Team Arctic racers came in hot last weekend, delivering wins, filling podiums, and grabbing season points titles at events in Minnesota, Idaho and beyond.
Arctic Cat racers stacked up an incredible 20 podium finishes at the Rocky Mountain Snowmobile Hillclimb Association finale at Tamarack, Idaho, on April 3-4. In the Pro division, the 600-class Arctic Cat machines led the way up the steep, gated racecourse. Team Arctic’s Riley Kincaid powered to a Pro 600 Improved class win and added a third in Pro 600 Stock, while Russ Tapio raced to second in Pro 600 Stock and third in Pro 600 Modified.
The Tapio name was everywhere on the leaderboard. Aaron Tapio scaled the ski hill course the fastest to win Semi-Pro Stock and backed it up with seconds in both Semi-Pro Modified and Semi-Pro Open. Kyle Tapio roosted his way to second in Pro Master Modified and third in Pro Master Improved.
Over in the Maki Racing trailer, the winning hardware kept piling up. Tim Maki made it three straight wins in RMSHA’s Pro Senior Stock class and added a trio of runner-up finishes in Pro Master Stock, Pro Senior Improved and Pro Senior Modified. Maki capped his successful season with a Pro Senior King title. Racing out of the same trailer, Arctic Cat’s Ryder McMillen grabbed the Amateur Modified win and took second in both Amateur Stock and Amateur Improved Stock. The talented Tiffany McWilliams topped the Women Modified field and was third in Women Improved.
The ISOC Amsoil Championship Snocross series finale in Duluth, Minnesota, brought more Team Arctic fireworks on the legendary and challenging Spirit Mountain course. Daniel Benham and Jacob Yurk each earned top 5 Pro class finishes both nights on their ZR 600 R-SX sleds. Benham’s third place Friday was his eighth podium of the season, helping him secure third overall in season points.
One of the snocross racing’s most consistent riders this season was Team Arctic’s Tyler Oomen. In 14 rounds of Pro Am Plus 30 competition this year, Oomen finished on the podium in 12 rounds – including two third place runs at Duluth. On Saturday, Arctic Cat racer Devin Denham earned his first “national” podium of the season in the same class. Next generation Arctic Cat racers also flashed their talents, with Isaac Otto and Grayson Grochowski second and third in Transition 9-13, and Mason Broden third in Junior 14-15.
Thursday night’s ISOC Sundown Showdown – a specialty, non-points race featuring stars of various regional snocross circuits – added even more excitement. Denman raced to victory in the Pro Am Plus 30 class, with fellow Arctic Cat racer Stuart Brandt in third. Team Arctic’s Eleanor Schmidt was a double winner. First, she claimed top honors in Girls 14-17 with Arctic Cat’s Astrid Faul grabbing third, then Schmidt stepped up to the Pro Am Women class and won again with Mckaylee Meyerhofer second. Other Showdown podiums were earned by Austin Allen (Pro Lite), Aiden Beckman (Sport), Easton Green (Transition 8-10), Rylan Nelson (Jr. 14-17) and Isaac Otto (Transition 11-13).
“Our racers and their team members wear their Team Arctic pride on their sleeves everywhere they go, taking on the best in the world,” said Mike Kloety, Team Arctic Race Manager. “Arctic Cat fans everywhere share their passion, are thrilled by their efforts and rejoice in their results, knowing that better snowmobiles will be created by what is learned in the process.”
As the season winds down, the momentum is already building for next year. There’s room for every fan on Arctic Cat’s bandwagon, and opportunities available on the Team Arctic race team next winter. The applications is posted as a link below - and the April 15 deadline is fast approaching.
About Arctic Cat Arctic Cat has been a leader in the offroad industry since 1962. Arctic Cat markets its Snowmobile, ATV and SXS products through a network of independent dealers located throughout the United States and Canada and through distributors representing dealers in Europe, South America, the Middle East, Asia and other international markets.
