Snocross Season Shines with AMSOIL Dominator win for Ishoel in Upper Michigan

Ironwood, Mich. ~ After a snow-starved winter last season, Ironwood, Michigan, came alive as the AMSOIL Championship Snocross season opener transformed Mt. Zion Ski Hill into a high-octane arena. Mother Nature delivered in spectacular fashion this year, blanketing Upper Michigan with fresh powder just in time for the much-anticipated event. Racers and fans alike embraced the snow-laden setting, making for an unforgettable kickoff to the season.

The first night was highlighted by the annual AMSOIL Dominator, a thrilling, winner-take-all head-to-head race with a $10,000 prize on the line. Sixteen of the best Pro and Pro Lite racers pushed their machines to the limit through four rounds of adrenaline-charged competition. 

Ishoel Shines with Thrilling AMSOIL Dominator Victory

Five-time Pro champion Elias Ishoel made a triumphant return to the AMSOIL Championship Snocross series, claiming victory in the prestigious AMSOIL Dominator at Mt. Zion Ski Hill. The thrilling winner-take-all event featured 16 racers battling across four rounds for a $10,000 prize. Ishoel, who missed the latter half of last season due to injuries sustained in a crash at Deadwood, showed no signs of rust as he powered his way to victory.

Ishoel’s path to his third career AMSOIL Dominator win was anything but easy. He overcame Hunter Patenaude in the opening round, bested Jordan Lebel in the second, and surged past Emil Harr and Jacob Yurk in a fiercely contested final round. 

“The last time I took a start on a snowmobile was in Deadwood and I pretty much destroyed everything in myself,” said Ishoel. “To win the first day back is just awesome.”

Harr, the defending AMSOIL Pro class champion, finished second after defeating Gustav Sahlsten and Oskar Norum in earlier rounds. Yurk earned his spot in the final by advancing through the Last Chance Qualifier after wins over Kellen Chapuran and Kody Kamm.

Dillon Scores First Career Win in Pro AM Women’s Final

Victoria Dillon capitalized on a chaotic start to secure her first career victory in the Bikeman Performance Pro AM Women’s final at the AMSOIL Snocross season opener. Defending champion Malene Cottew and top contender Inanna Hauger were buried in the pack after a tough start, opening the door for other racers to shine. Dillon seized the opportunity, taking the lead from Makenna Kleiman on lap five and never looking back to claim her first Pro AM class win in her Pro debut.

Naeli Lebel mounted a strong late charge, passing Kleiman with just two laps remaining to finish second. Kleiman rounded out the podium in third after leading early in the race. The shake-up at the front set the stage for an unpredictable and thrilling season in the Pro-AM Women’s class with Cottew finishing seventh and Hauger eighth. 

Petersen Takes Win in Pro Plus 30 Final

Brian Petersen emerged victorious in the Thomas and Sport Pro Plus 30 final at the AMSOIL Snocross season opener, claiming his first career win in the division. With defending champion Corin Todd absent and past champions Andy Lieders and Devin Denman buried off the start, Petersen seized the lead early and skillfully navigated through late-race traffic to secure the victory.

Danny Dolecki delivered a solid performance to finish second, while Tyler Oomen impressed with a podium finish in his first career Pro Plus 30 start. The shake-up at the front set the stage for a competitive season as new contenders vie for supremacy in the absence of Todd.

Farmer Holds on for FXR Sport Victory

Zak Farmer emerged from a tight early battle with Brady Freeland to secure the FXR Sport win in Ironwood. The duo fought door-to-door in the opening laps before an extended mid-race stoppage temporarily halted the action. Following the restart, Farmer maintained his composure at the front of the pack and set the pace through the closing laps.

Isaac Peterson charged forward from a fifth-place start to challenge Farmer in the final stages, but ultimately settled for second. Peterson narrowly held off Esais Matheo Kuhman at the line, edging him by just seven-tenths of a second.

Knudson Dominates in Pflipsen Trucking Sport Lite Final

Tavin Knudson delivered a flawless performance in the Pflipsen Trucking Sport Lite class, leading from the drop of the green flag to the checkered for a decisive win at Mt. Zion. Knudson never faltered throughout the final, maintaining a steady gap over the competition and setting a commanding pace that went unchallenged.

Wyatt Skogquist took second place, while his brother, AJ Skogquist, finished just 1.5 seconds behind to claim third.

Rox Speed FX Stock 200: Henry Dillon led wire-to-wire in the Rox Speed FX Stock 200 final, with Tessa Naastad taking second and Wyatt Miller holding off Lincoln Skar on the last lap to secure third.

1911 Beef Transition 9-13: Ryder Hayes led from start to finish in the 1911 Beef Transition 9-13, while Travis Bellerive edged Riley Johnson by just .13 seconds for second place.

Hayward Power Sports Junior 14-15: Carter VanHorsigh led from start to finish in Hayward Power Sports Junior 14-15, followed by Tavin Knudson in second and Derek Gosselin in third.

SPEEDWERX Transition 8-10: Travis Bellerive earned his second podium of the day with a come-from-behind win in Speedwerx Transition 8-10, followed by Noah Kuhn in second and Hayden Cunningham in third.

For more information about AMSOIL Championship Snocross, visit www.snocross.com.