SALAMANCA, N.Y. (Feb. 23, 2013) – Western New York’s snowmobile-friendly atmosphere lent itself to an even larger crowd on Saturday for the Seneca Allegany Air Force Snocross round of AMSOIL Championship Snocross, presented by Traxxas and hosted by Seneca Allegany Casino. Thousands upon thousands of snowmobile racing fans spilled out from the packed grandstands and lined the sides of the wide oval-shaped snocross track and climbed up into the nearby hillside to watch the world’s top snocross racers put it on the line at round 12 of the 16-round series.
Two familiar faces would grace the top rung on the podium again at Seneca Allegany Casino as Tucker Hibbert (Monster Energy/Arctic Cat) and Jake Scott (Mystik Lubricants/Loctite/Polaris) complete their sweeps of the Pro Open and Pro Lite class races, respectively, and added to their leads atop the overall point standing in each of the classes.
Pro Open
When the start light flashed green to open the Pro Open main event at Seneca Allegany Casino it was, for the second night in a row, Kyle Pallin (Mystik Lubricants/Loctite/Polaris) who nailed the Stud Boy Holeshot. And nearly getting bounced out of the first turn – from his No. 1 qualifying spot and gate pick – was Hibbert, who managed to hold things together and got out of the first turn in 4th place.
Pallin’s lead would again be short-lived as Ross Martin (DuPont/Jack Links/Polaris) blasted up front as the green flag flew on lap two of the 24-lap contest. But what looked to be a race that was shaping up between Hibbert and Martin soon turned into another clinic as Hibbert cracked the throttle and, in one fell swoop, launched past both Pallin and Martin on an outside line through the rhythm section and into the lead – a lead he’d never relinquish.
“That was another wild ride. The track’s demanding and the pace was unreal,” said Hibbert. “But I’m pumped to be up here again … it was a great weekend for us.”
With Hibbert checking out the battle for the final Pro Open podium spots got interesting quick. Defending Pro Open champ Tim Tremblay (Scheuring Speed Sports/Rockstar/Ski-Doo) had been flying all day, and by lap seven he was up to 4th place and pressuring Pallin. At the race’s midway point (lap 12) Hibbert was up by eight seconds on Martin and Kody Kamm (Polaris/Monster Energy/Hentges Racing) had moved up to 5th.
By lap 17 Tremblay had since got by Pallin and was closing on Martin – who he passed with seeming ease as it appeared Martin began to slow in the later stages of the race. Pallin would then pressure Martin for 3rd, but went down in his effort between turns three and four. Martin slowed even further – running a 40-second lap late in the race when 25 to 26-second laps had been the norm. Kamm would also pass Martin as well and made the final podium spot, with Tremblay in 2nd for his second podium finish of the weekend.
“The first couple of laps it got crazy rough,” said Kamm. “But I capitalized on whoever fell off (Pallin) on the back part of the course when they were battling for 2nd and 3rd – and I was able to get up here.”
Added Tremblay: “It was a good race. I worked my way up to 2nd place. The roost got really bad there at the end, but it was a good race overall. The fans from New York here were great.”
With the win Hibbert increased his Pro Open championship points lead to 73 points over Tremblay, 489-425.
Saturday Seneca Allegany Air Force Snocross Pro Open Results
1 68 Hibbert Tucker Arctic Cat Pelican Rapids MN
2 11 Tremblay Tim Ski-Doo Ste Jeanne D’Arc Quebec
3 53 Kamm Kody Polaris Kenosha WI
4 27 Ohman Emil Ski-Doo Pitea Norrbotten
5 168 Broberg Justin Polaris Waukesha WI
6 999 Crapo Colby Polaris St.Anthony ID
7 837 Martin Ross Polaris Burlington WI
8 43 Christian Logan Arctic Cat Fertile MN
9 324 Pallin Kyle Polaris Ironwood MI
10 99 Pattyn Zach Ski-Doo Ravenna MI
11 24 Bauerly Paul Ski-Doo Milaca MN
12 9 Mees Darrin Ski-Doo East Setauket NY
13 244 LePage Bobby Polaris Duluth MN
14 717 Bauer Mike Polaris Owen WI
15 51 Piche Matt Arctic Cat Lake Shore MN
Pro Open Overall Points (through 12 of 16 rounds)
1 Tucker Hibbert 10 498 498 Monster Energy/Arctic Cat 68 Arctic Cat Pelican Rapids, MN
2 Tim Tremblay 10 425 425 Amsoil/Air Force/Makita 11 Ski-Doo Ste Jeanne D’Arc, Quebec
3 Ross Martin 10 420 420 Judnick Motorsports 837 Polaris Burlington, WI
4 Kody Kamm 10 354 354 Hentges Racing 53 Polaris Kenosha, WI
5 Emil Ohman 10 337 337 Warnert Racing 27 Ski-Doo Pitea, Norrbotten
6 Robbie Malinoski 10 335 335 Amsoil/Air Force/Makita 4 Ski-Doo Stacy, MN
7 Logan Christian 10 333 333 Christian Brothers Racing 43 Arctic Cat Fertile, MN
8 Darrin Mees 10 322 322 Scheuring Speedsports 9 Ski-Doo East Setauket, NY
9 Kyle Pallin 10 313 313 Team LaVallee 324 Polaris Ironwood, MI
10 Justin Broberg 10 305 305 Hentges Racing 168 Polaris Waukesha, WI
Pro Lite
Overcoming a high speed get-off that left him limping off the track in an afternoon qualifying race, Jake Scott again proved his mettle in front of his hometown fans, pulling another spectacular start out of the bag to open Saturday’s Pro Lite final at Seneca Allegany Casino, then riding a near perfect race to the checkers to complete the weekend sweep.
Scott, in his pursuit of his first overall Pro Lite championship, would also get another boost in the points as David Joanis (Royal Distributing/Ski-Doo), who was tied in points with Scott heading into this weekend’s racing, was black flagged for what ISOC officials deemed “overly aggressive riding” in the Pro Lite main when Joanis collided with New York racer Corin Todd (Polaris) and knocked Todd off his sled. This would prove to be a huge blow to Joanis’ championship hopes.
“He (Joanis) was riding too aggressively and clearly took Todd out,” said ISOC’s Carl Schubitzke, President of Racing and Operations, on the black flag on Joanis.
With the potential 2nd (Todd) and 3rd (Joanis) place finishers now out of the running for the podium spots behind Scott, Andrew Carlson (Polaris/Carlson Motorsports) and Renaud Alexandre (BOSS Racing/Jimmy John’s/Ski-Doo) would each move up a couple notches and round out the podium in the crazy Saturday Pro Lite main event at Seneca Allegany Casino.
With the victory and Joanis’ subsequent black flag Scott takes a 19-point lead in the Pro Lite overall championship points chase to the penultimate round of AMSOIL Championship Snocross – the Ram Pro National – at Buffalo River Race Park outside Fargo, N.D.
Saturday Seneca Allegany Air Force Snocross Pro Lite Results
1 42 Scott Jake Polaris Port Jefferson Statio NY
2 151 Carlson Andrew Polaris Elk River MN
3 793 Alexandre Renaud Ski-Doo Val-D’or Quebec
4 436 Muller Travis Ski-Doo Windom MN
5 931 Leighton Trevor Polaris Eagle ID
6 144 Taillefer Maxime Ski-Doo Laval West Quebec
7 113 Lemieux Lincoln Ski-Doo St. Johnsbury VT
8 193 Pichner Matt Arctic Cat Owatonna MN
9 136 Todd Corin Polaris Otego NY
10 630 Boylan Casey Ski-Doo Anchorage AK
11 675 Rosemeyer Chase Ski-Doo Chippewa Falls WI
12 307 George Michael Ski-Doo Pine Plains NY
13 857 Lieders Andrew Polaris Colby WI
14 202 Sagan Joey Ski-Doo Elmvale Ontario
15 115 Joanis David Ski-Doo Cochrane Ontario
Pro Lite Overall Points (through 11 of 16 rounds)
1 Jake Scott 10 437 437 Team LaVallee 42 Polaris Port Jefferson Station, NY
2 David Joanis 10 418 418 Royal Distributing 115 Ski-Doo Cochrane,
3 Travis Muller 10 397 397 Warnert Racing 436 Ski-Doo Windom, MN
4 Andrew Lieders 10 392 392 Lieders Racing/Leighton Motorsports 857 Polaris Colby, WI
5 Renaud Alexandre 10 382 382 Team Jimmy John’s/Ski-doo/BossRacing 793 Ski-Doo Val-D’or, Quebec
6 Dylan Hall 10 323 323 Royal Distributing 421 Ski-Doo Ayr,
7 Andrew Carlson 10 313 313 Carlson Motorsports 151 Polaris Elk River, MN
8 Trevor Leighton 10 273 273 Leighton Motorsports 931 Polaris Eagle, ID
9 Corey Watkinson 10 253 253 Team Jimmy John’s/Ski-doo/BossRacing 173 Ski-Doo Port Carling, Ontario
10 Chase Rosemeyer 10 253 253 Team Bauerly Racing 675 Ski-Doo Chippewa Falls, WI
Next up: Round seven of AMSOIL Championship Snocross, presented by Traxxas at Buffalo River Race Park outside Fargo, N.D., March 8-9.
Who: 2012-’13 AMSOIL Championship Snocross Series’ Fargo Ram Trucks Snocross National, Buffalo River Race Park, Glyndon, Minn.
Race Dates: March 8-9
Where: Buffalo River Race Park, Glyndon, Minn. (15 minutes east of Fargo!)
Tickets: Available in advance online at www.buffaloriverracing.com and
Photos courtesy Lissa Marsolek/Wayne Davis Photography
