Polaris Fields The Sport’s Deepest Roster of Snocross Racers For 2006-’07 Season
MEDINA, MN (September 9, 2006) – For the Polaris snowmobile racing program, the time is now. With seasoned Pro racers poised for their best season ever, and up-and-coming racers evolving in the Semi-Pro and Sport classes, Polaris snocross racing teams can’t wait for the season to begin.
“In the 20 years I’ve been doing this, this is the most exciting roster I have ever had,” said Tom Rager, Sr., who is entering his seventh season as Polaris Snowmobile Racing Manager.
“This is without a doubt the deepest team ever assembled at the WPSA level.” Pro racers who will continue to pilot the Polaris 440 IQ™ race sled on the WPSA circuit include: D.J. Eckstrom, TJ Gulla, Matt Judnick, Levi LaVallee, Ross Martin and Mike Schultz.
They will be joined in the Pro ranks by these newcomers to the Polaris team: Idaho native Shaun Crapo, Eastern racing stars Danny Poirier, Cullen Howe and Tyler Sedlmeier, and young but experienced WPSA racer Willie Elam and his Rocky Mountain Motorsports teammate Joe Parsons.
“We need to keep everybody healthy but without a doubt we are the deepest manufacturer out there, especially with the addition of Shaun Crapo,” said Rager. Crapo has enjoyed great success on Western racing circuits and in WPSA racing, while Poirier has won multiple points titles on the Rock Maple Racing (RMR) circuit in the Northeast. Profiles of the 2006-2007 Polaris Snocross racing teams are attached.
AVALANCHE RACING
Team Co-Owners: Mike and Bonnie Glefke
Crew Chief: Jayme Cheney
Truck Driver: Matt Knutson
Addition Crew: Chris Glefke aka. “Hot Rod”
Pro Driver: Mike Schultz #5
#5 Mechanic: Chad Kyllo
Semi Pro Driver: Andrew Johnstad #255
#255 Mechanic: Mike Burgad
Sport Driver: David Glefke #147
#147 Mechanic: Cody Braaten
Avalanche Racing Notes:
• The team has relocated its race shop to the West Fargo, North Dakota, area.
• Mike Schultz finished 13th in WPSA Pro Open points and 12th in Pro Stock last season.
• Mike Schultz is already qualified for the Winter X Games based on his performance in Iceland at the end of last season.
• Website: www.avalancheraceteam.com
CYCLE WORX
Co-owners: Lisa and Ray Hulten
Pro Racers: Danny Poirier, Cullen Howe, Tyler Sedlmeier
Semi-Pro Racer: Adam Sedlmeier
Cycle Worx Notes:
• The team is based in St. Johnsville, New York.
• Co-owner Ray Hulten raced Polaris sleds for many years.
• Danny Poirier will compete for the Rock Maple Racing (RMR) Pro title as well as at WPSA national events.
• Danny Poirier, who grew up one mile from the Ski-doo factory in Valcourt, Quebec, is a past RMR Pro champion who was runner-up in Pro points last season.
• Cullen Howe won the RMR Semi-Pro title two years ago.
HENTGES RACING
Team Co-Owner: Nate Hentges
Team Manager: Tim Bender
Athlete Manager: Todd Wolff
Crew Chief: Rob Schatzle
Semi-Pro Racers: Johnny Hentges, Bobby LePage
Crew Chief: Glen Kafka
Pro Racer: Levi LaVallee
Semi-Pro Racer: Chris Kafka
Crew Chief: Tim Bender
Pro Racer: TJ Gulla
Semi-Pro Racer: Brett Bender
Hentges Racing Notes:
• TJ Gulla won the WPSA Pro Stock points championship in the 2004-’05 season.
• Levi LaVallee came in second at the 2006 X Games and won two Pro races last year.
• Website: http://www.hentgesracing.com/
JUDNICK MOTORSPORTS
Team Co-Owners: Scott and Colleen Judnick
Crew: Roger Faber, Tony Swiontek, Tom Rager, Jr.
Pro Racers: Ross Martin, Matt Judnick
Semi-Pro Racer: Dylan Martin
Judnick Motorsports Notes:
• Ross Martin was 43 total points from winning both WPSA Pro points titles last season. He finished second in Pro Open points, just 23 points out of first, and was second in Pro Stock, 20 points behind first place.
• Ross Martin won the WPSA Semi-Pro Open and Stock titles in 2004-’05.
• Matt Judnick won four Semi-Pro points titles before moving up to Pro racing.
• Website: http://www.judnickmotorsports.com/
ROCKY MOUNTAIN MOTORSPORTS
Team Owner: Jim Hogue
Crew Chief: Shawn Ellis
Mechanics: Marty Chin, Shawn Ellis, Jim Hogue, Rollie Bartell
Pro Racers: Willie Elam, Joe Parsons
Semi-Pro/Sport Racers: Derek Ellis, Rylie Hogue
RMM Notes:
• The RMM team is relocating to Minnesota for the winter so it has a Midwestern base closer to WPSA race venues.
• All four racers have enjoyed success on Western racing circuits, primarily the Mountain West Racing (MWR) circuit.
• Willie Elam has been racing on the WPSA circuit for the past three winters.
• Website: www.rmsnocross.com
SCHEURING SPEED SPORTS
Team Owner/Crew Chief: Steve Scheuring
Mechanics: Tony Clement, Adam Robinson, Jamie Omdahl
Pro Racers: D.J. Eckstrom, Shaun Crapo
Scheuring Speed Sports Notes:
• Last season Shaun Crapo won Pro Open at West Yellowstone and won Pro Stock at Winnipeg and Park X.
• Last season D.J. Eckstrom won the season-opening Pro Open race that was scheduled for his home town of Duluth, MN, but held three weeks later in Gaylord, Michigan, because of Duluth fog.
• D.J. missed the Pro Open championship last year by only 35 points.
• Early in his career, Shaun raced for Polaris, so this marks a return to the brand.
• Scheuring Speed Sports operates a snocross testing facility, Planet X, in Aurora, MN. Planet X track time can be rented by any Pro, Semi-Pro and Sport racers and race teams. The facility has its own snowmaking and grooming equipment and is open in early November.
• Website: www.scheuring-speedsports.com
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 in-roads 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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