Jake Bollman Takes On the Dirt at Springfield

Jake Bollman continued his fight for the 2026 ARCA Menards Series championship Sunday at the Illinois State Fairgrounds, overcoming a 10th-place starting position to finish sixth in the Calypso 100 at the historic Springfield Mile.

The Illinois State Fairgrounds presented a completely different challenge for Bollman and the No. 20 Nitro Motorsports Toyota, as the ARCA Menards Series made its first visit to dirt in 2026. The one-mile Springfield Mile is one of the most unique tracks on the schedule, requiring drivers to adapt quickly to a constantly changing surface and find grip while racing in a tight, competitive pack.

After qualifying 10th, Bollman faced an uphill battle from the start. The Nitro Motorsports team continued working throughout the race to improve the No. 20 Toyota, and Bollman methodically worked his way forward as the laps clicked away.

As the race progressed, Bollman steadily climbed through the field and eventually found himself battling inside the top three. The No. 20 Toyota showed the speed and balance needed to compete near the front, putting Bollman in position to challenge for a podium finish as the race entered its closing stages. A late restart, however, changed the complexion of the race.

With the field bunched back together, Bollman was shuffled out of the top three and lost several positions in the closing laps. Despite the setback, he continued fighting and brought the No. 20 Toyota home in sixth place.

The result marked another top-10 finish for Bollman and, perhaps more importantly, allowed him to maintain his position atop the ARCA Menards Series championship standings. Following the race, the points gap between Bollman and his closest championship challenger tightened to just four points with five races remaining in the season.

While sixth wasn't the result Bollman and Nitro Motorsports were looking for after working their way into the top three, the performance was another example of the team's ability to adapt to a completely different racing environment. The Springfield Mile marked Jake's first career race of any kind on dirt, making the ability to climb from 10th to the front of the field particularly significant.

The race also provided valuable experience for Bollman as he continues to compete for his first ARCA Menards Series victory. Coming into Springfield, he had already recorded nine top-10 finishes in his first 14 starts of the season, establishing the consistency that has kept him at the top of the championship standings.

Despite being shuffled back late, Bollman and the No. 20 team leave Springfield with another important points day and the championship lead still in their hands. With five races remaining, the championship battle is tightening, making every position increasingly important as the season heads toward its conclusion.

Bollman will now turn his attention to the remaining races on the ARCA Menards Series schedule, looking to turn the consistency that has carried him through the season into the first series victory of his career.