TheSpringfield ARCA 100(formerly theAllen Crowe 100,Atlas 100and theDutch Boy 100) is anARCAMenards Seriesstock carrace held annually on theIllinois State Fairgrounds Racetrackduring theIllinois State Fair.

It is one of two dirt races on the ARCA schedule, the other being theSouthern Illinois 100at theDuQuoin State Fairgrounds Racetrack,both of which are longtime events on the series schedule. These two races are part of the Performance Seed Dirt Double, which is a $20,000 bonus that is given to a driver who wins both races (the last time it happened wasParker Kligermanin2009) and if not, bonuses are given to the drivers with the three best average finishes in the two races ($7,500 for first best, $5,000 for second best and $2,500 for third best).[1]

History

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USAC era

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The first race was held August 25, 1963.[2]That race was won byNASCARdriverCurtis Turner.[3]

USAC's stock car division sanctioned the race from the race's inception in 1963, until the series' demise in 1984. 1972's race was an odd occurrence, in thatAl Unserwon the USAC Stock car race on Saturday, and then won the USAC Championship Dirt Car race the following day.[2]The feat has never been repeated in the years since.

Co-sanctioning

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As USAC was downsizing itsstock cardivision, the 1983 and 1984 running of the Allen Crowe Memorial was co-sanctioned withARCA.

ARCA era

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ARCA took over as sole sanctioning body in 1985.

In years where the race has not had a title sponsor, it has been named after former driverAllen Crowe(either "Allen Crowe Memorial", "Allen Crowe Memorial 100", "Allen Crowe Memorial ARCA 100", or simply "Allen Crowe 100" ). Crowe was born on November 12, 1928 inSpringfield, Illinoisand died inNew Bremen, Ohio,on June 2, 1963 from injuries sustained in aSprint Carrace at New Bremen Speedway. Allen cut his teeth at the now-defunct Springfield Speedway. He started instock carsand moved up fast. He soon became a first class racer, winning the Missouri-Illinois stock car title. He began racing in theUSACChampionship CarSeries, racing in the 1961 through 1963 seasons with 15 starts, including the1962and1963 Indianapolis 500races. He finished in the top ten six times, with his best finish of 5th in 1962 at Syracuse.[4]

Beginning in 1989, the race was renamed theCoorsAllen Crowe Memorial 100. In 1995, it took the name "Pabst Genuine Draft 100", then was known as the "Super Chevy Dealers 100" for 1996, before returning to the original name for 1997. From 1999 to 2001, the race was known as the "Par-A-Dice 100", due to a new sponsor agreement. The race reverted to the "Allen Crowe Memorial 100" (or a variation of) moniker in 2002 and kept it until being renamed the "SuperChevyStores 100" for 2014.[5]The race had a title sponsor again in 2022 when Atlas Roofing became the title sponsor of the race.Dutch Boy Paintwas the title sponsor of the race in 2023. The race did not have a title sponsor again in 2024 and was renamed to the "Springfield ARCA 100".[6]

There have been no deaths in the race attributed to crashes; however, four-time race winnerDean Roper,whose sonTony Roperwas killed in aNASCAR Craftsman Truck Seriesrace 10 months earlier, suffered aheart attackon lap 17 of the 2001 race. Roper's car slowed on the frontstretch, then hit the inside retaining wall. He was unconscious when medical help arrived and later pronounced dead atSpringfield Memorial Hospital.[7][8][9] [10]

Race winners

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  • 1963 – 1982: USAC-sanctioned event
  • 1983 – 1984: ARCA and USAC co-sanctioned event
  • 1985 – present: ARCA-sanctioned event

† – Record for a 100-mile race.[11]

§ - Because of inclement weather and track preparation, the race was run to a time limit as to allow other events at the Fairgrounds to start on time. Race start delayed to 1448 local time, and distance changed to one lap after 1559. Race further shortened by a red flag during the final lap caused by a crash. Race was red-flagged on Lap 76, but countback rule meant ARCA declared results official as of Lap 74.

References

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  1. ^"Performance Seed Dirt Double returns for ARCA events at Springfield and DuQuoin".ARCARacing.July 11, 2023.RetrievedAugust 17,2024.
  2. ^abchttp:// ultimateracinghistory /racelist3.php?trackid=2Ultimate Racing History
  3. ^http:// ultimateracinghistory /race.php?raceid=318Ultimate Racing History
  4. ^http:// freewebs /springfieldsspeeday[dead link]
  5. ^ab"Tracks".
  6. ^"ARCA Menards Series schedule".ARCARacing.RetrievedApril 29,2024.
  7. ^Howard Richman: "Racer Dean Roper died of a broken heart." The Kansas City Star (via Knight-Ridder/Tribune News Service) August 26, 2001
  8. ^"ARCA Veteran Dean Roper Death - History of - Stock Car Racing Magazine".Archived fromthe originalon 2008-12-03.Retrieved2008-07-21.Stock Car Racing magazine
  9. ^http:// infoplease /ipa/A0884855.htmlInfoPlease
  10. ^"ARCA Veteran Dean Roper Death | Stock Car Racing Magazine Article at Automotive".Archived fromthe originalon 2011-07-07.Retrieved2008-07-21."ARCA Veteran Dean Roper Dies" article provided by Circle Track Magazine
  11. ^abhttp:// motorsport /magazine/feature.asp?C=Special&D=2001-07-31Archived2011-06-06 at theWayback MachineMotorsport
  12. ^STEELE EARNS VICTORY IN ALLEN CROWE 100, Bloomington, IllinoisPantagraphpublished August 19, 1996
  13. ^http:// motorsport /news/article.asp?ID=84539&FS=USAC-SCArchived2011-06-06 at theWayback MachineMotorsport
  14. ^"Archived copy".Archived fromthe originalon 2009-08-13.Retrieved2008-08-17.{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)ARCAracing results
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ARCA Menards Series
Springfield ARCA 100
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Sprecher 150