Elko Speedway — ARCA Menards Series & Short-Track Racing, Elko New Market, Minnesota
Elko Speedway is a 3/8 mile paved oval in Elko New Market, Scott County, Minnesota, approximately 30 minutes south of Minneapolis. It is one of the premier short tracks in the Upper Midwest and hosts an ARCA Menards Series event on the 2026 schedule, making it one of the few weekly racing venues in the region with a national-touring-series date.
Track Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Name | Elko Speedway |
| Location | Elko New Market, MN (Scott County, south of Minneapolis) |
| Surface | Paved (asphalt) |
| Length | 3/8 mile oval |
| Banking | 12 degrees |
| Primary Classes | Late Models, Super Late Models, weekly support classes |
| National Series | ARCA Menards Series (2026 schedule confirmed) |
| Season | May – September |
2026 ARCA Menards Series at Elko
Elko Speedway is confirmed on the 2026 ARCA Menards Series schedule with a June date. The ARCA Menards Series is the highest-level national touring series that regularly visits short tracks — it serves as a development series for NASCAR and has produced Cup Series champions including Chase Elliott and Chris Buescher.
For bettors, ARCA events at short tracks like Elko present specific opportunities. The field is a mix of full-time ARCA competitors and regional short-track specialists who enter one-off events at their home track. Local knowledge of the track surface, preferred line, and setup is a genuine advantage that doesn’t show in national series statistics. Drivers from the Upper Midwest short-track scene who run weekly at Elko or similar venues can outperform their series standing suggests.
ARCA Betting Markets
ARCA Menards Series betting is available on DraftKings and FanDuel for race day markets. Coverage varies by event — larger ARCA events at superspeedways and road courses attract deeper markets, while short-track dates like Elko may have thinner coverage. Check operator availability on race week.
Key ARCA betting considerations at short tracks:
| Factor | Impact at Elko |
|---|---|
| Track experience | Local Late Model regulars who enter the ARCA event have hundreds of laps at Elko. Full-time ARCA drivers may have limited or zero experience on the track. This experience gap is larger at 3/8 mile tracks than at bigger ovals. |
| Equipment parity | ARCA fields include well-funded teams (Venturini Motorsports, Rev Racing) and underfunded entries running on tight budgets. The gap in equipment quality is wider than NASCAR Cup or Xfinity. Back well-funded entries unless a local driver has a dominant weekly record. |
| Caution frequency | Short-track ARCA races produce more cautions per lap than superspeedway or road course events. Each caution resets track position advantages built through pit strategy. Late restarts favour aggressive short-track racers. |
| Race length | ARCA short-track features are typically 100–200 laps. At 3/8 mile, that’s 37–75 miles — short enough that tyre degradation is minimal. The race is won on raw speed and restarts, not strategy. |
Weekly Racing at Elko
Outside the ARCA event, Elko runs a full weekly schedule of Late Model, Super Late Model, and supporting class racing. The Super Late Model division at Elko is particularly competitive — the Upper Midwest Super Late Model scene is one of the strongest regional touring-car circuits in America, producing drivers who regularly compete in ARCA, ICTC, and occasionally NASCAR national series.
Elko’s 3/8 mile paved configuration rewards a specific driving style — momentum-based, smooth entries, and late apex corners that use the 12-degree banking to carry speed off the turns. Drivers who have developed their craft at Elko carry that technique into regional and national competition.
The Minneapolis Short-Track Scene
Elko Speedway anchors the Minneapolis-area short-track racing scene. The Twin Cities metropolitan area supports multiple racing venues, but Elko is the most prominent for paved oval racing. Its ARCA date gives the track national visibility that complements the strong regional weekly program.
For fans of Upper Midwest short-track racing, Elko connects to the broader Wisconsin and Minnesota circuit that includes Thunder Hill (The Hill Raceway) in Sturgeon Bay, Luxemburg Speedway (Luxy Raceway) near Green Bay, and Madison International Speedway in Oregon, Wisconsin — which also hosts ARCA events.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you bet on ARCA races at Elko Speedway?
Yes. ARCA Menards Series race-day betting markets are available on DraftKings and FanDuel. Coverage depends on the specific event — check operator availability during race week. Weekly local racing at Elko does not have betting markets.
When is the 2026 ARCA race at Elko?
The 2026 ARCA Menards Series event at Elko Speedway is scheduled for June. Check the official ARCA schedule for the confirmed date.
How does Elko compare to other ARCA tracks?
At 3/8 mile, Elko is one of the smallest tracks on the ARCA schedule. This creates tighter racing, more cautions, and a larger advantage for local drivers with track experience. The racing product is very different from ARCA superspeedway events like Daytona or Talladega.
Related Pages
See our full Speedway & Short-Track Oval Betting Guide for ARCA, FIM SGP, and Midwest short-track coverage. For the other major ARCA event at a Wisconsin short track, see Madison International Speedway.