PIT BOX: ARCA Menards Series competitors prepare to sling dirt at the historic Springfield Mile

The annual arrival of the Illinois State Fair brings about a cherished tradition for the ARCA Menards Series: a visit to the Springfield Mile dirt track.

One of the oldest speedways in the United States having operated since 1910, the Springfield Mile built its reputation as a hub for open-wheel racing. Many pioneers of the sport have won there, including Rex Mays, Ted Horn, Jimmy Bryan and Rodger Ward, along with four-time Indianapolis 500 winners A.J. Foyt and Al Unser.

As open-wheel racing moved away from dirt tracks, the Springfield Mile embraced stock-car racing at its historic grounds. In 1983, Dean Roper won the first ARCA Menards Series event at the historic facility, kickstarting a strong relationship between the two sides that has continued for four decades.

The Springfield Mile remains just as challenging to ARCA Menards Series competitors as it did back in the 1980s with its long straightaways and sweeping turns pushing equipment to the limit. On Sunday, the current generation of drivers will seek to conquer the Springfield Mile and add to the venue’s rich racing history.

Tickets to the Allen Crowe 100 at the Illinois State Fairgrounds can be purchased here. Below is everything to know ahead of the 14^th race of the 2025 ARCA Menards Series season.

Allen Crowe 100 at the Illinois State Fairgrounds

With any dirt track race on the ARCA Menards Series schedule, Brent Crews is an automatic favorite if he is entered.

Crews’ maiden ARCA Menards Series victory at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in 2023 was a convincing one. After passing his then-Venturini Motorsports teammate Jesse Love for the lead with 48 laps remaining, Crews proceeded to pull away from the rest of the field, prevailing by 20.717 seconds.

Fresh off a heartbreak at Watkins Glen International in which he stalled under caution while leading due to a mechanical issue, Crews heads to the Springfield Mile determined to find Victory Lane. Instead of competing for Joe Gibbs Racing, Crews will make his first appearance in Nitro Motorsports’ No. 70 Toyota on Sunday.

The driver who is in Gibbs’ No. 18 Toyota for the Springfield Mile is Max Reaves, back in the national series for the first time since winning at Elko Speedway in June. Reaves’ background does not extensively feature dirt racing, but he will have the guidance of a program that won at the Springfield Mile last year with William Sawalich.

ARCA Menards Series points leader Brenden “Butterbean” Queen is no stranger to dirt racing, as he competed in late models at several facilities in his home state of Virginia. Queen looks to rely on that dirt experience as he rebounds from a tough Watkins Glen outing that saw him finish 21 laps down after a Lap 1 mechanical problem.

Other names heading to the Springfield Mile this weekend include Kelly Kovski, Sam Corry, Sean Corr, Tony Cosentino and Joe Cooksey.

The complete entry list for the Allen Crowe 100 at the Illinois State Fairgrounds is available here.

RACING REFERENCE:

• Previous ARCA Menards Series races at Springfield
• ARCA Menards Series drivers at Springfield

RACE FACTS:

CREW CHIEF HANDOUT: Field limited to 30 starters plus provisionals. This event will be run under the 2025 ARCA Menards Series rules, procedures, regulations and specifications.

QUALIFYING: One lap qualifying. No adjustments or repairs may be made on car after taking the green flag at Start/Finish line. All cars must make a qualifying attempt, and all drivers must practice before they can qualify (EIRI).

RACE PIT STOP: Break pit stop procedure. Break at or near lap 50. No adding or moving tires to or from pit box once race has started.

TIRE ALLOTMENT: Per ARCA Rulebook, maximum tire usage for this event (purchased at track plus maximum 4 from-home tires) is 14.