UPDATE: The agreement between Brett Richter and the USSA Board of Directors fell apart a few days after this story was posted.
The leading North American traveling tour for snowmobile oval sprint racing has a new leader. And it’s somebody who is quite familiar to many insiders in the sport.
Brett Richter – a longtime insider himself whose interest in snowmobile oval racing spans more than 50 years – has been tabbed to lead the USSA ProStar Cup Tour starting with the 2025-26 season.
The change was unveiled at the United States Snowmobile Association (USSA) season-ending meetings March 22. Bob Richardson, the USSA director of competition, announced the move in a rules meeting that was broadcast online by the Dirty Sno Podcast crew.
“Brett contacted us a month or month and a half ago, he reached out to myself and [USSA President] Leonard [Wiedemeyer],” Richardson said. “We had a couple of zoom meetings, we’ve met and talked and he proposed a few things. We’ve had board meetings since then and the board has taken it on. We’re excited. We can always grow and do things better… I think Brett is great coming on board with us again and taking on the ProStar Cup Tour. We’ll still be the USSA ProStar Cup Tour, but there will be some changes in the works. Hopefully we can grow it and make it better.”
Richter then explained, “I think the beauty of what I’m going to try to do over the next 12 months is that I don’t have a horse in this race. I’m not affiliated with a team, I’m not affiliated with a venue, I’m not affiliated with a manufacturer.
“For some reason, what you guys do on an ice oval track intrigues me to no end,” he said to the racers and race teams, “and I think we have to share that with the right people so the sport has the opportunity to grow. And that’s my motivation. I don’t have anything else, so I’m going to be as transparent as you want and need me to be.”
Richter then introduced some team members he has already assembled, who are noted in the press release below.
The ProStar Cup Tour has been a North American points series modeled after the previous TLR Cup series. It’s been administered out of the USSA circuit, though it has included many races that aren’t “regular” USSA races – including historic races in Quebec, Ontario and Manitoba. Its primary focus has been the high-profile Pro Champ 440 class, though there have been other points battles in the nine-race tour. This year, Blaine Stephenson was the Pro Champ series champion.
Though he never raced himself, Richter has long been tied closely tied to and passionate about the sport. In an interview on Snow Goer Live in December, he explained how he has been hooked on the excitement of oval racing since he attended an Ironwood Olympus race as a child in 1969. In his adult life, he was involved with the Ironwood Olympus organizing group, then the TLR Cup and then USSA.
He’s also turned into a media personality – including hosting videos in the TLC Cup days, doing similar work for USSA, his own Chasing The Checkers effort and working with CooledDownTV broadcasts at races at Beausejour, Manitoba. He’s also been a contributor of race stories to SnowGoer.com.
Here’s the press release (below) from Richter and his group:
ProStar Cup Tour under new leadership. Richter takes the helm.
In a bold move by the United States Snowmobile Association (USSA), the organization has appointed Brett Richter of Hurley, Wisconsin as the newest ProStar Cup Tour Director. With over 20 years of involvement in snowmobile ice oval racing, 10 of those at the Tour level, Richter comes to the ProStar Tour with experience, drive, and determination.
The announcement came from USSA Director of Competition, Bob Richardson at the annual USSA banquet held in Wausau, Wisconsin this past weekend. Richardson said Richter proposed a solid plan for the Tour moving forward and was a great choice to take over leadership of the sport’s premier series. In addition, Richters appointment was strongly supported by the entire USSA Board of Directors.
2024-25 ProStar Tour points champion, Blaine Stephenson, driver of the #102 Wahl Brothers Polaris, said of Richter’s appointment as Tour Director, “I’m very excited for the next chapter of Pro Champ “Tour” racing. Brett is an amazing promoter of ice oval racing and the sky is the limit for the tour. The visions he has shared publicly already are very exciting and will surely help the ProStar Tour take the next step forward! I can’t wait to see what is in store for all of us that race pro champ!”
When asked about future plans, Richter quickly mentioned teaming up with Wausau area resident, Cara Spatz. Spatz joins the Tour staff as the marketing director. Her history with the very successful Wausau 525 Race and her extensive background in corporate branding, gives Spatz the necessary experience to hit the ground running during the 2025 off season. Richter stated, “Cara is a key component to the success of the Tour. I am very fortunate to have her working with us.”
In addition, Brad Malmgren (digital/media) of Lakeville, MN, Judith Olson (photographer) of Lodi, WI, Todd Richter (venue support) of Ironwood, MI and Troy Damgard (tech support) of Ironwood, MI have committed to volunteer positions on the new Tour staff. Richter said, “These four individuals bring energy and expertise to the Tour infrastructure while supporting the overall goal of growing the sport. Their vast history and knowledge can only make the process of re-energizing the Tour better.”
Richter went on to say that changes to the Tour are coming. When asked about those specific changes, Richter stated, “Some changes will be obvious and some will be subtle.Personally, I am a big proponent of enhancing the fan experience. I believe for the sport to grow, we have to consider the fans, whether in person or online, when it comes to decisions we make to provide a quality product. We need to establish a level of respect that is both provided by and received by the Tour at all levels including fans, venues, and race teams. We need a mutually beneficial relationship with the venues we partner with. I anticipate the next 30-60 days to be relatively quiet for the new ProStar Tour as we get started behind the scenes. But once we are ready to re-launch the ProStar Tour to the public, be ready for an impactful media presence, on site race day enhancements, and more personal interaction.”
With the sport of ice oval racing needing a boost in exposure, Richter, Spatz, and the entire Tour volunteer team are polished and ready for the mission. Please watch for updated social media access, interviews, and publications as Richter looks to push the sport forward. The NEW ProStar Tour – “North America’s Premier Ice Oval Racing Series.”
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