Exquisite Short Track Racing at Elko: Previewing the Menards 250 at Elko Speedway

After a tense last couple of laps, and some strong words exchanged post-race at Berlin Raceway, the ARCA Menards Series travels from one short track to another. This weekend, the series travels to the three-eighths-mile oval of Elko Speedway in Minnesota.

Elko has been a staple for short track racing in the north and has been part of the ARCA Series since 2007 – dating back to the K&N Series days. Sean Cassie took the win at the series’ first race at the track. Other winners include Brennan Poole, Frank Kimmel, Grant Enfinger, Austin Theriault, Gus Dean, Chandler Smith, Corey Heim, and last year’s winner Sammy Smith.

Short Track, Bumper Bangin’ Continues

Last weekend’s race brings some tension on track for the drivers. Berlin Winner William Sawalich returns behind the wheel of the No. 18 for Joe Gibbs Racing. The 16-year-old will possibly have a target on his back from the Venturini Motorsports camp. 

After getting bumped out of the lead with two laps to go, current ARCA Menards points leader Jesse Love seemed to be set for revenge and expressed his displeasure with the driver of the 18-car. “I’ve been raced by the No. 18 really dirty in a lot of different races throughout my ARCA career, so I’m going to ballpark him every chance I get,” the Menlo Park, CA native said after the Berlin race. 

Joining Love in the Venturini Motorsports stable for Saturday is Toni Breidinger, who will drive the No. 55 Toyota Camry.

Coming off of a top-five finish, her first in the series, the Hillsborough, California-native will pull double-duty this weekend, competing in Friday’s NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series event for TRICON Garage before traveling to Saturday’s ARCA Menards Series event.

Sean Hingorani (No. 15) and Conner Jones (No. 25) will also join Love and Breidinger as part of a four-car lineup for Venturini Motorsports at Elko.

Returning to the series for the first time since Daytona is fan favorite driver Willie Mullins. He and his team Mullins Racing are joining forces with Fast Track Racing to field the No. 10 Ford with a great paint scheme. Mullins and the team are running a throwback to his father-in-law, Dutch VanWyngeeren, who raced local dirt tracks in southern Minnesota and Iowa.

Not our normal colors for @elkospeedway
Excited to be running a throw back to my Father in Laws dirt car this weekend. https://t.co/c9qOuVr7o5

— Mullins Racing (@mullins_racing) June 19, 2023

Joining the field in making their first career ARCA Menards Series starts are Jalen Mack and Davey Callihan. Mack will be behind the wheel of the No. 43 Chevrolet for Tamayo-Cosentino Racing, a second entry for the team, while Callihan gets behind the wheel of the No. 01, in a collaboration with Mullins Racing and Fast Track Racing.

Other entries include Andres Perez de Lara, Bryce Haugeberg, Ryan Roulette, Tony Cosentino, and Jon Garrett

Official Entry List for the Menards 250 at Elko Speedway:

You can watch the Menards 250 from Elko Speedway Saturday night, live on FS2 and FloRacing at 9 P.M. ET/8 P.M. CT.