FINDLEY LAKE, New York (Mar. 30, 2015) – Defending Pro Open champion Danny Poirier and newly-crowned Pro Lite champion Cody Paolella swept their respective finals over the weekend, as East Coast Snocross (ECS) concluded its 2015 season at the Peek ‘N Peak Resort and Spa.
Poirier, 35, of St. Theodore, QC, piloted his Ingles Performance Ski-doo to victory in a grueling 13-lap final Saturday, with Swedish invader Johan Dahlgren (Team Southside/Polaris) and Pro Lite graduate Wade Acker (daSilva Racing/Ski-doo) filling out the podium. Dahlgren and Acker came home second and third respectively again Sunday to wrap up a competitive season in Pro Open.
“All of the hard work and preparation my team has put in really paid off last weekend,” Poirier said. “Robin and Mike Ingles, Sebastien, my mechanic, and this whole team made it possible for me to earn another championship. ECS built a nice track for our finale, and my sled ran great both days. I’m happy for my team and all of our great sponsors who made this happen. It was a fantastic season.”
Paolella, of Wallingford, CT, held off his main rival Acker in Saturday’s 10-lap Pro Lite tussle. New York native Chris Coleman gave the Team Southside fans reason to cheer as he filled out the podium. On Sunday, newly-crowned Sport champion Bruce Gaspardi Jr. followed Paolella and Acker across the line to secure a podium finish in his first career Pro Lite outing.
Paolella has enjoyed a tremendous season as part of the Team Southside juggernaut. Unlike many of his rivals who have been in this sport for years, he made the transition to snocross after several successful seasons of ATV racing. His climb through the ranks in this sport is on a fast track.
“It was a big weekend for me and Team Southside Polaris,” Paolella said. “We were able to dial my sled in perfectly, coming home with two more wins and the Pro Lite championship. I’ve worked very hard to accomplish this goal, along with the entire team. We couldn’t be happier with how things turned out for 2015. I’ll be training all summer on the Quads and will be ready to go again next winter.”
Gaspardi capped his stellar season with final round wins in Sport Super Stock Saturday and Sunday, along with a clean sweep in Plus 25 action. Dalton Jacquier and Nicholas Edwards filled out the Sport podium Saturday, while Edwards edged Jacquier for second in Sunday’s exciting season finale. All winter long, the Sport athletes thrilled fans as they continued to hone their skills.
“The weekend was perfect, the track was great and my Polaris was dialed in,” Gaspardi said. “The Fox Shox got my sled around the track with ease. Everything came together this weekend; not just for me, but the entire team, taking home a total of 10 championships. It’s an amazing feeling as both a racer and team manager.”
Other final round winners over the weekend in Findley Lake include Nykea Williams (Pro Women Saturday and Sunday); Anthony Paige (Jr. 16-17 Sat.); Michael Newman (Jr. 16-17 Sun.); Tristan Huey (Pro Am); and Jeff Hazlett (Plus 35).
East Coast Snocross would like to thank the Scott Family and their great staff at Peek ‘N Peak for hosting our season finale. With a fine facility, ample snow and great fans, we realize this is the perfect venue for snocross in western New York. After a few years away, we enjoyed our visit and hope to return for more great racing in 2016.
To celebrate the 2014-15 season, ECS teams will gather for the annual awards banquet slated for Saturday, April 11, at Mount Snow in southern Vermont. Points champions in all classes will be officially crowned after another grueling yet highly-competitive season of racing here in the northeast.
East Coast Snocross, presented by AMSOIL, Woody’s Traction and FXR, is the eastern regional affiliate of ISOC. ECS strives to maintain a healthy level of competition in grassroots snocross, while also cultivating new talent for tomorrow’s factory-backed national teams.
