Watch Scott Judnick Go Big – And Why We’re Into Snow

Lindsay Premo|Feb 21, 2019 2:30 PM

At AMSOIL, we like to do things big. And when it comes to the world of Snocross, Scott Judnick of Judnick Motorsports likes to do things just as big. Check out his story below.

It’s About the People

Twenty-two years ago, Scott Judnick took his sons racing. Within just a few years he was running a rig across the country to race. His two sons developed into professional riders complete with mechanics and trailers set-up for the AMSOIL Championship Snocross Series. Find Judnick anywhere on the track or in the pits and you are sure to be greeted with a smile and a “How are ya?”

For Judnick, it’s all about the people within the racing community. Fielding the dreams of the three young racers on his team is just a bonus.

Overcoming Adversity

Judnick went into the 2018-19 Snocross season with notable riders expected to dominate the Pro, Pro Lite and Sport classes. The season started on a high note with Sport rider Carson Alread taking the checkers to open the season in Duluth, Minn.

Noticeably absent from the Friday night DOMINATOR race was Pro Lite rider Nick Lorenz. A re-aggravated knee injury forced Lorenz to take it easy opening weekend. After further observation, he underwent surgery that ended his season before it started. Making matters worse for the team, a scary landing during practice in Canterbury, Minn., left Alread sidelined for the remainder of the season, too.

But that didn’t stop Judnick from continuing to compete. He signed Canadian standout RJ Roy, along with Pro rider Corin Todd. Roy has proven he can hang with the big boys, landing just short of the podium multiple rounds.

AMSOIL Products Keep Sleds Running Strong

Race sleds operate in extreme conditions. Judnick relies on AMSOIL DOMINATOR Synthetic 2-Stroke Racing Oil to keep his race sleds running in those extreme conditions.

“Our engines are tuned to run on the very edge and placed under extreme demands in extreme weather conditions,” said Judnick. “We’ve been using DOMINATOR since its inception and it has never let us down.”

Buy DOMINATOR Synthetic 2-Stroke Racing Oil

Not to be forgotten, the chaincases on these sleds also need attention. Judnick uses AMSOIL Synthetic Chaincase & Gear Oil to protect his sleds’ chaincases.

“The chain and sprockets on our race sleds take a beating from the harsh landings and constant changes in snow and track conditions. With just routine maintenance, AMSOIL Synthetic Chaincase & Gear Oil prevents us from having parts failures in these areas,” said Judnick.

Buy AMSOIL Synthetic Chaincase & Gear Oil

Another team favorite? Mudslinger. It provides a protective, non-stick layer of armor against the accumulation of snow.

Buy AMSOIL Mudslinger

Will Judnick go big this weekend? Be sure to watch his team live in action this weekend at the Seneca Allegany Snocross National in Salamanca, N.Y.

Watch Now: Experts Debate Controversial Snocross Rule Change

Lindsay Premo|Nov 17, 2017 9:54 AM

Race fans, be prepared for a little less “braap” this AMSOIL Championship Snocross race season.

My father taught me a lot about sports. Which collegiate hockey team was the best (it’s the UMD Bulldogs…sorry, Minnesota Golden Gophers), the numbering system for the positions in baseball (6-4-3 double play anyone?), how downs and yardage work in professional football (and that we will always love the Minnesota Vikings), among others.

One of the most important lessons he taught me came during a lackluster season for one of our favorite teams: “This is a rebuilding year. Things will come back around.”

That appears to be the case this season for AMSOIL Championship Snocross.

No more engine mods

As part of an effort to level the playing field in the Pro Class, International Snomobile Racing, Inc. (ISR) has implemented a new rule for the upcoming season that requires all race sleds to essentially be stock. That means teams can no longer modify the engine, pipes or chassis.

They can, however, modify the shocks, skis, handlebars and aftermarket silencers. The sled may also be reinforced and strengthened with added material.

We’ve seen this before in motorsports. In motocross, all competitors, both amateur and pro, compete with limited-build bikes within a few horsepower of each other. More recently, the TORC Series implemented new restrictions to its Pro 2wd class to increase the field of competitors.

That’s the same idea here. With two of the teams in the Pro Open class bowing out at the end of last season, the field was shrinking. This new rule change is designed to encourage more Pro Lite racers to move up to the Pro Open class to fill those gaps.

Yay or nay?

As with any change in sports, this move has its advocates and detractors. Proponents argue that this will open the door for more riders to move up and hopefully lessen the expense of snowmobile racing, in turn fueling its future. The sled manufacturers will also be encouraged to build better race sleds, which benefits riders in all classes.

Opponents argue that this will make the racing less interesting for fans, with the loudest (and may I mention my favorite) class being the little 120s. They also argue that it will stifle innovation in the sled industry.

Two big industry players at opposite ends of this issue include Steve Scheuring of Scheuring Speed Sports and Tom Rager Jr., Race Manager at Polaris.

We sat down with a few key players in this world to hear what they have to say. Hear their thoughts in the video above.

What are your thoughts? As with any change, it will take a year or so to see how everything shakes out. This could eventually be a turnaround for the world of snocross racing. Or maybe it won’t be.

The only way to find out is to drop the flag on the season and start racing. The AMSOIL Championship Snocross season kicks off Thanksgiving Weekend at Spirit Mt. in Duluth, Minn.

I hope to see you there!

Category: Snowmobile