5/13/2024
Arlington Raceway
Great Night for 44th Season Opener
The 44th season opener at the Arlington Raceway brought out many race teams and fans in the stands that enjoyed seeing some great racing action and many new firsts at the track. Sixteen year old birthday boy Garett Uecker from Hutchinson had a great birthday winning his first feature ever in the eXmark Outlaw class by taking the lead on the first lap after two yellow flags on the start and then the cars were forced to line up single file. Uecker also won his heat race which gave his a clean sweep for the night. The rest of the distance Uecker found his groove and quickly let the rest of the field to win the race. Rod Manthey starting beside Uecker in the 3rd row followed his to the checkers with Mark Oestreich taking 3rd. Uecker was a triple winner also winning the Hess Technology Best Appearing Car Contest in the class.
Newcomer Brian Hartmann from Fairmont led the entire Coors Light IMCA Sport Compact to win his first feature. Starting up front and holding off both Neil Forsberg and Justin Dose he seemed to glide around the smooth track. In heat race action Bubba Brown put an abrupt stop to the race when his car started on fire coming out of turn 2. The safety team extinguished the fire quickly but he was out of contention the rest of the night. Dale Gattton won the Best Appearing Car Contest and the wrapped helmet from Hess Technology.
The Jack Pines Resort IMCA Hobby feature saw Blake Luinenburg take the lead on the 2nd lap from Ben Davis and not looking back as he led the rest of the race to win not only the feature but his heat as well. Cory Probst started 6h and moved his machine up to 2nd as he battled with Brad Becker the distance and that is how they finished. Nick McConnell from Henderson won the Hess Technology Best Appearing Car Contest.
Matt Looft from Swea City Iowa was able to pick up the win in the Arlington State Bank IMCA Sport Modified feature despite an injury earlier in the day. The 23m of Matt Speiss began the race leading from his pole position start but left the track on the 6th lap. Looft capitalized on this and gained the lead passing 6 cars to take over the race. Eric Bassett, starting in 10th place was contending with Looft but fell back a spot when Eric Larson got around him; he wasn’t able to pass Looft though and settled for 2nd ahead of Bassett. The Hess Technology Best Appearing Car winner went to Matt Speiss of Jefferson Mo.
Picking up his first ever season opener win, Brett Allen from Gaylord led the race from start to finish in the Rice Companies IMCA RaceSaver feature. Early in the race the #30 recorded fast time but Allen was fast and a half a lap ahead of Johnson. With only two laps to go a yellow flag was thrown for Zach Glaser who had spun in turn #4. On the restart, Allen once again took off but behind him there was a battle going on between the father son duo of Bill & Matt Johnson. Coming around for the white flag, Bill got around Matt and then tried to gain on Brett but he settled for taking 2nd ahead of son Matt. Brett also won the Hess Technology Best Appearing Car Contest in the class.
Twenty six signed in for the night in the B&B Racing Chassis IMCA Stock car class. The race put fans on the edge of their seats as the battle for the top 5 spots was phenomenal. Dan Mackenthun started in the 2nd row with Jeff Larson behind him and were both side by side for several laps. A yellow was thrown for Steve Rustman when his engine expired going into turn #2 on the second lap. On the restart, Matt Looft piloting the 99L car dug down and traded spots with Shaun Bruns for the 2nd spot but soon him and Larson were battling each other. By lap 14 Larson had a solid 2nd and was trying to work the outside of Mackenthun every lap but Mackenthun held on for the win. Larson took 2nd and Jim Horejsi took third making a last lap pass ahead of Looft. Brent Uecker won the Hess Technology Best Appearing Car Contest in this class.
Brandon Beckendorf had his car set up in the Ottomotive Tire & Repair IMCA Modified feature as he was able to gain the lead by the half way point from Clint Hatlestad and led the remaining laps to win the race. Todd Stinehart who started in 5th place took 3rd behind Hatlestad. Jason Schroeder won the Hess Technology Best Appearing Car Contest.
Submitted By: Susan Allen
