ArlingtonRaceway Archives

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]

Stien knows way to winner’s circle in Minnesota Sprint Series opener

ARLINGTON, Minn. (May 29) – Michael Stien’s latest Arlington Raceway feature win came on Saturday, opening night of the Minnesota IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Series. Nineteen cars were entered and Stien survived multiple cautions in the victory. Trevor Serbus, who had started 12th, moved up to challenge Stien but had to settle for second ahead of Neil Stevens. Justin Allen and Troy Manteufel completed the top five. Trent Loverude drove to his first local IMCA Modified win of the year ahead of Clint Hatlestad and Brandon Beckendorf. The IMCA Sunoco Stock Car feature had 24 cars on the grid and three different leaders in the race. Matt Schauer led the first nine laps of the race from his front row start before the first caution was thrown. On the restart, A.J. Zimmerman got around Schauer and led the following three laps. Cars were three-wide at times and extremely close. By lap 13, Chad Schroeder took over the lead with Ryan Bjerkeset racing him side-by-side. Zimmerman wasn’t giving up as he took the second place spot once [Read More]

Dialed in, Speckman scores at Arlington

ARLINGTON, Minn. (May 22) – Matt Speckman was dialed in for the IMCA Stock Sunoco Car feature as he led the entire race to win his first feature of the year Saturday at Arlington Raceway. The Ford-powered no. 87 of Brent Uecker, who had started 15th, was fast on the track as he was contending with Speckman by lap 14 but had to settle for second and Dan Mackenthun took third ahead of Josh Larsen. The IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car feature saw Mike Stien lead the entire race to win his second trophy of the season. Trevor Serbus was wheeling his car quickly around the track to gain on Stien but on lap 11 going into the turn two he wheelhopped a lapped car and ended up rolling up against the wall and ending his night. On the restart, Stien again took the lead with Bill Johnson holding off Justin Allen to take second. Three different leaders and close racing throughout highlighted a caution-free IMCA Modified feature. Josh Ruby held the lead for two laps [Read More]

Luinenburg is awesome at Arlington

ARLINGTON, Minn. (May 15) – Blake Luinenburg had an awesome first night racing at Arlington Raceway, starting eighth in his heat and finishing second, then starting 11th in the IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock feature and contending for the lead by the fourth lap of the race. Chad Volk took the lead from his front row start but soon Cory Probst was on his tail and by the third lap, the three drivers were racing side-by-side. Two laps later, Luinenburg was commanding the race and despite several yellow flags was able to hold onto the lead to win the race. Matt Olson moved up from his 10th place starting spot to take second ahead of Ben Reierson. Brandon Beckendorf added another “W” to his impressive early season total in the IMCA Modifieds and the IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car feature saw Michael Stien of lead the entire 15 lap distance. Jr. Esqueda of Granada won his first feature of the year in the Mach-1 Sport Compacts, topping a field of 24 cars and Matt Looft was the [Read More]

Olson aces opener at Arlington

ARLINGTON, Minn. (May 8) – Opening night at Arlington Raceway saw 128 cars in action and Matt Olson in victory lane after the IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock lidlifter. Mason Goettl led the first few laps from his front row starting spot before defending national and track champion Cory Probst, who had started 12th, came calling. Olson had been picking off cars and got around Probst following a restart to take over the lead and led the remaining laps to win the race. Probst took second and Goettl took third. The IMCA Sunoco Stock Car feature did not disappoint. Jeff Larson started in the third row and going into turn two got around five cars to take the lead. He and Brent Uecker then raced side-by-side for several laps. Larson maintained his spot out front while he led the field around the track but defending and 11-time track champion Dan Mackenthun, who had started 11th, was seeing the front clearly and wanted the win. He made a last-lap pass and got around Uecker but couldn’t get [Read More]

Neisen aces Arlington IMCA SportMod feature

ARLINGTON, Minn. (Sept. 26) – A Karl Kustoms Northern SportMod feature that ran green to checkers ended with Chris Neisen in victory lane Saturday night at Arlington Raceway. Neisen caught Dave Siercks for the lead on lap seven and stayed in front to the finish. Matt Looft started 11th and chased neisen across the stripe. Ninth stating Clint Hatlestad was the IMCA Modified feature winner, Justin Allen paced the IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car main and Matt Speckman raced up another IMCA Sunoco Stock Car victory. Cory Probst was the third and final leader in an IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock feature that saw just a single caution, on the opening lap. Jaedan Erickson topped the Mach-1 Sport Compact feature.

IMCA Modified checkers fly at Arlington for Stinehart

ARLINGTON, Minn. (Sept. 19) – Todd Stinehart was the fourth and final leader in Saturday’s IMCA Modified feature at Arlington Raceway. Rick Nelson paced the first four laps before he was forced pitside. Trent Loverude took over the top spot and built a commanding lead while Stinehart and Clint Hatlestad were fighting for second. On lap 13, Loverude’s engine let loose and he exited the track giving the lead to Stinehart. Hatlestad fought hard and took the lead on the 18th lap, then ran side-by-side with Stinehart the last two laps. As they were coming out of turn four, Hatlestad was a nose ahead, but Stinehart edged past him right before the checkered flag. Third went to Toby Patchen. Bill Johnson led from the sixth circuit to the finish of the IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car feature and Chad Schroeder topped the IMCA Sunoco Stock Car main. Winner of the IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock headliner was Cory Probst. Matt Looft led the way in the Karl Kustoms Northern SportMods. The Mach-1 Sport Compact feature saw 24 [Read More]

Last-lap pass puts Esqueda in victory lane at Arlington

ARLINGTON, Minn. (Aug. 29) – Last-lap drama played out in the Saturday night feature Mach-1 Sport Compacts at Arlington Raceway. Matthew Spiess had taken the early lead and stayed in front until after the white flag was displayed. R.J. Esqueda started 10th and worked his way up to second places with his sights on Spiess. Esqueda made the late pass for the checkers. Justin Dose followed Esqueda and ended in second. Winner of the green-to-checkered IMCA Modified feature was Dan Menk while Justin Allen aced the IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car headliner and Matt Speckman paced the IMCA Sunoco Stock Car feature. Cory Probst raced from 11th starting to win the IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock feature and Kris Zuhlsdorf made the most of back-to-back cautions early on to win the Karl Kustoms Northern SportMod main event.

Johnson, Schroeder win green to checkered features at Arlington

ARLINGTON, Minn. (Aug. 22) – Both the IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car feature and the Karl Kustoms Northern SportMod feature ran green to checkered Saturday at Arlington Raceway. Bill Johnson reeled in leader Jeremy Schultz en route to the Sprint checkers while Jason Schroeder raced from the third row at the start in winning his first Northern SportMod main of 2020. The IMCA Modified feature saw three different leaders with Chad Porter and Clint Hatlestad running up front before Brandon Beckendorf made his move on the white flag lap, edging past Hatlestad to take the lead and the win. Brett McConnell took the lead on the second circuit and stay in front to the finish of the Mach-1 Sport Compact main event. Jeff Larson had the IMCA Sunoco Stock Car no one could catch while Cory Probst made his move to the front of the IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock field the last time around the track.

Late-race opportunity leads Zuhlsdorf to winner’s circle

ARLINGTON, Minn. (Aug. 15) – Opportunity knocked on the door late in the race Saturday night and Kris Zuhlsdorf answered. Mike Kennedy led the first 12 laps of the Karl Kustoms Northern SportMod feature at Arlington Raceway but saw his advantage up front erased by a caution. Zuhlsdorf capitalized, taking the lead following the ensuing restart and driving to the win. Dan Menk led from start to finish of the 20-lap feature for IMCA Modifieds and Michael Stien was the IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car winner. Tenth starting Dan Mackenthun topped the IMCA Sunoco Stock Car main event. National point leader Cory Probst paced the IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks while Alan Lahr led the way to the Mach-1 Sport Compact checkers.