SnowRider Online Magazine

PRESS RELEASE: Thief River Falls, Minn. (March 19, 2008) - Monster Energy/Arctic Cat’s Tucker Hibbert won the World PowerSports Association Snowmobile Tour’s Pro Super Stock Championship with a dominating run at the Nielsen Enterprises Grand Finale in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. Not only did Hibbert take home his fourth Pro Points Championship Title, he stood on the podium all four finals.

Hibbert won five of six qualifying rounds and both finals in the Pro Super Stock class, picking up 109 of 110 possible points to lock in the championship 19 points ahead of Polaris’ Ross Martin.

Hibbert was the only athlete to miss one full event and to finish inside the top-15 in points. He put together a near perfect performance aboard his Monster Energy backed Arctic Cat only giving up one point by taking second to Arctic Cat’s Ryan Simons in the first qualifier.

In the Pro Open class, Hibbert was not fighting for the championship but rode like he was. After struggling with some mechanical issues in qualifying, he had to start from the back row for the first 14-lap, 15-rider final. He had a mid-pack start, charged hard and moved into third on lap ten. Looking for a way around the leaders, he tried a different line and got kicked sideways off the face of a jump in a rhythm section. Uninjured, he quickly got back on the sled to finish a hard fought third.

In the second final, Hibbert had another mid-pack start but by lap six he was all over leader #44 T.J. Gulla. The crowd went crazy every time he made a pass making it one of the most exciting races of the season. Hibbert rode smart and was patient, watching Gulla’s every move, set him up and made the pass for the lead on lap 12. Hibbert consistently laid down the fastest lap time of the race for his third win and fourth podium of the weekend.

Hibbert now has his sight set on motocross. He will compete as a privateer in seven AMA Motocross Lites Nationals and three Monster Energy CMRC Motocross
Nationals. Hibbert’s season kicks off on June 9 at the Freestone County Raceway National in Wortham, Texas.

Nielsen Enterprises Grand Finale Results:
PART I: Pro Super Stock: 1st • Pro Open: 1st
PART II: Pro Super Stock: 3rd • Pro Open: 1st

Check out www.tucker-hibbert.com for full results.

Tucker Hibbert – #68 Monster Energy/Arctic Cat says, “I couldn’t be happier with my decision to race at Geneva. It was intense racing the entire weekend. It was exciting for the fans and fun for the riders. To end the season with four podiums and a championship is awesome.”

“A huge thanks to all my sponsors for their support this year, my crew for their dedication and hard work and all my fans for cheering me on and making me feel so welcome at the races.”

Resources: www.tucker-hibbert.com • www.monsterenergy.com
www.arcticcat.com/teamarctic • www.wpsaracing.com

Posted by Linda Aksomitis,
Managing Editor for SnowRider Online Magazine
and www.guide2travel.ca

PRESS RELEASE: Brainerd, MN (Feb. 24, 2008) – Shevlin, Minnesota racer, DJ Ekre, won the FXR Pro 600 class at the United States Cross-Country (USCC) circuit’s “BIR 200” in Brainerd, Minnesota. Ekre rode his Arctic Cat to a field-best time of 1 hour, fifty-six minutes, fifteen seconds. Second place rider Ryan Simons of Camrose, AB road his Arctic Cat with a time of 1 hour, fifty-seven minutes, three seconds. Third place went to Polaris rider Aaron Christensen of Metiskow, AB with a time of 1 hour, fifty-seven minutes, twenty-nine seconds.

The BIR 200 was the second leg of the Amsoil Triple Crown driven by Polaris. Ekre walked away with $3,000 for his first place finish in the FXR Pro 600 class. The FXR Pro 600 class took home $15,000 and the entire field took home more than $25,000 this past weekend.

There were 208 race entries. The race course distance was 4.2 miles, which included ditch and woods running. USCC’s final race of the season is the Hayward Area Chamber of Commerce 300 in Hayward, WI scheduled for March 1-2. The Hayward 300 is the third race of the Amsoil Triple Crown series. Races held in Garrison, MN, Brainerd, MN and Hayward, WI have formed Sled Head 24/7’s Amsoil Triple Crown. The races include large payouts, television coverage and spectator friendly, head-to-head racing.

Aaron Christensen of Metiskow, AB won the Ryde FX Pro Open class aboard his Polaris. Ryan Simons finished second aboard his Arctic Cat followed by Arctic Cat rider DJ Ekre. Lake Shore, MN Arctic Cat rider Dan Ebert won the Go Fast Sports Semi Pro 600 class. Ebert also won the Stud Boy Semi Pro Improved class.

Jason Kangas of Goodridge, MN won the Black Magic 440 class aboard his Arctic Cat. Christopher Sobeck of Winona, MN won the Action Graphics Fan 600 class aboard his Ski-Doo. Winona, MN Ski-Doo rider Jim Sobeck won the Orion Industries Masters 40+ class. Brad Cierzon of Winona, MN rode his Ski-Doo to a first place finish in the PowerMadd Amateur 600 Class. The Carver Performance Amateur Improved class was also won by Cierzon.

Polaris rider Paul Anderson of Lewiston, MN won the Sno-X Magazine Legends 50+ class. Alden, MN Arctic Cat rider Jolene Bute won the Parts Unlimited Women’s class. Tyler Kemppainen of Grand Rapids, MN won the Fox Shox Junior 14-17 class aboard his Ski-Doo. The Tekvest Junior 10-13 class was won by Arctic Cat rider Cole Lian from Thief River Falls, MN. Moorhead, MN

Polaris rider Gabe Bunke won the Scott USA Vet 30+ class. Trevor John of Cross Lake, MN won the Yamaha Sport 85 class aboard his Yamaha. Jack Bakker of Winnipeg, MB won the Snow Week Vintage class aboard his Ski-Doo. In the 120’s it was Polaris rider Matt Feil of Bemidji, MN winning the SnowTech Magazine 120 stock class and Sara Larson of Fisher, MN winning the SnowGoer Magazine 120 Improved class.

The United States Cross-Country Snowmobile Racing Association (USCC) is based out of Minto, ND and attracts more than 200 professional and amateur snowmobile racers to each of its events. The USCC series is North America’s premier form of cross-country snowmobile racing; it is the only racing organization that sanctions events comprised entirely of terrain cross-country races. The race courses include ditch lines, frozen lakes and deep woods trails. Its 2007-08 schedule marks the circuit’s sixth season with races hosted in Minnesota, North Dakota, Wisconsin and Michigan. The USCC is sanctioned by International Snowmobile Racing (ISR); ISR has been serving the racing community for more than 25 years. Please visit www.usccracing.com for more information.

Release from Noel J. Schanilec
Marketing Director
USCC Snowmobile Racing Association

Linda Aksomitis,
Managing Editor for SnowRider Online Magazine
and www.guide2travel.ca