Home sweet home: Lundon races to pair of firsts here

Nothing beats racing in front of the home crowd.
And Johnny Lundon took full advantage of the familiar faces, coming through with a pair of first-place finishes–in the Sport Open and Sport 600 classes–in Sunday’s finals at the Mn North Snocross race here.
Lundon also placed fifth in the Sport 500 division.
“The home-town crowd got me into it,” said Lundon, currently in the top five in all three of those classes on the Minnesota circuit.
“It was pretty exciting with everyone cheering me on.”
Lundon led pretty much from the outset in both his victories, managing to adjust to the smaller jumps for Sunday’s races (organizers made changes to the track after Saturday to keep racers honest).
“It was a little bit tougher to win because not everyone was in the air,” said Lundon, who will be heading to Brookston, Mn. for races this weekend.
Lundon was the lone local racer to win a class but the other two home-town favourites also drew cheers from the crowd.
Brennan Kilmister wound up seventh in the final of the Beginner 600 class and sixth in the Beginner Open. Not bad for someone competing in his first race of the season.
And Brian DeGagne was racing well Saturday before he hurt himself in a crash. He chose not to race Sunday.
Although a bit sore, DeGagne’s expected to race at this weekend’s event.
Meanwhile, from an organizer’s standpoint, everything appeared to go quite well for the inaugural event here. The weather was pretty decent, crowds seemed to enjoy themselves, and the racers all looked satisfied with the course layout and fan support.
In fact, the series already has signed on the dotted line to come back again next year.
“Racers came up and told me this was the best track and the best organized race of the year,” said Murray Cawston of Badiuk Equipment, who helped bring the circuit here for the first time.
“We were happy with the crowds, considering that hockey tournament was in town. We got the ball rolling and I think it will be bigger and better next year,” he enthused.
“It was a good racer turnout. It was a little low but it was at least 200,” added Lundon. “This year, we’re grossing roughly 300-350 but I think some didn’t want to cross the border.
“[But] the racers liked the crowds. A lot of places just have a hill and no grandstands,” he noted. Lee rink wins NorWOSSA