McBirnie Cashes In with $5,000 Sibley County Stock Car Shootout Victory at Arlington

Feature, Hobby Stock, News, Northern SportMod, Stock Car

Jake McBirnie celebrates in victory lane after winning the $5,000-to-win Sibley County Stock Car Shootout for Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars on July 29 at Arlington Raceway. The Boone, Iowa, driver led all 30 laps to earn his first career Shootout victory and lock into the B&B Racing Chassis All-Star Stock Car Invitational during the Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey's. (Photo by Sarah Moriarty)

By Ben Deatherage

ARLINGTON, Minn. (July 29, 2026) — Jake McBirnie led all 30 laps to win Wednesday night’s $5,000-to-win Sibley County Stock Car Shootout at Arlington Raceway for the Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars before a packed grandstand on opening night of the Sibley County Fair.

Driving the Mike Kennedy-owned No. 822, the Boone, Iowa, driver jumped out front at the drop of the green and established a comfortable advantage. An early caution was the race’s lone interruption before the remaining distance went caution-free. The reigning Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s Stock Car champion expertly worked through lapped traffic on multiple occasions while the battle for second unfolded behind him.

The victory was McBirnie’s first career Sibley County Stock Car Shootout triumph after finishing runner-up one year ago. It also marked his first EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region win of the season. In addition to collecting substantial lap money by leading every circuit, McBirnie locked himself into the B&B Racing Chassis All-Star Stock Car Invitational to be held during the IMCA Super Nationals, as the qualifying event paid $5,000 to win.

Fellow Iowan Matthew Looft rallied from seventh to finish second aboard the B&B Racing Chassis No. 6-7 house car. The 2024 Arlington Stock Car track champion and seven-time National champion in the Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMods steadily chipped away at McBirnie’s advantage in the closing laps, but was unable to mount a serious challenge for the victory.

Defending race winner and 14-time reigning Minnesota State and Arlington track champion Dan Mackenthun charged from 14th to finish third. David Moriarty crossed the stripe fourth, while two-time Minnesota State champion Ken Tietz completed the top five.

Daniel Sell Jr., of Wisconsin, earned hard charger honors by advancing from 24th to 11th.

Dakota Robinson capped off the evening by winning the King of the Hill race.

A total of 40 Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars signed in for the prestigious event.

Davis Dominates SportMod Feature

Zach Davis led from the start and never looked back in the Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMod feature.

After a pair of unsuccessful starts moved him to the front row, the Lonsdale driver took advantage of his opportunity by grabbing the lead when the race officially got underway. Despite several cautions throughout the feature, Davis remained in control on every restart while the battle for the runner-up position stayed competitive behind him.

The victory was Davis’ fourth overall of the season and his third at Arlington in 2026.

Defending Clay County Fair Speedway champion Justin Klynsma made the trip from Iowa worthwhile by adto finish second. Ben Reierson completed a last-lap pass of Jared Boumeester to claim third, while Cole Hesse rounded out the top five.

Alexander Barnes earned hard charger honors after racing from 22nd to 11th.

Probst Prevails in Hobby Stock Main Event

The Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stocks opened feature racing with one of the night’s most entertaining contests.

Austin Jahnz paced the opening circuits before three-time reigning national champion Cory Probst pulled alongside and edged ahead by inches to take the lead on lap six. Jahnz’s strong run came to an end the following lap when his car got sideways on the backstretch, bringing out the caution.

Multiple restarts over the remainder of the race gave the field opportunities to challenge, but Probst never surrendered the point. The Brewster driver secured his eighth B&B Racing Chassis Northern Region victory of the season and fifth at Arlington in 2026.

Starting ninth, the nine-time defending track champion crossed the finish line ahead of Chad Volk, who advanced from seventh to second. Taylor Manderfield put together an impressive run from 14th to third while earning hard charger honors. Jahnz recovered to finish fourth, and Dan Scharpe completed the top five.

The event was broadcast live on IMCA TV affiliate Dirt Race Central. Catch every lap again with the IMCA TV Replay Subscription, available for just $25.99/month. Don’t miss Season 2 of The Boone Docuseries, streaming exclusively on IMCA TV.

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