Tyler's Fastest in Sunday's USAC 100
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[ Bryan Tyler resides in Parma, Mi. However, don't be surprised if he's overheard calling Illinois home these days.
Tyler's Toyota-Powered Beast held off hard-charging Dave Darland in a white-yellow-checkered finish Sunday night to win the 58th Annual Ted Horn Memorial 100 USAC K&N Filters Silver Crown race at the Du Quoin State Fairgrounds.
15 days prior, Tyler was celebrating in victory lane after winning on the state's other state fair mile at Springfield.
"I've came in second it seems like a bunch of times here," Tyler said. "Its so nice to be able to say that I've won one here. I had a pretty good car all night."
A spin by Silver Crown Series points leader Jerry Coons, Jr. in turn two on the 99th lap forced the shootout with Darland, who moved up nine spots in the final 29 laps after taking a huge gamble.
On the 70th mile, Darland (Lincoln, In.) pitted for a tire change and dropped back to 10th place.
With warm and dry weather conditions turning the Magic Mile's clay and sand surface rock-hard, Darland easily moved through the field.
The crowd of nearly 7,000 rose to its feet as Darland appeared to briefly slip below Tyler on the restart.
Down the back straight away, Tyler pulled slightly away before Darland again challenged in the final turn.
Tyler passed pole sitter and defending Ted Horn winner Shane Cottle of Kokomo, In. with 24 circuits left, ending a dominationg stretch by Cottle.
After winning last year flag-to-flag, Cottle's lap leading streak ended at 175 when Tyler drove past in turn #3. Cottle had built an early 8.2 second edge before a series of yellow flags and tire woes began to take their toll.
Murphysboro's Randy Bateman was slated to start a career-best, but couldn't find the fire as the race began.
Bateman, after briefly holding the pole, qualified at 115.628 MPH, 31.406) and lasted 91 laps. He finished 11th.
Cottle set fastest time (30.996) for the second straight year and ended up finishing third.
He was forced to start from the back of the field after being push-started to make the parade laps.
Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. was fourth and Matt Neely of Robinson fifth.
NASCAR's JJ Yeley struggled with engine issues and placed 18th.
Coons nearly avoided not finishing until the engine gave away on the final lap. Coons, who started dead last, ended up ninth and holds a 23-point lead over Darland.
The next series race will be part of the famed Four-Crown Nationals Sept. 20 in Rossburg, Ohio.
Sunday's race was the final for 43-year USAC veteran and Du Quoin favorite Johnny Parsons, Jr.
Qualifying mid-pack for longtime car owner Ricky Nix of nearby Benton, Parsons lasted only seven laps before overheating.
"Du Quoin has always been such a special, special place for me. My dad (the late Johnny Parsons, Sr.) ran here," the younger Parsons said.
"And this place has been very good to me," Parsons said. "We won here twice (1992 and 1995) and always seemed to run pretty high in the money."
Prior to the feature, Parsons led the field in two special parade laps. His Mother Azra also gave the command for the starting to field to start its engines.
Johnny Parsons, Jr. first entered a USAC race in 1966 at St. Paul, Mn. and has ran every year since at Du Quoin.