski
1989Bob Keselowski
1990Bob Brevak
1991Bob Strait
1992Bob Schacht
1993Billy Thomas
1994Dean Roper
1995Bob Hill
1996Bob Hill
1997Billy Thomas
1998Billy Thomas
1999Jeff Finley
2000Billy Thomas
2001Frank Kimmel
2002Frank Kimmel
2003Tony Stewart
2004Frank Kimmel
2005Frank Kimmel
2006Ken Schrader
2007Ken Schrader
2008Frank Kimmel
2009Parker Kligerman
2010Steve Arpin
2011Chris Buescher
2012Cancelled due to rain
2013Ken Schrader
2014Grant Enfinger
2015Grant Enfinger
YearWinner
2016Tom Hessert III
2017Austin Theriault
2018Logan Seavey
2019Christian Eckes
2020Cancelled due to COVID-19
2021Landen Lewis
2022Ryan Unzicker
2023Jesse Love

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Performance Seed Dirt Double returns for ARCA events at Springfield and DuQuoin . ARCARacing.com . July 11, 2023 . August 17, 2024.
  2. Web site: Performance Seed Dirt Double returns for ARCA events at Springfield and DuQuoin . ARCARacing.com . July 11, 2023 . April 29, 2024.
  3. Web site: ARCA Menards Series schedule . ARCARacing.com . April 29, 2024.
  4. http://www.ultimateracinghistory.com/racelist3.php?trackid=1 Ultimate Racing History
  5. Web site: 2008 ARCA RE/MAX Series schedule . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080914044939/http://www.arcaracing.com/schedule.cfm?contentid=1230 . 2008-09-14 . 2008-10-02. ARCARacing.com