Hibbert earns 50th career win at Milwaukee Mile

Starting in the sixth position, Team Arctic rider Tucker Hibbert picked off drivers one-by-one in battle after battle in the Pro Open final at the Milwaukee Mile National on Saturday, Dec. 19 – the second event of the 2009-10 AMSOIL Championship Snocross Series.

Hibbert, wearing bib No. 68, finished the 22-lap race on top of the podium. It was the 50th career victory for Hibbert in his 100th race – an astonishing winning percentage.

“Every win is special,” says Hibbert. “I thank God for giving me strength. And I thank my whole crew behind me. They have worked hard.”

At the start it was Brett Bender (Polaris) taking the holeshot, followed by Ross Martin (Polaris) and Robbie Malinoski (Polaris) with HIbbert back in the pack.

Hibbert started to make his move on the fourth lap and passed Malinoski to grab third place. After eating some roost, Hibbert worked his way by Martin with only Bender in front of him.

Tucker Hibbert kicks up some roost. (Image Courtesy John Hanson)

With about 13 laps to go, Hibbert made his move and passed Bender at the tabletop and never relinquished the lead.

The big battle after that was for second place. Martin made a run on Bender but couldn’t quite pull it off. In the end of a fantastic race it was Hibbert in first, Bender in second and Martin in third.

Ross Martin and Tucker Hibbert fly through the air. (Image Courtesy ISOC Racing)

In the Pro Super Stock final a day earlier it was a similar result for Hibbert, but the win certainly didn’t come easily. Ross Martin took the early lead and held on deep into the fifth lap. It was then that Hibbert gave Martin a little shove in the corner and snuck underneath a lead he would not surrender.

“This weekend was tough and I really had to work for my wins,” says Hibbert. “A handful of guys kept me on my toes. It’s exciting to put on a good show for the fans and I think they really enjoyed the battles this weekend.”

With Hibbert and Martin cruising through lap traffic, the rest of the field was battling for third place. Garth Kaufman (Arctic Cat) was able to pick his way through the crowd and grabbed the final spot on the podium.

Semi-Pro

The Semi Pro Open was a wild rush for the podium right from the green with Dylan Martin (Ski-Doo) out taking the checkers and Justin Broberg (Ski-Doo) close behind. Logan Christian (Arctic Cat) had a tangle in corner one but straightened it out putting him in the third.

In the first Semi Pro Super Stock final, Mike Bauer (Polaris) had everybody playing follow the leader. Nobody was able to supplant him, so Bauer took the top spot, followed by Kyle Pallin (Arctic Cat) and Joe Fallen (Polaris).

Semi Pro Super Stock #2 gave the crowd everything that racing is about. There was sight, sound, speed and smell of sled fuel enticing the fans at the Milwaukee Mile. It was also one crazy wild 16-lap race.

Right from the start before they even made it one lap it became a yard sale in corners one and two with three or four sleds upside down. When the sale was over, Logan Christian and Cody Thomsen made an Arctic Cat sandwich out of Justin Broberg (Polaris).

Broberg somehow ended up under his sled with 11 laps to go but got up and got going nearly as quick as he got down. Thomsen was searching for his lines and running mostly inside. Thomsen and Christian bumped in corner one and with two laps to go, Thomsen was black-flagged and Christian finished strong.

In a surprise finish after one wild race, it was Christian followed by a very excited Kyle Pallin in second. Andrew Lieders (Polaris) was surprised to find himself in third place. Starting in the back row, Lieders picked off drivers one-by-one making his way to the top.

AMSOIL Championship Snocross Series Standings: