WPSA Powersports ATV Tour Heads to Oklahoma
Stillwater, OK (5/30/2007) - The WPSA
PowerSports ATV Tour will make
history this weekend as it stages its first-ever race
west of the Mississippi River. The Tour visits Cooperland
Raceway for the Southwestern National, a double weekend
of racing that comprises Rounds 3 and 4 of the 10-race
Tour. The event, scheduled for this Friday, Saturday and
Sunday, will be telecast on ESPN2 on Saturday, July 7
at noon EDT, and again on Saturday, July 14 at 2 p.m.
EDT.
The racing weekend will feature the nation's top Pro
riders, competing in three Classes: SuperQuad Pro 450,
QuadTerrain Challenge Pro Stock, and SuperSport Side
by Side. The SuperQuad Pro 450 Class features big air,
motocross style racing. QuadTerrain Challenge features
larger, utility-type ATVs, competing on an obstacle
course that includes log jams, mud bogs, rock crawls,
as well as high-speed sections. The SuperSport Class
comprises four-wheel utility vehicles piloted by a driver
and co-driver, sitting side by side. The purpose-built
racing machines compete on a modified course that includes
both big-air sections, as well as obstacles.
The race weekend will also feature nearly 20 other
classes for Pro Am, Amateur, Junior and Women's classes.
The Pros will be competing in two complete races, with
qualifying scheduled for Friday and Saturday and finals
scheduled for Sunday.
SuperQuad Pro 450
With two races in the books, the manufacturers' battle
is in full song, as Honda and Suzuki are squaring off.
In Round 1, John Natalie, Jr. (No. 13 Elka, Maxxis/Honda)
returned to winning form, dominating the 450 final.
After suffering injuries to his ribs and leg in a tumble
during practice for Round 2, Natalie still managed to
run in the top 10 most of the final, but the door was
open, and Suzuki's factory team took advantage.
After dicing it up with his teammates for most of Round
2's final, "Big" Chad Wienen (No. 44 Team
Rockstar, MSR, Pro Taper, Yoshimura/Suzuki) came out
atop a Suzuki sweep of the top-five positions, marking
a first in the history of professional ATV racing. With
his runner-up finish, Dustin Wimmer (No. 191 MSR, Pro
Taper, Yoshimura/Suzuki) took the lead in the Riders'
Championship, ahead of his teammate and defending WPSA
champion Doug Gust (No. 55 Team Rockstar, MSR, Pro Taper,
Yoshimura/Suzuki).
Wienen sits third points, just ahead of privateer rider
Joe Haavisto (No. 75 Lost Creek/Suzuki) and Keith Little
(No. 60 Lonestar/Honda).
QTC Pro Stock
Points leader Scott Kilby (No. 207 Warnert Racing/Can-Am)
continued his quest for the title with a victory in
Round 1. Yet, Arctic Cat's new quads have proven strong
this year, as Jesse West (No. 888 ITP Tires, Oil Boyz/Arctic
Cat) and defending titleholder Daryl Rath (No. 67 Jack
Link's/Arctic Cat) have both had competitive seasons
thus far.
SuperSport Side by Side
The PowerSports ATV Tour unveiled the new SuperSport
Side by Side Series as a professional class at the season
opener. Fans and racers alike were in awe of the capability
of these race-bred machines and their riders. Based
on utility vehicles--like the Yamaha Rhino, the Arctic
Cat Prowler--these machines are built from the ground
up to race and will certainly be a highlight of the
weekend.
All Pro Class Riders will be vying for one of the richest
purses in ATV racing here. The Tour will award $22,500
in purse monies for the SuperQuad Pro 450 and QuadTerrain
Pro Stock finals. The purse pays to 20th place in the
QuadMX Series and to 15th place in QuadTerrain Challenge.
The purse structure awards $4,000 to win in QuadMX and
$2,000 to win in QuadTerrain Challenge, with $15,000
and $7,500 available in each Series, respectively.
The Southwestern Championship kicks off Friday, June
1, with a full card of Pro qualifying. Pro qualifying
continues Saturday with Amateur, Pro Am, Junior and
Women's Class racing. Pro finals are scheduled for Sunday.
Tickets, which start at $15 for adults and $5 for kids
6-15, will be available at the gate Friday morning.
About the PowerSports ATV Tour:
The PowerSports ATV Tour is North America's
premier professional ATV racing circuit, featuring
QuadMX, QuadTerrain and SuperSport Pro series
action as well as more than 20 amateur classes
for adults, women and children. The Tour is sanctioned
by the World PowerSports Association, North America's
most respected snowmobile and ATV sanctioning
body, and a promoter of ATV and snowmobile racing
on both the regional and national level. For more
information, please visit www.PowerSportsTour.com.
World
PowerSports Association Headquarters
1863 Buerkle Road
W hite Bear Lake, MN 55110
651.209.7404
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