Benham Wins In Triumphant Return To Arctic Cat

Arctic Cat kicked off the 2025-2026 snocross racing season the right way with a thrilling victory by Daniel Benham Jr. upon his return to Team Arctic at Ironwood, Michigan, on December 12-13.

The Deer River, Minnesota, native grabbed the lead early on his Frattalone Racing Arctic Cat ZR 600 R-SX on a rugged ski hill course and then dominated a star-studded field to earn an impressive victory on the world’s top snocross circuit.

For Benham and Team Arctic, it was the culmination of a grand reunion. Growing up in a family of lifelong Arctic Cat super-enthusiasts, last year he found himself on a different brand after his then-current race team abruptly shuttered just before the season opener.

“The team I ended up on last year was fantastic and there was no reason for me to leave other than my passion for Arctic Cat,” Benham said. “I bleed green, it’s where I belong. And the timing of this win was really good – there’s a lot of excitement around the Arctic Cat brand right now.”

Combining his Saturday victory with strong showing in heat races both Friday and Saturday at Ironwood, Benham now holds first place in Pro class points after two rounds of racing.

Benham wasn’t the only Team Arctic Pro class racer putting in strong performances in Ironwood. Jacob Yurk was on the gas all weekend on his Kyllo Racing Arctic Cat and currently sits sixth in points.

In the Pro Am Plus 30 class, Tyler Oomen scored podium finishes both nights on his Hayes Racing Arctic Cat. He sits third in class points, with fellow Team Arctic racers Rob Boussum and Devin Denham sixth and seventh.

Meanwhile, the personable Jordan Biese scored his first-ever Pro-Lite podium finish on Friday after leading the vast majority of the final on his Beson Racing Arctic Cat. Fellow Team Arctic racers Eric Downs (Frattalone Racing) and Linus Pettersson (Green Mountain Racing) also made the Pro Lite finals both nights. 

Cerissa Blessum carried the Team Arctic flag to top five finishes both nights in the Pro Am Women division. Young riders proudly leading the way for Team Arctic included Ryder Harnois, who scored a victory in Junior 14-15, and Isaac Otto, who double-podiumed in the Transition 9-13 class.

“What an exciting way to start the SX season, having both Daniel and the Frattalone team back on Cat and then opening the season like this,” said Mike Kloety, Arctic Cat Snowmobile Race Manager. “It will only make them hungrier for more success. And Jake Yurk looked really good, too. He feels good and his Kyllo Racing team has his sleds working really well. I think we’ll be hearing from both groups a lot this winter.”

Whether on the racetrack, the trail or the backcountry, people all over are returning to Arctic Cat and finding success! The racing season continues this weekend for Team Arctic, with the season-opening Gerald Dyrdahl Memorial Pine Lake 200 cross-country race in Gonvick, Minnesota.