The Premier Short Course Series Starts Off 2021 in Antigo, WI
Story And Photos By Jason Zindroski
The Side by Side racing community has been waiting eight long months to return to short course racing in the Midwest and this past weekend their wait was over. The Amsoil Championship Off-Road (COR) season kicked off at the Lions International Raceway in Antigo Wisconsin.
The SxS classes have been strong in the Midwest for quite some time with Pro Mod, Pro Stock, Sportsman and 170cc all having great entries and strong showings each race. For 2021, COR brought in two additional SxS classes to the series, 570 and Pro Am.
The 570 class has always been a natural progression for the 170 drivers to step up to so it’s a natural addition as most other racing series have the class. The Pro Am we weren’t quite sure what the class was for but after reading the rulebook it makes more sense.
Pro AM seems to be a class in between Sportsman and the Pro Stock class. To be eligible to race the class you need to meet the following:
- A driver that finished 15th position or below in the previous year COR Pro Stock Championship. Top 15 are not eligible.
- A driver who finished 12th or better in the previous year COR Sportsman Championship. Anyone below 12th in points will have to be approved by COR.
- If you finish in the top 3 in points in Sportsman for two consecutive series you have to move up to Pro AM. If you finish in the top 3 for Pro AM you will have to move up to Pro Stock.
Does the class make sense? Does it add an unnecessary class to an already long day of racing? Only time will tell.
CJ Greaves wrapped up the 2020 season winning both the Pro Mod Championship as well as in Pro Stock so it was no surprise Greaves left Antigo leading the points in the Pro Stock while he sits out Pro Mod this year.
The class looks like it will be a fun year with 21 cars starting on Saturday and with some drivers dropping down to the Pro AM class it should be competitive all year. The podiums for both days were a mashup of the same three drivers just in different positions each day.
On Sunday, Heger had a better day taking over the lead on the second lap from Jacob Rosales who would hold in second place until Greaves got around him a few laps later. Greaves put the heat on Heger getting side by side a few times but Heger was able to hold him off and Greaves would have to settle for second place.
It looked as if Rosales would finish on the podium but on the last lap made an error in turn three and Wasz was able to capitalize and get around him.
Pro Mod has some heavy hitters as well and it also looks like it will be a great battle all year long. In Round 1, Andrew Carlson made a statement putting his Polaris RZR on top by leading the entire race after making a great pass off the start in turn three. From there it was everyone else racing for second place.
Robert Loire held on to second place for most of the race but hard charging Rodney VanEperen found his way by and would take home that spot. With only two laps to go Rodney’s son, Owen, was able to sneak into the third place spot giving the father son duo the last two podium spots.
Sunday was all Kyle Chaney who had to pull off early in Round 1 due to some mechanical issues. Starting towards the back he quickly worked his way through the field picking people off and by the halfway point took the lead from Loire.
Loire would end up having to settle for a third place, as Round 1 winner Carlson would get by him to take home second place and leave Antigo with the points lead.
Dylan Marquardt swept the weekend in the Pro AM class as did Raymond Deininger in the 170 class. Chase Braun would win Round 1 in 570 with Andy Johnson taking the win on Sunday.
Sportsman, which had the most entries of any class this weekend, had Derek Tilkens winning both days.
To check out the full results from the weekend be sure to visit the COR website!
https://champoffroad.com/results/