Record attendance for AMSOIL Championship Snocross @ Seneca Allegany Casino & Hotel’s U.S. Air Force National!
Again it’s Tucker Hibbert (Pro Open) and Ryan Springer (Pro Lite) who dazzled the standing room only crowd with spectacular pro class victories on Saturday
Contact: Pat Schutte
PR Director, ISOC Racing
patschutte@aysling.com
SALAMANCA, N.Y. (Feb. 7, 2015) – Round 10 of AMSOIL Championship Snocross, powered by Ram, played in front of a record crowd at New York’s famous Seneca Allegany Casino and Hotel on Saturday. And just like on Friday the Seneca Allegany United States Air Force National pro classes were captured by Tucker Hibbert (Monster/Arctic Cat/Ram) with the premier Pro Open win and Ryan Springer (Carlson Motorsports/Polaris) nailing the support Pro Lite victory.
Pro Open
Tucker Hibbert left no doubt as to was running the fastest at Seneca Allegany, racing his sled into the top five off the start and biding his time before passing main event leader Ross Martin (Judnick Motorsports/Polaris) midway through the contest and winning by four seconds over his longtime Pro Open class rival.
Unlike Friday, where he pulled the Stud Boy Holeshot, Hibbert would secede Saturday’s holeshot to Martin, coming out in a conservative 5th place position off the start.
“I was actually happy not to get the holeshot,” admitted Hibbert, who recorded his 102nd career win tonight. “I tried not to get caught up in the chaos of the first lap.”
Martin, who placed 2nd on Friday to Hibbert, was on a wing early. Hucking a massive triple jump just after the AMSOIL Finish Line landing, Martin would gap the rest of the pack with his aerial bravado. But as Hibbert saw it, Martin’s strategy wouldn’t last – and it didn’t.
“There was guys doing some big jumps out there that I just wasn’t comfortable doing,” explained Hibbert. “I could see Ross doing that big triple behind the start jump. I knew he’d only do it for the first few laps. So I was patient, stayed focused and was able to get around him for the win.”
Hibbert would catch Martin on lap eight, passing him on the infield “S” turn. And before you could say massive points lead, Hibbert had three seconds on Martin with just a few lap remaining.
Back behind the two leaders a great battle was brewing late in the contest between 3rd place Logan Christian (Christian Brothers/Arctic Cat) and former Pro Open champ Tim Tremblay (AMSOIL/Scheuring/Ski-Doo).
On lap 12 Tremblay would take 3rd from Christian with a powerful move off a double jump into a corner, then railed ahead for the lead. Christian wouldn’t give in that easy, though, and stuck with Tremblay for the next lap. But in the end Tremblay would separate for a hard fought 3rd while Christian captured 4th and Adam Renheim (Boss Racing/Ski-Doo) got 5th.
Salamanca Saturday Pro Open Results
1 – Tucker Hibbert, Pelican Rapids, MN, Arctic Cat
2 – Ross Martin, Burlington, WI, Polaris
3 – Tim Tremblay, Ste Jeanne D’Arc, Quebec, Ski-Doo
4 – Logan Christian, Fertile, MN, Arctic Cat
5 – Adam Renheim, Sweden, Ski-Doo
6 – Justin Broberg, Mukwonago, WI, Polaris
7 – Kyle Pallin, Ironwood, MI, Polaris
8 – Justin Broberg, Mukwonago, WI, Polaris
9 – David Joanis, Canada, Arctic Cat
10 – Darrin Mees, Stanchfield, MN, Ski-Doo
Overall Pro Open Points (10 of 16 rounds)
1 – Tucker Hibbert, 426
2 – Tim Tremblay, 340
3 – Ross Martin, 329
4 – Kyle Pallin, 328
5 – Logan Christian, 318
Pro Lite
Ryan Springer completed the sweep of the Seneca Allegany United States Air Force National, taking the lead in Saturday’s Pro Lite main event on the second corner, running it clean and fast through the checkers while pretty much racing unchallenged to his third-straight main event win.
“My goal to start the season at Duluth was to just get in the front row in the finals. But once I was able to do that, and win at Duluth, it gave me a lot of confidence,” said Springer, who took over the Pro Lite point lead from Trevor Leighton (Leighton Motorsports/Polaris) with the win. “I just put in the hard work and I’m happy to be up here again.”
Grabbing the Stud Boy Holeshot, Andrew Carlson (Carlson Motorsports/Polaris) took a brief lead over the rest of the field, but Springer caught and passed Carlson at the end of the long sweeper first turn by taking the outside line.
“Off the start I told myself I am NOT letting up to the guy next to me,” added Springer. “I got through the whoops, felt good and took the win.”
With Springer up front James Johnstad (Judnick Motorsports/Polaris), who was poised to podium on Friday night but got tangled with Max Taillefer (Taillefer Motorsports/Ski-Doo), was on a mission Saturday at Salamanca. With a much better start Johnstad was up into 2nd place by lap two, then broke away from the pack – with Springer – and ran a solid race for 2nd place.
“I made quite a few mistakes, but Ryan rode a good clean race,” said Johnstad. “I knew Elias (Ishoel) was coming on there at the end, but we gave it a good run and I’m happy with 2nd.”
Starting mid-pack, 16-year-old Norwegian Elias Ishoel (Warnert Racing/Ski-Doo) charged through the pack and got past Carlson into podium position by lap seven (of 10). Ishoel then set his site on Johnstad, but just plain ran out of time when Johnstad held him off by a half sled length at the checkers.
Rounding out the top five were Carlson in 4th and Taillefer in 5th.
Salamanca Saturday Pro Lite Results
1 – Ryan Springer, St. Francis, MN, Polaris
2 – James Johnstad, Beltrami, MN, Polaris
3 – Elias Ishoel, Norway, Ski-Doo
4 – Andrew Carlson, Big Lake, MN, Polaris
5 – Corey Watkinson, Canada, Arctic Cat
6 – Max Taillefer, Quebec, Ski-Doo
7 – Trevor Leighton, Eagle, ID, Polaris
8 – Travis Muller, Windom, MN, Polaris
9 – Michael George, Pine Plains, NY, Ski-Doo
10 – Marcus Johansson, Sweden, Ski-Doo
Overall Pro Lite Points (10 of 16 rounds)
1 – Ryan Springer, 346
2 – Trevor Leighton, 342
3 – Elias Ishoel, 330
4 – Andrew Carlson, 328
5 – Travis Muller, 320
The AMSOIL Championship Snocross, powered by Ram, tour moves to its inaugural event in Chicago – the Feb. 20-21 Hollywood Casino Snocross National at Route 66 Raceway.
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 17 one-hour programs of the ACS races.
2014-15 AMSOIL Championship Snocross, powered by Ram, season schedule:
Duluth, Minn.: Nov. 28-30
Fargo, N.D.: Dec. 12-13
Shakopee, Minn.: Jan. 9-10
Deadwood, S.D.: Jan. 30-31
Salamanca, N.Y.: Feb. 6-7
Chicago, Ill.: Feb. 20-21
Mount Pleasant, Mich.: Feb. 27-28
Lake Geneva, Wis.: March 13-15
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 www.isocracing.com for more information, fan and racer memberships, schedule details and more