SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Last year, Jesse Love led 73 laps to become the third 17-year-old winner of the ARCA Menard’s Series’ Dutch Boy-Allen Crowe 100 on the Springfield Mile.
A year older, with more dirt experience, Love comes to Springfield as the ARCA point leader and favorite to repeat at Springfield.
Love led every mile contested at Springfield as an accident on lap 73 forced the rain-delayed race to be flagged 27 miles short of completion. The Crowe 100 was Love’s lone victory in 14 starts last year, but he’s dominated this season winning seven races and leading about 75 percent of the laps.
He’s also been doing some dirt track midget racing on the side. Love nearly won at DuQuoin last year as well. His Venturini team has won six of the ARCA races at Springfield since 2013. Their combined dirt track success makes the driver and the team the odds-on favorites heading into the Crowe 100.
Actor/race driver Frankie Muniz is second in the ARCA standings still searching for his first ARCA win.
The Agent Cody Banks and Malcolm in the Middle star is an ARCA rookie and a rookie on the dirt mile. Others in the top 10 include Andres Perez DeLara, Christian Rose, Jon Garrett, A.J. Moyer and veteran Brad Smith. None have a win in 2023, and only Smith has starts on the Springfield dirt.
Fifteen-year-old Brent Crews just might lead the “dirt ringer” contingent, though other drivers might have something to say about that on Sunday. Crews has considerable sprint car and midget experience, finishing second in the POWRi Midget championship in 2021 and winning five times.
He occupies one of the Venturini cars, while midget driver Taylor Reimer of Oklahoma occupies another. The 23-year-old Reimer has steadily improved for owner Keith Kunz, with top finishes in POWRi and the Xtreme Midget series.
Springfield’s Kelly Kovski returns for another attempt as a driver, he has a win as an owner with Grant Enfinger in 2017. Meanwhile, 1998 Dutch Boy 100 winner Ken Schrader returns behind the wheel of one of Andy Hillenburg’s mounts.
The “dirt ringer” brigade is one short for this year. Long-time car owner Bill Hendren “dropped the mike” after Ryan Unzicker won DuQuoin on Labor Day 2022 giving the team long sought after wins on both dirt miles. Hendren sold his equipment in the off season leaving Unzicker without an ARCA ride.
Ottawa, Illinois driver Alex Clubb returns behind the wheel as well.