The weekend is in the history books in Thief River Falls, as riders completed the final day of the USXC Seven Clans Casinos I-500. Christian Brothers Racing had their machines dialed in all the way to the finish, as Brian Dick (Cat) and Zach Herfindahl (Cat) battled for first and second.

In an exciting finish, Polaris’ veteran rider, Justin Tate, was able to capture the third place finish to add some color to an otherwise green podium. Saturday’s competition also featured vintage and junior riders tackling the tough Warren, MN loop, the most grueling of the three day race.

The top spot wasn’t a slam dunk for Brian Dick, even though he left with over a three minute advantage at 9:00 AM Saturday. Yamaha Pro Class riders went out according to their elapsed time gaps and Dick had teammate Herfindahl breathing down his snowflap all day.

At the first fuel stop in Warren, Herfindahl, who turns 18 tomorrow, had closed the gap to under a minute-and-a-half and Brian Dick knew it. “I knew Zach was close, within just over a minute at the first stop,” Dick said. “I just started to feel more and more comfortable on the sled as the day went on, but I didn’t like the second loop, it was pretty rough out there.”

The second run after the first gas stop had a lot of rock-hard drifts and very technical running and almost every rider said it was a test of their stamina. Several riders had offs on the final day and in the post-race staging area, there were several windshields and other sled parts that had seen better days.

On Snow Magazine Women’s champ, Jolene Bute (Cat), agreed with Dick’s assessment of the day’s second loop. “I finally just had to slow down a little and ride smarter so I could finish in one piece,” Bute said. After the dust settled, Dick crossed the finish line with about the same distance from Herfindahl that he left with at the start. The winner of the Pro Stock class walked away with a cool $10,000, courtesy of Seven Clans Casinos, along with additional factory and sponsor contingencies. The 2014 I-500 marks Brian Dick’s second win in the race, besting the field in the 2011 running.

Another hotly contested class today was the all-new Super Stock class, with riders facing off on EPA-compliant, 600cc showroom sleds. Sam Vandeputte (Doo) pulled ahead of Jon Arneson (Cat) on day two and was able to maintain his lead to net the $5,000 in prize money. Vandeputte’s teammate, Nick Roehl (Doo), worked hard for a second place finish. Another pro performance worth noting was the riding clinic put on by Benjamin Langaas (Cat), fast enough to grab the top finish in Semi Pro 600, Amsoil Semi Pro Improved, fourth in Speedwerx Pro Open and fifth in Yamaha Pro Stock!

The last few years, the I-500 has hosted vintage sleds on the final day and in 2014 over 30 riders on ‘70s machines took to the ditches. In the end a classic Polaris piloted by Michael Fugelberg toughed it out to earn top honors in the Fly Racing Vintage Class.

There were many great stories from this 2014 I-500 weekend, with one being the entry of seven Mattison family members in the vintage classes, piloting late ‘70s Arctic Cat cross country machines. Gerry Mattison grabbed the championship in the Arctic Cat Vintage Legends class. With a different kind of “vintage,” 64 year old Paul Dick (Cat) finished second in the Red Lake Outdoors Legends 50+ class aboard a 2014 Sno Pro. If the last name sounds familiar, it should, as Paul is the father of Pro Class winner Brian Dick.

Brian Dick won’t even get a chance to rest up, as Monday both he and Gabe Bunke (Pol) head for Alaska to compete in a race with an equally humbling reputation to the I-500: The Iron Dog. Dubbed the “World’s Toughest Snowmobile Race,” who would ever think the Seven Clans Casinos I-500 would serve as a training camp for a couple of USXC riders with already complete resumes?

For everyone else, the I-500 conversation always turns to “next year” and next year just took on a whole new dimension. USXC owner, Brian Nelson, took to the podium at tonight’s awards banquet to officially announce the 2015 Winnipeg to Willmar I-500. The return of a continuous route I-500 has been rumored and hinted about over the past year, but Nelson turned the rumors into reality, to the excitement of the packed banquet room. The race will follow a large chunk of the original Winnipeg to St. Paul course, heading towards Willmar, MN once riders reach Alexandria. Nelson himself is a two-time winner of the original I-500 aboard a John Deere in 1976 and an Arctic Cat in 1978.

For more information on the 2015 Winnipeg to Willmar I-500, visit www.usxcracing.com.

The Quebec City Carnival is one of the biggest winter carnivals and the CSRA Snowcross races got to kick off the 17 day event.

The races took place across the St. Lawrence River from the City at the Levis Quebec Conference Center directly behind the hotel. Mother nature was in our favour throughout the weekend with a brisk -5*C and no snow while the races were on.

The team arrived a day before the races to see what the Carnival was all about, taking the ferry across the high current/ice chunked river from Levis to Quebec City.

The whole city was decorated for the Carnival and had many cool attractions including an Ice Castle, Ice Slides, Snow Tubing, Human fooseball, & River Canoe Races just to name a few.

Jamie struggled in Saturdays Pro-Open races getting tangled with other races. In Moto 1, Jamie got a great start but got held up after 2 racers got together infront of him finishing 8th.

In Moto 2, a racer cut across through the air taking the skis out from under Jamie’s sled landing sideways and tossing him off the sled. Starting back row in the final, he had a tough start near the back, finishing 9th.

On Sunday the team made some clutching changes to the sled to help get out of the hole better with the soft heavy snow. Jamie was caught off guard on the Moto 1 start but was able to put it together for a 4th place finish.

In Moto 2, Jamie grabbed a great start running 2nd til making an error on the last lap putting him back to 5th. He rode a strong race in the final finishing 8th.

The team is looking forward to our next race as we return back to Ontario and race fairly close to home at the Lindsay Exhibition Fairgrounds in Lindsay, Ontario February 8-9.

Polaris snocross racers Corin Todd and Ryan Springer each won two finals and Blaine Stephenson won four finals on the legendary ice oval during the 51st Eagle River World Championship Snowmobile Derby, held Jan. 16-19 in Wisconsin’s Northwoods. Polaris snocross racers demonstrated total Terrain Domination by winning both Pro-class finals, both Pro Lite finals, and two more class titles.

In snocross racing at Eagle River, Leighton Motorsports racers dominated the Pro classes as teammates Corin Todd, Zak Mason and Trevor Leighton all finished in the top five in both finals. Corin Todd was a two-time champ, winning both the Pro Open World Championship (W.C.) and the Friday Night Thunder Pro Open final. Trevor Leighton finished second in the W.C. and fifth on Friday night, while Zak Mason was second on Friday and fourth in the W.C. James Johnstad (Judnick Motorsports) took third in the W.C. and fourth on Friday night, and Bobby LePage (Cottew Motorsports) was fifth in the W.C.

Polaris racers filled the podium after the two Pro Lite finals, both of which were won by Ryan Springer (Carlson Motorsports). He was followed in the weekend Pro Lite final by Cole Cottew (Cottew Motorsports) in second, Luke Wollenberg (2 Three 7 Motorsports) in third, Nickolas Lorenz (Lorenz Racing) in fourth, and Jake Geeseman (Geeseman Racing). Springer won the Friday Night Thunder Pro Lite final and Wollenberg took second and Geeseman finished third.

David Blunt (Team Blunt) won the Plus 30 final, leading a 1-2-3-4 Polaris finished that included Scot Adams (JTA Racing) in second, Brian Staab (Twisted Throttle Racing) in third, and Bob Heizman (Twisted Throttle Racing) in fourth. Blunt was also third in Pro-Am Plus 30.

Nickolas Lorenz won the Sport final and Cole Cottew took second as Polaris racers took seven of the top 10 spots.

Michael Gagliano (Team G Motorsports) was second in Plus 40; Jakki Farmer (Farmer Racing/Fort Fremont Racing) was second in the Women’s class; and Jordan Carlson (Upperacing) won the Novice final, followed by Devin Katzman (Eagle Disposal Racing) in second and Steve Walter (Walter’s Racing) in third.

Five Polaris-powered Pro Champ race sleds qualified for the 12-man World Championship. Joey Fjerstad (Joe Fjerstad 16x Racing) finished fifth, Brandon Johnson (Wahl Bros. Racing), Holt, MN, was sixth, Jordan Wahl (Wahl Bros. Racing), Greenbush, MN, was seventh, and Nick Van Strydonk (T&N Racing), Tomahawk, WI, finished eighth.

Van Strydonk etched his name deeper in Eagle River history at the end of the first segment of the championship when he picked up the tail of his sled and pushed the vehicle from turn three, through turn four and across the start-finish line. The sled had blown a belt, and rather than accept a tow and withdraw, he pushed it across the line to remain eligible to compete. The crowd cheered the 2012 Eagle River World Champion on as he struggled with the machine on the ice oval. He pushed it over the line and his crew changed belts so Nick could keep racing.

In TLR Cup points after Eagle River, Van Strydonk is in third, followed by Johnson, Jordan Wahl, Joey Fjerstad, and Dustin Wahl in fourth through seventh, respectively.
Blaine Stephenson Earns Four Eagle River Titles.

Blaine Stephenson (Stephenson Racing) of Hutchinson, MN, won four finals on World Championship weekend, including two Formula 500 finals (one held during Friday Night Thunder), Limited 600, and Limited 500.

Polaris racers finished 1-6 in the Formula 500 final during Friday Night Thunder, as Stephenson won and was followed by Brian Healey in second and Troy Schmitz in third. Eight of the top nine finishers in the Sunday Formula 500 final were on Polaris sleds, with the same three racers – Stephenson, Healey, and Schmitz, respectively – finishing 1-2-3.

AJ Lange earned a spot on the podium with his second-place finish in Limited 600. All eight finishers in the F-500 Sport final won by Tanner Lyberg were on Polaris sleds. Lyberg was joined on the podium by Tyler Lyberg in second and Billy DeVault in third. Polaris racers who won Junior class titles were: Danick Lambert, Sorel, Quebec, Junior F-500, 14-15; Brennen Sather, Detroit Lakes, MN, Junior F-500, 11-13; and Jacob Ricci, Wausau, WI, Junior Novice, 10-14.

Polaris is a recognized leader in the powersports industry with annual 2012 sales of $3.2 billion. Polaris designs, engineers, manufactures and markets innovative, high quality off-road vehicles, including all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and the Polaris RANGER® and RZR® side-by-side vehicles, snowmobiles, motorcycles and small vehicles. Polaris is among the global sales leaders for both snowmobiles and off-road vehicles and has established a presence in the heavyweight cruiser and touring motorcycle market with the Victory and Indian motorcycle brands. Additionally, Polaris continues to invest in the global on-road small vehicle industry with Global Electric Motorcars (GEM), Goupil Industrie SA, Aixam Mega S.A.S., and internally developed vehicles. Polaris enhances the riding experience with a complete line of Polaris and KLIM branded apparel and Polaris accessories and parts. Polaris Industries Inc. trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “PII”, and the Company is included in the S&P Mid-Cap 400 stock price index.

Information about the complete line of Polaris products, apparel and vehicle accessories are available from authorized Polaris dealers or anytime at www.polaris.com.

Polaris enduro racers Gabe Bunke and Aaron Christensen enhanced their place in snowmobile racing history on Saturday, Feb. 1, by winning their third straight Soo International 500 race on the famed Soo I-500 track in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. The victory was the third Soo win of Christensen’s career, and the fifth of Bunke’s career.

For the second straight year, the second-place team was made up of brothers and co-drivers Ryan Faust and Travis Faust driving a sled owned by Bunke Racing. The Fausts were joined by co-driver Spencer Kadlec, a fellow Polaris cross-country racer who in the 2013 Soo race was a co-driver on the winning Bunke Racing team. Finishing third to complete a Polaris podium sweep in the 2014 Soo I-500 was the sled campaigned by Beard Motor Sports with Michael Haynes as the lead driver.

The 2014 Soo I-500 was dominated by Polaris race sleds, as the race has been in recent years. Polaris race teams clamed six of the top 10 finishing positions, and 13 of the top 20 finishing spots.

The two Bunke Racing sleds were the only sleds to run all 500 laps, and the third-place Beard Motor Sports team had completed 499 laps when the checkered flag flew. The winning Bunke Racing team had posted the sixth-best qualifying speed, and the Faust brothers qualified ninth.

Bunke and Christensen are elite cross-country racers who compete in the Pro classes on the USXC circuit, as do the Faust brothers. Bunke has also raced snocross and ice LeMans in his career, and has competed in the Soo I-500 several times. Later this month he will run for the first time in the Iron Dog cross-country race across Alaska, where he will be a Pro class teammate of Scott Faeo.

In recent years, Bunke has begun to position himself for the next stage of his career, his post-driver years. He owns Bunke Racing, which campaigns cross-country and enduro sleds, and his son Taylor is among the drivers racing cross-country for the team. Working with the Polaris Racing staff, Gabe Bunke has been instrumental in recent years in the development of Polaris cross-country and enduro race sleds.

Yet the elder Bunke remains at the peak of his game as a driver. Along with winning a third-straight Soo I-500 and preparing for the Iron Dog, he is the current points leader in USXC Pro Open points, and is second in Pro Stock points.

Gabe Bunke previously was on the winning team at the Soo in 2005 (with co-drivers Josh Davis and Corey Davidson) and 2002 (with Mike Gentz, Jr.).

Along with a trophy, winner’s purse and place in history, this year’s winning drivers also won the honor of throwing out the ceremonial first pitch at a Detroit Tigers Major League Baseball game this spring. Bunke and Christensen are scheduled to throw out the first pitch on Saturday, April 5, when the Tigers host the Baltimore Orioles at Comerica Park in Detroit.

Listed here in order of finish are the Polaris race teams in the 2014 Soo I-500, with the primary driver listed.

1. Bunke Racing, Gabe Bunke
2. Bunke Racing, Ryan Faust
3. Beard Motor Sports, Michael Haynes
6. Yovich Racing, Brian Anderson
7. R&R Racing, Josh Ware
8. Kovar Racing, Dan Maki
11. Russell Racing, Shane Felegy
13. Team Applebees, Karl Schwartz
14. Hoos Racing, John Hoos
15. Team Blu Racing, Cardell Potter
16. Eckert Racing, Kyle Eckert
18. Team Diamond, Mitch Diamond
20. R&R Racing, Rich Spranger
22. Tommie Bauer Racing, Tyler Nickels
24. Team Traction, Greg May
25. Piche Racing, Larry Young
26. Gentz/Bouchard Racing, Chad Dyrdahl
30. Holeshot Motorsports, Billy Skea
32. Performance Dyno Racing, Jeramie Piippo
33. LMB Speed Shop, Eric Bouman
36. Felzke Farms, James Heiler
37. Mayer Racing, Anthony Mayer

Polaris is a recognized leader in the powersports industry with annual 2012 sales of $3.2 billion. Polaris designs, engineers, manufactures and markets innovative, high quality off-road vehicles, including all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and the Polaris RANGER® and RZR® side-by-side vehicles, snowmobiles, motorcycles and small vehicles. Polaris is among the global sales leaders for both snowmobiles and off-road vehicles and has established a presence in the heavyweight cruiser and touring motorcycle market with the Victory and Indian motorcycle brands. Additionally, Polaris continues to invest in the global on-road small vehicle industry with Global Electric Motorcars (GEM), Goupil Industrie SA, Aixam Mega S.A.S., and internally developed vehicles. Polaris enhances the riding experience with a complete line of Polaris and KLIM branded apparel and Polaris accessories and parts. Polaris Industries Inc. trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “PII”, and the Company is included in the S&P Mid-Cap 400 stock price index.

Information about the complete line of Polaris products, apparel and vehicle accessories are available from authorized Polaris dealers or anytime at www.polaris.com.

Last winter, almost 11,000 Ontarians tested OFSC snowmobile trails with a no cost Try Our Trails Permit affixed to their sleds. The promotion was so successful that the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs is inviting first timers, newbies and former snowmobilers to do it all over again in 2014. Regular permit buyers are also invited to bring their families and friends along for a ride at no charge.

Yes, in cooperation with the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario (MTO), the OFSC is celebrating Ontario’s only mid-winter statutory holiday long weekend with the return of the 2014 no cost “Try Our Trails” Permit to encourage more people to get outdoors and enjoy winter by going snowmobiling on OFSC trails. This permit is available without payment from those who pre-register online and is valid only from 12:01 AM Saturday, February 15 until 11:59 PM on Monday, February 17, 2014. Permit registrations start online at 12:01 AM on Saturday, February 1.

“As part of our Go Snowmobiling Ontario Campaign, the 2014 no cost Try Our Trails Permit is our invitation to Ontarians to give us a try this winter at no charge for a permit,” said OFSC President Brenda Welsh. “For Ontario’s Snowmobiling Family Day Long Weekend, we want to show new participants what we have to offer, to introduce them to our trails, clubs and volunteers, and to provide them with a truly enjoyable and memorable winter adventure.”

The 2014 no cost Try Our Trails Permit is available only by pre-registering online at www.ofsc.on.ca and printing out a permit good for Ontario’s Snowmobiling Family Day Long Weekend only. There is no charge for either the 2014 Try Our Trails Permit or the registration process, but to access OFSC trails, a printed permit must be affixed to the sled to which it is assigned in accordance with Ontario law.

Any sled on OFSC trails without a permit on Ontario’s Snowmobiling Family Day Long Weekend is illegal and the operator can be subject to a fine of up to $1,000. Riders must also carry a valid driver’s licence or Snow Vehicle Operator’s Licence, sled registration, proof of insurance, and follow all the rules and assumptions for safe OFSC trail riding.

Across Ontario, OFSC clubs are welcoming Try Our Trails participants to join the fun at numerous club events and activities being specially organized for Ontario’s Snowmobiling Family Day Long Weekend. So family and friends can have more enjoyable snow days, a complete list of events and activities is available at www.ofsc.on.ca.

With 213 community based clubs and over 150,000 family members, the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs is a volunteer led not-for-profit association, which through strong leadership, provides a wide range of quality programs and services to, and on behalf of, its member organizations. Our 30,000+ kilometre provincial network of organized snowmobile trails connects Ontario communities, providing responsible riding experiences that are safe, enjoyable, and environmentally sustainable.

Monster Energy/Arctic Cat’s Tucker Hibbert rode with the determination of a true champion at the ISOC National Snocross Deadwood Shootout in southwestern South Dakota.

From a caution zone disqualification Friday, to a show-stopping rally from the back of the pack Saturday, Hibbert persevered to maintain his points lead in the coveted Pro Open Championship.

The Days of ’76 Rodeo grounds featured a sub 30-second track with a mix of man-made and natural snow. The short, tight course caused uncomfortably close racing. Despite winning all his qualifying rounds and putting on impressive comeback rides both main events, Hibbert’s final results were polar opposite.

After ripping the holeshot in Friday night’s final, Hibbert was pushed off the track in turn two. He quickly regained his composure, reentered the course and started his drive to the front of the 14-rider field.

On lap 20 of 22, he moved into podium position and striking distance of the lead. The following lap, he clipped a down rider’s sled on the front rhythm section and crashed. He quickly remounted to finish in sixth place.

After the race, he learned he was disqualified for jumping through a caution zone and would receive no points for his finish. Unaware of his actions, he reviewed video footage of the infraction with officials and accepted his penalty.

In Saturday night’s final, he lined up on the inside and again pulled the holeshot but quickly found himself on the ground after Kody Kamm delivered a hard hit.

Uninjured, Hibbert ran back to his sled while 13 riders flew past him. He put his head down and diced his way around riders with unparalleled determination, bringing the entire crowd to its feet.

On lap 17 of 22, he laid down the fastest lap of the night and cut the final three seconds off of Tim Tremblay’s once 13-second lead. Hibbert and Tremblay hit the finish line jump side-by-side on lap 19 and with the inside line, Hibbert had the pull he needed to make the pass. With a clean lead, Hibbert kept charging to win the race by over four seconds.

Hibbert will take his 50-point lead to rounds nine and ten of the ISOC National Snocross tour in Salamanca, New York this weekend. Watch all the action live online at ustream.com/isoc.

“This weekend was a crazy mix of emotions for me.” said Hibbert. “I had one of my worst races Friday night and then one of my best Saturday night. The tight track made for intense racing and I was not super comfortable all weekend. I’m not a big fan of small tracks and happy to get through the weekend safe and ready for the second half of the season. I wanted to win more than ever Saturday night after being taken out of the lead in the second corner of both finals. I got up and going as fast as I could. I started charging and gauging my progress off the race leader. I rode as hard as I could within my limits and never let up until I had cleared the finish line with the win. Big thanks to my team for sticking with me and staying focused through the wild weekend.”

Resources: tucker-hibbert.com