Oval snowmobile racing seems to have an identity crisis. Even though the word “snow” is contained in the word snowmobile, snow is the last thing ice oval racers want to experience on race day. Whether it is on-track snow dust or natural falling snow, neither of those choices are welcome additions to a day of ice oval racing.
Mother Nature sent a message to the racers attending day two of the Ironwood Snowmobile Olympus on Sunday, January 5 in Ironwood, Michigan. With morning temperatures hovering near zero, lake effect winds from the northwest and cloud cover, on track visibility was the talk of the pit area. A persistent all day snow – beneficial to the local recreational snowmobile scene – proved detrimental for the premier classes on the historic half-mile in Ironwood.
The 440 Pro Champ class sent its first heat out on the track shortly after 11 a.m. Six sleds lined up on a well worn ice surface, with several spots showing the iron-rich earth underneath. Although the race surface was freshly groomed, natural falling snow added to the hanging snow dust, causing significant visibility issues.
After the start, Blaine Stephenson led the first lap on his consistently fast Wahl Brothers Polaris. Gunnar Sterne was in third after the first lap, but the rough ice in turn one caused him to lose traction and chatter all the way up to the haybales that line the outer edge of the track, causing a red flag situation. Sterne was not hurt and was able to drive his #220 Red Bull Ski-Doo back to the paddock area. Calvin Peterson, who was running in fourth place behind Sterne, was heard telling USSA race director Bob Richardson he never even saw Sterne. All he heard was “Red” on the raceceiver in his helmet. Visibility was that bad.
Richardson sent all of the Champ sleds back to the trailers, telling them a weather hold was in place for Pro Champ and F-III. It was the last time either class lined up for race action on Sunday.
Earlier in the day, with reduced lap count and smaller heat sizes, the F-III class was able to run two rounds of heats. Both Blaine Stephenson and Matt Goede continued their on track rivalry in the W.C. class by winning heat races and definitely outpacing the field. But once again, the continued influence of Mother Nature didn’t allow an F-III final to occur.
If there was a highlight to the snowy day, it was the successful running of round two of the Decker Triple Crown for the F-500 class. A total of 21 F-500 sled competed in three rounds of four heats each. With lower horsepower and slower speeds than the premier classes, racing was manageable, but not without challenges. After three rounds of heats and an LCQ, a full 12-sled field was set for a seven-lap final.
In what can only be described as a very professionally driven final, the F-500 field completed all seven laps on the big half-mile, green to checkered. The No. 9 of Dane Klinger set a fast early pace and never looked back. Using above-average visibility to his advantage and carefully picking lines on the quickly diminishing track, Klinger slowly pulled away from the field and ultimate won rRound 2 of the Decker Triple Crown. Klinger was followed by the No. 965 of Austin Graber, with the No. 98 of Nick Kurtz rounding out the podium.
The next round of the Decker Triple Crown will be run January 25 & 26 in Wausau, Wisconsin.
Teams leaving the historic Ironwood track now have their sights set on the World Championship Derby Complex in Eagle River which hosts the Vintage WC this coming weekend followed by the 62nd World Championship weekend January 17-19.
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Very accurate write up on Dane Klinger. He is a calulated force for sure !!