If you are on your way to the International 500 Snowmobile Race Saturday, you may want to keep eyes and ears open for Yovich Racing and its Sault area team members.
Decked out in blue and black with the neon yellow numbers 22, James Hicks placed second in this week's Meijer Pro Shootout II.
“The Meijer Pro Shootout is like a sprint,” Hicks said. “A lot of the sled you will see in front are set up for sprint racing. They are very fast, with big engines that have a lot of horsepower. I was running our half-mile sled, so we had a lot of speed. I feel like if they hadn’t called the race early, we had a shot at winning.”
The feature race should have been 15 laps but was called at three, due to snow interference.
“Hats off to the winner,” said Hicks. “He ran an excellent race but they called it early because of snow dust. They pulled us in the back after a caution and asked if we could see out there. It was very difficult. If you got stuck behind a couple guys, you couldn’t see anything.”
The team qualified fourth in timed trials, timing in at 40.38. Its owner David Yovich pulled the team together after years of racing and competing.
“We all raced together and it all came together,” said Yovich. “That is how we all met."
The team consists of Michigan drivers Hicks of Cedarville, Joey Burch of Mount Pleasant, Larry Young of Sault Ste. Marie and Bryan Ball of Sault Ste. Marie.
“10 years ago, we began our I-500 journey,” said Yovich’s daughter Amber Yovich Armstead. “We are working hard to see the winners circle. The legacy of this race is something our team really values, every moment is really something special.”
Unfortunately, Burch suffered injury during the 59th World Championship Eagle River Race and is unable to race sleds. Young was there to take his place; And the team placed first in the Midwest International Racing Association (M.I.R.A.) Gaylord 250.
“They won with Hicks and Young,” said Armstead. “James Hicks is no doubt one of the most talented and passionate riders out there. But adding Larry Young and Bryan Ball to the mix, we know we have the ability to run strong all day. We are really honored to have them all represent us.”
The team is feeling confident about Saturday’s race, hoping for nothing less than victory.
“Our snowmobile is handing fast and handling well,” said Hicks. “We have an excellent team of drivers. I have no doubt in my mind, if all goes well, we willl be upfront all day.”
Tomorrow is the biggest race of the year for the 35 qualifying teams. Yovich Racing is ready with its new Polasis fuel injected motor.
“I think last night showed it had a lot of potential,” said Hicks.
It is off to bed early for the blue and black team, who will be at the track by 8 a.m.
"To win the I-500 is like winning the Daytona 500 in Nascar,” said Yovich. “It’s a can’t miss show. It is all out racing, all day long for everybody.”
The International 500 Snowmobile Race is the longest snowmobile endurance race in the world and Yovich Racing is hungry for first place.
“Our sled is ready and our pit crew is very eager for something more, so bring it on 2022!”
Yovich is the owner of Fire-Rite Inc. out of Detroit and sponsors his own sleds. Other sponsors include Woodys Traction, FXR Racing, and Polaris.
