Team Arctic Race Report: USXC Round 3

Team Arctic racers went into Willmar, Minn. for the third round of the USXC cross-country series on a roll and walked out with 13 victories and 39 of 60 podium positions.

Team Arctic/Christian Brothers Racing Pro Brian Dick once again topped the premier category, winning the Pro Open class and finishing second in Pro Stock. Teammate Zach Herfindahl took third in the Open while Wes Selby finished third in the Stock final. Along with Chad Lian and Jordan Torgerson, Team Arctic racers took five of the top 10 positions in the Open class.

There was even greater Team Green domination in the other class finals at Willmar. Lance Efteland led a podium sweep of the Semi Pro Improved class while both Chase Nordstrom and Gary Tintes each captured two wins in their respective classes. John Koch and Ean Voigt each came close to scoring two wins, and Jolene Bute returned to win the Women’s class for the second event in a row.

“Willmar was another great showing for our racers and teams,” says Mike Kloety, Team Arctic race manager. “Of course we want to win all of the classes, especially the premier Pro and Semi Pro events. And we’ve accomplished that at every race this season, so another brand winning one or two illustrates the difficulty of staying out front each week. There are no easy victories and when our racers don’t win it makes everyone work harder.

“Willmar was the last lake-ice race of the season in USXC. Now that we move into the ditches and terrain we’ll see some more great battles.”

While the National snocross tour was on break for the upcoming X Games, a CSRA regional snocross in Stadacona, Quebec, proved the perfect opportunity for Team Arctic pro racers to claim some hardware, with Corey Watkinson winning Pro Open, Angela Vachino taking two Pro Women finals, and Billy Turning capturing the Pro Lite win.

The next USXC event is Saturday, Jan. 25, 2014, in Oslo, Minn. The ESPN X Games is Sunday, Jan. 26, 2014 in Aspen, Colo.