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Thief River Falls, Minn. (January 15, 2010) - At 10am today the 39th running of the Seven Clans Casino Red Lake I-500 Presented by C&A Pro Skis snowmobile race got underway at Seven Clans Casino in Thief River Falls, Minn. One hundred twenty-seven riders took up what, since 1966, has been the ultimate challenge of man and machine and left the line on their way to tackling a course that covered roughly 170 miles. The route took them North through Thief River Falls and then East to Goodridge for a fuel stop. Then riders went North again to Grygla then back south to Goodridge for another fuel stop then West back to the Seven Clans Casino. Weather was perfect for racing with temperatures hovering 30 degrees Fahrenheit around most of the day.
DJ Ekre set fast time of the day at 2:23:16 of the 30 Pro riders and has the overall lead in the FXR Pro 600 class. He was followed in order by Ryan Simons, Brian Dick, Dan Ebert, Aaron Christensen, Ryan Huston, Gabe Bunke, Chad Lian, Cory Davis and Eric Gausen.
“I just ran hard today” says #52 DJ Ekre, “the weather was great for racing and the course was setup well, my Christian Brothers Racing Arctic Cat is running well and I’m looking forward to tomorrow.”
Ken Christensen has the lead in the Arctic FX Semi-Pro 600 class with a time of 2:32:27. Twenty-one riders lined up for the ultra-competitive Brother’s Motorsports Expert 85 class and Trevor John emerged as the leader after Day 1 with a time of 2:48:48. Friday’s fast time of the day in Expert 85 earned him a free jacket from circuit sponsor FXR. Other class leaders include: DJ Ekre Fox Racing Shox Pro Open; Ken Christensen AMSOIL Semi-Pro Improved; Brad Cierzan Arctic Cat Expert 85 Improved; Marty Fiel Yamaha Sport 85; Ken Christensen Stud Boy Masters 40+; Bill Slominski Speedwerx Masters 50+; Chris Hoff Woody’s Sport 600; C&A Pro Sport 600 Improved; Chris Sobeck Orion Industries Trail; Brian Dick RV Sports Vet 30+; Jolene Bute Powermadd Women’s.  Left to right: trevor john, DJ ekre, Ken Christensen The racing went off in seamless fashion and USCC officials again had a well-marked, safe course for the riders to compete on.  Trevor John #85 leader: Brother Motorsports Expert 85 “Roger Gorder, Jay Gudajtes and the rest of the crew work hard every year on the I-500 course and they always come through,” said USCC President Pat Mach. “This year we chose some new routes and they did a great job finding the best ways around the countryside so fans could see as much of the race as possible.” Indeed, with clear weather at this years event fans were lined along roads with cars and trucks full of people hoping to catch glimpses of the riders. Racing starts again tomorrow at 10AM and will follow a course that will once again take riders through Thief River Falls, but then will steer them West to Warren where they’ll make a loop that will again bring them back to Warren and then back East to the Casino. Fans who wish to follow the race can get maps at Seven Clans Casino or download them off the USCC Web site, www.usccracing.com. The race will be broadcast on KKDQ 99.3 or if you’re at home you can listen online on www.usccracing.com. The United States Cross-Country Snowmobile Racing Association (USCC) is based out of Minto, ND and attracts more than 200 professional and amateur snowmobile racers to each of its events. The USCC series is North America’s premier form of cross-country snowmobile racing; it is the only racing organization that sanctions events comprised entirely of terrain crosscountry races. The race courses include ditch lines, frozen lakes and deep woods trails. Its 2009/2010 schedule marks the circuit’s eight season. USCC is sanctioned by International Snowmobile Racing (ISR); ISR has been serving the racing community for more than 25 years. Visit www.usccracing.com for more information. |
  
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