ArlingtonRaceway Archives

Nate Coopman: Three Hundred Wins and a Lasting Legacy

By Ben Deatherage MANKATO, Minn. — Three hundred victories. Even Nate Coopman has a hard time wrapping his head around that number. “I can’t believe it,” Coopman said. “It’s pretty amazing to have had that much success.” On Aug. 1 at Arlington Raceway, the Mankato, Minn., driver reached another milestone by earning the 300th IMCA Sport Compact feature victory of his career, extending his record as the division’s all-time winningest driver. What began with his first IMCA feature victory in 2011 quickly turned into one of the most dominant seven-year stretches in IMCA history. Between 2011 and 2017, Coopman never won fewer than 21 features in a season, highlighted by a 54-win campaign in 2014 that is tied with Mike Nichols’ 2016 IMCA Stock Car season for the modern-era record for victories in a single IMCA class. “We were racing four or five nights a week for a while, so I guess I never really looked at it that close,” Coopman said. “When you step back now, it’s pretty incredible.” Nate Coopman celebrates his historic 300th [Read More]

Dan Mackenthun: The Hamburg Racer’s Road to 200 Stock Car Wins

By Ben Deatherage HAMBURG, Minn. (Aug. 11, 2026) — Two hundred victories don’t happen overnight. They aren’t the product of one dominant season or one magical race car. They’re built one night at a time, one feature at a time, one year after another. When Dan Mackenthun earned the 200th Sunoco IMCA Stock Car victory of his career, the Hamburg, Minn., driver joined one of the most exclusive clubs in IMCA history, becoming just the eighth driver to reach the milestone. “It was something we were looking forward to,” Mackenthun said. “The Stock Car class is pretty tough competition anywhere, so to pick up just one win is a feat, let alone to do it 200 times. It’s been a pretty solid year so far.” His first IMCA Stock Car victory came in 2002 at Arlington Raceway. The following night he backed it up with another triumph at Redwood Speedway, unknowingly beginning one of the sport’s most accomplished careers. Mackenthun’s milestone also earned him membership in IMCA Stock Car racing’s exclusive Double Century Club. Only seven [Read More]

Domagala Earns First Career RaceSaver Sprint Victory

By Susan Allen ARLINGTON, Minn. (Aug. 8, 2026) — Logan Domagala led every lap of the caution-free RaceSaver IMCA Sprint Car feature to earn the first victory of his Sprint Car career Saturday night at Arlington Raceway. Starting on the pole, the Brandon, S.D., driver quickly established himself out front while Andrew Allen slipped past Dalton Domagala for second on the opening lap. Allen chased the leader throughout the 15-lap distance but could never close enough to mount a challenge. Domagala scored the victory ahead of Allen, Dalton Domagala, Bill Johnson, and Mike Stien. Loverude Breaks Through for First 2026 Modified Win The Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified feature featured multiple lead changes before Trent Loverude emerged on top. Curt Lund led at the drop of the green before J.J. Reimers worked underneath him for the lead on lap three. Lund answered one lap later to reclaim the top spot as Chad Porter, Matt Looft, and Loverude sliced through the field behind them. Lund’s night came to an abrupt end with mechanical trouble, handing the lead to [Read More]

Mackenthun’s Milestone Headlines Arlington Fair Night

By Susan Allen ARLINGTON, Minn. (Aug. 1, 2026) — Dan Mackenthun reached a milestone Saturday night at Arlington Raceway, charging from 11th to score his 200th career feature victory in the Sunoco IMCA Stock Car main event during the Sibley County Fair. Three different drivers occupied the top spot in the 20-lap feature. A.J. Zimmerman led the early laps before a series of cautions forced him to the pit area. David Moriarty inherited the lead, but Mackenthun and Matt Looft quickly worked their way to the front and battled over the closing laps. Mackenthun held off Looft to secure the historic victory. The Hamburg driver earned his ninth EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region victory of the season and fourth at Arlington Raceway in 2026. Looft crossed the stripe second, Moriarty finished third, Tim Pessek was fourth, and Brent Uecker completed the top five. Allen Sweeps Sprint Cars for First Career Win A first-lap red flag delayed the start of the RaceSaver IMCA Sprint Car feature after Kinzlee Giessinger flipped in turn two. She was uninjured. When [Read More]

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

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, [Read More]

Probst Charges From 10th for Arlington Hobby Stock Victory

By Susan Allen ARLINGTON, Minn. (July 18, 2026) — By the time feature racing began Saturday night at Arlington Raceway, the track had slickened off through the middle while still allowing plenty of side-by-side racing. The Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stock feature showcased those conditions, with Dan Scharpe leading the opening lap before a thrilling three-wide battle over the closing laps saw Cory Probst charge from 10th starting to score the victory. On lap two, Taylor Manderfield spun entering turn four and collected Patrick Schauer to bring out the caution. Jordan Robinson grabbed the lead on the restart while Cory Probst and Austin Jahnz quickly joined the battle. Jahnz briefly led at the halfway point before Robinson regained the advantage the following lap. With three laps remaining, the leaders raced three-wide down the backstretch as Probst powered to the outside of Robinson while Jahnz challenged on the inside. Probst completed the winning move and held on for the victory. The Brewster driver earned his seventh B&B Racing Chassis Northern Region victory of the season, with four coming [Read More]

Serbus Stays Perfect in Dan Grams Memorial at Arlington

By Grant Schroeder ARLINGTON, Minn. (July 11, 2026) — Ninety race teams braved warm temperatures Saturday night at Arlington Raceway, where Trevor Serbus continued his dominance of the Dan Grams Memorial by winning the RaceSaver IMCA Sprint Car feature for the sixth consecutive year. After qualifying for the Pole Shuffle through his heat race, Serbus worked his way to the No. 1 starting position by posting the quickest laps against each challenger. Come feature time, the Olivia driver continued that dominance, leading all 20 laps to capture his sixth straight Dan Grams Memorial victory. Serbus collected the $1,000 winner’s prize along with an additional $150 for winning the Pole Shuffle. Matt Johnson finished second, Bill Johnson charged from ninth to third, Hunter Hanson came home fourth, and Trevor Smith advanced from 11th to complete the top five. Mackenthun Holds Off Looft in Stock Car Thriller The Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars once again featured the night’s largest field with 19 entries. Ryan Grochow led the opening 10 laps before Curt Lund mounted a charge to the front [Read More]

Looft Has Successful Independence Day at Arlington

By Grant Schroeder ARLINGTON, Minn. (July 4, 2026) — Matthew Looft enjoyed a successful Independence Day at Arlington Raceway, charging from 12th to win the Sunoco IMCA Stock Car feature before rallying from fourth to capture the Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified main event. The Swea City, Iowa, driver earned his second EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region victory of the season in the Stock Cars and later added his second Razor Chassis North Central Region triumph of 2026 in the Modifieds. All four of those wins have come at Arlington Raceway. Josh Larsen paced the opening laps of the Stock Car feature with A.J. Zimmerman in tow. As Larsen and Zimmerman battled up front, Dan Mackenthun and Looft steadily worked the bottom groove from mid-pack. Mackenthun grabbed the lead on lap 11, but three laps later Looft completed his charge from 12th to the front and never looked back. Daniel Eckblad advanced nine positions from 11th to finish second, while Trent Loverude charged from 13th to third. Mackenthun settled for fourth, and Larsen completed the top five. [Read More]

Hatlestad Makes Late Move for Modified Victory

By Susan Allen ARLINGTON, Minn. (June 27, 2026) — Clint Hatlestad patiently stalked Dan Menk before making the winning move with two laps remaining in the Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified feature at Arlington Raceway on Saturday. Menk controlled most of the caution-free 15-lap race before lapped traffic allowed Hatlestad to capitalize in the closing circuits. The Glencoe driver earned his sixth Razor Chassis North Central Region victory of the season, with five of those wins coming at Arlington Raceway. Menk finished second, Matt Looft was third, Chad Porter crossed the line fourth and Jason Schroeder rounded out the top five. Speckman Wins Three-Leader Stock Car Battle Matt Speckman prevailed in a spirited Sunoco IMCA Stock Car feature that featured three different leaders. David Moriarty paced the opening lap before Shaun Bruns took over on lap two. Speckman charged from sixth starting position into the lead by lap four and held off repeated challenges the rest of the way. The Sleepy Eye driver collected his first EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region victory of the season. Matt Looft [Read More]

$5,000-to-Win Geib Well & Water Sibley County Stock Car Shootout Returns July 29

By Susan Allen ARLINGTON, Minn. (June 29, 2026) — One of the Upper Midwest’s premier Sunoco IMCA Stock Car specials returns to Arlington Raceway on Wednesday, July 29, as the Geib Well & Water Sibley County Stock Car Shootout presented by Justice Brothers highlights the annual Sibley County Fair. The marquee Sunoco IMCA Stock Car feature pays $5,000 to win and $200 to start, with more than $30,000 in prize money and contingency awards available throughout the evening. The Stock Car winner will also earn a guaranteed starting position in the 2026 B&B Racing Chassis All-Star Stock Car Invitational, held during the Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s in September at Boone Speedway. In addition to the posted purse, competitors will race for lap money throughout the Stock Car feature. Random draw awards, hard charger honors, tough luck awards, longest tow awards, and several additional contingency prizes will also be distributed. Defending Stock Car Shootout winner Dan Mackenthun of Hamburg returns after capturing his first Shootout victory in 2025. Mackenthun earned $6,825 for his [Read More]