Last month, we made a trip up to the Klim Compound to check in with Scheuring Speed Sports as they gear up for the upcoming AMSOIL Championship Snocross season. Unseasonably warm at 50 degrees that week, it was hard to believe we’d be racing within a few short weeks. We caught up with Pro rider Hunter Patneaude and new team member and Pro Lite rider, Anson Scheele.
Cut to present day, we are less than 48 hours away from hitting the start line. Let’s get a breakdown of what’s in store this season.
New stop and old favorites return
AMSOIL Championship Snocross kicks off Dec. 15-16 in Ironwood, Michigan. The Ironwood opener will also play host to the elusive AMSOIL Dominator. But more on that below.
As we head into the new year, the series returns to the Daytona of Snocross, the Pirtek Snocross National in Shakopee, Minnesota, Jan. 12-13.
The first month of the year closes out with a fan-favorite, the U.S. Air Force Snocross National in the “wild west” of Deadwood, South Dakota, Jan. 26-27.
New to the series this year, we head across the border to Valcourt, Quebec, Feb. 9-11 for the Pro class Grand Prix de Valcourt.
Racers spend the next weekend, Feb. 16-17, at the U.S. Air Force Snocross National in Salamanca, New York.
March kicks off in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, for the Sioux Falls Snocross National on Mar. 1-2.
The circuit rolls to back to Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, on Mar. 15-16. The Lake Geneva Snocross National is another returning fan favorite location that is back on the schedule this year.
The penultimate ERX Snocross National will once again be in Elk River, Minnesota, Mar. 22-23.
And back by popular demand, the season concludes Apr. 5-7 in Duluth, Minnesota, with the AMSOIL Snocross National at Spirit Mountain. We’re all hoping for much better weather this time around.
Dominator to open season
The AMSOIL Dominator first entered the scene as a head-to-head, bracket-style race on opening weekend for members of the Pro class.
However, in 2021 the AMSOIL Dominator switched to a cup-style format and was expanded to include Sport, Pro Lite and Pro classes. The 10-minute-plus-two-minute format lined up Pro Lite and Sport riders on the front row with Pros in the back. Opening the door for pure talent to shine, this format was favored by fans, but racers yearned for the old style.
After off-season discussion, the Dominator returned to its head-to-head format to kick off last season in Fargo, North Dakota. For the 2023-24 season, we will see the same format on an elevation charged track with a $10,000 payday.
All-star line up
In 2023, Elias Ishoel captured his fifth straight Pro championship. Coming into this season the “Viking Rocket” will look to run for his sixth title.
Though the true Dominator, Ishoel was contested by Scheuring Speed Sports’ Hunter Patenaude. Patenaude is hungry to capture a championship after finishing fourth last season.
Hot on their tails will be a slew of returning riders including Adam Peterson, Oskar Norum, Emil Harr, and Kody Kamm as well as some new (to Pro) faces, such as Riley Bester and the anticipated rookie season of Jordan Lebel. Some have traded trailers, some have moved up, but all plan to show up to compete.
Be sure to catch all of the season’s action by subscribing to FloSports. Tape-delayed programming of all 16 rounds will be re-aired on FOX Sports network.
Racing kicks off Friday, Dec. 15 with the AMSOIL Dominator in Ironwood. Follow our social channels for more information and behind-the-scenes action.
We’ll see you at the races!
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