ArlingtonRaceway Archives

Racing, fireworks beat rain at Arlington

ARLINGTON, Minn. (July 6, 2024) – Track staff worked quickly to beat the incoming rain just west of Arlington Raceway to ensure the IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing program was complete and the NAPA fireworks show done. They accomplished those tasks in record time as the rains came just as the last colors hit the sky. Drivers did an excellent job in all divisions as there was some great racing action throughout the night. The IMCA Sunoco Stock Car feature saw 24 cars start the feature and it was a dandy as Dakota Robinson and Brent Uecker raced side-by-side throughout, with each leading at the line and then trading positions. As the white flag was going to be displayed, a yellow came out for a stalled car next to the front wall. When the cars realigned it was Uecker and Robinson battling again. Robinson pushed going into turn one and got too high and by the time turn two came he had lost several positions. Uecker became the leader but Curt Lund was reeling him in [Read More]

Third time is a (rainless) charm at Arlington

ARLINGTON, Minn. (June 29, 2024) – After a two week hiatus in events due to rain, Arlington Raceway managed to get an event in even though an inch and a half of rain fell the night before. Drivers were eager to get back to the track and compete and Bode Collision & Glass and K&R Towing put up an extra $100 to each feature winner so every feature was pretty intense. The IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks saw two different leaders. Jonathan Schroeder was the early leader but a yellow was thrown for Mac Tollefson on lap seven when he lost a tire and landed in the infield pond area. The following lap after the restart, Schroeder had troubles which sent him to the work area and later the pit, ending his night. That gave both Brett McConnell and Cory Probst an opportunity to gain positions on the restart. McConnell had the edge but he, too, ended up in the pit while Probst went on to lead the remainder of the race. Jordan Robinson had a [Read More]

Win to Bjerkeset, Lund lands Arlington bonus

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 [Read More]

Stien sprints to RaceSaver win at Arlington

ARLINGTON, Minn. (June 1, 2024) – Mike Stien led the distance Saturday at Arlington Raceway in winning his first IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car feature of the season. Stien started in the front row alongside Bruce Allen. The race behind them was Brett Allen moving forward and passing five cars to challenge. He tried to get under Stien a couple times but ran out of room on the track and settled for second ahead of Matt Johnson. Matt Looft repeated his winning ways from the previous week, topping both IMCA Sunoco Stock Car and Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMod features. Tony Stephensmeier led the Northern SportMod feature for the first seven laps before a caution was thrown for a spinning car. The field restarted and Reimers had misfortune again spinning off the track and that ended his night. On the restart, Looft was able to take over the lead spot and remain the leader to win with Eric Larson behind him and Jeff Lloyd taking third. The Stock Car feature saw three different leaders and four [Read More]

Loverude tops IMCA Modifieds at Arlington

ARLINGTON, Minn. (May 25, 2024) – Trent Loverude led 19 of the 20 laps, including the most important one, in Saturday’s Friesen Performance IMCA Modified feature at Arlington Raceway. Loverude powered to the lead on the first circuit while Dan Menk and Todd Stinehart battled behind him. Stinehart who had started ninth, got around both cars on lap 15 but Loverude was able to regain the lead and go on to win the race. Menk finished third. Another ninth place starter, Trevor Serbus, made his way to the front of the IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Cars and led the last five laps, winning ahead of Hunter Hanson and Matt Johnson. Matt Looft was the third different and the final leader in a pair of features, the Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods and the IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars. Mat Hollerich and Jeff Lloyd took turns at the front of the SportMod field before Looft took charge on lap 10. Lloyd regained the lead and the front pair jockeyed back-and-forth before Looft took the checkers ahead of Lloyd [Read More]

Hesse hauls to career first checkers at Arlington

ARLINGTON, Minn. (May 18, 2024) – Cole Hesse became a first-time winner, on a night of firsts Saturday at Arlington Raceway. The Gibbon hotshoe made the most of the lower line, made his way to the front of the field by lap five and then made his way to victory lane following his career-first Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMod victory. “Definitely down low was fastest, and it seemed like (turns) one and two were better for me,” said Hesse, who would pull away to a two second advantage before the end of the race. “I’ve got one trophy now and hopefully I can add more. That’s always the goal.” Hesse had started in the second row and was in command before halfway. He was a quarter of a lap ahead of second running Jeff Carter, who held Matt Looft in check for the entire distance. “I’ve always said that finishing second running against (six-time national champion) Looft was like winning,” said Hesse, starting his second full season in the class. “This win takes a huge [Read More]

Arlington Raceway lifts lid on 44th season

ARLINGTON, Minn. (May 11, 2024) – The 44th season opener at Arlington Raceway brought out many race teams and fans in the stands that enjoyed seeing some great racing action and many new firsts. Blake Luinenburg took the lead from Ben Davis on the second lap and won the IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock headliner. Cory Probst, chasing a third straight and ninth career track title, moved up five spots to take a close second with Brad Becker right behind him. Nick McConnell won the Best Appearing Car Contest and the wrapped helmet from Hess Technology. Brandon Hartmann from Fairmont led the entire Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compact feature. Starting up front and holding off both Neil Forsberg and Justin Dose, he seemed to glide around the smooth track. Dale Gattton won the Best Appearing Car Contest and the wrapped helmet from Hess Technology. Brandon Hartmann returned to Arlington Raceway and motored to the opening night Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compact feature victory. (Photo by Sarah Moriarty) Matt Looft was able to pick up the win in the Friesen [Read More]

Arlington puts wraps on 2023 season with annual awards banquet

MORTON, Minn. (March 16, 2024) – The 2023 Arlington Raceway Awards Banquet was held at Jackpot Junction on March 16. Perfect attendance awards were given out to drivers who participated in every event and the top 10 in each oval track division received awards sponsored by Hess Technology. Champions in each class honored were Friesen Performance IMCA Modified, Clint Hatlestad; IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car, Matt Johnson; IMCA Sunoco Stock Car, Dan Mackenthun; IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock, Cory Probst; Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMod, Matt Looft; and Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compact, Alan Lahr. ‘Cause It’s Fun awards were given to Wayne Govig, Modified; Justin Allen, RaceSaver Sprint Car; A.J. Zimmerman, Stock Car; Nick McConnell, Hobby Stock; Broddy Enter, Northern SportMod; and David Marshall, Sport Compact. Rookie awards were given to J.J. Reimers, Modified; Jeremy Snow, RaceSaver Sprint Car; Patrick Schauer, Stock Car; Ben Davis, Hobby Stock; Joey Reimers, Northern SportMod; and Emily McConnell, Sport Compact. Most Improved awards were given to Clint Hatlestad, Modified; Brett Allen, RaceSaver Sprint Car; Brent Uecker, Stock Car; Dan Probst, Hobby Stock; [Read More]

First Arlington wins of season for Becker, Schumacher

ARLINGTON, Minn. (Aug. 12, 2023) – New cars in victory lane gave the fans some exciting races Saturday for the Northfork Custom Meats Back to School Kids Night. Almost 200 kids received some awesome prizes donated by Arlington Raceway, fans and race teams. Brad Becker led the entire caution-free IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock feature from his pole start to win his first main event of the year. Fighting behind him were Jordan Robinson, Taylor Manderfield and Cory Probst. The three cars exchanged positions throughout the race but on the white flag lap, Probst got around Manderfield to take second. Gary Schumacher led the distance as he won his first Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compact feature of the year. Cars were four-wide around the track and got together causing a yellow on lap seven, which sent Justin Dose to the pits. With only one lap remaining, Schumacher pulled off the win with Alan Lahr and David Marshall right behind. Gary Schumacher led the distance Saturday in earning his first Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compact feature win of the [Read More]

IMCA features go 3-4-5 wide at Arlington

ARLINGTON, Minn. (Aug. 5, 2023) – The Sibley County Fair races provided three- and four- and even five-wide racing throughout the night in all divisions for the fans to enjoy Saturday at Arlington Raceway. The first feature saw Ben Davis lead the first four laps of the IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock main but coming out of turn four he lost control of his car and allowed Cory Probst to take the lead from his 10th place start. Davis and Taylor Manderfield then had a good battle but Davis slid up and Manderfield was able to gain a position. On the next lap, Dan Probst was able to glide by both of those cars to take second behind son Cory. In the end, Cory Probst wins another feature with his dad taking second and Manderfield third. The Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compacts saw five-wide racing for the first lap until the field spread out and then again after a restart. Kevin Bolte then took the lead and led the rest of the way to win his first feature. [Read More]