Qualifying Canceled for Allen Crowe 100 at Illinois State Fairgrounds; Butterbean Pollard Awarded Pole
Race day at the Illinois State Fairgrounds has taken an unexpected turn. Officials announced that qualifying for today’s Allen Crowe 100 has been canceled due to unfavorable track conditions. Instead, the starting lineup will be determined by the ARCA Menards Series rulebook, giving Brenden “Butterbean” Pollard (@03Butterbean) the pole position.
While the change eliminates the chance for drivers to earn their starting spots on speed, series officials confirmed that a practice session will still take place once the track is race-ready. This will allow teams to make final adjustments and gather crucial data before the green flag drops.
The Allen Crowe 100, held annually at the Springfield Mile dirt track, is one of the most prestigious races on the ARCA Menards Series calendar. With qualifying washed out, the spotlight now shifts to how drivers will adapt to the limited on-track time before the main event.
Pollard, who inherits the top starting spot, will have the early advantage on the historic one-mile oval. Behind him, the rest of the field will line up according to points and series procedures. The lack of traditional qualifying could shake up race strategies, especially for teams that typically rely on strong time-trial speed to gain track position.
Fans can still expect the Allen Crowe 100 to deliver its trademark blend of dirt-track drama and ARCA unpredictability. With conditions altering the usual lead-up, today’s race may prove even more unpredictable than usual.
