ARLINGTON, Minn. (June 8, 2024) – Ryan Bjerkeset went home with the win and Curt Lund went home with a $500 bonus after the Rice Companies VIPs added a little twist to the IMCA Sunoco Stock Car feature Saturday at Arlington Raceway.
As much as an additional $2,100 was on the line for drivers accepting the back row challenge: They’d get the full amount if they won, or an extra $500 by advancing the most positions toward the front.
Two drivers took the challenge, Lund and Ken Tietz, and with extra money on the line, the race was understandably intense.
Jeff McCollum was the first lap leader with Matt Speckman in second; the positions were reversed on the following circuit.
By the ninth lap, Bjerkeset was in the mix from his 11th place start. A yellow flag was thrown on the 10th lap following a multi-car collision. On the restart, Speckman again led the field but four laps later Bjerkeset got around him.
Matt Looft, who had started 12th, used the last restart to his advantage and moved forward. While he battled with Speckman and moved in on Bjerkeset, coming around for the checkered flag Speckman got too high and fell off the track to lose 11 positions.
Bjerkeset took the checkered ahead of Looft, Josh Larson and Dan Mackenthun. Lund earned the extra $500 with his sixth place showing and Tietz finished ninth.
There were three different leaders in the Friesen Performance IMCA Modified feature. The track was dry slick by this time and several cars spun out trying to get some grip.
Jason Schroeder was the first lap leader with Chad Porter directly behind him. The following lap, Porter was leading. After two more yellow flags, Todd Stinehart was able to move forward from his ninth place start and take over the lead.
Clint Hatlestad battled with him the rest of the way but Stinehart held firm and went on to win the race. Hatlestad took second ahead of Porter.
Roger Krebs was the pole sitter in the IMCA Sunoco Hobby feature with Scott Porter alongside him. Porter took off like lightning at the drop of the green flag and was able to lead the race for eight of the 15 laps.
Then a series of yellow flags occurred and four cars were out of the race. Cory Probst, who had started 10th, took over and went on to win another feature with dad Dan taking second ahead of Chad Volk.
A new car parked in victory lane following the Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compact feature.
Eric Stocker had a great lead for the first six laps but spun and lost his bumper. Then, Gary Schumacher spun. Once the race restarted and kept going, Neil Forsberg was the new leader and remained to win his first feature of the season. Alan Lahr took second ahead of newcomer Dominic Olson.
Neil Forsberg raced to Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compact feature win number one of the season Saturday At Arlington. (Photo by Sarah Moriarty)
Ben Reierson led half of the Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMod feature from his front row start. On lap six, a yellow was thrown when Mat Hollerich spun.
After that, the race went caution-free and Matt Looft was at the point after taking over the lead from Reierson. Behind them, Jeff Lloyd, Broddy Enter and Eric Larson were all racing side-by-side for the last three laps but in the end, Looft won with Reierson second and Lloyd third.
Bill Johnson led the entire IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car feature for his first feature win of the year. Son Matt followed him for the duration with Brett Allen moving forward to gain positions but wasn’t able to catch the Johnsons as there was distance between the top three spots.
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