Team Arctic cross-country racers rang in the new year with an overwhelming display of strength to capture 14 wins in 21 classes and 44 out 63 podium finishes at the USXC season opener on Pine Lake in Gonvick, Minn.
Competing with the 2016 ZR 6000R XC and ZR 4000RR snowmobils, Team Green once again proved their handling, speed and durability were second to none in top level cross-country competition.
The highlight win of the weekend came in the 100-mile No-Bull Triple Crown Enduro 600, where the Team Arctic/Christian Brothers Racing duo of Zach Herfindahl and Wes Selby delivered an overpowering win aboard their Soo 500 mod sled with the Speedwerx modified C-TEC2 600 Arctic Cat engine. Team Arctic racers also captured five of the top-10 Pro 600 class positions.
Lance Efteland picked up where he left off last season in the Semi Pro classes, taking two first place finishes.
Dustin Schwandt captured the Sport 600 class while Hunter Houle and Ean Voight gave a preview of what’s to come in the Expert 85 classes as each racer claimed a first and second respectively.
Team Arctic dominated the support classes, with Jordan Bute, Garet Grzadzielewski, Ryan Weidemann, Lydia Sobek and Paul Brown capturing class wins. And Karl Valtinson and Jesse Watland kept the Classic IFS and Vintage spirit alive by taking victory in their classes.
“We’re really pleased with the awesome performance of our drivers and crew, as well as our ZR series snowmobiles,” said Mike Kloety, Team Arctic Race Manager. “We swept the podium in seven classes; captured the most wins and podium positions; and won the prestigious Enduro 600 final. It was an excellent result for the first cross-country of the season and something we’ll build upon as we head into the ditches for the upcoming races.”
The next USXC cross-country race is Jan. 9-10 in Devil’s Lake, ND.
The Arctic Cat brand is among the most widely recognized and respected in the recreational vehicle industry. The company designs, engineers, manufactures and markets all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), side-by-sides and snowmobiles, in addition to related parts, garments and accessories under the Arctic Cat and Motorfist brand names. Arctic Cat Inc.’s world headquarters is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Its common stock is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the ticker symbol ACAT.
More information about Arctic Cat and its products is available at arcticcat.com.
