ArlingtonRaceway Archives

Matt Speckman: Taking Flight into IMCA’s Stock Car Century Club

By Ben Deatherage SLEEPY EYE, Minn. (Oct. 10, 2025) — The prairie around Sleepy Eye stretches in all directions, a patchwork of green and gold divided by gravel roads and the steady rhythm of farm life. The town itself rises gently beside its namesake lake — small, hard-working, and steeped in stories older than the state itself. For Matt Speckman, it’s the perfect place to build, fly, and race — a life shaped by machinery, family, and perseverance. That combination came full circle this fall when Speckman captured his 100th career IMCA-sanctioned feature win on Sept. 27 at Arlington Raceway, driving from eighth on the grid to victory. The milestone made him the sixth driver from Minnesota to reach the Century Club in the Sunoco IMCA Stock Car division. Matt Speckman races his no. 81 Sunoco IMCA Stock Car at speed at Arlington Raceway earlier this summer. (Photo by Sarah Moriarty) A Town with Deep Roots Sleepy Eye’s history is as enduring as the fields that surround it. The town took its name from Chief Sleepy [Read More]

Goos Sweeps 45th Anniversary Sprint Special at Arlington

By Susan Allen ARLINGTON, Minn. (Sept. 27, 2025) — Lee Goos Jr. had a clean sweep in the 45th anniversary Sprint Car race at Arlington Raceway, winning the RaceSaver IMCA Sprint Cars feature on Saturday night. Starting on the pole, he never looked back over the 25-lap distance to capture the $4,500 prize. A first-lap caution for Nate Thelen’s spin brought a quick restart. Zach Glaser passed Gunner Pike to run second until lapped traffic opened the door for Bill Johnson to take the spot, with Trevor Serbus in close pursuit. The top three sliced through traffic until lap 18, when Glaser spun off turn four and exited the race. Goos maintained command on the restart, with Serbus in second and Johnson in third. Another caution flew when Hannah Graf’s steering broke entering turn two, ending her night. On the final restart, Pike slipped past Johnson for third while Goos and Serbus pulled away in traffic. At the finish, Goos claimed the win, Serbus was second, Pike third, Johnson fourth, and Matt Johnson fifth. Brett Allen [Read More]

Probst Powers from Eighth to Hobby Stock Victory at Arlington

By Susan Allen ARLINGTON, Minn. (Sept. 20, 2025) — The Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stocks stole the show with the most dramatic feature of the night at Arlington Raceway. Jonathon Schroeder’s car caught fire down the backstretch, ending his run early after the same issue plagued him in his heat. Once the smoke cleared, Mac Tollefson led the opening laps before Cory Probst charged from eighth to the front. Tollefson’s night unraveled with mechanical woes, and the battle for second fell to Brad Becker and Jordan Robinson. Robinson made the late move to secure runner-up honors behind Probst. Loverude Times It Right in Modifieds The Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds saw a clean and fast main event. Jeremy Mills led the first 16 laps, but with three to go, Trent Loverude pounced. A decisive late move gave him the win in a caution-free race that left fans on their feet. Enter Charges from Ninth for SportMod Score The Karl Chevrolet IMCA Northern SportMods featured three different leaders in a 20-lap shootout. Matthew Schoenke set the early pace, Joey [Read More]

Hatlestad Hustles to Jeff Rucks Memorial Victory at Arlington

By Susan Allen ARLINGTON, Minn. (Sept. 13, 2025) — Clint Hatlestad took full advantage of his front row redraw position as he pulled away from the field on the start of the Friesen Performance IMCA Modified feature at Arlington Raceway. A yellow came out when Mark Noble spun on lap three. On the restart, Jeremy Mills, who had started two rows behind Hatlestad, moved into second ahead of Chad Porter. Soon, Trent Loverude was challenging Mills, but contact on lap eight sent Mills into the infield and ended his night. Loverude kept going but lapped traffic kept him from making a serious bid at the lead, leaving Hatlestad a clear path to victory and the $1,050 Jeff Rucks Memorial win. It was Hatlestad’s sixth win of 2025 in the Razor Chassis North Central Region — all coming at Arlington. Loverude finished second with Porter in third. Probst Extends Hobby Stock Hot Streak with 13th Arlington Win There were five yellow flags and one red flag in the Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stock feature. A first-lap mishap occurred [Read More]

Sept. 27 Season Championship Grand Finale at Arlington Pays $4,500 to Win for RaceSaver IMCA Sprints

By Ben Deatherage ARLINGTON, Minn. (Sept. 11, 2025) — Arlington Raceway will close out its 2025 campaign in style on Saturday, Sept. 27, with the Season Championship Grand Finale presented by Toppers & Trailers Plus. The event also celebrates 45 years of racing at the Minnesota oval and will feature six Speedway Motors IMCA Weekly classes. Leading the way will be the RaceSaver IMCA Sprint Cars, battling for a $4,500 top prize in one of the richest sprint shows in the region. Joining them on championship night will be the Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds, Karl Chevrolet IMCA Northern SportMods, Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars, Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stocks, and Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compacts. Pit gates open at 1 p.m. with the grandstand opening at 2 p.m. and racing beginning at 5 p.m. Grandstand admission is $20 for adults, $5 for kids ages 5-10, and free for children four and under. Pit passes are $35. For those unable to make it to Arlington in person, the entire night of racing can be watched live through IMCA TV affiliate [Read More]

Mackenthun Steals Stock Car Victory in Last-Lap Thriller

By Susan Allen ARLINGTON, Minn. (Aug. 23, 2025) — The Sunoco IMCA Stock Car feature at Arlington Raceway produced one of the night’s most dramatic finishes with three different leaders. Chris Neisen paced the field early before A.J. Zimmerman worked underneath him to take command. The pair pulled away from the pack until Matt Speckman charged through the middle of the field, only to fall out with mechanical issues just as he was challenging for the lead. That left Zimmerman to duel with Dan Mackenthun over the final five laps. At the line, Mackenthun edged ahead to take the victory, with Zimmerman second and Josh Larsen third. The triumph was Mackenthun’s eighth win of the season in the EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region, with five of those coming at Arlington. Richards Makes Nebraska Trip Count With Hobby Stock Win National points contender Dillon Richards made the trip north from Nebraska worthwhile in the Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stocks. Multiple cautions early helped him climb through the field, and by lap six he was on the heels of leader [Read More]

Looft Snatches Arlington Stock Car Victory in Last-Lap Thriller

By Susan Allen ARLINGTON, Minn. (Aug. 16, 2025) — The Sunoco IMCA Stock Car feature at Arlington Raceway delivered a breathtaking finish in a caution-free main event. Chris Neisen jumped out front from the pole and dominated the early laps before Ken Tietz charged from fifth to seize control by lap 12. Tietz looked strong as Matthew Looft and Dan Mackenthun closed in during the closing circuits. On the final lap, the top three stormed into turn four nearly three-wide. Tietz led into the corner, but Looft dove low while Mackenthun swept high. At the line, it was Looft who emerged first for his second EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region win of the season, both at Arlington. Mackenthun grabbed second with Tietz in third. Johnson Powers Late to Sprint Car Win The RaceSaver IMCA Sprint Car main event featured plenty of drama as Zach Glaser led the opening 11 laps while Matt Hasara gave chase. Matt Johnson worked his way forward by lap 10 and began closing rapidly on the leaders. Two laps later, Johnson and [Read More]

Cory Probst: 300 Wins and Counting in the Hobby Stocks

By Ben Deatherage BREWSTER, Minn. (Aug. 8, 2025) — In Brewster, Minnesota — a small town of just over 500 residents with deep railroad roots — Cory Probst has built a racing career that’s anything but small. The driver of the No. 75C Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stock reached an extraordinary milestone on August 2 at Arlington Raceway, claiming his 300th feature win. For Probst, the historic night came on familiar ground. His 100th win was at Arlington on June 23, 2018. His 200th win came at the same track on June 18, 2022. It’s a place where he has collected some of his biggest moments — and a track that still brings out the best in him. “Arlington is one of my favorite tracks,” Probst said. “It’s a big half-mile with room to move. Things don’t get as congested, and if things get ugly, there’s places to hide.” Probst’s milestone was the 17th time in his 27 B&B Racing Chassis Northern Region wins this year that he has started ninth or deeper in the field. The [Read More]

Probst Gets 300th Career Win in Hobby Stocks at Arlington

By Susan Allen ARLINGTON, Minn. (Aug. 2, 2025) — History was made during the Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stock feature, as Cory Probst recorded his 300th career IMCA feature win with a late-race charge to victory. Early leader Dan Scharpe paced the field until a second-lap caution for Patrick Oestreich. At the same time, Chad Volk got into a tire and headed to the work area, then rejoined the field at the back. On the restart, Scott Porter controlled the high side while Probst methodically worked his way forward. After another yellow on lap seven for Volk, Probst found momentum up top and swept past Porter to take over the point. Brad Becker made two strong bids to get under Probst in the final circuits but had to settle for second, with Porter taking third. The win was Probst’s 27th of the season in the B&B Racing Chassis Northern Region. Gatton Goes Wire-to-Wire in Sport Compact Show Dale Gatton led every lap of the Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compact feature. A yellow flew at the initial start due [Read More]

Mackenthun Masters Arlington Sibley County Stock Car Shootout for Huge Payday

By Susan Allen ARLINGTON, Minn. (July 30, 2025) — Dan Mackenthun made the most of a big night at his home track, scoring the biggest win of his career during the Sibley County Fair Stock Car Shootout at Arlington Raceway. The Sunoco IMCA Stock Car special paid $5,000 to win, and Mackenthun racked up an additional $1,725 for leading 23 of the 30 laps, plus a $100 bonus for his heat race win. His dominant effort also locked him into the prestigious B&B Racing Chassis All-Star Invitational at this year’s Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s. The triumph marked Mackenthun’s seventh of the season in the EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region and his fourth at the Arlington ½-mile. A stout field of 36 Stock Cars battled for a share of the $30,000 purse. Jake McBirnie paced the opening seven laps before a caution gave Mackenthun the opportunity he needed. Starting fifth, Mackenthun had already climbed to second by lap one and wasted no time slipping past McBirnie on the ensuing restart. Another yellow came [Read More]