Race fans throughout the country can purchase tickets now for four big days of auto racing on the two one mile dirt tracks of the state fairs of Illinois, the 156th annual Illinois State Fair in Springfield and the 87th annual DuQuoin State Fair in Southern Illinois by contacting the box office of both fairs, Ticketmaster locations or promoter Track Enterprises of Macon, Illinois.

Fans will want to buy tickets early to ensure prime seat locations as the racing action at Springfield and DuQuoin is expected to draw a healthy field of national and local competitors including some current and former Indy Racing League and NASCAR drivers to the Illinois dirt. The action kicks off with the diamond anniversary of the first national championship race on the Springfield Mile as the 49th Tony Bettenhausen 100 for the upright championship dirt cars of the USAC K&N Filters Silver Crown Championship Series takes to the track Satuday, August 22 at the Illinois State Fairgrounds with defending winner Brian Tyler in search of a fourth Springfield win. Stock cars take to the Springfield Mile the next afternoon as NASCAR's Ken Schrader battles seven time Springfield winner Frank Kimmel in the 47th Allen Crowe 100 for the ARCA RE/MAX Stock Car Series. Sharing the bill with the ARCA Stock cars is the 16th running of the Illinois Sportsman Nationals with Dennis Vandermeersch seeking a 4th win.

Auto racing shifts to the south two weeks later as the USAC Silver Crown cars run under the lights on the picturesque DuQuoin State Fairgrounds "Magic Mile" in the 59th edition of the Ted Horn 100, with Michigan's Brian Tyler seeking a repeat victory On Sunday, September 6. Ken Schrader and defending race winner Frank Kimmel lead the ARCA contingent back to DuQuoin on Labor Day in search of his third win in the 57th running of the Federated-Southern Illinois 100 which could see some other NASCAR drivers make the trek from the race in Atlanta to DuQuoin. UMP Modifieds share the card both days, with heat races on Sunday and the 20-mile Bill Oldani Memorial on Monday, John O'Neal Jr. won last year's event.

Tickets are $20 for adults in advance, ($25 on race days) $10 for children for each event at Springfield and DuQuoin. Race fans can purchase tickets at the Illinois State Fair Box Office located in the south end of the main Grandstand or by calling 217-782-1979, at Ticketmaster locations or by calling Track Enterprises at 217-764-3200. DuQuoin event tickets can be purchased through Ticketmaster, by calling Track Enterprises, or at the DuQuoin State Fair Box Office at 618-542-1515. More information can also be found at www.trackenterprises.com.