ArlingtonRaceway Archives

Fast start to season lands Looft career 200th IMCA Northern SportMod victory

ARLINGTON, Minn. (May 28, 2022) – Matt Looft joined another of IMCA’s most exclusive clubs Saturday night at Arlington Raceway. Looft won for the 200th time in his Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMod career, becoming just the 16th driver in the sanctioning body’s modern era began in 1979 to achieve that feat. “This wasn’t something I ever expected to be able to do,” the Swea City, Iowa, driver said the next day during a break from making ice cream for son’s Brysen’s fourth birthday party. “It took me like three years to get my first win in a ‘B’ mod. We’ve worked hard at this and I’ve had a good support system, which really helps. I’ve got a good car (a 2022 Skyrocket) and good tech support.” Now a four-time national champion in the division, Looft raced to his first Northern SportMod victory in 2010. He’s been in double figure wins every season since 2012 and comes off a career-best 27 checkers and his latest national title in 2021. “Getting our 200th win was not something we were [Read More]

Mackenthun aces Arlington Stok Car feature

ARLINGTON, Minn. (May 21, 2022) – Great fans and great racers heated up the chilly temperatures Saturday at Arlington Raceway. There were several repeat feature winners but each event saw close, tight racing. Taylor Manderfield started in the front row of the IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock feature and led four laps until hard-charging Cory Probst moved up from the last starting spot to take over the race. He had another clean sweep, winning his heat race and the feature. Melvin held on for second and Chad Volk moved up from his eighth place start to take third. Justin Forcier started on the front row of the Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compact feature and, despite a yellow flag on the first lap, was able to lead the field around the track for six laps until 12th starting Nate Coopman moved to the front. Forcier lost his momentum and Coopman got around him to take over the race and the win. Forcier settled for second ahead of Gary Schumacher. The Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMod feature saw 19 cars [Read More]

Veteran drivers find victory lane on opening night at Arlington

ARLINGTON, Minn. (May 14, 2022) – Veteran drivers found their way to victory lane for the 42nd consecutive opener at the Arlington Raceway Saturday night. 2020 national champion Cory Probst had a great birthday present as he drew the pole for the start in the IMCA Sunoco Hobby feature. Chad Volk moved forward from his seventh place start to challenge Probst but settled for second. Jordan Robinson from Marshall won the Hess Technology best appearing car award in the division. Four-time national champion Nate Coopman started in the number one spot for the Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compact feature but the 23 cars behind him also wanted that top spot and some got a bit clustered as the race went on. A yellow flag came out on the sixth lap. On the restart, Coopman managed to take the lead again with Alan Lahr on his back bumper. Another yellow lap came out as Coopman had mechanical troubles and pulled into the pit area. That gave Brett McConnell the lead as he had passed Lahr for the lead [Read More]

2021 champions among drivers honored at Arlington banquet

MORTON, Minn. (March 9, 2022) – More than 300 people attended the 2021 Arlington Raceway awards banquet March 5 at Jackpot Junction Casino Hotel. Track champions honored were: Mach-1 Sport Compact, Marschall Robinson; IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock, Matt Olson; IMCA Northern SportMod, Matt Looft; IMCA Sunoco Stock Car, Dan Mackenthun; IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car, Trevor Serbus; and IMCA Modified, Trent Loverude. Perfect Attendance Awards were given to 57 drivers. ‘Cus It’s Fun awards and $100 certificates from B & B Racing Chassis went to: Mach-1 Sport Compact, Levi Selly; IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock, Moriah Callahan; IMCA Northern SportMod, Broddy Enter; IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car, Andrew Allen; IMCA Sunoco Stock Car, Patrick Schauer; and IMCA Modified, Aaron McVenes. Rookie awards were presented to Mach-1 Sport Compact, Gavin Selly; IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock, Joshua Black; IMCA Northern SportMod, Gavin Maass; IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car, Matt Johnson; IMCA Sunoco Stock Car, Ryan Bjerkeset; and IMCA Modified, Jonah Padgett. Most Improved awards were presented to: Mach-1 Sport Compact, Emily Senne; IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock, Taylor Manderfield; IMCA Northern SportMod, Chris [Read More]

Loverude races to Rucks Memorial checkers

ARLINGTON, Minn. (Sept. 18) – Trent Loverude had a $1,000 payday for his win in the IMCA Modified Jeff Rucks Memorial Night Saturday at Arlington Raceway. Dan Menk jumped to the lead at the drop of the first green flag but soon was contending with Clint Hatlestad. For eight laps, the two raced almost side by side with Hatlestad just ahead. Then a caution came out, Menk was able to get around Hatlestad on the restart and led for the next five laps. Loverude was moving through the field and also got around Hatlestad. With only a few laps left, lapped traffic became a factor and Menk took the wrong line as Loverude took over the race and went on to win and earn Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational qualifying eligibility as well with Menk taking second and Matt Gilbertson finishing ahead of Hatlestad at the line. Shaun Bruns won the IMCA Sunoco Stock Car nail biter ahead of Dan Mackenthun. Bill Johnson collected the checkers in the final Minnesota IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car Series event [Read More]

Rookie Graf gets first RaceSaver Sprint win at Arlington

ARLINGTON, Minn. (Aug. 14) – Rookie Hannah Graf put her IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car in victory lane for her first career win Saturday at Arlington Raceway. Graf led from start to finish from her front row start. A first lap yellow flag came out when Bruce Allen spun off the track in turn three. The cars realigned and Graf took off again, this time with her uncle Chris following her around the track. Halfway through the race another caution was thrown when Justin Allen spun out. On this restart, Brett Allen took the high side while others were taking the bottom of the track and passed five cars to compete with the leader. The following lap, coming out of turn two, Graf had control of the front spot and Allen ran out of room, causing him to spin out putting him to the back of the field. With four laps to go, Hannah Graf led the rest of the way to take the victory. Chris Graf took second and Trevor Serbus started 13th and finished third. [Read More]

Big payday for Beckendorf at Sibley County Fair Shootout

ARLINGTON, Minn. (Aug. 4) – Brandon Beckendorf picked up the win in his first time ever competing in the IMCA Sunoco Stock Car feature during the Sibley County Fair Shootout special Wednesday night. Beckendorf earned $2,500 for his checkered flag finish plus $2,415 for leading 15 laps, making for a $4,915 payday. Thirty-seven Stock Cars signed in for the Arlington Raceway midweek special and Dean Cornelius and Chanse Hollatz drew front row starts. Both had their work cut out as there was a stout field cars behind them. Hollatz and Cornelius swapped the lead over the first four laps before Cornelius settled into the front spot. Beckendorf appeared on Cornelius’ tail and the two raced side-by-side until lap 11, when Beckendorf took charge. He had a commanding lead over Cornelius, Zane DeVilbiss and Tim Pessek in fourth with five laps later. Cornelius had troubles on lap 23 and pulled into the pit area – and still banked $1,288 in lap money – before Pessek and Larson traded third. In the end, Beckendorf stayed out front [Read More]

Close racing the rule at Arlington

ARLINGTON, Minn. (July 24) – Hot racing action on the track made for some very close tight racing in all the divisions for the Mankato Motorsports and Northland Drying Night Saturday at Arlington Raceway. There was a lot of slicing and dicing in the IMCA Modified feature with three different leaders. Rick Nelson led the first three laps from the pole until Trent Loverude invaded his territory coming from eighth place to battle him. Alongside Loverude was Chad Porter. Loverude took over the lead but only for two laps as Porter led the next three laps. Then the two were driving around lapped traffic and a yellow came out for a spinning car in turn one. On the restart, Dan Menk got the jump on Porter and was now in second behind Loverude … but that didn’t last long as Porter rejoined the two driving from the top of the track to the bottom to gain positions. With two laps to go, Clint Hatlestad was also in the mix and another caution came out. With [Read More]

Erickson takes tall trophy at Arlington Raceway

ARLINGTON, Minn. (June 19) – Drivers raced hard and furiously for the big trophies Farmer Brown Motorsports provided for the evening Saturday at Arlington Raceway. Joshua Winsky led the first lap from his front row start but there was a first lap caution flag which restacked the Mach-1 Sport Compact field and when the race finally got going, Jaedon Erickson led the pack for nine laps to win the race. Brett McConnell gained several positions on a restart and tried to catch Erickson but settled for second ahead of J.R. Esqueda. The IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car feature had two different leaders with Brandon Allen and Brandon Buysse on the front row. Allen got a commanding lead but a couple of yellow flags were thrown when cars spun on lap seven and Buysse took full advantage as he got the edge on Allen and pulled away from him. Allen then had to contend with Bill Johnson and Trevor Serbus, holding them off from advancing. In the end, Buysse won, Allen took second and Serbus crossed the [Read More]

Bjerkeset up to challenge at Arlington

ARLINGTON, Minn. (June 5) – The highlight of the Saturday night show at Arlington Raceway was the IMCA Sunoco Stock Car feature, when Ryan Bjerkeset took a back row challenge along with Brent Uecker and Chad Schroeder for an extra $750 from the sponsors for winning the race. Seventeen cars started and there were three different leaders. Matt Schauer led for the first 13 laps with a hefty advantage on the field but pulled off due to his car overheating. Schroeder encountered a flat tire and pulled off on lap seven, ending his own night. Alex Dostal took advantage of Schauer’s misfortune and inherited the lead but a yellow was thrown when Andrea McCain spun. That opened the door for Bjerkeset on the restart as he had been picking cars off lap by lap. He got around Dostal and remained the leader for the next four laps to win the race and $1,100 while becoming eligible to qualify for the B & B Chassis All-Star Race. Dostal was so close but so far and settled [Read More]