Lahr aces Arlington Sport Compact feature

ARLINGTON, Minn. (July 27, 2024) – There was plenty of action on the track for Minnesota Farmfest Night Saturday at Arlington Raceway 

After an early stoppage, there was a three-way battle for the lead in the IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock feature. Taylor Manderfield led until Chad Volk took over the race. He was holding off Cory Probst and Blake Luinenburg, who had started side-by-side in the fifth row.

Volk felt the pressure and on lap seven Probst got around him to take over the lead. Luinenburg followed on the next lap. A yellow came out when Manderfield hit an infield tire in turn two, putting him to the back. When the race restarted Probst held onto the lead and took the win ahead of Luinenburg and Volk. 

Two yellow flags occurred on the first lap of the Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compact feature. Dale Gatton took the early lead but Gary Schumacher was able to get around him to take over the lead and led until Alan Lahr got under him in turn four and took the checkered flag first. Schumacher took second and Gatton took third.

Hunter Hanson had a commanding lead in the IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car feature as he took off like a bullet at the start of the race.

Going into turn two on the 13^th lap, however, he speedily exited the track and jumped out of his car as a fuel line had come loose and a small fire resulted. Track crews extinguished it right away and his fire safety equipment worked great as he did not get burnt or hurt but was done racing for the night.

That set Brett Allen up to restart in first place with Trevor Serbus behind him at the start. Allen pulled away and there was a mad dash to the end of the race with Matt Johnson getting by Serbus but he didn’t  have enough time to catch Allen and settled for second ahead of Serbus. 

The Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMod feature was a heartbreaker for Ben Reierson as he led every lap except the one that counted in the flag-to-flag race.

The top five cars were exchanging spots throughout, enabling Reierson to gain distance as Jeff Lloyd, John Rebstock and Eric Larson were all racing side by side. On the 10^th lap, Matt Looft powered into turn two and passed them and then had his sights on Reierson.

It took him four laps but as the checkered game out, he was first at the line to win the race. Reierson was able to hold onto second ahead of Eric Larson.

Looft was also victorious in the IMCA Sunoco Stock Car feature, working hard to win that race as well.

A.J. Zimmerman was the early leader and led the first four laps but then Looft, who had started 11^th, was contending for the lead. Ryan Bjerkeset was also in the mix as they were racing side-by-side for several laps.

On lap 17, a yellow came out when the cars of Dan Eckblad, Ken Tietz and Zimmerman got together exiting turn four causing mayhem on the front stretch. All three cars were done for the night.

With three laps left, the field was bunched up once again but Looft was able to hold onto the lead and win ahead of Dan Mackenthun and Curt Lund, who had started 21^st.

Trent Loverude is on hot streak in the Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds as he won his fourth consecutive feature, making it six for the season. 

aul Burger took the early lead but by lap three Loverude had passed seven cars to take over the lead. He was challenged by Clint Hatlestad throughout the distance but was victorious once again. Hatlestad took second and Rick Nelson had a solid third place.