For Immediate Release!!! 40th Allen Crowe
Memorial 100 Closes 150th Illinois State Fair Sunday August
18th!!!!!!!!!!!
40th Annual 100-Mile National Championship Stock Car Race
Allen Crowe Memorial 100
Automobile Racing Club of America RE/MAX Stock Car Series
Illinois State Fairgrounds Sunday, August 18, 2002 Springfield, Illinois
It’s the Local Drivers vs. the ARCA RE/MAX Touring Stars as Sunday’s Allen Crowe Memorial Ends the Illinois State Fair
Macon, IL-August 13, 2002
The Illinois State Fair marks the end of the 150th anniversary exposition in style on Sunday, August 18 with the 40th running of the traditional stock car race, the Allen Crowe Memorial 100. For the 20th consecutive year the Automobile Club of America RE/MAX Stock Car series sanctions stock car racing at Springfield, and for the ninth year it is promoted by Bob Sargent and the staff at Track Enterprises.
This year’s running of the Crowe Memorial continues the long running battle between the local and area teams who run only the two dirt track events in Illinois, and the stars of the touring ARCA RE/MAX circuit. Several drivers from Illinois, and others from neighboring states are expected to be part of the entry list for the 40th Crowe Memorial. While no Central Illinois driver has ever won the stock car event at Springfield, 2 Chicago area residents are past winners of the annual state fair event..
At least forty cars and drivers are expected to make the trip to the Illinois State Fairgrounds’ one mile dirt oval, billed as the "World’s Fastest One-Mile Dirt Track", to contest the 100-mile grind. All of the top ten drivers in the ARCA RE/MAX point standings have filed an entry for the Springfield race. Supporting the ARCA card is the 9th annual 20-mile Wynn’s Sportsman Nationals, an event that has grown in popularity over the last several years.
Leading the stars of the ARCA touring series is defending ARCA national champion and Crowe race winner Frank Kimmel, of Jeffersonville, Indiana. Kimmel scored his second consecutive Crowe Memorial win last year, beating Mokena native Bob Strait to the finish line. Kimmel will be in the familiar red and yellow colors of the Larry Clement team, sponsored by Advance Auto Parts and Pork, the other white meat. Kimmel currently leads the RE/Max point standings and has five wins this season, the latest last weekend at the Nashville Speedway.
Third generation driver Jason Jarrett, son of 1999 NASCAR Winston Cup cahmp Dale Jarrett, and grandson of 2-time NASCAR champ Ned Jarrett, sat on the front row for last year’s race and is making a run at this year’s RE/MAX crown. Jarrett pilots a Pontiac Grand Prix sponsored by BioMet, Inc and is third in the RE/MAX title standings.
Jarrett’s race team brings a "hired gun" as a teammate and mentor for the young driver, ageless Red Farmer of Hueytown, Alabama announced earlier this year he would run at least three events with the BioMet team. Farmer, whose career in NASCAR goes back to the first races held on the beach at Daytona, is one of the original members of the "Alabama Gang" that consisted of Bobby and Donnie Allison, Farmer and the late Neil Bonnett. Farmer has several ARCA starts to his credit, and acted as a mentor to the late Davey Allison when he came to the ARCA series in the mid-eighties. Farmer currently runs dirt late models in Kentucky, and was enticed with the opportunity to make his first appearance on the two dirt miles in Illinois. Red has some experience on mile tracks, he ran the now defunct Lakewood, Georgia mile back in the fifties!
ARCA regulars expected Sunday include Andy Belmont of Pennsylvania in his own Ford, his brother Kevin driving for NASCAR legend James Hylton, Chuck Weber of Mesquite, Texas in a Chevrolet, Ron Cox of Tennessee in a Chevrolet, and Norm Benning of Pennsylvania in a Chevrolet. Georgia’s Mark Gibson enjoys the two dirt track events, while Mississippi’s Robert Burroughs, known as the "Little Giant", will bring his Pontiac in an attempt to win his first ARCA RE/MAX race.
Indiana has several regulars in the ARCA series this year, led by young Chad Blount of Walkerton. Blount. Blount, a two-time winner in ARCA this year drives one of the few Dodge products on the circuit and is second to Kimmel in the points, just 135 out of first place. Blount's Dodge will be trying to break a string of twenty-six consecutive wins at Springfield by General Motors products. Young Shelby Howard of Greenwood will have a Chevrolet at his disposal, while veterans Darrell Basham and Scotty Sands make return trips to Springfield.
Fireworks might be an unscheduled addition to this year’s Crowe Memorial, Kimmel and Blount tangled at the end of last weekend’s event at Nashville, and the crews had to be separated following the race.
Several talented youngsters are competing in the ARCA RE/MAX series this year, including 18 year old Chase Montogomery of Tennessee. Montgomery, a candidate for Rookie of the Year, is coming off a career best third at the Nashville event.
Two regulars with familiar names are expected to be on the grounds Sunday, both second generation drivers. Billy Venturini calls North Carolina home, but when dad Bill Venturini was a regular on the USAC and ARCA circuits in the 70’s and 80’s the family lived in Chicago. Billy pilots Chevrolets owned by his dad.
The other second generation driver has a father and a brother who are former winners of the Crowe Memorial Todd Bowsher of Vienna, Ohio has a tough act to follow. Car owner and father Jack is a two-time winner of the Crowe Memorial and former ARCA champion, his battles at Springfield during the seventies with Butch Hartman, Don White and Norm Nelson are a part of stock car racing history. Throw in the fact that Jack supplied a factory Ford team for 1968 USAC stock car champ A.J. Foyt and the Bowsher racing bloodlines run deep. Todd’s older brother Gary is a former USAC stock car driver and crew chief, while brother Bobby is a former ARCA champ and two-time winner of the Crowe Memorial
One ARCA regular who will be missing is Damon Lusk, the 2000 polesitter for the Crowe Memorial. Lusk won at Atlanta and Pocono this season and has made several attempts in the NASCAR Busch Series, was leading the points early in the year but the team folded due to a lack of sponsorship.
The winner of the 1995 Allen Crowe Memorial makes his yearly trek to the two Illinois dirt miles, Billy Thomas of Phenix City, Alabama is the promoter of an Alabama dirt track and an accomplished driver as well. Thomas could be a contender Sunday, he owns one win at Springfield, and several at DuQuoin.
The Illinois contingent is led by veteran ARCA driver Bob Strait of Mokena. Strait drives for the team owned by Normal’s Bill Hendren and sponsored by Dauphin Technologies. Strait is a fomer polesitter for the Crowe Memorial, and posted a second place in last year’s event. Chris Geier will be in a team car to Strait’s at Springfield and DuQuoin. Strait’s team formerly fielded cars for popular El Paso veteran Ken Rowley, who came within an eyelash of winning the 1993 event.
Bloomington’s Eric Smith is a second generation ARCA driver, father Cleve Smith drove Ford products in the series for a number of years and the Ford make is the choice of Eric as well. Eric has one victory in ARCA competition.
Other Illinois drivers include Carlyle’s Charlie Schaefer in his own Chevrolet, and sixteen year old Justin Allgaier of Riverton making his ARCA debut. Allgaier has been running locally in late model and midget races becoming the youngest driver to ever make the main event at the prestigious Chili Bowl Midget Nationals. Centralia sends native son Joe Cooksey to Springfield, and Peoria sends Todd Coon and his Chevrolet. Joe won the pole two years ago at DuQuoin, while Coon has run up front at both dirt track events.
Area drivers expected to make the trip to Springfield include Doug Keller of St. Charles, Missouri, Dennis English of Benton, Kentucky, and Jim Eubanks of Dexter, Missouri in a Chevrolet.
Sadly, the 40th running of the Allen Crowe Memorial will be missing grand champion Dean Roper. Roper returned to Springfield last year after the death of his son Tony in a NASCAR Truck race at the Texas Speedway in October. Dean was pursuing his dream of becoming the oldest race winner in ARCA history, and his long time car owners the Mueller brothers of Random Lake, Wisconsin had a former Winston Cup Ford Thunderbird for Roper to drive in both Illinois dirt track events. Roper was running 10th on lap 17 when he suffered a fatal heart attack exiting turn four. The car veered into the inside retaining wall in front of the stage and then struck the end of the pit wall. Roper was lifted from the car and pronounced dead at approximately 2:30.
Roper was one of two four-time winners of the Crowe Memorial, and the most prolific stock car driver in Springfield history, winning a total of seven times over a nine event period in the 1980’s. Dean Roper was 62.
The 39th running of the Allen Crowe Memorial in 2001 opened under sunny skies at the Illinois State Fairgrounds, a contrast to the previous day when a storm front sent lightning, thunder and a torrential downpour across the grounds and the city. Thirty seven cars were entered for the Allen Crowe Memorial 100, but only 33 would run the 100-mile event. A huge crowd filed into the grandstand for the day and a large crowd took roost in the infield.
Frank Kimmel entered the Crowe Memorial as the defending ARCA national champion and race winner, having taken his first dirt track event in a spirited duel with Bill Baird in 2000. As the 31st qualifier in line, Kimmel served notice he was a contender to repeat in 2001, taking the pole with a lap of over 103 miles an hour.
Rookie Jason Jarrett apparently got some very good advice on dirt track racing from grandfather Ned, as he took the outside front row slot. Andy Belmont and a surprising John Hayden took the second row, while Bob Strait and Eric Smith delighted the crowd by filling row three. Dean Roper shook off the rust by timing in tenth quick.
It was warm and sunny when the green flag dropped, and Jarrett quickly got everyone’s attention by taking the lead. Hayden moved up from third to slide into the front slot by lap 2, but Kimmel’s car began to work well and he took the lead on lap 4.
Roper’s accident brought out the yellow and the red flag on lap 17, resulting in a delay of about an hour.
A somber atmosphere prevailed during the restart under yellow, and Kimmel took the opportunity to duck into the pits on lap 22, handing the lead to Hayden. Just 5 laps later, Kimmel was back in front to stay, dominating the event by leading 92 of the 100 circuits. Bob Strait would up second, with Jarrett third, Missouri’s Doug Keller fourth and John Hayden in fifth.
Kimmel averaged just over 79 miles an hour for the distance, and the 92 laps in front were the most by a race winner since Don White led 99 laps in 1966.
The 40th running of the Allen Crowe Memorial 100 remains the capitol city’s memorial to a favorite racing son, the late Allen Crowe. Allen was a local stock car and midget driver, competing and winning frequently on the local short tracks at Lincoln, Macon and Joe Shaheen’s Springfield Speedway.
Crowe’s dream was to make the Indianapolis 500, and he began working toward the goal in the late 1950’s. Joining the United States Auto Club, Allen secured rides in the midget and sprint car divisions, and eventually a ride in the championship cars as well. Crowe attempted to make the 1958 100-mile championship race at Springfield in Joe Shaheen’s car, but the car was too slow to make the field. He qualified for the 1st Tony Bettenhausen Memorial 100 in 1961 in the Iddings Special, starting 12th and finishing 17th. It was his only championship appearance on the Springfield Mile.
Allen began driving for Pete Salemi in 1962, and realized his lifelong dream making the Indianapolis 500. Crowe started 22nd, and finished 31st after a wreck on the front chute involving Jack Turner, Chuck Rodee and Bob Christie also took out his car.
Allen made the "500" again in 1963, starting in the middle of the 4th row, but unfortunately an accident in turn 1 ended his day. It would be his last "500".
On June 21, 1963 the USAC Sprint Car series made an appearance at the New Bremen, Ohio speedway. It was on this half-mile dirt track that Springfield lost it’s rising star. Allen’s car flipped, resulting in fatal injuries to the 34 year old driver. His friends, family and the Illinois State fair would see that his racing life would alaways be remembered.
The Illinois State Fair was host to the first season of AAA stock car racing in 1950, an event won by Jay Frank. Frank Mundy returned in 1952 in one of the "Fabulous Hudson Hornets" to take a 100-mile contest at the fairgrounds.
Stock car racing returned in September of 1961 with the United States Auto Club courtesy of the local Sertoma Club. Len Sutton took the 100-mile event, while two time Indy 500 winner Rodger Ward won the 1962 race.
After Allen’s death in 1963, the state fair board and the Springfield racing community decided to honor his memory by giving the stock car event the name "Allen Crowe Memorial", a designation still in use today. Alongside the Tony Bettenhausen Memorial 100 championship dirt car race, it is one of the oldest continuing events in the United States that recognizes a fallen race driver.
NASCAR legend Curtis Turner won the first Allen Crowe Memorial in 1963, while in 1965 another NASCAR legend, Bobby Isaac took the first Crowe Memorial run during the Illinois State Fair.
Throughout it’s 40-year history, the Crowe Memorial has attracted a variety of the finest racers from different series across the country. USAC championship greats such as Bobby Marshman, Roger McCluskey, Al Unser and A.J. Foyt all lay claim to a Crowe Memorial trophy. USAC Stock Car stars such as Norm Nelson, Ramo Stott, Jack Bowsher, Don White and Butch Hartman all won races during the last weekend of the Illinois State Fair, as have ARCA greats Bobby Bowsher, Bob Brevak, Bob Hill and four-time winner Bob Keselowski.
Stock car racing at Springfield has a NASCAR connection as well. In addition to Turner and Isaac, NASCAR drivers such as Benny Parsons, Dick Trickle, Jeremy Mayfield, Rusty Wallace, Joe Ruttman and Alan Kulwicki all appeared on a Springfield entry list. Current NASCAR driver Ken Schrader added his name to the winners of the Allen Crowe Memorial in 1998, 18 years after his first stock car race at Springfield.
Forty years old and still going strong, the Crowe Memorial has quite a legacy heading into it’s fifth decade. Practicefor the 40th running of the Crowe Memorial gets underway at 9 a.m. Sunday, with Old Milwaukee Pole Qualifying slated for 11. The stars of the ARCA series will each get a shot at Bob Hill’s 1995 track record of 33.548 (107.395 MPH). The start of the 40th Allen Crowe Memorial is slated for 1 p.m., and this could be the year that the 100-mile race record is broken. Bobby Bowsher set the ARCA race record of 1:08:00 in 1992, while Don White set the track record for 100 miles in 1966 of 1:06:30.14.
The Wynn’s Sportsman Nationals 20-mile main event will be held Sunday as well, several drivers have already qualified for the main event at participating short tracks in the area. Other drivers can make the field through the semi-feature to be held Sunday. Jeff Leka is the defending champion of the event, winning last year for Springfield car owner "Jungle" Jim Davidson. Springfield’s Wes O’Dell is the driver with the most Sportsman Nationals victories with 5 and should be on hand to try for number six.
Tickets for the 40th Allen Crowe Memorial 100 can be obtained at the Illinois State fair ticket office, Ticketmaster locations, or by calling Track Enterprises at 217-764-3200. Visit them on the web at www.trackenterprises.com.
