SALAMANCA, N.Y. — The AMSOIL Championship Snocross series roared into Seneca Allegany Resort & Casino with a wintery mix of snowflakes and adrenaline, setting the stage for a thrilling weekend of racing. A demanding track, carved with deep ruts and unpredictable rhythm sections, pushed riders to their limits, forcing even the fastest contenders to fight for survival. The Pro class delivered a heart-pounding showdown, with the race coming down to the wire, while the defending Pro Lite champion made a statement with a hard-fought rebound victory.
With the opening night setting the tone, fans braced for what promises to be an unforgettable two-day battle on the snow. Riders will need precision, endurance, and sheer grit to navigate the technical course, where speed meets chaos at every turn. As engines fire up for another round of high-stakes competition, one thing is certain—Salamanca is delivering a Snocross spectacle for the ages.
Harr Solves New York For Fourth Straight Win
When it comes to the AMSOIL Championship Snocross Triple Crown format, Emil Harr continues to prove he’s the man to beat. The defending Pro champ secured his fourth overall victory of the season on Sunday, but it didn’t come easy, as Jordan Lebel pushed him to the edge—and off his sled—in a dramatic second round.
Harr opened the night with a dominant win, slicing through lapped traffic before holding off Lebel. But in round two, Lebel turned up the intensity, forcing Harr into a costly mistake that sent him off his sled while Lebel charged to victory.
Tied heading into the final round, the two front-runners went bar-to-bar once again, but this time, Harr stayed clean while Lebel had to fend off Adam Peterson for position early in the contest. Harr rode a smooth and controlled race, clinching his fourth straight overall win and strengthening his grip on the championship points lead. Surprisingly, it marked Harr’s first podium finish in New York.
“First time on the podium here in New York and it wasn’t easy,” said Harr. “Jordan was riding really great and I was waiting for him to catch me on the last one, but I was able to stay ahead the whole final. I had fun out there, and the track was good. I like the big up and down hill.”
Lebel’s consistent 2-1-2 scores earned him second overall, keeping him firmly in the title hunt and second to Harr in the points standings. Peterson claimed his second podium of the season after edging out his teammate Ryley Bester in the final round.
Five-time champion Elias Ishoel continued to fight through injury and only took starts for the second weekend to keep his championship hopes alive.
Dillon Strikes Back, Title Race Tightens in Pro Lite Battle
The Anderson’s Maple Syrup Pro Lite division is heading toward an electrifying finish, with defending champion Crayden Dillon and current points leader Anson Scheele locked in a heated battle. Dillon has faced his share of highs and lows over the past four rounds, while Scheele has found consistency at the right time. After Dillon’s early-season dominance was interrupted by illness in Valcourt, Scheele capitalized with a string of podium finishes. But in New York, Dillon was back in top form, proving he’s not letting go of his title without a fight.
Dillon launched off the line in the final, securing the early lead ahead of Scheele and round four winner Tyler Archambault. As Scheele and Archambault scrapped for second, Dillon took advantage of the clean air and put in near-flawless laps. Scheele eventually broke free and mounted a charge, but Dillon held strong to capture his fifth win of the season.
“I got a really weird start, where everybody crashed and I didn’t really know where I was going to end up,” said Dillon. “But I got out decently and just put my head down and rode my race. I knew Anson was coming, but we ended up getting the job done.”
With the win, Dillon continues to close in on Scheele in the standings, but the points leader’s runner-up finish ensured he kept control of the red plate with an eight-point advantage heading into Saturday.
Archambault looked poised for another podium finish but suffered heartbreak just two turns from the checkered flag when what appeared to be a blown belt halted his ride. That opened the door for Sweden’s Martin Johansson, who capitalized to secure his first podium of the season with a third-place finish.
Cottew Dominates Again with Fifth Straight Pro AM Women’s Victory
Malene Cottew continues to prove she thrives on rough and technical tracks, and Sunday’s Bikeman Performance Pro AM Women’s final was no exception. The defending champ went wire to wire for her fifth straight victory, once again showcasing her ability to maintain speed and control even as the track deteriorated.
“The guys on the crew work so hard on my sled,” said Cottew. “I got the hole shot in round two and the guys said, ‘we can do even better’. I said, “Are you sure”, and they said, “Yep, let’s do it.’ They work so hard for me.”
While Cottew pulled away early, the real battle unfolded behind her as Inanna Hauger and Ava McCurdy engaged in a tight fight for second place. Hauger, the round four winner, eventually gained the upper hand and settled into the runner-up spot, securing another strong finish. McCurdy, meanwhile, held steady to grab her third podium of the season with a third-place result.
Lieders Launches to Sixth Straight in Pro AM Plus 30
Andy Lieders continues to be the dominant force in the Thomas Sno Sport Pro AM Plus 30 class, extending his winning streak to six straight with a flawless performance in Salamanca.
After missing the podium in round one, Lieders has been unstoppable, and Sunday’s final was no different. He grabbed the holeshot and never looked back, controlling the pace from start to finish to further solidify his grip on the championship lead.
Former Pro rider Corin Todd made his season debut and wasted no time getting up to speed, finishing second in his first race of the year. Meanwhile, Tyler Oomen continued to keep himself in the title conversation, securing his second consecutive podium with a third-place finish. Oomen remains second overall in the standings, but with Lieders’ near-perfect run, the battle for the championship is tightening as the season winds down.
Early Lead Gets Lebel Third Straight Victory
FXR Sport rider Dylan Lebel delivered another commanding performance in Salamanca. The points leader grabbed the holeshot and never looked back, leading every lap on his way to his third win of the season. His consistency has been the key to his success, and Sunday’s victory further solidified his position at the top of the standings as the championship battle heats up.
While Lebel controlled the race up front, the battle for the podium saw late-race drama. Kamden Duffy and Shade Meyer capitalized on the final lap, making critical moves to get around Park Krumm and secure second and third place, respectively. Duffy’s late charge earned him a well-fought runner-up finish, while Meyer rounded out the podium with another strong result.
Taggart Finds His Stride with Sport Lite Victory
After a slow start to the season, Colin Taggart has found his rhythm in the Pflipsen Trucking Sport Lite class, securing his fourth podium of the year with a dominant win on Friday. Taggart grabbed the holeshot and never looked back, leading every lap to claim his second victory of the season. His recent surge in performance has put him firmly in (fifth overall) the mix as the championship battle intensifies.
Behind him, round four winner Jimmy Stanisich put together a strong ride to finish second, keeping pace with the front-runners. Points leader Tavin Knudson, who had won the previous two rounds, couldn’t complete the hat trick but still managed to secure a podium finish in third.
Rox Speed FX Stock 200: Lincoln Skar continued his strong run in the Stock 200 class, securing his second victory in the last three rounds with a wire-to-wire performance. Skar was flawless from the start, setting the pace and never looking back. Meanwhile, Kody Krantz put on the ride of the night, charging through the field after a tough start that tracked him in 13th place early on. By lap four, Krantz had worked his way into second, where he would ultimately finish. Jayden Blier made his season debut in impressive fashion, rounding out the podium in third.
1911 Beef Transition 9-13: Ryan Shimanski proved that persistence pays off, earning his first win of the season in the Transition 9-13 class. Entering the weekend second overall in points, Shimanski had his work cut out for him after starting eighth, but he carved through the field and edged out Jackson Goike at the finish by just 0.34 seconds. Goike, who started seventh, secured his first podium of the season with an impressive second-place ride. Meanwhile, Mason Broden continued his consistent run, locking in his third straight podium with a solid third-place finish.
Hayward Power Sports Junior 14-15: Carter vanHorsigh made a clutch last-lap pass to secure his third win of the season in the Junior 14-15 final. Points leader Tavin Knudson had to fight his way through the pack after starting 11th, but vanHorsigh capitalized on the opportunity to close the gap in the standings. Tucker Anderson led most of the race before settling for his first podium of the season in second, while Knudson barely held onto third, edging out Lincoln Meyer at the line by an incredible .008 of a second.
SPEEDWERX Transition 8-10: Jack Gelinas continued his impressive run in the Transition 8-10 class, capturing the win on Friday night and extending his podium streak to six straight races. Gelinas put together a strong ride to hold off Holden Kuhn, who kept his own streak alive with a fifth consecutive podium finish in second. Points leader Travis Bellerive, coming off a dominant sweep in Deadwood, rounded out the podium in third, keeping the title fight tight as the season progresses.
Woodies Racing Junior Girls 9-13: Avery Hemmer continued her dominance in the Junior Girls 9-13 class, going wire to wire for her fourth consecutive victory on Friday night. Again, Hemmer was untouchable, setting the pace early and never looking back. Eleanor Schmidt kept herself in the title conversation with a solid second-place finish, maintaining pressure on the points leader. Meanwhile, Lila Hemmer secured her first podium of the season in third, holding off a late charge from Charlie Buteau to cap off an exciting night of racing.
Next Stop:The AMSOIL Championship Snocross series heads back to the United States with the Seneca Allegany Snocross National in Salamanca, N.Y. on February 22.
About ISOC: The International Series of Champions (ISOC), headquartered in Albertville, Minnesota, owns and operates both AMSOIL Championship Off-Road and AMSOIL Championship Snocross. ISOC is dedicated to delivering premier racing events that captivate motorsport enthusiasts across the nation. For detailed information about events, schedules, and updates, visit www.champoffroad.com or www.snocross.com.