By Emily Wicklund
Aaron Christensen won his second straight USXC Pro Stock final, when he took advantage of a blown belt by current point leader Zach Herfindahl. USXC racing series took riders out to Naytahwaush, Minnesota for round 6 of the 2019 season, on a 10-mile course that took riders around North Twin Lake on an unplowed racing surface.
With temps reaching -15 on Saturday, the Pro Open riders started out the weekend with a 4-lap qualifier. Arctic Cat rider Zach Herfindahl set a fast pace from the start and led sleds around the rough course. Justin Tate and Wes Selby finished the qualifier in 2nd and 3rd. The next couple heats consisted of day 1 mergers for all other classes.
Semi Pro was a tight race on day 1 with only 30 seconds separating 1st-3rd. David Brown finish the day in 1st with Dylan Stevens and Dan Revering behind him.
The last race of the day was the 10 lap Pro Open final. Top qualifier Herfindahl took off and separated his self fairly quickly. Justin Tate followed behind keeping Herfindahls taillight in his sight. The rough course was brutal more than a few racers in the open class with Dillian Dohrn out of the race on lap 1 and Chad Lian out on the next. Herfindahl continued to lead through the fuel stop with Tate and Bunke close behind. Through the next couple laps Brandon Christianson and David Brown were out of the race. Aaron Christensen had sled trouble in the going into the fuel stop and pulled off the course. With Bunke running 2nd on the final lap he ran out of fuel and was towed in.
On Day 2 temps reached -20 so the start time was pushed back an hour, Pro Stock qualifier was eliminated, and all other heats were switched to 3 laps. Junior riders started out the day with Paul Brown dominating his classes yet again. Due to a knee injury he was a DNS on day 1 which put him out of the running. Nicholas Nyquist came out with the victory and Jesse Hallstrom ended up 2nd. Other juniors finished up their weekend along with master and sport classes. Despite an off, Lydia Sobeck came out on top of the women’s class. Other classes took the course for their final race while the Pro Stock riders prepared for their 10-lap final.
Pro drivers drew for starting positions and were eager to take on the 10 lap final. Dillian Dorhn and Travis Faust were the first two off the line of the Pro riders. Semi Pro rider David Brown found a groove early and led the first lap and a half with Herfindahl and Christensen catching him.
Last year winner Taylor Bunke who started 5th crashed on lap 1 setting him back. This forced Bunke to fuel on lap 2 to change his hood.
Christensen and Herfindahl passed Brown on lap 2 as they came through simultaneously. Christensen decided to fuel early on lap 4 to avoid snowdust which put the current points leader Herfindahl in the lead. Herfindahl, Brown, and Tate all fueled on lap 5. Alex Hetteen helped Ben Langaas who was trapped under his sled after an off on lap 5. Hetteen was given a time credit and Langaas was a DNF.
