Showing the sort of pluckiness that has long been a trademark of the main snocross racing series – dating back several decades and carrying through several sanctioning bodies – the ISOC Amsoil Championship Snocross series is charging forward with its 2021 race season, though some adaptations are being made due to the COVID-19 coronavirus and its resultant restrictions.
Specifically, ISOC announced on the eve of Christmas eve that the season-opener at the ERX Motor Park in Minnesota will go on as scheduled in early January with alterations, and also took the wraps off a new host site created to make up for a different event that had to cancel.
The opener at ERX in Elk River, Minnesota, January 8-9, will be held without fans, the circuit announced, but the race will go on. The ERX National Guidelines were included In a letter to racers and race teams sent earlier this week that stated there would be no individual spectators allowed on the grounds, and also there would be a limited number of people allowed from each team — the rider plus three others considered “essential crew.”
The ERX rules also stated that there would be no on-site food service and no bleachers, and it discouraged “unnecessary mingling of teams,” with consequences for those found roaming around without proper face protection. “I do understand it may be frustrating to some of you guys, but like I said before, we are lucky to be able to go racing so please do your part in this,” the letter stated.
Meanwhile, the fifth weekend of racing planned for Salamanca, New York, was changed on the circuit’s website a couple of weeks ago to simply a “TBA.” Now that announcement is being made – rounds 9-10 on the schedule will be run in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, at the W.H. Lyon Fairgrounds and Expo Center on February 19-20. It’s located on the west central part of town, right off of Highway 29. Also, the Amsoil Dominator specialty event was moved to Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, in March.
Yeah, it’s a bummer a crowd won’t be there for the opener, but it’s very impressive that they’re able and willing to hold the events one way or another. Dating back to when they used to scrape parking lots to collect snow in dry years on up through MRP, the MRP World Series, WSA, WPSA and to ISOC, the dedication to insiders within snocross to pull off their events no matter what has been admirable over the years, and it continues to this day. The host ISOC circuit held off-road races this summer at ERX with great success, but it is adapting its rules to the current situation.
Amsoil Championship Snocross Alters Opening Rounds & Solidifies Sioux Falls
Albertville, Minn. – The 2021 Amsoil Championship Snocross, Powered by Ram, season is set to begin in less than three weeks, although there will be major changes to two of the series’ eight events, including no spectators at ERX and a second stop in South Dakota.
ERX Motor Park in Elk River, Minnesota, has become a center-point for motorsports in the Midwest. The facility previously held events this year that were able to meet the state’s COVID-19 protocols. However, the recent extension of restrictions in Minnesota means, the event must be held without fans onsite. The opening rounds of AMSOIL Championship Snocross will become a two-day event at ERX on January 8-9. The AMSOIL Dominator, which was originally scheduled for Friday night, will now be moved to the RAM Trucks Snocross National this March, in Lake Geneva, WI.
“ERX has been working tirelessly with local and state officials on a plan to host a safe event in January,” said ISOC president Carl Schubitzke. “ Although ERX was able to safely host major events with spectators this past summer, the recent uptick in COVID cases, coupled with much more restrictive mandates by Minnesota’s Governor Tim Walz, has essentially forced them to eliminate spectators for our January event.”
The series is happy to announce that Sioux Falls, South Dakota, will now host a National, originally scheduled for February 19-20 in New York. Unfortunately, the Salamanca event was cancelled due to state restrictions. The series was eagerly welcomed with open arms by local leaders, paving the way for a full, two-day national event at the W.H. Lyons Fairgrounds.
“There was so much positivity and excitement when we met with the Sioux Falls group,” said Schubitzke. “They are enthusiastic about the event, and we are extremely lucky to have found a partner that is able to enhance our national schedule in such a short window of time.”
The 2021 AMSOIL Championship Snocross series will be comprised of 16 national rounds, starting at ERX and ending in late March in Grand Rapids, Mich. All events will air on the series live-stream channels, as well as the CBS Sports Network airing in the weeks following the race.
About ISOC: Championship Off-Road and AMSOIL Championship Snocross, Powered by Ram, are owned and operated by the International Series of Champions (ISOC) out of Albertville, Minn. For more information on its events and schedules, go to www.snocross.com.