reigning watercross champ steenberg does it again

An elated Howie Steenberg, Inver Grove Heights, Minn., gave his trademark smile and said, "This will keep me going for another year!" Steenberg, who came out of retirement last year to take the World Championship Watercross title, now has four to his name, making him second only to 12-time champ Mark Maki. "Unless they have three of these (Watercross World Championships) a year, I'll never pass Mark up," laughed Steenberg. Steenberg raced flawlessly all weekend at the 32nd Annual World Championship Snowmobile Watercross at Memory Lake Park in Grantsburg, Wis., taking firsts in every heat he entered. The event was hosted by the Grantsburg Hockey Association, July 18-20.

But there's more to the story than just what the fans saw on the water. It's a story of innovative mechanics, some bad luck and some true camaraderie among racers in the pits.

At the Frederic Watercross a few weeks ago, Steenberg wasn't able to make a complete oval without sinking, and he did not qualify for Sunday's race. "This is a brand new prototype motor," explained Steenberg of his '08 XP 800 R Ski-Doo and of the modifying work being done to it to make it the rocket it is. "We're doing things that are brand new. It takes some time to work out the bugs." Steenberg and racing partner Jason Houle, owner of Straightline Performance in Forest Lake, Minn., put in over 200 hours of engine work the week prior to the Grantsburg's event. "Jason does so much to help with this sport," said Steenberg. "He sponsors and helps out several of the racers."

Houle ran the sled in Friday's qualifying drag heats and ended the day well. Steenberg then raced Saturday's qualifying heats in the Pro Open ovals with no problems. But Sunday was a different story. Houle flew through the quarter and semi finals of the mod drags, but prior to the 4-man final, mechanical issues kept him from making it to the starting line.

"We tore down the whole motor and found a blown base gasket," said Steenberg. What would have been the end of the race for Steenberg, was quickly remedied by long-time friend Mark Maki. "Mark had a spare one," said Steenberg, who then went out to win both the quarter and semi finals. But how far does friendship go when the base gasket blows a second time and it's either produce another one and put Steenberg on the line with your son, or keep your tool box closed? In this case, it goes pretty far, because Maki handed the second one over with little hesitation. "If you win, you want to beat the best," laughed Mark about making it possible for Steenberg to compete against his son Chad.

In the exciting grand daddy race of the weekend, the Pro Open Oval, the crowd got quite a show as the six drivers, four of which were previous Watercross World Champions, all vied for the coveted title in the eight lap race. Andy Busse came in second with Chad Maki taking a third. Jeff Fisher, Dale Lindbeck and Mike Memory finished fourth, fifth and sixth respectively.

Steenberg's main sponsors are Straightline Performance and Danner Sales.

The Grantsburg Lions Club held its first Watercross competition in July 1977. The first race was simply held to see who could make it from the island on Memory Lake to the shore, some 300 ft. away. Most didn't, but the winner did go about 500 ft. In the following years, racers became more skilled and the machines more powerful. Today, there are both drags and ovals, with a six-lap championship run. Over 100 racers compete in the various classes. For more info on the World Championship Snowmobile Watercross, click here.

Complete Race Results:

Click here or look below.

600 Drags
1st - Mann Nordin
2nd - Travis Nelson
3rd - Jen Carlson
4th - Ron Kirchner
5th - Mark Engnes
6th - Brett Hass

800 Drags
1st - Aaron Hein
2nd - Dan Dressel
3rd - David Fischer
4th - Ryan Keith
5th - Gareth Cummings
6th - Jon Heideman

Mod Drags
1st - Loren Ward
2nd - Lenny Neis
3rd - Aaron Hein
4th - Jason Houle
5th - Jeff Fischer
6th - Chad Maki

Semi-Pro Stock Oval
1st - Nate Winberg
2nd - Brian Laybourn
3rd - Oliver Baillargeon
4th - Jason Meskill
5th - Jon Heideman
6th - Troy Davidsavor
7th - Tony Schaller
8th - David Fischer
9th - Jesse Leider
10th - Ryan Keith
11th - Matt Podgorski
12th - Jeff McFadden

Semi-Pro Open Oval
1st - Brian Laybourn
2nd - Ryan Jurek
3rd - Andy Collins
4th - Aaron Lundeen
5th - Jim Touhy
6th - Jim Kelly
7th - D.J. Lindbeck
8th - Kyle Carpenter
9th - Alex Nelson
10th - Oliver Baillargeon
11th - Chris Erzar
12th - Tony Schaler

Jump
1st - Jeremy Carlson
2nd - Loren Ward

Pro Stock Oval
1st - Chad Maki
2nd - Andy Busse
3rd - Ryan Jurek
4th - Todd Engstrand
5th - Leo Dunlavy
6th - T.J. Peterson
7th - Jeff Fischer
8th - Dan Hoffman
9th - Lance Brenizer
10th - Matt Ledin
11th - Bobby Penders
12th - Jon DuFour

Pro Open Oval
1st - Howie Steenberg
2nd - Andy Busse
3rd - Chad Maki
4th - Jeff Fischer
5th - Dale Lindbeck
6th - Mike Memory
7th - Brain McCurdy Jr.
8th - Shawn Zurn
9th - Kenny Kolitsch
10th - Aaron Wallin
11th - Bruce Koop
12th - Eric Peterson