Results Overview... Joel Diamond and Travis Priehs put the power and handling of their Yamaha Apex snowmobile to the best possible use to win the grueling 500-lap Michigan CAT 500 in Lincoln, Mich. on Sunday, Mar. 4. After gaining and losing the lead three times during the 4 ½ hour Pro Mod Enduro, the MDR teammates took the win by a scant five seconds in one of the toughest races Diamond has ever driven. Their win closes out the MIRA oval-racing series on a high note for the Apex in its second competitive season.
With temperatures hovering around freezing, Diamond labeled conditions at the banked half-mile track as “very comfortable.” The oval-racing specialist took the lead during his first 100-lap stint, then pitted for fuel and a scheduled change of the right-hand ski. But a crewmember noticed a broken suspension bolt and the team lost two laps making repairs, dropping to sixth after Priehs’ first 60 laps. Amazingly Diamond regained the lead at the 200-lap mark but lost it again when Priehs, who had only recently moved into the pro ranks, went a lap down in his second stint. Finally it was all up to Diamond as he put in a heroic final 180 laps, retaking the lead at the 400-lap point and holding on for the win.
“The Yamaha was fast all day long – in fact we were probably the fastest sled out there,” an exhausted but elated Diamond said after driving an incredible 440 laps. “We really hit the nail on the head with our setup this weekend. But it was the Apex’s incredible motor and its handling that won us the race.”
| Pro Mod Enduro |
| 1 |
Joel Diamond/Travis Priehs - YAM |
Apex |
| 2 |
Troy Dewald/Jeff Luenberger |
|
| 3 |
Jim Kirts/Mike Babcock |
|
|
| Pro-Am Stock Enduro |
| 1 |
Troy Dewald |
|
| 2 |
Mitch Diamond |
|
| 3 |
Joel Diamond - YAM |
Apex |
|
| Semi-Pro Stock Enduro |
| 1 |
Travis Priehs - YAM |
RX-1 |
| 2 |
Mike Lynema |
|
| 3 |
Rodney Bell |
|
|
| Semi-Pro Mod Enduro |
| 1 |
Rodney Bell |
|
| 2 |
Travis Priehs - YAM |
RX-1 |
| 3 |
Lance Tremblay |
|
|
| Pro Stock |
| 1 |
Troy Dewald |
|
| 2 |
Mitch Diamond |
|
| 3 |
Joel Diamond - YAM |
Apex |
|
| Semi-Pro Stock |
| 1 |
Travis Priehs - YAM |
RX-1 |
| 2 |
Tom Bell |
|
| 3 |
Mike Lynema |
|
|
|