USAC Midget/Sprint Car

A total of four Toyota-powered cars were in the field, all using a 355-ci naturally-aspirated V8 engine. Team 6R Racing fielded Tyler and Kody Swanson, using engines prepared by Jeff Claxton Racing Engines, while RW Motorsports also brought a two-car effort with Coons and Mat Neely behind the wheel. RW uses engines prepared by Ed Pink Racing Engines.

During time trials Tyler was second-quick, Swanson fourth, and Neely 12th. Coons was unable to post a time-trial lap, and therefore tagged the tail of the field in 25th position at the start.

Tyler drove from his outside second-row starting spot to take the lead into the first corner, and led comfortably the entire race distance. Coons thrilled the crowd at the Illinois State Fairgrounds mile as he surged through traffic to nearly crack the top-5. Swanson was ninth, and Neely capped off the Toyota campaign by finishing 15th.

"What an amazing day," beamed Tyler, a two-time USAC champion hailing from Parma, Mich. "The car worked well, the engine ran well, the tires worked well, and the driver didn't mess up too badly. I had looked forward to this race for weeks, because I knew the Toyota was going to like these long straightaways, and this big track.

"The key is that these engines pull all the way down the straight. That's a great feeling as a driver, to feel the thing still pulling down toward the end. From my second lap in the initial warm-ups, I knew it was going to be a great day. I was feeling pretty confident.

"When things are going so perfectly, as a driver you really have to concentrate to avoid mistakes, or getting caught up in someone else's mistake. Once I got out front I focused on hitting my marks, keeping my rhythm, and I seemed to catch the traffic just right. When I caught slower cars, they were nice to me. It was good, clean, give-and-take racing, the way it ought to be.

"I hope this win means a lot for Toyota. Getting that first one, that's special, and I'm glad to be a part of it. At least I'll have my name in the books forever for that.

"Now I'm really looking forward to DuQuoin. I've been going there for a lot of years, and I've finished second there, but never won. With this Toyota, now is the time to break that jinx."

Tyler's performance vaulted him from fifth to third in the series standings, while Coons holds a sizable advantage with just three races remaining on the 2008 schedule. The USAC Silver Crown series returns to action at the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds in Illinois on Sunday, Aug. 31.

TONY BETTENHAUSEN 100 - SPRINGFIELD, ILL.
1. Brian Tyler, No. 21 Team 6R
6. Jerry Coons, Jr., No. 27 RW Motorsports
9. Kody Swanson, No. 19 Team 6R
12. Mat Neely, No. 17 RW Motorsports

USAC SILVER CROWN SERIES - POINT STANDINGS
1. Jerry Coons, Jr., No. 27 RW Motorsports (293)
3. Brian Tyler, No. 21 Team 6R (218)
9. Mat Neely, No. 17 RW Motorsports (147)