Polaris sent this release about its cross-country racing efforts this past weekend – the second race on the 2014-15 USXC schedule.
MEDINA, Minn. – The Polaris Axys platform is making a dramatic impact in cross-country snowmobile racing this season on the United States X-Country (USXC) Snowmobile Racing circuit. In USXC racing on Jan. 3 in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, Polaris racers on Rush models built on this innovative chassis finished 2-3 in the Pro Stock race, and six of the race’s top eight finishers were on Rush sleds. In the Pro Open race, five of the top 10 finishers were Polaris racers on Rush models.
In the USXC points standings, six of the top seven racers in Pro Stock points are on Rush sleds built on the Axys platform, as are four of the top 10 drivers in Pro Open points.
“The power-to-weight ratio of the new Rush built on the Axys platform has given us an advantage over the competition,” said Polaris Racing Manager Tom Rager Jr. “The reduced weight not only helps with the handling, but also gives us improved acceleration and top speed.”
USXC Pro: Axys Riders Dominate The Standings
In the Pro Stock race at Detroit Lakes, Gabe Bunke (Bunke Racing) took second place and Ryan Faust (Faust Racing) finished third. Justin Tate (2-Eight Motorsports) was fourth, Spencer Kadlec (Bunke Racing) was sixth, Travis Faust (Faust Racing) was seventh, and Bobby Menne (131 Racing) finished eighth. Ryan Faust left Detroit Lakes as the leader in Pro Stock points, followed by these Polaris racers in third through seventh place: Bunke, Tate, Travis Faust, Kadlec and Menne.
In the Pro Open race, five Polaris racers ran in the top 10, led by Nicholas Jahnke in fifth, Ryan Faust in sixth, Travis Faust in seventh, Tate in ninth, and Kadlec in 10th. Ryan Faust is currently fourth in Pro Open points, Travis Faust is fifth, Jahnke is sixth and Tate is in seventh.
USXC Semi-Pro: Polaris Earns 3 Of 6 Podium Spots
Polaris racers Alex Hetteen (131 Racing), Grant Weber (Faust Racing) and Taylor Bunke (Bunke Racing) all earned podium spots with strong finishes in the Semi-Pro races. Hetteen finished third in the Semi-Pro 600 and is currently third in class points, while Taylor Bunke is seventh in points.
In the Semi-Pro Improved race, Weber finished second, Taylor Bunke took third and Hetteen finished ninth. In the points standings, Weber is second place, Bunke is third and Hetteen is in eighth.
Grant Weber led a 1-2-3 Polaris sweep as he won the Sport Open race. While Weber took the checkered flag, Jason Cleasby finished second and Robert Loire took third. Jeff Hayford was seventh and Michael Feigitsch finished eighth.
In the Sport 600 race, Loire finished second, Hayford was sixth, Daniel Herberg was seventh, and Kelsey Pladson (Bunke Racing) took eighth. Loire left Detroit Lakes as the points leader in both Sport 600 and Sport Open. Pladson is third in Sport 600 points and Herberg is fourth.
Jill Tangen won the Women’s Class race and Kelsey Pladson took second. Anne Pladson (Bunke Racing) finished fifth and Kalley Bardson was sixth. Tangen is the class points leader and Kelsey Pladson is in second. Anne Pladson is fifth in points, Brittany Christensen (Christensen Racing) is sixth and Bardson is seventh.
Polaris racer Parker Thilmony finished second in the I-500 Class race, Robert Loire took sixth, Kyle Dickinson was seventh, and Michael Feigitsch was eighth. Thilmony also finished third in the Masters 40+ Factory Stock 600 race.
Andrew Diekmann earned podium finishes in both Expert 85 classes. He took second in Expert 85 and third in Expert 85 Improved. Matt Prusak finished third in the Trail Class race.
The next race on the USXC schedule is the Grafton (North Dakota) 100 on January 17.