After nearly a one-month recess for the holidays, it’s officially time to go racing again. The 2024 AMSOIL Championship Snocross title chase continues with the “Daytona of Snocross”. The illustrious event is held at Canterbury Park in Shakopee, MN. The popular fan destination is best known for it’s NASCAR or Supercross-like atmosphere thanks to the bright lights, rich history, and historically big fan turnouts.
Fun fact: Snowmobile Hall of Famer and founder ISOC Racing, John Daniels is the visionary behind snowmobile racinn on the 1 1/16-mile horse track of Canterbury Park. The first Snocross race was held in 1996.
The two-day snowmobile racing spectacular will be held throughout the day Friday and Saturday. The venue offers a variety activities for the entire family in addition to the action on-track, including a Pro autograph session, coloring zone, youth snowmobile rides, and more.
For those fortunate enough to attend the event, we hope you enjoy the races and create lifelong memories. Tickets and event info can be found here. For those who are not able to make it, please see this week’s watch guide for viewing information.
AMSOIL PRO
Ishoel Repeats Milestone: In 2022, Elias Ishoel changed teams from Boss Racing Ski-Doo to Thene Motorsports Ski-Doo. He eradicated any doubts about his move by sweeping the opening weekend. Fast-forward two seasons, and he’s made another move. This time, to Skogquist Race Team Ski-Doo. With only one round of points racing held at the season opener this season, Ishoel didn’t have an opportunity to sweep, per say. While the Viking Rocket didn’t collect his third AMSOIL Dominator title, it isn’t counted against him. He dominated Round 1. This performance is a testament to the racer machine that Elias Ishoel is.
Rewind to the off-season that was 2023. If you’re a Pro race team looking to acquire the best talent, look no further than Elias Ishoel. That said, taking on a five-time defending AMSOIL Pro Champion is no easy task. Both Skogquist Race Team Ski-Doo and Elias Ishoel rose to the occasion with a statement-making first round.
Money Man Sahlsten:
Sweden’s Gustav Sahlsten wowed the masses with his breakout performance in the AMSOIL Dominator last month in Ironwood, MI. This win marked a series of AMSOIL Championship Snocross historical milestones:
- First AMSOIL Dominator win for Gustav Sahlsten
- First AMSOIL Domintor win for Elite Motorsports Ski-Doo
- First time a 1st year team has won the AMSOIL Dominator
- 2nd time a Swedish rider has won the AMSOIL Dominator (Adam Renheim 2018)
Even more impressive is that he ran it back with another $10,000-to-win bracket-style race over the break with the Midwest Snocross Series.
Juddy’s Dream Team
For the 2023-2024 season, Judnick Motorsports has nearly doubled it’s odds of winning on any given night when you consider the talent that is Emil Harr and Kody Kamm. Harr has continuously been on an upward trajectory since being recruited by Scott Judnick in 2021. Kamm joined the team this year after having spent the balance of his Pro career with Hentges Racing Polaris. Both riders earned podium positions in both the AMSOIL Dominator and Round 1.
Get this: If we look back at last season, Harr and Kamm (while racing for different teams) had amassed a total of 7 wins out of a possible 16. That’s over 43%! (Harr 5, Kamm 2)
Rebound Opportunity For Lebel
Fans were robbed of the opportunity to see how Jordan Lebel would stack up against the AMSOIL Pro class at the start of his true rookie season after a rare mechanical caused him to start a lap down. Yes, Jordan has raced the top Pro’s in AMSOIL Dominator competition in addition to his first career start in the final round of the 2023 season. A new season presents new challenges, which is why a lot of eyes are on Lebel in Round 2 as he looks to bounce back.
Return of the Triple Crown Format
15 AMSOIL Pro racers are entered for this weekend at the Pirtek Snocross National presented by Core RV. You can check out the full entry list here. With that, we get to witness the Triple Crown format which was debuted in 2023.
Important to note: Unlike in 2023, championship points are no longer awarded for individual Triple Crown rounds. Racers only receive championship points for their overall finish.
If you are Emil Harr, you are stoked right now. At least, you should be.
2023 Triple Crown Race Wins:
| Harr | 10 |
| Ishoel | 5 |
| Pihlaja | 1 |
| Pelletier | 1 |
| Kamm | 1 |
2023 Triple Crown Overall Wins:
| Harr | 4 |
| Ishoel | 2 |
Injured Reserve: Cole Cottew. Complications stemming from his 2023 injury from a crash in Sioux Falls. Please join us in wishing him a speedy recovery.
PRO LITE
Duel of the Former FXR Sport Champions
Crayden Dillon (2023 FXR Sport Champion) is fast. Crazy fast. In Ironwood, he led 9 laps out of a possible 15 after starting 5th on the 1st lap. It was Adam Ashline (2022 FXR Sport Champion), however, who laid down a blistering fastest lap of 33.773. Crayden Dillon set the second-fastest time of the race with a 34.446.
PRO WOMEN
The Vet Tops the Leaderboard
Considering that she is in her early 20’s as well as the fact that she is still in college, it may seem strange to call “Holeshot” Inanna Hauger a class veteran. She is a veteran having raced Pro Women since the 2016-2017 season. Paired with her experience in the class, her tenacity to win was on full display in her home state of Michigan for the opening rounds. This weekend, the St. Cloud State University student and her red plates will head South on I-94 to Shakopee where she looks to keep the points lead alive. She has won in Michigan, Iowa, South Dakota and Wisconsin, but a Minnesota win would be her first.
You can tune in live all weekend live on FloRacing. For a schedule of events, tickets and event information on the Pirtek Snocross National at Canterbury Park, click here.