top snocrossers head to shakopee minnesota

he stars of the World Snowmobile Association's (WSA) premier Snocross Worldwide Championship (SWC) international tour to duel for Manufacturer's Cup at Canterbury Park, located in the southern Minneapolis area suburb of Shakopee, Minnesota. The world's best snocrossers due to appear this weekend (February 23-24, 2002) for the SWC's eighth round.

While originally scheduled to also include the finale for the Woody's Extreme Ice Triple Crown, the continuing warm weather trend has forced that event to be moved. "The weather conditions have just not allowed us to make the type of track needed for high-speed oval racing," according to WSA Extreme Ice President Wally Scheer. "Therefore, in the interest of driver safety, we will shift the event to Beausejour, Manitoba, to be part of the 40th Annual Canadian Power Toboggan Championships. We were really looking forward to being a part of a truly spectacular WSA double-feature at Canterbury, and we are definitely going to try to make it happen next year, hopefully with Mother Nature's blessing."

WSA President Joe Duncan claims, "Canterbury Park is one of the most prestigious snowmobile racing locations in the world and that is exactly why it hosts the Manufacturer's Cup… We were really looking forward to coordinating with Wally Scheer and his excellent WSA Extreme Ice crew, and it's really unfortunate the weather just won't let it happen. But, we're sure going to make the best of it, as we'll combine our full SWC Saturday schedule with the unique Manufacturer's Cup program that will run in the evening under the lights. Then, we'll be back on Sunday for our complete SWC schedule, including our full Pro programs. This is still going to be one action packed weekend!"

The Manufacturer's Cup program features a unique qualifying format where up to 8 of the top riders from each manufacturer compete against themselves in one heat for each brand, with the top 2 advancing directly to the final. If less than five drivers are nominated by any manufacturer, then those riders will be included in the other heats, with the two nominated by the manufacturer automatically advancing to the final. Then, a Last Chance Qualifier (LCQ) will be run for the racers finishing 3rd, 4th and 5th in their respective heats, and the top 4 from the LCQ will go to the second row of the final, for a field of 12. The winning Manufacturer is the one with the best combined finishing position of its two highest finishing drivers. For example, if one manufacturer finished 1st and 5th, and another finished 2nd and 3rd , the second manufacturer would win the Manufacturer's Cup.

For discounted advance ticket and reserved seating information for the Canterbury event, please call 763-493-9929.