Matt Rudd sweeps Pro finals at Pit-X for Rock Maple Racing,
Presented by the New England Dodge Dealers
VERONA, N.Y. (Jan. 21, 2008) – For a snowmobile racer, there's nothing quite like doing well in your home state. Just ask Matt Rudd, who posted his second sweep of the season Sunday as Rock Maple Racing (RMR) completed Round 3 of the nine-race 2007-08 West series snocross schedule at Bob Pawlowski's Pit-X track.
Rudd, of Rodman, New York, powered his Ski-doo to victory in both the Pro Stock and Pro Open finals. Chad Miller and Shane Martin claimed second and third in Stock action, with defending West champion Eddie Hawkins fourth and Matt's brother Greg in fifth. In Pro Open, Martin claimed second while Miller settled for third.
New York veteran Paul Deruyter held off Gloversville's Clyde Peek to claim the Pro Vet final, while KC Anderson out-gunned Paige Calderwood and Sonya Nussberger to win the Pro Women's final. Deruyter also captured Sunday’s Plus 35 Masters final. Anderson, a Maine native, prevented New York riders from sweeping the Pro classes at Pit-X.
In Semi-Pro action Sunday, Central series Sport division rider Corin Todd was the man to beat. Todd, of Otego, NY, piloted his Ski-doo to victory in Stock 600 over Quebec sensation Lucas Brunelle and Kyle Conover. Todd also rode to victory in Semi-Pro Open, with Conover a strong second and Brandon Blair third. Danny Graves out-dueled Justin Amato and Bobby Newman in a hotly-contested Stock 440 final to cap West series Semi-Pro competition.
Pat Depaola continued his hot streak in the Sport division at Pit-X. The youngster from Spring Lake Heights, N.J., won Saturday’s Super Stock final over Lincoln Lemieux and Simon Taillefer, then repeated the performance on Sunday with another convincing win. Lemieux found redemption in Sunday's Sport Stock 600 final, holding off Taillefer and Depaola for top honors. Lemieux usually runs in the Junior division during Central series races, but successfully stepped up to Sport in this West division clash. Malone native Scott Smith claimed Sunday’s Stock 600 Fan final, while Matthew Hermann earned Yamaha a victory with a solid effort in the Sport 600 Performance final.
In Junior division action at Pit-X, Joey Stock ran the table. The young athlete from Bearsville, N.Y., claimed an impressive four victories during the weekend. On Saturday, Stock claimed the Jr. 16-17 Stock 500 final over Taylor Collins and Jake Lux. On Sunday, it was off to the races as Stock captured three more wins in 500cc action. Stock has become a real powerhouse when it comes to West series Junior competition.
Jake Scott also enjoyed a successful outing at Pit-X, winning the Jr. 10-13 Stock 380 Fan final on Saturday and Sunday. Matt Cameron and Richard Ghezzi earned podium finishes on Saturday, while Ghezzi and Montana Jess followed Scott across the stripe on Sunday.
Other West series winners over the weekend at Pit-X include Anderson (Women Stock 500 and Stock 600 Sunday); Josh Gessinger (Plus 25 Stock); Chip Stokes (Sport Stock 500); Sarah Acker (Jr. 10-13 Stock 600 Fan Sunday); Janell Smith (Women Stock Novice); Hunter Nelson (Jr. 10-13 Stock 600 Fan Sat.); AJ Perer (Jr. 8-10 300 Freestyle Sat. & Sun.); Cory Roman (Trail 600 Saturday); and Adam Smith (Trail 600 Sunday).
Along with the full slate of West series teams, Pro and Semi-Pro teams from RMR’s Central series were also in action at Pit-X. Defending Pro champion Jason Boron (Outdoor Performance/D&Z Racing Ski-doo) held off Dale Petrus (Kimpex/Ski-doo) and Danny Poirier (Cycle Worx/Polaris) to claim Pro Open, while Petrus captured his second straight victory in Pro Stock (he also ran the West race last week at Snow Ridge). Petrus followed Boron across the line in Open with Poirier third, while the Harrison Motorsports tandem of C.W. Sirjane (XP-S/Ski-doo) and Darrin Mees (XP-S Ski-doo) filled out the podium in Pro Stock.
Joe Lemieux got his 2008 program back on track with a victory in Pro Vet, holding off fellow Vermonter Rene Desrochers (Newport) and former RMR superstar Brent Hermann for top honors. In Central series Semi-Pro action, Robert Graeber blasted to the Open class victory over returning strongman Nate Loschiavo and Derek Graham. Jason Stone out-powered Graeber and Graham to claim Stock 600, while Nathan Laclaire defeated Ben Schulz in Semi-Pro Stock 440.
Rock Maple Racing would like to thank Bob Pawlowski and his crew at Pit-X for hosting a successful West series event. We know snow has been a rarity in Central New York this winter and truly appreciate the efforts put forth to make the race a reality.
Teams and officials from RMR will now prepare for one of the Central series' biggest events of the season, the annual visit to Vermont's Champlain Valley Expo in Essex Junction. Rock Maple Racing is the eastern affiliate of the World Powersports Association (WPSA), the national sanctioning body for snocross. For complete results from Pit-X or to learn more, please visit us online at www.rockmaple.com.