island deserts field in pro stock at deadwood shootout
Amsnow
After a superb, snowy Ford Trucks Pro Stock final atop Terry Peak Ski Area, the weather turned and a heavy fog followed by a steady, cold rain forced the postponement of the second round of Bud Light Pro Open qualifying and the final today at the Arctic Cat Deadwood Shootout. The unfortunate change of weather also forced the postponement of the Semi-Pro Stock final to the Canterbury Snocross as well.
Nonetheless, a large crowd enjoyed a glorious blue-skied Saturday of qualifying and Sunday snows here during the World Snowmobile Association's (WSA) first visit to this beautiful venue for the third round of their international tour, the Snocross Worldwide Championship (SWC) presented by Ford Trucks. The track was long and challenging, with a very long, whooped-out downhill back stretch that was diabolical.
At the start of the Pro Stock Final, Dennis Eckstrom (AMSOIL Polaris) showed his speed in qualifying as he tied Blair Morgan (Coldwave/Oakley Ski-Doo) for top qualifier was no fluke, as he leapt into the early lead. Close at hand was a sophomore Pro named Michael Island (Bud Light Ski-Doo), who also had been impressive in the qualifying rounds. Behind them, Finn Tomi Ahmasalo (Formula XPS Ski-Doo), Carl Kuster (VP Fuels/Woody's Ski-Doo), with Morgan back a bit and Tucker Hibbert (Chevy Trucks/Speedwerx Cat) once again buried way back in the pack.
Island soon moved by Eckstrom, and opened up a lead, and Kuster and Morgan got into a huge intra-team war for fourth, which Hibbert soon joined. For lap after lap, no matter what Morgan through at him, Kuster covered beautifully, and when Morgan got radical and then couldn't get by, Hibbert would come along side. About two-thirds through the final, they went three abreast down the back straight, they all bumped, and Hibbert was forced over the edge of the course and lost serious ground while Morgan slipped by Kuster for fourth.
Meanwhile, Ahmasalo had passed Eckstrom for second, and Morgan then demoted Eckstrom to fourth, and set out after Ahmasalo, but he was well adrift. He closed, and drove a stunning last lap to both catch and pass the Finn for second. Hibbert also drove a phenomenal last lap, as he made up his deficit and also caught and passed Eckstrom for fourth. But, no one other than Ahmasalo threatened Island, and as the battles waged behind him late in the race, he open up the lead.
Amanda Johnson (Woody's/EPI Ski-Doo) won her third straight Parts Unlimited Pro Women final, keeping her undefeated in finals on the season, with Julie Thul (Maxima Oils/Sportech Polaris) second and Jolene Bute (C&A Pro/Scott Cat) third. In the U.S. Air Force Pro Vet final, Craig Jones piloted his Ski-Doo to the win over Paul Englestad (ROX/Woody's Cat) and Kirk Hibbert (Chevy Trucks/Speedwerx Cat).
A couple of Semi-Pros continued dominant seasons as Steve Taylor (Coldwave/Woody's Ski-Doo) put up a huge win in the Fox Racing Shox Semi-Pro Open final on Saturday, as did Bobby Barycki (Red Bull/Goodwin Perf. Cat) in the Reima Semi-Pro Fan final.
The next round of the Snocross Worldwide Championship presented by Ford Trucks will be the Polaris Canterbury Snocross the weekend of Jan.11-12 2003 at the legendary Canterbury Park horse track in Shakopee, Minnesota. Again, that event will include the conclusion of the Pro Open and Semi-Pro Stock classes from Deadwood.