Let’s get you caught up on some quick racing news this Monday:
Johnson Wins At Beausejour
The ice oval racing season started this weekend at Beausejour, and the final results that are posted at the CPTC web site list Brandon Johnson as the winner on his Wahl Bros. No. 22 Polaris. But, according to the buzz on the message boards at snowgoer.com, it wasn’t as simple as that.
Michigan’s Gary Moyle led several laps at the beginning of the race on his Rotax-powered mod before he blew a belt. That handed the lead to “Flyin’” Bryan Bewcyk of neighboring Winnipeg, who later succumbed to problems related to a coolant leak.
All of this is not to say that Johnson was slow on his Jimmy John’s backed sled, however. He was the only driver to make it through all four of his heat races with victories. Michigan’s Malcolm Chartier finished second on his Houle-built Ski-Doo, with three-time World Champ PJ Wanderscheid third on his Hooper Cat.
It appeared to be a good weekend for Team Wahl Bros. Dustin Wahl took the Champ 600 final ahead of Matt Schulz and Brandon Johnson. Jordan Wahl claimed the Formula 500 final.
For more, and for some cool photos of the event by Rob Bye, make sure to check out the Ovals board on the SnowGoer website.
Elam In, Johnstad Out With Schuering
The Amsoil-backed Schuering Speed Sports team will have a new look this weekend at round two of the ISOC season. Andrew Johnstad has left the team and has been replaced in the Pro class by Willie Elam.
Johnstad, 24, of Beltrami, Minnesota, is a former Semi-Pro points champion on the national snocross circuit, but he looked quite bad at the season-opening Duluth Snocross race November 26-28, with a fifth being his best Pro Super Stock class finish, and a seventh was his best heat in Pro Open. Not surprisingly, he didn’t qualify for either final. No word on whether the problem was related to injury or mechanical issues, but Johnstad looked noticeable slow and unenthused going around the track.
Elam, of Buhl, Idaho, is a longtime racer out West who has made appearances in Pro and Semi Pro on Cat, Polaris and Ski-Doo equipment over the years. Last year he only raced one weekend on the ISOC circuit, and claimed third in the Semi-Pro Open final at Utah.
““Willie was in Duluth racing out of his own pocket and that alone says a lot about his character and determination,” said team owner Steve Scheuring. Elam is also an experienced free rider and is expected to take part in the Speed & Style competition at the Winter X Games.
