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Illinois State Fair news 2010-08-17

48th Allen Crowe 100 Sunday at Illinois State Fair Seven time Allen Crowe 100 winner Frank Kimmel of Clarksville, Indiana looks for his first ARCA series win of 2010 as the Automobile Racing Club of America Menard's-RE/MAX Stock Car Series comes ...

48th Allen Crowe 100 Sunday at Illinois State Fair

Seven time Allen Crowe 100 winner Frank Kimmel of Clarksville, Indiana looks for his first ARCA series win of 2010 as the Automobile Racing Club of America Menard's-RE/MAX Stock Car Series comes with a new look to end the Illinois State Fair's two-day festival of speed with the 48th AlIen Crowe 100 on Sunday August 22. Kimmel is the current point leader in search of a tenth title and heads a field of nearly 35 ARCA cars vying for starting positions at one of two dirt track races on the 2010 ARCA schedule.

Nine time ARCA title winner Kimmel has a ten point lead after the New Jersey road race and is still looking for his first win of the year. Fans can expect him to be one of the favorites at Springfield as Kimmel has become the 'king of dirt' in the ARCA series as the all-time leading race winner on dirt in the modern era. Kimmel is also king at the Illinois State Fairgrounds, his seven race wins are the most in stock cars and he leads in laps led at Springfield with 604 as well as money won.

Justin Marks, a twenty-nine year old Californian, had one win and nine top ten finshes after the race at New Jersey and dropped to fourth in the points. New Jersey's Craig Goess has staged a torrid battle with Marks for the point lead and is second in points with one win and ten top ten finishes.. Mikey Kile of Louisiana, Indiana's Dakoda Armstrong, New York's Tim George, Michigan's Rob Brent and Florida's Joey Coulter are all in the current top ten in points and could find their way to Springfield. Brent drives for the 2006 Allen Crowe winning team of Mike Allgaier based in Springfield while Armstrong is a veteran of USAC midget car competition.

Two in the top ten have to be considered strong contenders for a win on the Springfield Mile. Florida's Patrick Sheltra held the point lead for part of the season and is a veteran of dirt late model competition with several strong runs at Springfield and DuQuoin. New Jersey's Tom Hessert has run midgets and USAC Silver Crown cars before moving to the ARCA series: Hessert is now third in the 2010 title chase with Sheltra fifth.

One of the ARCA regulars who is looking forward to the dirt is Canadian Steve Arpin, a veteran of dirt modified racing. Other ARCA regulars expected include Indiana's Darrell Basham, Florida's Bryan Silas and Michigan's Brad Smith. North Carolina's Chad McCumbee returns driving for Andy Belmont.

Illinois drivers help boost ticket sales and last year was no exception as six dotted the entry list and five making the starting field. Galesburg's A.J. Fike has done 'double duty' the last few years competing in the Saturday Tony Bettenhausen 100 USAC dirt car race and will try to join Al Unser as the only other driver in the history of the Illinois State Fair to sweep the dirt car and stock car races on the same weekend. Fike has two top ten finishes in five starts in the Crowe 100 and a pole in his rookie year of 2004. Springfield's Kelly Kovski has five starts in the Crowe 100 and two top ten finishes while Mark Littleton of Arenzville has three starts. Southern Illinois dirt late model veteran Rodney Melvin of Benton looks to make his debut at Springfield.

Unfortunately one driver who will not return is defending winner Parker Kligerman. The 19 year old Kligerman led 18 laps last year enroute to becoming the youngest winner in Springfield stock car history and posted a stunning upset. He has moved on to the NASCAR Nationwide Series.

Frank Kimmel will try to break the tie for most overall stock car wins at Springfield with the late Dean Roper in Sunday August 22 while others try to join legends like Butch Hartman, Don White, Jack Bowsher and Ramo Stott as Allen Crow~ 100 victors. Practice for the 48th Allen Crowe 100 is slated to begin at 9 a.m. Sunday morning with one lap trials for the pole position at 11. The Allen Crowe 100 gets a flying start at approximately 1 p.m.

-source: Illinois State Fair

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