Sno-cross sees better calibre racing

Although the racers are long gone, the buzz of last weekend’s second-annual international sno-cross event here, hosted by the Sunset Country Snowmobile Club, is still lingering.
“It went very well,” enthused Daryl Begin of Badiuk Equipment, who helped organize the weekend of racing. “All the racers were impressed with the race track. We had good comments from everyone.”
Begin noted plans are in the works to host the circuit again next year, hopefully on the same weekend.
There were about 245 racers in 17 classes. “The numbers were down a little bit but the calibre was better than last year,” said Begin.
Begin said Saturday went off without a hitch while there were a few minor altercations Sunday.
“This event was well worth the $10 admission,” he stressed.
< *c>1-Day mini 4-7 stock
•Brandyn Christman (Foxbouto)
•Richard Seado (Bemidji)
•Mark Loveday (Fort Frances).
< *c>1-Day mini 8-12 stock
•Daren Grutkoski (Sturgeon Lake)
•Amy Paulsen (Becker)
•Timothy McCoy (Champlin).
< *c>1-Day mini 6-12 Improved Stock
•Timothy McCoy (Champlin)
•Amy Paulsen (Becker)
•Dylan Lauhoff (Bemidji)
< *c>Mini 4-7 Stock
•Brandyn Christman
•Richard Seado
•Nikki Grutkoski (Sturgeon Lake)
< *c>Mini 8-12 Stock
•Daren Grutkoski
•Amy Paulsen
•Dylan Lauhoff
< *c>Mini 6-12 Improved Stock
•Timothy McCoy
•Amy Paulsen
•Joey Lendacky (Duluth)
< *c>Junior 10-13
•Eric Wyne (Sturgeon Lake)
•Kylie Abrahamson (Brainerd)
•Joey Lendacky
< *c>Junior 14-15
•Brett Abrahamson (Brainerd)
•Kyle Strandlund (Bethel)
•Steve Strandlund Jr (Stacy)
< *c>Junior 16-17
•Harry Meger (Floodwood)
•Scott Salo (Thunder Bay)
•Randy Collins (Big Fork)
< *c>Beginner Fan
•Randy Collins (Big Fork)
•Brett Abrahamson (Brainerd)
•Steve Strandlund Jr. (Stacy)
< *c>Beginner 500
•Tim Ersbo (Mt. Iron)
•Thatcher Haggberg (Nestor Falls)
•Kevin Prachar (Willow River)
< *c>Beginner 600
•Tim Ersbo (Mt. Iron)
•Peter Fuhrer (Stratton)
•Michael Rouleau (South St. Paul)
< *c>Beginner Open
•Brett Abrahamson (Brainerd)
•Tim Ersbo (Mt. Iron)
•Kevin Prachar (Willow River)
< *c>Women
•Lacey Vander-Vegte (Thunder Bay)
•Kylie Abrahamson (Brainerd)
•Megan Boisjoli (Duluth)
< *c>Seniors
•Burl Ives (Grand Rapids)
•Mark Antoniazzi (Thunder Bay)
•Bruce Carlson (Talmoon)
< *c>Veterans
•Mark Antoniazzi (Thunder Bay)
•John Gavel (Stratton)
•Ken Klatt (Cloquet)
< *c>Masters
•Gordon Martin (Atikokan)
•Dave Nelson (Barnum)
•Kevin Prachar (Willow River).
< *c>Sport Fan
•Chad Reinhofer (Milaca)
•Bill Grutkoski (Sturgeon Lake)
•Jamie Prachar (Sturgeon Lake).
< *c>Sport 500
•Ben Ellefson (Esko)
•Joe Dresel (Moose Lake)
•Burl Ives (Grand Rapids)
< *c>Sport 600
•Burl Ives (Grand Rapids)
•Joe Dresel (Moose Lake)
•Bill Grutkoski (Sturgeon Lake)
< *c>Sport Open
•Joe Dresel (Moose Lake)
•Eric Novak (Foley)
•Brian Koepp (St. Cloud)
< *c>Semi-Pro Fan
•Corey Prachar (Willow River)
•Jamin Today (Ely)
•Robert Hiltz (Bemidji)
< *c>Semi Pro 440
•Dan Benham (Deep River)
•Willie Ewing (Big Lake)
•Brad Lareson (Ely)
< *c>Semi-Pro 600
•Willie Ewing (Big Lake)
•Jesse Gass (Maple Grove)
•Dan Benham (Deep River)
< *c>Semi-Pro Open
•Dan Benham (Deep River)
•Willie Ewing (Big Lake)
•Jesse Gass (Maple Grove)
“I was impressed with how the local racers did,” enthused Begin. “Johnny Lundon finished fifth and sixth in the semi-pro 440 and semi-pro 600.
“He was happy with his finish.”
Begin also noted Thatcher Haggberg had a strong weekend finishing as the top racer in both of his qualifying events.