The 2025 ARCA Menards Series Southern Illinois 100 concluded on Sunday, August 31, at DuQuoin State Fairgrounds, marking the 16th race in the NASCAR ARCA Menards Series season. Brenden Queen, driving the #28 Chevrolet for Pinnacle Racing Group, secured his sixth victory of the year by overtaking the lead with just eight laps remaining and fending off competitor Lawless Alan on the final lap.
Brenden Queen’s Strategic Drive Leads to Victory
At 27 years old and hailing from Chesapeake, Virginia, Queen demonstrated resilience and skill throughout the race. He crossed the finish line one second ahead of Lawless Alan, clinching his sixth career win in the ARCA Menards Series. This victory marked Queen’s second triumph on dirt tracks this season, confirming his growing strength in challenging conditions.
Reflecting on the race, Queen acknowledged the challenges he faced, particularly with his car’s throttle issues.
“I haven’t won a dirt race since 2022 when I ran full-time. I think everybody counted me out to win one of these, but that’s why you never give up. These guys went to work after Springfield. We weren’t quite where we wanted to be, but we just hung in there all night and knew we had a good car,”
he said.
He further described the technical difficulties, stating,
“My throttle was sticking pretty good. I lost fourth [gear], lost fifth [gear]. Honestly, I think that might have made me drive it differently. I had to teach myself how to drive it with the throttle sticking and it got faster. Maybe that’s what I wasn’t doing the whole time.”
Top Competitors and Final Standings at DuQuoin
Following Queen’s win, Lawless Alan secured second place, with prominent dirt track racer Kelly Kovski finishing third. Isabella Robusto and Tim Monroe rounded out the top five positions. The remainder of the top ten included Lavar Scott, Chase Howard, Tony Cosentino, Michael Maples, and Joe Gibbs Racing driver Max Reaves.
Looking Ahead to Upcoming ARCA Races
The ARCA Menards Series will continue its 2025 season at Bristol Motor Speedway with the 18th race scheduled for September 11. As Brenden Queen’s performance shows, the competition remains intense as drivers adapt and improve throughout the year, particularly on diverse track surfaces like dirt.
