Eagle, Colorado – February 2, 2009 – Xtreme Mountain Racing was in Eagle, Colorado this January 31st and February 1st for the first time ever. The Van Campen ranch provided a great snocross race site, and a venue for the local skijoring competition during the same weekend. Wes Selby designed a long wide and FAST track with the help of Will Brown who ran the snow cat all weekend for XMR. Covering almost a mile, the race pace was fast and really exciting to watch.
The racing started early on Saturday with all the qualifiers completed before lunch. A 90 foot finish line triple kept the riders in check and set the pace out to the long back stretch, then it was back through a chicane full of jumps into a seven roller rhythm section that slowed the pace near the pits. As spectators filled in they got a great morning show as XMR added a new program – a Sport/Pro Exhibition. This was a lot of high flyin’ fun for the most advanced riders as they got to hit the track for fun and for show – no points, no trophies, just some time to go big with your buddies – and big they went!
The skijoring event started up around lunch time, and after watching that event some riders and teams found time for a nap in their rigs or some prep for the finals. The highlight of Saturday’s finals was the 120 stock and 120 Champ races – Logan Montgomery, son of retired racer TJ Montgomery grabbed the wins in both classes that he had been looking for all year. The sun caught up to the racers soon and after the sport and pro riders ran their last qualifier under the alpenglow, XMR called it a day – and a good day it was!
Day two started with the completions of day one’s finals. Mike DePalma won the Sport I class early Sunday morning. AJ Stoffle was riding really well this weekend – He hit his first double! He broke his sled but despite the sled troubles, he won the 10-13 challenge on a borrowed sled! Trent Channel was looking good on his Cat and won the 14-17 Xtreme final. In the Sport II Final Mike DePalma pulled a big distance again to take the win, followed by Shad Peterson who finished second. Wes Selby put on a good show winning the semi-pro main, and kept the crowd excited with huge air over the finish of every lap!
XMR raced in WyColo, Wyoming this weekend and full coverage of that event is soon to follow. Full race results, current point standings and more information on XMR sno-cross, cross-country and hill-cross can be found on the XMR website at www.xmrracing.com. Lastly, a special note to the McLam family and friends – some XMR racers had a chance to ride with Sam, and he is in all of our thoughts – a great racer from our western states is missed.
