Jason Kitzmiller and his A.L.L. Construction Racing team are ready to make a strong comeback in the ARCA Menards Series with Sunday afternoon’s Allen Crowe 100 at the Illinois State Fairgrounds. Following a challenging outing at Watkins Glen International, the Petersburg, West Virginia native will face his first-ever dirt track race as he aims to regain momentum and continue his pursuit of consistent top-10 finishes this season.
Progress Shown at Watkins Glen Despite Late-Race Contact
Kitzmiller recently competed on the 2.45-mile road course at Watkins Glen for only the second time in his career. Throughout the General Tire 100, he demonstrated notable improvement and speed, positioning himself for a top-10 result. Unfortunately, contact with another competitor with just seven laps remaining pushed him back to 17th, a result that fell short of expectations but offered learning opportunities.
Reflecting on that race, Kitzmiller said,
“Watkins Glen was definitely another step forward for me on road courses. We had good speed all weekend and I felt like I was getting more comfortable every lap, but sometimes things just don’t go your way.”
—Jason Kitzmiller, ARCA Driver
Facing Springfield’s Historic Dirt Mile with Expert Support
Now turning his focus to Springfield, Kitzmiller will tackle a brand-new ARCA track – the legendary one-mile dirt oval known as the Springfield Mile. A track steeped in history since 1910, Springfield is known for its unique challenges and demands on drivers. Though Kitzmiller has never raced on dirt before, he is eager to embrace the challenge and build experience that will prepare him for the September 31st dirt race at the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds.
Guiding him this weekend is crew chief Frank Kimmel, a 10-time ARCA Menards Series champion with an extensive Springfield resume. Between 1992 and 2015, Kimmel made 24 consecutive starts at the track, claimed five poles, eight wins, and finished in the top 10 nineteen times, with an outstanding average finish of 7.3.
Kitzmiller emphasized the value of Kimmel’s presence:
“Having Frank in my corner for Springfield is huge. He’s been there, done that, and had a lot of success at the track — including winning four races in a row — so I know I’ll be able to lean on his knowledge all weekend.”
—Jason Kitzmiller, ARCA Driver
He added,
“I’ve never raced on dirt before, so having someone with his experience guiding me is a big confidence booster. Our goal is to learn as much as we can, stay out of trouble, and be in position for a strong finish when it counts.”
—Jason Kitzmiller, ARCA Driver
Maintaining Momentum Through a Grueling Season Stretch
As the ARCA Menards Series enters its fifth race of a demanding seven-event sequence, small teams like A.L.L. Construction Racing face intensified challenges in resource management and consistency. Despite this, Kitzmiller and his crew have maintained a top-10 average finish since mid-July, positioning themselves well heading into the final races of the 20-event schedule.
Kitzmiller acknowledged the difficulties:
“It’s definitely a grind for a small team like ours. But over the past month, we’ve shown we can run with some of the best in the series.”
—Jason Kitzmiller, ARCA Driver
He expressed confidence for the road ahead:
“If we keep doing the little things right, stay consistent, and take care of our equipment, we’ll put ourselves in great shape for the next couple of weeks and be ready for the final stretch of the season.”
—Jason Kitzmiller, ARCA Driver
Strong Partner Support Enhances Team’s Competitive Edge
For the Springfield event, A.L.L. Construction Racing will continue their partnership with Carter Machinery, featuring the renowned Caterpillar (Cat®) brand, which serves as the primary sponsor for the No. 97 Chevrolet SS for the 14th consecutive race this season. Founded in 1928, Carter Machinery has grown substantially, now operating over 30 locations throughout Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, and the District of Columbia. The company provides a full range of Cat® equipment, engines, power systems, and services to customers across the Mid-Atlantic region.
Kitzmiller highlighted the synergy between racing and the Caterpillar brand:
“Racing on dirt is all about having the right tools and adapting to the surface, and that’s exactly what Caterpillar and Carter Machinery are all about.”
—Jason Kitzmiller, ARCA Driver
He continued,
“Just like on a construction site, you’ve got to have equipment you can count on to get the job done. Our team is grateful for their support all year long, but especially this weekend as we take on the dirt at Springfield and work to build a strong finish for our team.”
—Jason Kitzmiller, ARCA Driver
Several other associate marketing partners will support the team during the 43rd ARCA national race at the Illinois State Fairgrounds. These include A.L.L. Construction Inc., Grant County Mulch, A&J Excavating, Cobra Mining, Champion Power Equipment, and Volt Battery Technology.
Championship Standings and Career Highlights Entering Springfield
Heading into the Springfield race, Jason Kitzmiller, 52, holds fourth place in the ARCA Menards Series championship, trailing third-place Lavar Scott by 75 points and leader Brenden Queen by 110 points, with seven races left in the season. The A.L.L. Construction Racing team occupies a solid seventh position in the owners’ standings, ensuring they remain competitive for overall season honors.
Since beginning his ARCA Menards Series career in 2020, Kitzmiller has participated in 40 races, earning two top-five finishes and 17 top-10 results. His best career finish came in February 2025 with a third place at Daytona International Speedway, underscoring his growing competitiveness.
Schedule Details for the Allen Crowe 100 at Springfield
The Allen Crowe 100 is the 14th event of the 2025 ARCA Menards Series season. Scheduled for Sunday, August 17, teams will begin track activities with a 30-minute practice session from 10:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Central Time. General Tire Pole Qualifying will take place at 11:15 a.m., and the race itself is set to start shortly after 1:00 p.m. CT. Fans can watch the event live on FOX Sports 1, with ARCARacing.com providing live timing and scoring during the day’s events, all following Central Time.
