Stephenson Season Sweep Continues In Pro Champ Ovals

Blaine Stephenson’s early season dominance on the USSA ProStar Cup Tour continued on the ice oval in Wausau, Wisconsin, on January 25. The Hutchinson, Minnesota-based racer and four-time World Champion – all earned on Champ-chassis, Polaris-powered machines – won his fourth consecutive final within the ProStar Cup point series in the class.

It wasn’t easy, however, as Stephenson had to battle with an impressive and varied group of fast snowmobiles that were piloted by an interestingly varied group of racers, including strong veterans and young up-and-comers. It all occurred on day one at the Wausau Sprint World Cup.

Blaine Stephenson
Blaine Stephenson’s dominance of Pro Champ finals on the USSA ProStar Cup Tour continued at the Wausau Sprint World Cup. Photo by Judith Olson

Pro Champ Path To The Final

With the hype and pressure of the Eagle River World Championships firmly in the mirror, the USSA organization took center stage for Round 4 of North America’s oval sprint racing ProStar Cup Tour. With very competitive stops for the first three rounds, expectations for a hotly contested race day were met with renewed desires to appear on the Tour podium.

Morning broke with an inch of fresh snow covering the aqua blue ice oval located just west of Wausau, Wisconsin. Led by Tour leader, No. 102 Blaine Stephenson, a total of 20 drivers from throughout the United States and Canada had registered for the fourth of nine scheduled stops on the ProStar Cup Tour. Facing three rounds of heats and an LCQ, eight of the 20 registered drivers would be watching the final from the bleachers.

The three heats of round one at Wausau saw some of the best racing of the season. In heat one, the No. 54 Ski-Doo of Calvin Peterson took an early lead and for seven laps, there was a collective blanket over the first six racers. Close corners, elbows up, fast speeds and competitive lines were all on display as Peterson led green to checker. The crowd showed its appreciation with a deserved applause.

Heats two and three of round one saw Tour regulars Gunnar Sterne, Justin Peterson, Stephenson and Matt Goede take the top two spots in each heat. The Sterne holeshot was slightly off pace, causing Sterne to navigate early traffic before securing the heat two win. In heat three, Goede made a late race pass to beat Stephenson to the line.

Pro Champ round two at Wausau saw more outstanding seven-lap heat races for the Tour. The No. 11 of Fred Manke took heat one with an impressive win over second-place Goede. Heat two saw the return of the Sterne holeshot as he won the seven-lap heat with No. 3 Danick Lambert and No. 39x of Justin Peterson finishing second and third. Stephenson took the third heat virtually uncontested even after an early-race red flag. Canadian veteran racer, No. 55 Brett Keilbeck, drifted high out of turn two catching the bales. After hooking the bales, the sled headed right and whipped Keilbeck off, sending him on a long fast spinning ice ride. Thankfully, after a visit with medical personnel, Keilbeck was released but he was unable to return for the remainder of the race day.

oval start
Racing was fast and furious all day at the Wausau Sprint World Cup. Image from Judith Olson.

The first heat of round three found Sterne out front again, thereby securing the top seed for the upcoming 15-lap final. Several up-and-coming racers including Jordan Sobetski and Hunter Sears battled closely for top-three finishes but never challenged Sterne. Heat 2 saw Stephenson work through some early traffic to secure the win and earn the number two seed for the final. Canadian driver Travis MacDonald finally showed the form that has made him successful at the Wausau facility by taking the third heat.

The last-chance qualifier found a few surprises in the lineup, including MacDonald and Tour top five racer Danick “Hollywood” Lambert in the mix. Both were able to qualify through to the final. They were joined by Tour newcomer Ashten Christensen.

Pro Champ Final

With a nice crowd on the hill in Wausau and several occupied seats in the hot boxes, the Tour final came to line right before 4 pm. 28 degrees. Aa stiff westerly wind and clear skies made for great conditions for the Round 4 final.

Being a student of the game, Goede seemed to have the flagman’s starting procedure pegged and nailed a perfect start leading into turn one. Followed by Stephenson and the rest of the field, Goede took the lead and showed the way for roughly the first half of the race. Another uncharacteristic slow start found Sterne in the front half of the pack but with work to be done.

The 15-lap final clicked off some very quick laps on the third-mile track in Wausau. At the halfway point, Stepheson was able to drive underneath Goede and take over the lead. Until heading out of turn four for the last time, Stephenson never looked back, but after that look and a quick wave to the crowd, the No. 102 Wahl Brothers Polaris secured his fourth straight Tour victory.

Travis MacDonald
Travis MacDonald at Wausau on Jan. 25, 2025. Image by Judith Olson

With about five laps remaining, Sterne was able to get by a slowing Goede for second place. Goede held on to complete the podium in third place. All 12 of the starters were still running at the end of the 15-lap final. The podium finishers were followed by Calvin Peterson, Gavin Peterson, MacDonald, Justin Peterson, Reed Klinger, Fred Manke, Lambert, Sobetski and Christensen.

After competing for the Sprint World Cup on Sunday, the Tour heads out east to compete for the Bonnechere Cup in Eganville, Ontario, followed by a stop in Valcourt, Quebec, before returning to Manawa, Wisconsin, for the SnoDeo event on February 15 and 16.

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