Inaugural Triple Crown Champion
For the second time this season, the tour headed to ERX Motor Park in Elk River, Minnesota. Despite this being the second visit of the season, the track layout was vastly different as it was reversed from the previous rounds, featuring a majority of right-handed turns, deep holes, and big air. Not only did this weekend feature a new track layout, but also for the first time in series history, the Pro class was faced with competing in an all-new format: Triple Crown Racing. This new format features a qualifying session and three eight-minute plus one lap rounds, in place of the traditional heats and a final. Points from each round will be tallied up for a cumulative score at the end of the night to determine the Triple Crown Champion. The name of the game in Triple Crown racing is consistency, and Emil Harr was just that in Round 11.
In the first Triple Crown round, Harr started in seventh but quickly maneuvered his way toward the front a couple of laps in. Riding the edge of the track and making up real estate on other riders in the corners, five minutes into the first round EH took the outside line in a sweeping corner to pass for the lead. From there, EH ran away with the win with a 6.5 second differential over the field when the round was said and done.
The second round started similarly as EH was all the way back in ninth at the start, but was able to pick off riders lap by lap and pass his way into his final position of fourth place with a minute left in the round. In the third and final round, EH got pinched off the start but had excellent heads up riding and dove under the pack in the first corner to start the final out in fourth. Two laps in, EH already found himself in the lead and remained there for the rest of the round to take another pivotal first place finish. With 1-4-1 finishes, EH became the inaugural Amsoil Championship Snocross Triple Crown Champion!
Saturday was more of a struggle for the #31 despite starting off strong with a fourth in the first round. A couple of dismounts, entanglements with other riders, and falling victim to on track circumstances would hinder EH’s efforts Saturday, ending the weekend with 4-8-8 finishes for ninth overall. Regardless of this tough finish, Friday’s efforts keep EH in the top five in the Pro points chase in fourth and just one point shy of third.
In the Pro Lite ranks, Filip Harr recorded more solid efforts and battles in the highly competitive Pro Lite class, inching his way closer to making a final debut. Although FH was still battling injuries this past weekend, we saw a newfound fire in his riding and are looking forward to seeing him close out the season strong.
With two race weekends left this season, our Judnick Motorsports crew is determined to end the season on a high note as we visit Grand Rapids, Michigan for the next rounds on March 24th and 25th. We will take this next weekend off to test and tune to ensure we do just that. Thank you all for your continued support!