Polaris RMK Wins ‘King of the Hill’ Title at Jackson Hole World Championships as Polaris Hill Climbers Win Four Class Titles
MEDINA, MN (March 29, 2006) – Polaris snowmobile hillclimbers used a total team effort powered by Polaris Liberty™ engines to claim five World Championships – along with the coveted Stock King of the Hill title won by Rick Ward – at the 31st annual World Championship Snowmobile Hillclimb held March 23-26 on Snow King Mountain overlooking Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
Using Stock Liberty engines, Ward set the pace for Polaris as he dominated the Stock competition.
- Ward won World Championships in Pro Masters Stock and Pro 600 Stock.
- He went on to compete for – and win – the overall Stock King of the Hill title.
- He made the two fastest Stock runs up the mountain, the fastest coming on a sled with a Liberty 900 Cleanfire™ Injection (CFI) engine, and the second-fastest on a sled powered by the class-leading Liberty 600 HO.
“Our strong showing was the result of a total team effort that was led by Rick Ward, one of the best-organized and most-successful competitors in hillclimb history,” said Polaris Racing Manager Tom Rager, Sr. “Out West, Rick is in charge of our hillclimb program, and this World Championship success is testimony to his leadership skills.”
Along with Ward, a hillclimb legend from Sugar City, Idaho, Polaris racer Kirk Williamson had great success at the World Championships. Williamson, who is from Logan, Utah, finished second behind Ward in Pro Masters Modified, and he led a 1-2-3 Polaris sweep in the highly competitive Pro 600 Modified class. Williamson won Pro 600 Modified followed by Sandy Sletten of Pinedale, Wyoming, and Brook Beckstrom of Spanish Fork, Utah, in second and third, respective.
In the Women’s class, Shannon Barngrover of Spring Creek, Nevada, won the World Championship on a Polaris.
Polaris took three of the top four spots in Pro Masters Stock. Ward took first followed by David Sharp of Moxee, Washington, and Brad Sharp took fourth. Polaris also finished 1-2 in Pro Masters Modified with Ward winning and Williamson taking second.
Polaris racers won 18 Pro podium spots, led by Ward, who earned podium positions in three classes. Both Shane Hart and Kirk Williamson finished in the top three in two classes.
Truly a World Championship-Caliber Site
Snow King Mountain poses a daunting challenge to the hillclimbers. It rises 1,500 vertical feet, offering a spectacular view of Jackson Hole and its neighboring valleys. As hillclimbers negotiate the upper section of the course, they are climbing at an angle of nearly 45 degrees. Not every competitor reaches the top of the mountain, especially in years when the snow isn’t set up to provide much traction. In premier classes where competitors such as Ward and Sharp are reaching the top, results are based on the fastest time from start to summit.
About Polaris
With annual 2005 sales of $1.9 billion, Polaris designs, engineers, manufactures and markets snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), Victory Motorcycles and the Polaris RANGER for recreational and utility use.
Polaris is a recognized leader in the snowmobile industry; and one of the largest manufacturers of ATVs in the world. Victory Motorcycles, established in 1998 and representing the first all-new American-made motorcycle from a major company in nearly 60 years, are rapidly making impressive inroads into the motorcycle cruiser marketplace. Polaris also enhances the riding experience with a complete line of Pure Polaris apparel, accessories and parts, available at Polaris dealerships.
Polaris Industries Inc. trades on the New York Stock Exchange and Pacific Stock Exchange under the symbol "PII," and the Company is included in the S&P Small-Cap 600 stock price index.
Information about the complete line of Polaris products, apparel and vehicle accessories is available from authorized Polaris dealers or anytime from the Polaris homepage at www.polarisindustries.com.
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