Can-Am ATV and side-by-side racers earned class victories and numerous podium finishes this past weekend in both the inaugural 2013 High Lifter Quadna Mud Nationals and the 2013 PURE desert racing series.
Can-Am mud racers won four classes and garnered 13 total podium spots in the EPI Mud Bog at Quadna Mountain Park in Hill City, Minn. Can-Am Commander 1000 X racer Aaron Juarez won the Pro Production 1000 class at round two of the new DWT PURE Side-By-Side Off-Road Championship series in California City, Calif.
“It was fantastic that Can-Am mud racers dominated the first-ever High Lifter Mud Nationals North at Quadna Mountain Park in Minnesota. The Team Gorilla Powered by Can-Am race team was the top performing team of the weekend, earning the most podium finishes,” said Jimmie O’Dell, Race Manager, Can-Am. “Rookie driver Aaron Juarez and co-pilot Derek Murray had a great weekend at the PURE 300 desert event in California, winning the Pro Production 1000 class with the Murray Racing / Can-Am Commander 1000.”
Quadna Mud Nationals
High Lifter, promoter and owner of the original Mud Nationals event in Texas, brought its enthusiasm for mud to Quadna Mountain Park in Hill City, Minn., for the first-ever Quadna Mud Nationals. Although the inaugural event featured four days of riding and activities, including a poker run, obstacle course, show-and-shine and outdoor concert, the EPI Mud Bog on Saturday was the top draw. Racers from all over North America – from Saskatchewan, Canada, to the bayous of Louisiana — entered to race their ATV and side-by-sides through a purpose-built, closed-course mud bog at Quadna Mountain Park, for a chance at more than $5,000 in prize money.
Can-Am ATV and side-by-side racers dominated in the Minnesota muck, as they won four of seven classes and earned a total of 13 podiums out of 21 total spots up for grab. Team Gorilla Powered By Can-Am racers earned five total podium spots and also won both the Open Class and Pro B Class. Gorilla’s Dakota Klein won the Open class with his Can-Am Outlander ATV, edging teammate Steve Hittle and fellow Can-Am racer Tim Sheldon.
Julia McGinnis of Gorilla took home the Pro B class win and also finished third in the Women’s Class. Can-Am mud racers Ben Foaland and Josh Boyd rounded out the Pro B class podium. In the RUV class, Hittle (Team Gorilla Powered by Can-Am) finished second in his Can-Am Maverickâ„¢ 1000R X rs and Maverick 1000R racer Heidi Boyd finished third.
KC Zastrow of Muddiggers Motorsports won the WomenÂ’s class on her Can-Am Outlander 800R X mr beating Team QuadShopÂ’s Tammi Brinkman and McGinnis to the finish line. Brinkman won the Pro A class aboard her Can-Am Renegade and was joined on the podium by The QuadShopÂ’s Ryan Marquardt, who took third.
PURE 300
In his first race behind the wheel of the Murray Motorsports / Can-Am Commander 1000 X, rookie driver Aaron Juarez won the Pro Production 1000 class and took second overall at round two of the DWT PURE 300 SxS Off-Road Championship series. Assisted by team owner and co-pilot Derek Murray, Juarez was the lone driver for the entire 300-mile overnight desert race. The victory and impressive performance has also earned Juarez a chance to compete for Murray Motorsports in the three remaining PURE series events.
“We are extremely proud of Aaron and are excited we could provide him a reliable machine capable of winning in his first ever SxS race he competed in,” said Murray.
Driving a Can-Am Commander 1000, the team of Logan Gastel and Brad Longfellow came in third in the Pro Production 1000 class. In its first year, the 2013 DWT PURE SxS Off-Road Championship series features five rounds for side-by-side racing and is promoted by AVE Racing out of California City.
For more information on Can-Am racing, the 2013 schedule, contingency program and Can-Am DS 450 ATV amateur racer support program, please visit www.can-amxteam.com.
