Tucker Hibbert Sweeps Through Lake Geneva Snocross

Tucker Hibbert wrapped up the ISOC points championship in a heat race Friday at the Nielsen Enterprises Grand Finale and Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, but that didn’t slow him down. Instead, he continued his intense pursuit of perfection and swept through the weekend’s three rounds of racing. What follows are ISOC press releases from each day, starting with Friday. Enjoy.

Tucker Hibbert wraps up the 2013-’14 AMSOIL Championship Snocross Friday

LAKE GENEVA, Wis. (March 14, 2014) – Heading into tonight’s Grand Geneva Resort & Spa’s Nielsen Enterprises Grand Finale, presented by Coors Light, Pro Open final with 12 wins in 14 AMSOIL Championship Snocross, powered by Ram, rounds it was a given that Tucker Hibbert (Monster Energy/Arctic Cat) would wrap up the season championship.

And Hibbert would do so before the main event was even run.

Lake Geneva Snocross
Friday’s Pro Open podium at Lake Geneva, Wisconsin

Powering to a 1st and 2nd place finish in his qualifying races, Hibbert increased his lead over 2nd place Kody Kamm (Hentges Racing/Polaris) to 122 points – with a possible 115 points remaining (qualifiers and main events) through Saturday and Sunday’s rounds, securing the title before the green flag even flew on the main event.

A bit anticlimactic? Hardly, as fans packed the grandstands and surround site lines at Grand Geneva to catch a glimpse of the world’s greatest snowmobile racers – including the newly-crowned champion, who ran way with tonight’s Pro Open main event to put an exclamation point on his eighth national championship.

“I was here to win, always give it my all,” said Hibbert. “I got a bad start and had to work hard to catch back up. The roost was so bad, but when I caught up to Kody (Kamm) we had good battle there for a couple laps. I’m happy to win the championship … this is my best year ever for me.

“But we’ve got two more races and I’m not done yet.”

Pro Open Friday

Pulling the Stud Boy Holeshot was Petr Narsa (BOSS Racing/Jimmy John’s/Ski-Doo), who cranked off a win in one of the preliminary heat races as well (qualifying 5th). Narsa was quickly caught by Kamm, from nearby Kenosha, Wis., which sent the crowd into a frenzy.

Hibbert, who started back in the pack, put on a hard charge early and was up to 4th, then 3rd place before the end of lap one.

“I got a good start and had the lead, but Tucker kept inching up on me,” said Kamm.

Kamm, who, along with Ross Martin (DuPont/Jack Links/Polaris), was the only racer to beat Hibbert this season, would cover Hibbert for the next three (of nine) laps before Hibbert out-jumped Kamm on a massive downhill section on the Lake Geneva Mountain Top ski hill. Hibbert would then brake late and squared off Kamm in the base bowl turn, forcing Kamm to slow and rocketing back up the face of Geneva’s steepest ski hill on his Arctic Cat sled.

As Hibbert checked out (winning by ten seconds) Kamm wasn’t able to mount a charge, much in part, according to Kamm, from Hibbert’s snow roost disrupting Kamm’s vision. Narsa would hold on to 3rd place, his best run of the year and 1st podium finish as well.

“The team worked hard all season and it finally paid off,” said Narsa from the podium.

Battling hard for the remaining top five spots were Lincoln Lemieux (Scheuring Speed Sports/AMSOIL/Ski-Doo) and Kyle Pallin (LaVallee Racing/Polaris), with Pallin passing Lemieux late for 4th place, while Lemieux, who was a late-season replacement racer for the injured Tim Tremblay and Robbie Malinoski, placed 5th.

Lake Geneva Friday Pro Open results

1 Tucker Hibbert, Monster Energy/Arctic Cat, 68 Arctic Cat, Pelican Rapids, MN

2 Kody Kamm, Hentges Racing, 53 Polaris, Kenosha, WI

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3 Petter Narsa, Team Jimmy John’s/Ski-doo/BossRacing, 271 Ski-Doo, Moskosel,  Sweden

4 Kyle Pallin, Team LaVallee, 324 Polaris, Ironwood, MI

5 Lincoln Lemieux, Amsoil/Air Force/Rockstar, 13 Ski-Doo, St. Johnsbury, VT

6 Cody Thomsen, Arctic Cat, 62 Arctic Cat, Nisswa, MN

7 Ross Martin, Judnick Motorsports, 837 Polaris, Burlington, WI

8 Justin Broberg, Hentges Racing, 168 Polaris, Mukwonago, WI

9 Jake Scott, Team LaVallee, 42 Polaris, Port Jefferson Station, NY

10 Levi LaVallee, Team LaVallee, 108 Polaris, Longville, MN

 

Wild Scene In Pro Lite Highlights Saturday’s AMSOIL Championship Snocross

LAKE GENEVA, Wis. (March 15, 2014) – With the Pro Open overall point championship decided on Friday night, tonight’s marquee racing action featured the hotly-contested Pro Lite class at Grand Geneva Resort & Spa’s Nielsen Enterprises Grand Finale, presented by Coors Light, round eight of AMSOIL Championship Snocross, powered by Ram. And taking the win in the wild Pro Lite main event was Andrew Lieders (Team LaVallee/Polaris), with Tucker Hibbert (Monster Energy/Arctic Cat) capturing his second-straight win at Lake Geneva in the Pro Open class.

 Pro Lite Saturday

High drama at Lake Geneva in the Pro Lites on Saturday as both the point leader, Corin Todd (Leighton Motorsports/Polaris) and 2nd place overall Andrew Carlson (Carlson Motorsports/Polaris) had opportunities to advance their position vs. each other in the points, but quite literally threw away those chances with two spectacular crashes.

snocross Andy Lieders
Andy Lieders claimed Pro Lite Saturday at Lake Geneva.

 But able to survive the rough track conditions at Lake Geneva – and further his point lead for 3rd in the Pro Lite season standings – was Lieders. Pulling a great start and running behind Todd on the opening lap, Lieders took over the lead when Todd sketched in the front straight rhythm section and wadded up, his sled sailing off the track.

Lieders would run unchallenged to the checkers. “Today was a pretty emotional day,” said Lieders from the podium. “I crashed hard in practice, we were having some problems with the sled and I was a little down. But Team LaVallee pulled together and we were able to win it.”

Another to benefit off a great start was Arctic Cat’s Corey Watkinson. The Canadian was running in 3rd place and moved up to 2nd when Todd went down, held that position through the end – one step ahead of 3rd place James Johnstad (Judnick Motorsports/Polaris).

“It was a tough track, hard to pass,” said Watkinson. “But luckily we got a good start and were able to put in some strong laps.”

Sitting in 4th place with one turn to go, Carlson was set to make up seven points on Todd, who was sitting in 10th place. But Carlson would disappear off the track just before the finish, rejoining the fray in 11th place – one spot behind Todd!

ISOC announcer Robbie Malinoski put it best when he said “Seems like it’s one of those championships that nobody wants to win.” Heading into Sunday’s final race Todd has an 11-point lead over Carlson, and it would have been two points had Carlson held on to his 4th place position through the checkers.

 Zak Mason (Leighton Motorsports/Polaris) would place 4th in tonight’s Pro Lite final with Kevin Wallenstein (Ingles Performance/Ski-Doo) coming in 5th.

Lake Geneva Saturday Pro Lite results

1 Andrew Lieders Team LaVallee 857 Polaris Colby, WI

2 Corey Watkinson Watkinson Motorsports, Arctic Cat 173, Ontario

3 James Johnstad Judnick Motorsports 154 Polaris Beltrami, MN

4 Zak Mason LEIGHTON MOTORSPORTS 863 Polaris Gaylord, MI

5 Kevin Wallenstein Ingles Performance 122 Ski-Doo Cadillac, MI  

  6 Maxime Taillefer Taillefer Motorsports 144 Ski-Doo Laval West,

7 Casey Boylan Team Boylan 630 Ski-Doo Anchorage, AK

8 Dylan Hall Royal / Hall Racing 421 Ski-Doo, Ontario

9 Corin Todd Leighton Motorsports  136 Polaris Otego, NY

10 Trevor Leighton Leighton Motorsports 931 Polaris Eagle, ID

11 Andrew Carlson CARLSON MOTORSPORTS 151 Polaris Big Lake, MN

12 Spencer Cowing Cowing Brothers Racing 181 Ski-Doo Wyoming, MN  

  13 Korbyn Anderson Team Anderson Racing 179 Ski-Doo Allenton, MI

14 Nick Pattyn Stud Boy Racing 198 Ski-Doo Ravenna, MI

15 Michael George MFG Racing 307 Arctic Cat Pine Plains, NY

 

Pro Open Saturday

Hometown snocross hero from nearby Burlington, Ross Martin (DuPont/Jack Links/Polaris) grabbed the Stud Boy Holeshot, followed closely by Kyle Pallin (LaVallee Racing/Polaris). Hibbert was close in on the hunt up front, though not enjoying quite a good of a start. Still, Hibbert managed to make up two spots from 4th place – passing Justin Broberg (Hentges Racing/Polaris) for 3rd at the start of the second lap, then getting past Pallin on the first uphill section on the second lap.

Tucker Hibbert
Tucker Hibbert wins, again.

This set the stage for one of the year’s better duels in Pro Open racing, Hibbert vs. Martin on the demanding Lake Geneva track.

“It’s just about giving your all all the time,” said Hibbert. “Ross rode really strong and somebody else was on my tail. I had to work hard for that win. The track changed every lap. It was challenging to find a smooth lap and make it stick – but that’s part of racing.”

Martin, who didn’t have much of a lead on Hibbert to begin with, made a valiant effort to hold off the newly crowned Pro Open champion through the first four (of nine) laps. But midway through lap four Hibbert would catch Martin in the same downhill section where he (Hibbert) passed Kody Kamm (Hentges Racing/Polaris) for the lead on Friday night – doubling down the steep downhill section running towards the packed grandstands and diving to the inside of Martin, then squaring off the turn and pulling Martin up the next hill.

“Tucker rode well tonight,” said Martin from the podium, his fans going nuts with applause. “I love this place! It was a good race. My sled’s rippin’ fast and I got off to a great start. I’d like to move up at least another spot on the podium tomorrow, really looking forward to Sunday’s race.”

Making a spirited charge for 3rd place was Kamm, who nearly caught Martin towards the end of the contest. The podium tonight was Kamm’s second so far this weekend, with one race remaining on Sunday. And rounding out the top five were Arctic Cat’s Cody Thomsen in 4th and Broberg in 5th.

 Lake Geneva Saturday Pro Open results

1 Tucker Hibbert Monster Energy/Arctic Cat 68 Arctic Cat Pelican Rapids, MN

2 Ross Martin Judnick Motorsports 837 Polaris Burlington, WI

3 Kody Kamm Hentges Racing 53 Polaris Kenosha, WI

4 Cody Thomsen Arctic Cat 62 Arctic Cat Nisswa, MN

5 Justin Broberg Hentges Racing 168 Polaris Mukwonago, WI

6 Logan Christian Christian Brothers Racing / Drift 43 Arctic Cat Fertile, MN 

7 Kyle Pallin Team LaVallee 324 Polaris Ironwood, MI

8 Petter Narsa Team Jimmy John’s/Ski-doo/BossRacing 271 Ski-Doo Sweden

9 David Joanis ROYAL DISTRIBUTING 115 Arctic Cat Cochrane (Kok rane), Ontario

10 Lincoln Lemieux Amsoil/Air Force/Rockstar 13 Ski-Doo St. Johnsbury, VT

11 Jake Scott Team LaVallee 42 Polaris Port Jefferson Station, NY

12 Zach Pattyn Stud Boy Racing 99 Ski-Doo Ravenna, MI

13 Levi LaVallee Team LaVallee 108 Polaris Longville, MN

14 Mike Bauer Jess Racing 717 Arctic Cat Medford, WI

 Hibbert & Carlson win AMSOIL Championship Snocross Finale Live on CBS Sports Network

LAKE GENEVA, Wis. (March 16, 2014) – Tucker Hibbert (Monster Energy/Arctic Cat) put an exclamation point on the most dominant year ever in the history of professional snocross racing, winning today’s Nielsen Enterprises Grand Finale, presented by Coors Light- broadcast “Live” on CBS Sports Network – round eight of 2013-’14 AMSOIL Championship Snocross, powered by Ram.

 And winning the final Pro Lite main event of the season, also on live TV, was Andrew Carlson (Carlson Motorsports/Polaris), followed in 3rd place today by Corin Todd (Leighton Motorsports/Polaris), who wrapped up the overall Pro Lite point championship, seven points out front of Carlson.

Pro Open Sunday

Local Ross Martin (DuPont/Jack Links/Polaris) pulled off his second massive start in as many nights, nailing the Stud Boy Holeshot and towing the Pro Open field up the first massive hill at Lake Geneva. But as quickly as you could say “left hander,” Justin Broberg (Hentges Racing/Polaris) shot to the outside of Martin and led pack back down the same hill.

 With Kyle Pallin (LaVallee Racing/Polaris) following in 3rd and Hibbert in 4th, the four sled pack separated from the field and took to breaking way on the longest track on the AMSOIL Championship Snocross racing circuit this year. Hibbert would make a move towards the end of lap two to get by Pallin, then soon after charged past Martin – who had checked up for a split second on top of a large berm.

Snowmobile racing Hibbert
Tucker Hibbert completed his snocross sweep on Sunday.

Hibbert would then set his site on Broberg, who he set up and passed on the outside of a downhill section, doubling past Broberg through air – and into the lead for good to secure the 1st/1st/1st sweep of Lake Geneva this weekend.

“This was easily the best season I’ve ever had,” said Hibbert, who won 15 out of 17 AMSOIL Championship Races, along with his seventh-straight X Games Snocross gold medal. “The track today wasn’t easy, and that’s the way it should be. Separated the men from the boys and we had to work for the win.”

 With Broberg in 2nd place, his Hentges Racing/Polaris teammate Kody Kamm was rushing up from 4th – and gaining on Martin. Martin would make a mistake in trying to get past Broberg on a hilltop turn, tipped over and allowed Kamm to get by for 3rd. Martin would remount to make the top five (5th), behind Pallin in 4th place.

Said Broberg of his first-ever Pro Open class podium: “It’s been a long time coming. This is my third year in the Pro Open class and we’ve come a long way. Getting my first podium here at Lake Geneva couldn’t have ended the season any better.”

 Lake Geneva Sunday Pro Open results

   1 Tucker Hibbert Monster Energy/Arctic Cat 68 Arctic Cat Pelican Rapids, MN  

2 Justin Broberg Hentges Racing 168 Polaris Mukwonago, WI

3 Kody Kamm Hentges Racing 53 Polaris Kenosha, WI

4 Kyle Pallin Team LaVallee 324 Polaris Ironwood, MI

5 Ross Martin Judnick Motorsports 837 Polaris Burlington, WI

6 Petter Narsa Team Jimmy John’s/Ski-doo/BossRacing 271 Ski-Doo Moskosel,

7 David Joanis ROYAL DISTRIBUTING 115 Arctic Cat Cochrane (Kok rane), Ontario

8 Logan Christian Christian Brothers Racing / Drift 43 Arctic Cat Fertile, MN

9 Cody Thomsen Arctic Cat 62 Arctic Cat Nisswa, MN

10 Mike Bauer Jess Racing 717 Arctic Cat medford, WI

11 Lincoln Lemieux Amsoil/Air Force/Rockstar 13 Ski-Doo St. Johnsbury, VT

12 Colby Crapo Huber Motorsports 999 Ski-Doo St.Anthony, ID

13 Jake Scott Team LaVallee 42 Polaris Port Jefferson Station, NY

14 Bobby LePage Cottew Motorsports 244 Polaris Duluth, MN

15 Zach Pattyn Stud Boy Racing 99 Ski-Doo Ravenna, MI

 

Overall Pro Open Standings

1 Tucker Hibbert 17 727 727 Monster Energy/Arctic Cat 68 Arctic Cat Pelican Rapids, MN

2 Kody Kamm 17 584 584 Hentges Racing 53 Polaris Kenosha, WI

3 Kyle Pallin 17 550 550 Team LaVallee 324 Polaris Ironwood, MI

4 Cody Thomsen 17 513 513 Arctic Cat 62 Arctic Cat Nisswa, MN

5 Justin Broberg 17 506 506 Hentges Racing 168 Polaris Mukwonago, WI

6 Logan Christian 17 470 470 Christian Brothers Racing / Drift 43 Arctic Cat Fertile, MN  

7 David Joanis 17 456 456 ROYAL DISTRIBUTING 115 Arctic Cat Cochrane (Kok rane), Ontario

8 Petter Narsa 17 421 421 Team Jimmy John’s/Ski-doo/BossRacing 271 Ski-Doo Moskosel,

9 Ross Martin 11 387 387 Judnick Motorsports 837 Polaris Burlington, WI

10 Levi LaVallee 17 327 327 Team LaVallee 108 Polaris Longville, MN

11 Jake Scott 17 323 323 Team LaVallee 42 Polaris Port Jefferson Station, NY

12 Johan Lidman 13 323 323 Warnert Racing 52 Ski-Doo Pitea, Sweden

13 Zach Pattyn 17 259 259 Stud Boy Racing 99 Ski-Doo Ravenna, MI

14 Tim Tremblay 9 250 250 Amsoil/Air Force/Rockstar 11 Ski-Doo Ste Jeanne D’Arc, Quebec

15 Mike Bauer 13 234 234 Jess Racing 717 Arctic Cat medford, WI

16 Darrin Mees 14 233 233 BossRacing 9 Ski-Doo stanchfield, MN

17 Bobby LePage 16 199 199 Cottew Motorsports 244 Polaris Duluth, MN

18 Lincoln Lemieux 8 187 187 Amsoil/Air Force/Rockstar 13 Ski-Doo St. Johnsbury, VT

19 Iain Hayden 4 92 92 Rockstar Energy Polaris 93 Polaris Chatsworth, Ontario

20 Robbie Malinoski 5 86 86 Amsoil/Air Force/Makita 4 Ski-Doo Stacy, MN

 

Pro Lite Sunday

Andrew Carlson had one thing to accomplish today – and that was to win. And he did just that, finishing the 2013-’14 AMSOIL Championship Snocross, powered by Ram, on a high note at the season’s final race. Corin Todd had one thing to do as well, and that was to stay within 11 points of Carlson – and Todd did just that, winning the overall Pro Lite championship by seven points over Carlson, 588-581, with a 3rd place run today.

 “It was a long season and it came down to the last race – and it couldn’t have ended any better,” said Todd, the reigning Pro Lite champion. “I qualified in 2nd place, got a pretty good start, picked the right lines and rode a smart race. I didn’t get the points lead this season until Fargo (N.D.), then I put on a strong finish through the end of the season. It’s great to win the title, but it was a struggle for sure.”

There was never a doubt for Carlson today, putting in his best effort of the second half of the AMSOIL Championship Snocross season. From the holeshot over James Johnstad (Judnick Motorsports/Polaris to a smooth, consistent run, the race win for Carlson today was well-deserved and well-received by the Carlson Motorsports team. “This is the race you think about all year, from when you’re training in the summer up to today. We had a lot of ups and downs this season, so I’m just happy to end the year on a positive note. It was win or crash trying – and we were fortunate to win today.”

Polaris Corin Todd
Corin Todd won the season Pro Lite championship on his Polaris

With Carlson up front and in control, Todd, who started in 4th place, would get past Leighton Motorsports/Polaris teammate Zak Mason for 3rd. Johnstad would stay strong in 2nd, recording his second podium of the Lake Geneva race weekend. Rounding out the top five today in Pro Lite racing were Mason in 4th and Arctic Cat’s Corey Watkinson in 5th.

Lake Geneva Sunday Pro Lite results

1 Andrew Carlson CARLSON MOTORSPORTS 151 Polaris Big Lake, MN

2 James Johnstad Judnick Motorsports 154 Polaris Beltrami, MN

3 Corin Todd Leighton Motorsports  136 Polaris Otego, NY

4 Zak Mason LEIGHTON MOTORSPORTS 863 Polaris Gaylord, MI

5 Corey Watkinson Watkinson Motorsports, Arctic Cat 173 Arctic Cat Port Carling, Ontario

6 Kevin Wallenstein Ingles Performance 122 Ski-Doo Cadillac, MI

7 Travis Muller Warnert Racing 436 Ski-Doo Windom, MN

8 Trevor Leighton Leighton Motorsports 931 Polaris Eagle, ID

9 Cole Cottew Cottew Motorsports 621 Polaris Lake Nebagamon, WI

10 Maxime Taillefer Taillefer Motorsports 144 Ski-Doo Laval West,

11 Spencer Cowing Cowing Brothers Racing 181 Ski-Doo Wyoming, MN

12 Casey Boylan Team Boylan 630 Ski-Doo Anchorage, AK

13 Michael George MFG Racing 307 Arctic Cat Pine Plains, NY

14 John Stenberg Team Bauerly Racing 259 Ski-Doo Lofsdalen, Sweden

14 Dylan Hall Royal / Hall Racing 421 Ski-Doo Ayr, Ontario

 

Overall Pro Lite Standings

1 Corin Todd 16 588 588 Leighton Motorsports  136 Polaris Otego, NY

2 Andrew Carlson 16 581 581 CARLSON MOTORSPORTS 151 Polaris Big Lake, MN

3 Corey Watkinson 16 515 515 Watkinson Motorsports, Arctic Cat 173 Arctic Cat Port Carling, Ontario

4 James Johnstad 16 512 512 Judnick Motorsports 154 Polaris Beltrami, MN

5 Andrew Lieders 16 510 510 Team LaVallee 857 Polaris Colby, WI  

6 Zak Mason 16 478 478 LEIGHTON MOTORSPORTS 863 Polaris Gaylord, MI

7 Trevor Leighton 16 437 437 Leighton Motorsports 931 Polaris Eagle, ID

8 John Stenberg 16 427 427 Team Bauerly Racing 259 Ski-Doo Lofsdalen, Sweden

9 Kevin Wallenstein 16 418 418 Ingles Performance 122 Ski-Doo Cadillac, MI

10 Travis Muller 16 362 362 Warnert Racing 436 Ski-Doo Windom, MN

11 Dylan Hall 16 353 353 Royal / Hall Racing 421 Ski-Doo Ayr, Ontario

12 Chase Rosemeyer 16 326 326 Team Bauerly Racing 675 Ski-Doo Chippewa Falls, WI

13 Nick Pattyn 16 290 290 Stud Boy Racing 198 Ski-Doo Ravenna, MI  

14 Jordan Kraus 16 278 278 Relentless Racing 105 Polaris Osage, MN

15 Korbyn Anderson 16 274 274 Team Anderson Racing 179 Ski-Doo Allenton, MI

16 Casey Boylan 12 199 199 Team Boylan 630 Ski-Doo Anchorage, AK

17 Michael George 14 196 196 MFG Racing 307 Arctic Cat Pine Plains, NY

18 Matt Pichner 13 174 174 HAALA Racing 193 Arctic Cat Owatonna, MN

19 Maxime Taillefer 8 171 171 Taillefer Motorsports 144 Ski-Doo Laval West,

20 Kyle Rau 12 156 156 Rau Racing 325 Arctic Cat Lawton, MI

 

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