Idaho Racing News

Mountain West Racing Recap
Submitted by Curt and Shelly McLam

West Yellowstone, Montana - Mountain West Racing wrapped up its 2008 race season March 14-16, 2008 at beautiful West Yellowstone, Montana. MWR’s season finale was held in conjunction with the 18th annual West Yellowstone Expo show. The SnoWest snocross event brought together racers from Canada, Minnesota, Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, Idaho, Washington and Montana.
In Pro Open class racing, DJ Ekre,of Shelvin, MN took the podium on his Cat, with Sam McLam of Moscow, ID in second and Brand Mackert, of St. Anthony, ID in third. McLam won the MWR Pro Open class overall for the season on his Cat followed by Brand Mackert on his Cat in 2nd and Colby Crapo of St. Anthony, ID in 3rd on his Polaris.
Cat swept the podium in the Pro SS class with McLam taking first, followed by Mackert in second and Ekre in third. McLam won the MWR Pro SS overall championship for the season, followed by Crapo in second and Mackert in third. The two class championships gave McLam the 2008 Mountain West Racing Pro Championship title. McLam, age 16, was competing for the time in the Pro class. He holds the 2006 and 2007 MWR Semi-Pro championships.
The Woody’s Northwest Cup Challenge held its final leg of the challenge in West. Going into the weekend Colby Crapo was five points ahead of 2007 Cup Champion, Sam McLam. McLam won the event for the weekend, taking first on the podium, followed by Crapo in second and Mackert in third. Crapo won the overall points championship in the challenge, naming him the 2008 Northwest Cup Champion.
In Semi-Pro SS class, top honors went to Steven Winkels, of Everett, WA on his “Doo”, followed by Bradley Steadman, of Alberta on his Polaris and third went to Michael Hughes of Missoula, MT on his Polaris. The season overall Semi-Pro SS champion was Winkels, with Stephen Edwards, of Lake Stevens, WA in second and Hughes in third. In the Semi-Pro Open class action, Winkels again took the top spot on the podium, Logan Halford, of Idaho Falls, ID was second and Steadman took third. The two wins gave Winkels the 2008 MWR Semi-Pro Champion title for the season followed by Richard Hirschy, of Wisdom, MT in second and Edwards in third.
Pro Vet action had some old faces on the track. Tuffy McDonald, of Priest River, ID was the winner on his Cat, followed by Doug Orkney, of Stanwood, WA on his Doo and Brian Call, of Idaho Falls, ID bringing in third. In Masters action, the dueling Orkney brothers again put on a show, but this time it was brother Mel, taking the first spot on the podium from Doug at the checkers. They were followed by David Buchanan, of Snohomish, WA on his Cat. Tom Gogert, of Arlington, WA was the 2008 MWR Masters Champion for the season on his Cat.
In Women’s racing Terry Steadman, of Alberta took the top podium spot on her Polaris, followed by Delene Dippel of Sutter, CA on her Polaris and Jessica York, of Cocolala, ID bringing in third on her Doo. The 2008 MWR Women’s class champion honor went to Nikiya Adomaitis, of Jackson, WY on her Doo.
In Sport SS class racing, Jake Hedlund, of Newman Lake, WA was first to the checkers on his Polaris, with Chris Wold, of Seeley Lake, MT in second on his Polaris and Tyler McCaffrey of Snohomish, WA in third on his Doo. In Sport Combo class racing, we again saw Hedlund taking the first podium position, with Terry Steadman taking second and Jake Giles, of West Weber, UT taking third on his Cat. The Sport 440 class winner was Mitchel Gogert, of Arlington, WA on his Cat, Zach Goins, of Priest River, ID in second on his Cat and Justin York, of Cocolala, ID in third on his Doo. The 2008 MWR Sport Class Champion went to Jake Hedlund on his Polaris.
In Junior class racing, Trevor Leighton, of Eagle, ID took first place in the Junior 14-15 class on his Polaris, followed by Justin York in second and Dylan Hill, of Tetonia, ID in third on his Cat. Taylor Dyess, of Pinedale, WY placed first in the Junior Novice Friday class, with Trace Tupper, of Hailey, ID in second on his Doo and Dakota Keller, of West Bountiful, UT in third on his Cat. Saturday’s Junior Novice class was won by Matt Wenger, of Post Falls, ID on his Doo, Austin Killham, of Lewistown, MT in second on his Cat and Tupper taking the third spot. Dyess was crowned the 2008 MWR Junior Novice class champion for the season on his Doo.
Transition Friday class winner was Braxton Call, of Idaho Falls, ID, followed by Henry Orkney, of Stanwood, WA and Spencer Stephens, of Twin Falls, ID. In Sunday’s Transition class racing Call again took the podium, with Orkney in second and Kendall Wilkes, of Island Park, ID in third. The 2008 MWR Transition class championship title went to Braxton Call.
In 120 Speed Limited class racing, there were 16 competitors challenging the track. Konner May, of Bozeman, MT was first to the checkers on his Polaris, followed by Kendall Wilkes on his Cat and third went to Peyton Hogan, of Belgrade, MT in third. The win gave Mays the 2008 MWR 120 Speed Limited Championship title, followed by Hogan in second and third going to Luke Clifton, of Victor, ID on his Polaris.
In 120 Champ class action, Braxton Call took the podium spot on his Polaris, with Vale May, of Bozeman, MT in second on his Polaris and brother Konner May in third. The win helped give Call the 2008 MWR 120 Champ title, followed by Wilkes in second on his Cat and Vale May in third on his Polaris.

Mountain West Racing would like to thank the community and businesses of West Yellowstone, Montana and SnoWest for hosting the 2008 Mountain West Racing series finale.
Three special awards were presented at the end of the season. The 2008 Most Improved Driver award went to sport class racer, Jake Hedlund #59 of Newman Lake, WA. The 2008 Tom Reopelle Sportsmanship Award went to pro class racer, Tuffy McDonald #38 of Priest River, ID. The 2008 Bud Call Award of Excellence went to pit man, Curt McLam of Moscow, ID.

For complete results in all classes please visit www.mountainwestracing.com