INDIANAPOLIS – It’s been almost six years since Chase Stockon raced with the USAC Silver Crown Series, but that hiatus will end next week during the May 27 Sumar Classic at Terre Haute Action Track.
The Fort Branch, Ind., resident will drive Tim and Jake Simmons’ No. 3 at the half-mile Indiana dirt track, his fourth career Silver Crown appearance and first since the 2015 4-Crown Nationals at Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio.
All three of Stockon’s prior Silver Crown starts came with McQuinn Motorsports. Meanwhile, the Simmons – father Tim and son Jake – have been involved in Silver Crown competition in parts of the past decade.
As a driver, Jake Simmons made five series starts, four of which came in 2014 and one more recently in 2020.
One thing Stockon and Simmons share is that both of their Silver Crown careers began at Terre Haute. It seems fitting that, years later, the two have teamed up for the season opener this year at the famed facility.
“We go back a long way racing with those two,” Stockon noted. “Jake and Tim ran with the Midwest Sprint Car Series way back in the day when my grandpa (Sam) ran it. They’ve always been a good group of guys, so I’m thinking it’ll be a fun deal.”
Stockon is renowned for his USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Car success at Terre Haute, having won three of his 14 series features at The Action Track. His 11th place run at Terre Haute in his first Silver Crown start in 2015 was a contrast to what he was used to at that point in time.
“It was definitely different,” Stockon admitted. “The reaction of the car is a little bit slower, and as far as catching the car and stuff, that was the biggest difference in the Silver Crown car. When the car gets loose, it takes a little bit longer to catch up. It was a different experience, and one I’m very grateful for and excited to experience again.”
Six years away from one discipline can prove to be a challenge to overcome at first. Stockon, however, kept sharp by capturing the Indiana Sprint Week title in 2020 and racking up an all-time record 324 consecutive feature starts with the USAC National Sprint Car Series in the meantime.
Despite a lengthy amount of time between Silver Crown appearances, Stockon hopes the re-learning curve following his half-decade absence will be considerably shorter than the curve that existed during his very first start.
“I think there’ll be a little bit of a learning curve, but I think we’re up for the challenge,” Stockon said. “They’ve got a good engine, a good shock package and we get along pretty well. The three of us together have quite a bit of knowledge to share, so I think we should be pretty all right.”