Brenden Queen will get an ARCA Menards Collection quick observe breakthrough with a victory at Iowa Speedway on Friday evening within the Atlas 150.
NEWTON, Iowa — Though Brenden ‘Butterbean’ Queen has loved a stellar 2025 ARCA Menards Collection season, none of his 4 victories earlier than Friday evening had occurred on a observe lower than a mile in size. He lastly earned his first short-track victory of the yr within the Atlas 150 at Iowa Speedway because of a stalwart defensive effort.
Brenden Queen’s Breakthrough Victory
With Brent Crews making use of fixed strain within the closing laps, Queen practically misplaced the lead whereas making an attempt to navigate by way of lapped site visitors. However he managed to carry on and add one other ARCA Menards Collection checkered flag to his resume.
Queen and Crews have come collectively a number of occasions in 2025, with the previous expressing delicate frustration over how the younger prospect has raced him. The 2 discovered one another once more Friday, however Queen was decided to shake off a irritating outing from the earlier week and preserve Crews behind him.
“I wasn’t going to let [Crews] preserve working into me,” Queen stated. “He bought the perfect of me final week and at Phoenix [Raceway]. It was refuse to lose there [even though] he may need been slightly higher.”
Queen believed he had his first ARCA short-track victory locked up las week at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park after dominating the primary half of the race. An ill-handling automobile proved to be his undoing within the remaining laps, as he misplaced not solely the result in Crews, but in addition essential observe place. Queen managed a third-place end, however he departed IRP disillusioned.
Recapping the Race and Brent Crews Settling for Second
No such points hindered Queen at Iowa. Crews obliterated the ARCA Menards Collection observe file in qualifying, however Queen’s automobile proved to be extra environment friendly in race circumstances; the latter overtook Crews on the opening lap and established a commanding lead.
Lapped site visitors slowed Queen’s tempo and offered Crews a number of alternatives to imagine management of the highest spot. With eight laps to go, Queen bought held up by the slower automobile of Quinn Davis on the exit of the fourth flip, permitting Crews to dive beneath Queen within the subsequent flip with Mason Mitchell occupying the highest groove.
The confined area brought on Crews to make slight contact with Queen’s left-rear panel, however it was not sufficient to shake the short-track veteran. Queen ended up making one other journey to Victory Lane, all whereas Crews was left to ponder what he may have executed otherwise to acquire his second consecutive ARCA Menards Collection victory.
“We had a extremely good race automobile all day,” Crews stated. “We had plenty of uncooked pace and have been actually good that first stage. The entire Joe Gibbs Racing crew did a fantastic job all day, however I really feel like we missed slightly bit there [at the end]. We bought inside Brenden [Queen] there and bought tremendous unfastened. I felt like that was my final probability at it.
“Clearly I had no intention of wrecking him, however I’m glad we each bought out of there cleanly.”
Crews has loved a stable ARCA Menards Collection marketing campaign although Friday was solely his sixth begin on the platform this yr. Three of these appearances have resulted in victories, two with the nationwide division and one East Collection triumph at Rockingham Speedway in April.
Crews intends to regroup forward of his subsequent anticipated battle with Queen, who solely added to his ARCA Menards Collection factors lead together with his dominant run at Iowa. Discovering success on quick tracks has been irritating at occasions for Queen, particularly given his background, however he stayed optimistic.
Brenden Queen’s Breakthough Victory
Queen prolonged his reward to Pinnacle Racing Group for making ready one other sturdy automobile, however he additionally counseled crew chief Steven Dawson. The 2 have steadily developed chemistry over the yr, which has Queen feeling assured about Dawson main him to extra victories within the second half of 2025.
“[Steven Dawson] is nice,” Queen stated. “He’s shy; we’re making an attempt to get him on digicam, get him speaking. Each week I hear him discuss extra phrases than the final week, so we’re engaged on it slowly. Bean Nation is contagious, and you may’t keep quiet for lengthy. He’s a bad-to-the-bone crew chief, and I’m very grateful to be working with him.”
Lawless Alan earned his sixth top-three end within the final seven races on Friday at Iowa, all whereas Isabella Robusto claimed her third consecutive prime 5 with a fourth-place run. Lavar Scott rounded out the highest 5 after rebounding from an earlier spin.
The remainder of the highest ten consisted of ARCA Menards Collection East factors chief Isaac Kitzmiller, Sam Corry, Eloy Falcan, Mitchell, and Jason Kitzmiller.
Brenden Queen extends his factors benefit over Lawless Alan, in second place, by 33 factors. Lavar Scott, Jason Kitzmiller, and Isabella Robusto full the top-five.
Subsequent Up
Whereas the ARCA Menards Collection East doesn’t race once more till their season finale at Bristol Motor Speedway on Sept. 11, the nationwide ARCA Menards Collection can be again in motion Friday at Watkins Glen Worldwide. The inexperienced flag waves at 2 p.m. ET for the Normal Tire 100 with FS2 offering reside protection of the on-track motion.Connor Zilisch gained the race at Watkins Glen in 2024
