Illinois State Fairgrounds Racetrack is a one mile long clay oval motor racetrack on the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield, the state capital. It is frequently nicknamed The Springfield Mile. Constructed in the late 19th century and reconstructed in 1927, the track has hosted competitive auto racing since 1910, making it one of the oldest speedways in the United States. The original mile track utilized the current frontstretch and the other side was behind the current grandstands and the straightaways were connected by tight turns. It is the oldest track to continually host national championship dirt track racing, holding its first national championship race in 1934 under the American Automobile Association banner. It is the home of five world records for automobile racing, making it one of the fastest dirt tracks in the world. Since 1993, the venue is managed by Bob Sargent's Track Enterprises.
There has been auto racing in Illinois for almost as long as there have been automobiles. Almost every type of motorsport found in the United States can be found in Illinois. Both modern and historic tracks exist in Illinois, including NASCAR's Chicagoland Speedway and Gateway International Speedway. Notable drivers from Illinois include Danica Patrick, Tony Bettenhausen, and Fred Lorenzen.
The Springfield ARCA 100 is an ARCA Menards Series stock car race held annually on the Illinois State Fairgrounds Racetrack during the Illinois State Fair.
The 2021 ARCA Menards Series season was the 69th season of the ARCA Menards Series, a stock car racing series sanctioned by NASCAR in the United States. The season began at Daytona International Speedway with the Lucas Oil 200 on February 13 and ended with the Reese's 150 at Kansas Speedway on October 23. Ty Gibbs was crowned the series champion, having won ten times and finished in the top four in 19 of 20 races.
The 2021 Southern Illinois 100 presented by Lucas Oil was the 17th stock car race of the 2021 ARCA Menards Series season, and the 35th iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, September 5, in Du Quoin, Illinois at the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds Racetrack, a 1 mile (1.6 km) permanent clay oval-shaped track at the DuQuoin State Fair. The race took 104 laps to complete due to an overtime finish. At race's end, Landen Lewis of Rette Jones Racing would dominate the race, leading every lap en route to his first career ARCA Menards Series win. To fill out the podium, Ty Gibbs of Joe Gibbs Racing and Ken Schrader of Fast Track Racing would finish second and third respectively.
Tim Monroe is an American professional stock car racing driver. He competes part-time in the ARCA Menards Series, driving the No. 12 Chevrolet for Fast Track Racing.
Landen River Lewis is an American professional stock car racing driver. He competes part-time in the ARCA Menards Series and ARCA Menards Series East, driving the No. 97 Chevrolet for CR7 Motorsports.
The 2022 Rust-Oleum Automotive Finishes 100 was the 16th stock car race of the 2022 ARCA Menards Series season, and the 36th iteration of the event. The race was scheduled to be held on Sunday, September 4, 2022, but due to inclement weather, the race would later be held on Monday, September 5, in Du Quoin, Illinois at The DuQuoin State Fairgrounds Racetrack, a 1 mile (1.6 km) permanent oval-shaped dirt track. The race was decreased from 100 laps to 78 laps, due to inclement weather. In a dominating fashion, Ryan Unzicker, driving for Hendren Motorsports, held off Jesse Love for his second career ARCA Menards Series win, and his first of the season. This was also a special win, as Unzicker's team owner, Bill Hendren, is going to retire after the 2022 season. This was their last scheduled race. To fill out the podium, Sammy Smith, driving for Kyle Busch Motorsports, would finish in 3rd, respectively.
Ryan Unzicker is an American professional racing driver who competes in dirt track racing, as well as having competed part-time in the ARCA Menards Series, driving the No. 24 Chevrolet SS for Hendren Motorsports.
Joe Cooksey is an American professional stock car racing driver. He competed in the ARCA Menards Series from 1996 to 2022, and has 57 top-10 finishes and one pole position. He also has run three races in the NASCAR Busch Series and one race in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.
Kelly Kovski is an American professional racing driver and crew chief. He has competed in the ARCA Menards Series for twenty years, primarily racing at the Illinois State Fairgrounds and DuQuoin State Fairgrounds. He has also competed in and won at various dirt track events alongside his starts in ARCA competition.
Dale J. Shearer is an American professional stock car racing driver. He competes part-time in the ARCA Menards Series and the ARCA Menards Series East, driving the No. 98 Toyota Camry for Shearer Speed Racing.
Clayton Weatherman is an American professional stock car racing driver who competes part-time in the ARCA Menards Series, driving the No. 10 Toyota for Fast Track Racing.
The 2023 Southern Illinois 100 was the 16th stock car race of the 2023 ARCA Menards Series season, and the 43rd iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, September 3, 2023, in Du Quoin, Illinois at the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds Racetrack, a 1-mile (1.6 km) permanent oval-shaped dirt track. The race took the scheduled 100 laps to complete. Jesse Love, driving for Venturini Motorsports, would put on a blistering performance, leading 80 of the 100 laps, and earning his 11th career ARCA Menards Series win, and his ninth of the season. Love would also extend his lead in the championship. To fill out the podium, Brent Crews, driving for Venturini Motorsports, and Will Kimmel, driving for family-owned Kimmel Racing, would finish 2nd and 3rd, respectively.
The Performance Seed Dirt Double is a pair of ARCA Menards Series races at dirt tracks:
The 2024 Springfield ARCA 100 was the 14th stock car race of the 2024 ARCA Menards Series season, and the 42nd iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, August 18, 2024, at the Illinois State Fairgrounds Racetrack in Springfield, Illinois, a 1-mile (1.6 km) permanent oval-shaped dirt track. The race was originally scheduled to be contested over 100 laps, but was increased to 105 laps due to a late-race caution. William Sawalich, driving for Joe Gibbs Racing, would continue his consistent domination in the ARCA Menards Series, winning the pole and leading every lap of the race to earn his 10th career ARCA Menards Series win, and his sixth of the season. Isabella Robusto finished in 2nd, becoming the fourth female driver to finish runner-up in an ARCA race, alongside Hailie Deegan, Erin Crocker, and Shawna Robinson. Taylor Reimer finished in 3rd, marking the first time in series history where two female drivers finished inside the top three in the same ARCA race. Along with this, Venturini Motorsports fielded four entries for four females in the race, the first time in team history to field four females in the same event.
The 2024 Southern Illinois 100 was the 16th stock car race of the 2024 ARCA Menards Series season, and the 44th iteration of the event. The race will be held on Sunday, September 1, 2024, at the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds Racetrack in Du Quoin, Illinois, a 1-mile (1.6 km) permanent oval-shaped dirt track. The race took the scheduled 100 laps to complete. Brent Crews, driving for Venturini Motorsports, would hold off pole winner William Sawalich. To fill out the podium, Sawalich, driving for Joe Gibbs Racing and Andrés Pérez de Lara, driving for Rev Racing, would finish 2nd and 3rd, respectively.
Daylan Hairston is an American professional stock car racing driver and crew chief who competes part-time in the ARCA Menards Series, driving the No. 10 Ford for Fast Track Racing.
Austin Vaughn is an American professional stock car racing driver who competes part-time in the ARCA Menards Series, driving the No. 06 Toyota for Wayne Peterson Racing.
James "Buck" Stevens is an American professional stock car racing driver who last competed in the ARCA Menards Series, driving the No. 44 Ford for Ferrier McClure Racing.
