6. Gravel Turns In One Of Silver Crown's Best Ever Debuts

In his first career USAC Silver Crown appearance, David Gravel finished second to winner Kyle Larson in the Oct. 18 Bettenhausen 100 presented by Fatheadz Eyewear at the Illinois State Fairgrounds, but his runner-up finish turned out to be the best performance by a first-time Silver Crown race starter in more than a quarter century, since P.J. Jones finished as the runner-up at Indianapolis Raceway Park in 1994.

The 28-year-old Gravel, who won the Knoxville Nationals in 2019, had one of the best debuts in Silver Crown history.  He’s now one of just 12 drivers to finish inside the top-two in his first career series start.  Seven drivers won their first Silver Crown start: Jim McElreath (Nazareth 1971), A.J. Foyt (Illinois State Fairgrounds 1971), Danny Smith (Eldora 1982), Rick Hood (Indiana State Fairgrounds 1982), Jimmy Horton (Nazareth 1983), Herb Copeland (Oklahoma City 1983) and Marv Carman (Minnesota State Fairgrounds 1984).