Catchfence

Springfield, Ill (8/22/10) – The ARCA Racing Series took to the 1 mile dirt track at the Illinois State Fair Grounds in Springfield, Illinois for the 48th Annual Allen Crowe 100. Typically the ARCA series races on asphalt tracks across the country but twice a year they head back to the roots of auto racing. With only two previous starts on dirt Robb Brent and the Allgaier Motorsports team were looking for a strong run and a top ten finish. Early in the race Brent encountered a brake issue and lost a lap to the leaders. Working hard to help manage the brake issue the team never lost focus and Brent would race into the lucky dog position to reemerge among the leaders on the lead lap. Brent then continued to maneuver his way into the top 10 and came home in the 8th position.

Before the sun rose the Allgaier Motorsports team was busy unloading and preparing for the quick day ahead. Brent used the one hour practice session to get reacquainted with the dirt, while the team made adjustments and they were able to finish the session in 17th position. This week the No. 36 was a special white and blue paint scheme instead of the normal black and blue and it rolled off 30th in qualifying order. Several cars wrecked during their qualifying laps just before Brent hit the track. Knowing that he had a good racecar he took it easy and qualified in the 25th starting position. “We have a good car, the track is going to go through a transition, it’s just what dirt tracks do,” said Crew Chief Dave Leiner. “Once the race gets going and the track rubbers up we will be good.”

Previous Allgaier Motorsports driver Justin Allgaier was in attendance and Brent took full advantage as he was getting tips clear up until the signal to fire your engines. Allgaier is no stranger to Springfield as he is the 2006 winner of the event and Springfield is also his hometown.

Going green shortly after 1:00pm and in the heat of the day, the track was slick. The cars quickly accelerated off into turn one and threw themselves sideways, rolling through turn two before mashing on the gas and heading down the back stretch. It’s an experience and almost a fine art to be a good dirt track racer and these drivers were at it from the drop of the flag.

By lap no. 5 Brent had moved up to 18th and the charge continued before the brakes started to fade. Having to pump the brakes under cautions and down the straightaway Brent went a lap down to the leaders on lap 17. The Allgaier Motorsports team pitted several times under cautions trying to cool the brake rotors and do all they could to help Brent with the braking problems. The Orchard Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram was still able to turn some really quick lap times despite the issue and Brent was able to race his way into the lucky dog spot putting him back on the lead lap on lap 75. Racing hard with little brakes Brent held out for the last 25 laps, preserving a tough day to come home with an 8th place finish and is now currently 10th in championship points standings.

“We had a rough day but we fought back and it ended well, That’s what this team is all about”, said Robb Brent. “I have no dirt racing background so it’s neat to come here and do well, we had a brake issue early in the race or I know we could have been in the top 5. This is the hometown race for my team so I am glad we were able to run well for them, I’m excited to head to Chicago next weekend with my favorite car.”

The ARCA Racing Series presented by RE/MAX and Menards visits the 1.5-mile Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Ill. on Friday, August 27. Practice begins at 5:30 p.m. Eastern/4:30 Central on Thursday, August 26, and Menards Pole Qualifying presented by Ansell follows at 12:30 Eastern Friday. The 100-lap, 150-mile Ansell Protective Gloves 150 begins live on SPEED at 7 p.m. Eastern. Additionally, live timing and scoring and live audio coverage for all three events will be presented by ARCA Nation and the ARCA Racing Network at ARCARacing.com

Be sure to cast your vote for Robb Brent as the 2010 National Speed Sport News Most Popular Driver. Visit ARCANation.com and vote for Robb Brent today!

Follow Allgaier Motorsports official twitter page @allgaiermtrspts for live updates from the track. Allgaier Motorsports will be giving away autographed items & race tickets to some of its twitter followers, be sure to follow! Follow driver Robb Brent, @robbbrent for updates and insight into his everyday life.

For more on Allgaier Motorsports, please log onto www.allgaiermotorsports.com

For more on Robb Brent, please log onto www.robbbrentracing.com

- Allgaier Motorsports Press Release