MEDINA, Minn. (Jan. 24, 2014) – 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.
Corin Todd, Ryan Spring Sweep in Snocross Finals
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 Sleds With Polaris Engines in Championship Field
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.
