GLYNDON, Minn. (March 7, 2014) – Powered by a massive start and the night’s best lap time – a flat out hauling 41.0 seconds – hometown hero Tucker Hibbert (Monster Energy/Arctic Cat) captured top honors in the premier Pro Open class at the U.S. Air Force Snocross at Buffalo River Race Park (BRRP).

And in Pro Lite racing Corin Todd (Leighton Motorsports/Polaris) not only won Friday’s main event, he also took over the series point lead from Andrew Carlson.

Pro Open

Qualifying in 1st place and scoring the No. 1 gate pick, Hibbert started in the middle of the front row – selecting the shortest distance to the Stud Boy Holeshot line. A risky move given the proximity of the rest of the field on the season’s longest and fastest start to date, Hibbert was quick off the draw and his Arctic Cat sled responded – launching him out to an early lead that he’d never give up.

“It was a good race for sure,” said Hibbert to the cheers of the locals. “The track was different, different than it’s been in the past. But it’s fun to change it up, like we’ve been doing each week. I’m pumped to do well here so close to home, and looking forward to sleeping in my own bed tonight.”

The sentimental favorite at BRRP tonight had to be Ross Martin (DuPont/Jack Links/Polaris). The Wisconsin-based racer had been on the sidelines for the last several races with an injured shoulder, but rallied back to qualify in 4th place and raced even better in the finals – 2nd behind Hibbert.
“Second place tonight feels like a win right now,” said Martin. “There’s always a little doubt, but it feels great to be up here and I’m looking forward to racing at Lake Geneva (Wis.) next weekend.”

With Hibbert up front early thanks to a couple blistering laps (2 & 3), Arctic Cat’s Cody Thomsen and LaVallee Racing/Polaris’ Kyle Pallin put on an excellent show for the third and final podium spot early – a battle eventually won by Thomsen, who’d hold on to the third and final podium spot.

As Hibbert and Martin continued to break away from the rest of the pack (Hibbert up nine seconds on Martin, Martin up 3.5 seconds on Thomsen), Christian Brothers Racing/Arctic Cat’s Logan Christian came barreling in to challenge Pallin. Another hometown racer, Christian (4th), would race to 4th place at the checkers while teammate David Joanis (Royal Distributing/Arctic Cat) rounded out tonight’s Pro Open top five.

Fargo Friday Pro Open results

1 Tucker Hibbert
Monster Energy/Arctic Cat
68 Arctic Cat
Pelican Rapids, MN

2 Ross Martin
Judnick Motorsports
837 Polaris
Burlington, WI

3 Cody Thomsen
Arctic Cat
62 Arctic Cat
Nisswa, MN

4 Logan Christian
Christian Brothers Racing / Drift
43 Arctic Cat
Fertile, MN

5 David Joanis
ROYAL DISTRIBUTING
115 Arctic Cat
Cochrane (Kok rane), Ontario

6 Kody Kamm
Hentges Racing
53 Polaris
Kenosha, WI

7 Petter Narsa
Team Jimmy John’s/Ski-doo/BossRacing
271 Ski-Doo
Moskosel,

8 Kyle Pallin
Team LaVallee
324 Polaris
Ironwood, MI

9 Lincoln Lemieux
Amsoil/Air Force/Rockstar
13 Ski-Doo
St. Johnsbury, VT

10 Levi LaVallee
Team LaVallee
108 Polaris
Longville, MN

11 Jake Scott
Team LaVallee
42 Polaris
Port Jefferson Station, NY

12 Darrin Mees
BossRacing
9 Ski-Doo
stanchfield, MN

13 Mike Bauer
Jess Racing
717 Arctic Cat
medford, WI

14 Justin Broberg
Hentges Racing
168 Polaris
Mukwonago, WI

15 Bobby LePage
Cottew Motorsports
244 Polaris
Duluth, MN

Pro Lite

Wrestling the lead from holeshot winner James Johnstad (Judnick Motorsports/Polaris) on the opening lap, Corin Todd would click off a Pro Open-worthy 42.9-second lap (on lap two) and opened up a lead he’d never relinquish.

“You get a 2nd or 3rd place start, put yourself in good position because I knew I had to make my move early,” said Todd. “It’s easier that way, at the start of the race, because we’re all grouped close together.”

With the win Todd overcame an eight-point deficit heading into tonight’s Pro Lite final to Andrew Carlson (Carlson Motorsports/Polaris) – and now leads Carlson by one point in the overall class chase, 473-472.

Qualifying 1st and placing 2nd in tonight’s Pro Lite final was Team LaVallee/Polaris’ Andrew Lieders. Lieders rode a solid race, keeping pace with Todd – but unable to mount any sort of serious chase on the 1st place position in the 11-lap contest.

Added Lieders: “Corin was just on it, gapped us on the second lap.”

Johnstad would remain up front, about equal distance back for Lieders (that Lieders was to Todd, roughly two seconds). And passing Carlson late in the contest for 4th place – and thus insuring the point lead for Todd – was 2nd place qualifier John Stenberg (Team Bauerly/Ski-Doo). Carlson would round out the top five.

Fargo Friday Pro Lite results

1 Corin Todd
Leighton Motorsports
136 Polaris
Otego, NY

2 Andrew Lieders
Team LaVallee
857 Polaris
Colby, WI

3 James Johnstad
Judnick Motorsports
154 Polaris
Beltrami, MN

4 John Stenberg
Team Bauerly Racing
259 Ski-Doo
Lofsdalen, Sweden

5 Andrew Carlson
CARLSON MOTORSPORTS
151 Polaris
Big Lake, MN

6 Trevor Leighton
Leighton Motorsports
931 Polaris
Eagle, ID

7 Dylan Hall
Royal / Hall Racing
421 Ski-Doo
Ayr, Ontario

8 Korbyn Anderson
Team Anderson Racing
179 Ski-Doo
Allenton, MI

9 Kevin Wallenstein
Ingles Performance
122 Ski-Doo
Cadillac, MI

10 Corey Watkinson
Watkinson Motorsports, Arctic Cat
173 Arctic Cat
Port Carling, Ontario

11 Spencer Cowing
Cowing Brothers Racing
181 Ski-Doo
Wyoming, MN

12 Zak Mason
LEIGHTON MOTORSPORTS
863 Polaris
Gaylord, MI

13 Nick Pattyn
Stud Boy Racing
198 Ski-Doo
Ravenna, MI

14 Matt Pichner
HAALA Racing
193 Arctic Cat
Owatonna, MN

15 Chase Rosemeyer
Team Bauerly Racing
675 Ski-Doo
Chippewa Falls, WI

AMSOIL Championship Snocross, powered by Ram, continues on Saturday night at Buffalo River Race Park (Glyndon, Minn.) with the U.S. Air Force Snocross.

2013-’14 AMSOIL Championship Snocross, powered by Ram

Round/Date City/State

1 – Nov. 29-Dec. 1 Duluth, Minnesota
2 – Dec. 6-7 Bessemer, Michigan
3 – Jan. 3-5 Shakopee, Minnesota
4 – Jan. 31-Feb.1 Deadwood, South Dakota
5 – Feb. 7-8 Salamanca, New York
6 – Feb. 21-22 Mt. Pleasant, Mich.
7 – March 7-8 Fargo, N.D.
8 – March 14-16 Lake Geneva, Wisconsin

Beginning with AMSOIL Championship Snocross’ season-opening round in Duluth, Minn. and running through the season finale in Lake Geneva, Wis. CBS Sports Network will air 16 half-hour programs of the ACS races.

Photos courtesy of Lissa Marsolek/ISOC

About ISOC Racing

The International Series of Champions (ISOC) is the premier snowmobile race sanctioning organization in North America and sanctions national AMSOIL Championship Snocross, in addition to affiliating with nine regional circuits. Visit snocross.com for more information, fan and racer memberships, schedule details and more.