Brent Crews secured a dramatic victory over Brenden Queen on July 25 at Indianapolis Raceway Park in the LiUNA! 150 presented by Dutch Boy, marking his third ARCA win this season. This win, highlighting the ongoing rivalry between Crews and Queen, adds momentum to Crews’ campaign in the ARCA Menards Series and ARCA East combination events.
Intense Battle Unfolds at Indianapolis Raceway Park
After a frustrating race at Dover, where Crews had shown speed but crashed out while Queen cruised to victory, Crews returned with renewed determination at Indianapolis Raceway Park. Despite Queen’s strong start and dominating pace through much of the event, Crews kept close and eventually overtook Queen in a hard-fought contest. A key moment came on lap 23 during a restart, when Crews and Queen made contact as Crews moved up the track, yet both drivers recovered without incident.
This tussle briefly allowed Lawless Alan to claim the lead, though Queen soon regained the front position. About 60 laps from the finish, Crews steadily closed the gap and executed several attempts to pass Queen on the lower line. On lap 94, Crews completed the decisive move, seizing the lead for the first time and ending Queen’s run at the front.
Late-Race Restarts Define Final Moments
A late caution set up a critical restart with 37 laps remaining. Crews managed to hold off Queen once again, maintaining the top position under pressure. Meanwhile, Queen was overtaken by Lawless Alan and Isabella Robusto, which pushed him back to fifth place temporarily. Despite a strong late push, Queen ultimately finished third. Lavar Scott continued his consistent performance, claiming fifth place.
The rest of the top 10 included Connor Mosack, Isaac Kitzmiller, Jason Kitzmiller, Hunter Wright, and Thad Moffitt. Both Wright and Moffitt impressed by starting deep in the field—26th and 34th respectively—and climbing to top-10 finishes. Isaac Kitzmiller’s seventh place was particularly important for the ARCA East standings, as it allowed him to maintain a points lead over Tyler Reif, who finished 14th.
Victory Reflections: Crews Credits Team and Strategy
In victory lane, Crews acknowledged the hard work of his Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) team and the adjustments that fueled his strong second half.
“But this JGR group did an absolutely fabulous job at the break there. The 28 car was really good the first half and, honestly, I was doing everything I had to try to hang with him. I knew we had something. I knew Matt [Ross] and the crew had something up their sleeve to give me that extra little bit at the halfway break and that’s exactly what he did. This JBL Toyota Camry was lights out tonight and I’m grateful to be here and excited to go run the No. 1 truck tonight.”
—Brent Crews, driver
Crews admitted the race left him physically drained but was proud of the result after bouncing back from the disappointment at Dover.
Women Racers Make Significant Impact in the Event
The race also made headlines for its record-tying presence of six female drivers, including Kadence Davenport, Isabella Robusto, Becca Monopoli, Quinn Davis, Lanie Buice, and Regina Sirvent. This milestone highlighted growing diversity in the ARCA Menards Series field.
Isabella Robusto stood out, finishing fourth and leading the women’s group. Lanie Buice showed early promise with a car capable of a top-five; however, her race was hindered by a crash ahead that caused contact with Connor Mosack, forcing Buice to pit for a new tire and plummet to the back of the pack.
Context of the Crews-Queen Rivalry and Future Events
The competition between Crews and Queen has become a focal point this season, with Crews previously earning his first ARCA Menards Series win after a last-lap pass on Queen at Phoenix. Their back-and-forth battles continue to intensify as both drivers vie for supremacy in the series.
Looking ahead, the ARCA Menards Series will continue next week with another combination race involving the ARCA East Series at Iowa Speedway. The Atlas 150 is set for prime time coverage on FOX Sports 1 at 7 p.m. ET, offering fans another exciting opportunity to watch emerging talents including Crews and Queen compete.
