Story & Photos: Emily Wicklund
Cor Powersports had their season finale at a familiar venue for snowmobile racing, Spirit Mountain in Duluth Minnesota. This stop was absent on the ISOC Snocross schedule in2022 but was added to the Cor Powerpsorts Cross Country schedule earlier this year. With skiing still open for the public, the Cor crew was only able to utilize half of the hill which made the course three miles in length. Sport Improved, Semi Pro Improved, and Pro Open all ran qualifiers and finals on Saturday with Sport Stock, Semi Pro Stock, and Pro Stock all running their qualifiers and finals on Sunday. All other classes ran a two day merged time format.
Saturday brough thick snowflakes laying down a fluffy layer over the groomed track. The Semi Pro qualifier was race three on the day running three laps. Boe Bunke was the top qualifier when it was all said and done with a total time of 12:19.8. Brock Young was second quick 6.7 seconds behind Bunke (12:26.5). Qualifying third was Nicholas Swenson 12.9 seconds out of first (12:38.5). In fourth was Jesse Hallstrom with a time of 12:38.5 and Caleb Nymann rounding out the top five (12:39.3). Boe Bunke had the fastest lap of the race throwing down an impressive 4 minute 3 second lap time.
The Pro Open qualifier ran their three-lap qualifier two races after Semi Pro Improved. Herfindahl found speed from the start and after three laps claimed the quick time spot with a time of 12:08.0. Paul Brown timed in second only 0.446 seconds behind Herfindahl with a time of 12:08.4. Timing in third was Justin Tate 6.172 seconds out of first (12:14.175). In fourth was Ross Erdman (12:21.178) and in fifth was David Brown (12:25.198).
The Semi Pro Improved final was the eighth race of the day running 12 laps. This was a timed race so track position didn’t necessarily determine the top finishers. Boe Bunke got the early race lead on track with Brock Young and Jesse Hallstrom hot on his heels. After lap one, Boe Bunke laid down the fastest lap with Jesse Hallstrom sitting in second and Caleb Nymann in third in lap time. On lap two, Bunke laid down the fastest lap of the race with a 4:13.4 lap. On track, Bunke still ran out front with Hallstrom in second and Young in third. On lap four, Parker Krumm laid down his fastest lap with a 4:14.6 which put him into the third-place position on-track. On lap seven, Bunke, Hallstrom, and Krumm were all nose to tail coming to the start/finish line. Fourth place running, Caleb Nymann set his fastest time on lap seven with a time of 4:21.6. On lap eight, Hallstrom fell off the pace putting him outside the top five in track position. Bunke was still out front with Krumm now in second and Nymann in third on track. On lap nine, Krumm found his way around Bunke in track position with Nymann still in third, Peppel in fourth, and Van Lyssel in fifth.
Coming in fourth was Evan Peppel on his Polaris (53:09.1) and in fifth was Jesse Hallstrom on his Arctic Cat (53:16.4). There were five DNF’s scored and one DQ in this final.
The last race of the day was the 15-lap Pro Open final. This was also a timed race so the sled with the fastest overall time was crowned the winner. Top qualifier, Zach Herfindahl and second qualifier, Paul Brown were the first pair to get the green flag with Herfindahl taking the early race lead. Herfindahl found speed early and laid down the fastest overall lap of the race at a 4:10.7. Paul Brown who ran in the second spot on track was also second fastest in time and Justin Tate was third in both track position and time after lap one. Ross Erdman ran fourth on track and David Brown in fifth. On lap two, the top four positions on track remained the same with Dan Revering finding his way into the top five in track position. By lap three, Revering made his way up to fourth. The top five remained the same for the next few laps with Herfindahl running consistent laps at the top of the boards. On lap six, Marshall Busse, who was now running in the fifth place spot threw down his fastest lap of the race at a 4:15.8. He continued to work his way through the field as the race went on. By lap eight, Busse was up to third in track position and wasn’t slowing down. On lap ten, second place running, Paul Brown set his fastest lap of the race at a 4:15.9. The running order remained the same the remainder of the race with Herfindahl forming a gap on the rest of the field. Just shy of seeing the white flag, Dan Revering came to a stop in front of the chalet. After checking belt and numerous other things under the hood while still on the track, Revering ended up just running out of fuel. He ended his day with a DNF.
Coming in fourth was Justin Tate (1:06.08.0) on his Polaris and in fifth was David Brown (1:07.27.4) on his Arctic Cat. There were three DNF’s scored in the Pro Open final.
Sunday brought blue skies and sunshine with little to no breeze, the polar opposite of Saturday. It was time for the Semi Pro Stock and Pro Stock sleds to battle it out for their final time of the season. Peppel had a healthy margin in the Semi Pro Stock points standing but in the Pro Stock class, Herfindahl only led the points by eight over Revering and 28 over Bunke. It all came down to one day of racing.
The Semi Pro Stock sleds were scheduled for their three-lap qualifier on race three of the day. Sleds got the green flag in pairs and were off. Sleds ran up and down the hills numerous times for three miles per lap. After three laps were completed, Jesse Hallstrom took the top qualifying spot on his Arctic Cat with a time of 12:18.8. Timing in second was the Polaris of Evan Peppel 19.6 seconds out of first (12:38.5). Timing in third was the Arctic Cat of Brock Young with a time of 12:49.9. In fourth was Luke Van Lyssel (12:49.9) and in fifth was Parker Krumm (13:01.2).
The Pro Stock sleds took the starting line a few races after for their three-lap qualifier. Sleds left in pairs with Herfindahl showing he was the sled to beat right off the bat. After three laps, Zach Herfindahl earned the top qualifying position with a time of 12:12.2 on his Arctic Cat. Only 6.8 seconds back was the Polaris of Dan Revering showing Herfindahl he wants that title too. Revering total time was 12:19.0. In third was Marshall Busse on his Polaris with a time of 12:27.1. Timing in fourth was Paul Brown (12:30.9) and in fifth was David Brown (12:32.6) both on Arctic Cat.
The Semi Pro Stock class was set to duke it out for 12 laps. Sleds got the green flag two at a time with it being a timed final. By this time, the sun had tucked behind clouds making conditions similar to Saturday. Jesse Hallstrom took the early race lead showing everyone that ski hills fit his riding style. Hallstrom laid down a heater on lap one with a time of 4:33.1, the fastest overall time of the race. Evan Peppel ran in the second-place spot with Young in third, Van Lyssel in fourth, and Halverson in fifth. A top competitor Bunke took a hard crash early on in the race and ended his year with a DNF. Hallstrom continued to hold the track lead with Peppel not letting him out of site. On lap three, yesterday’s Semi Pro Improved winner, Parker Krumm worked his way into the top three. On lap four, second place running, Evan Peppel ran his fastest lap of the race at 4:34.8 closing the gap with first slightly. On lap six, Parker Krumm, who ran third, clocked in his fastest lap of the race which was just a notch below the top two sleds at 4:38.7. The top three sleds stayed on consistent on lap times and Peppel slowly reeled in Hallstrom.
Clocking in fourth was Nicholas Swenson on Arctic Cat (57:03.2) and fifth was Luke Van Lyssel on Polaris (57:08.2).
The last race of the day was the premier Pro Factory Stock class. With a championship up for grabs, there was a lot on the line. Zach Herfindahl and Dan Revering, the top two in points, were the first pair of sleds to get the green flag for their 15-lap final. Herfindahl took the early race lead with Busse moving into second on track and Revering in third. The Brown brothers of Paul and David ran fourth and fifth. On lap two, Justin Tate who started deep in the field made his way up to fifth in track position and laid down his fastest lap of the race with a 4:27.5 lap. On lap three, Tate continued to improve his times and moved into fourth place track position. Herfindahl held his position at the front of the field and continued to improve his laps. On lap six, Herfindahl laid down the fastest of the race running a 4:32.8.
Revering’s misfortune put fellow Polaris competitor Justin Tate into the third-place position on track. By lap ten, Revering made his way back into the top five in track position. On lap 11, second place running, Marshall Busse ran his fastest lap of the race at a 4:28.7. The following lap, Busse’s sled had a mechanical issue that caused his lap times to drop by at least ten seconds per lap. Revering was also able to make his way past D. Brown for the fourth-place position on track on lap 12. With two to go, Herfindahl led the pack with Busse hanging onto second with a damaged sled, and Tate in third. It was then announced over the radios that Revering’s sled had started on fire, not once but twice, at the bottom of the hill. Revering was doing all he could to salvage as many season points as possible, he could but eventually he was towed into the pits to end his year. Meanwhile, Herfindahl got the checkered flag and lapped up to fourth place. Busse crossed the line in second and Tate in third.
Taking the fourth-place spot in Pro Stock was David Brown 4.27 minutes out of the lead with Taylor Bunke claiming the fifth-place position.
As stated, prior, Zach Herfindahl clenched both the Pro Open and Pro Stock championship making him a 10 time Pro Open/Stock champ. In Pro Open, David Brown took second in season points with younger brother Paul Brown taking third making it an all Arctic Cat podium. In Pro Stock season points, Dan Revering was able to hold onto second place with Taylor Bunke in third. In Semi Pro Improved, Boe Bunke took the championship with Brandon Wolter taking second and Luke Van Lyssel in third. In Semi Pro Stock, Evan Peppel took the championship with Jesse Hallstrom taking second and Caleb Nyman in third. This moves Bunke and Peppel up to the pro ranks for the 2023 season.
“Rider of the Year”: Zach Herfindahl
“Rookie of the Year”: Jesse Hallstrom
“Sportsman of the Year”: Charlie Revering
“Most Improved Rider”: Dan Revering
“Venue of the Year”: Nisswa, Minnesota
