Carlson Motorsports has been putting in the hard work for more than a year now and it has finally paid off. Andrew Carlson earned his first ever Pro-Lite National podium this past weekend at the Blackjack National in Bessemer, Mich.

In fact, both Carlson and Pro-Lite teammate Marcus Johansson delivered front row qualifying efforts, lining up side-by-side as each scored a heat win earlier in the day. At the start of the Pro-Lite final, it was Carlson beating the thick of the pack off the line with his Arctiva Amsoil Polaris, and then leaping past David Joanis on the “Dirty-Dozen” downhill with a near perfect line, and a triple to make the pass at the base of the hill.

The Bessemer track had already developed a rough and tough reputation from last year for its pair of nasty downhill sections. Steep in nature and littered with deep holes, even the very best riders were being bucked from their sleds while bombing the downhill. Carlson, however, stayed strong throughout the entire final, eventually succumbing to Joanis; and again late in the race where a slight miscue slipped Andrew to third at the line. Teammate Marcus Johansson got hung up in traffic early on and was forced to back-mark much of the race, finishing 11th.

“My sled was a rocket off the line this weekend,” says Carlson. “I made a few mistakes that cost me those positions, but it feels so good to finally be standing here.”

Christian Brothers Racing competed this past weekend at the Blackjack National in Bessemer, Mich. for rounds 3-4 of the AMSOIL Championship Snocross series.

While Rounds 1-2 at at the Duluth National Snocross took place on a tiny, 22-second track, the highly-technical track at Blackjack boasted two uphill runs, a brutal downhill run and a challenging dogleg which made for lap times in the one-minute range.

Pro Open riders Garth Kaufman and Logan Christian posted top results in Friday’s qualifying and both cruised to a front row spot in the final. After a great start Christian was running in fifth spot but came off in the downhill section and pain in his ribs kept him from getting back on his sled. Kaufman put in a solid run and finished in the eighth spot.

Scheuring Speed Sports’ Robbie Malinoski (Ski-Doo), who swept the Pro snocross classes at the season-opening Duluth National, chatted with the ISOC ahead of this weekend’s Blackjack National in Bessemer, Mich.

ISOC: You scored a second and a third last year at Blackjack – AMSOIL Championship Snocross’ first venture to the upper Michigan ski area. What are your memories of the venue?

Malinoski: Blackjack’s a great landscape with a lot of snow. It’s the ideal spot for a snocross track and I’m pumped to get back there.

ISOC: From a spectator’s standpoint the face of Blackjack’s ski hill looked to be the most rugged and challenging terrain you guys faced all last season on the AMSOIL Championship Snocross circuit. Would you agree with that?

Malinoski: Yeah, for sure. The downhill section they had was the gnarliest section we faced all year – definitely a spot for crashes, race passes and whatnot. It’s the signature area of the course for sure and I sure hope they bring it back for this weekend.