Arctic Cat All Stars welcome 17 travelers to the road full-time in 2017,
Action begins with competition at Bubba Raceway Park on February 9

INDIANAPOLIS, IN (February 2, 2017) - The Arctic Cat All Star Circuit of Champions will launch the 2017 season in near-record fashion; welcoming 17 full-time travelers from five different states, each working to endure 51 events across much of the Midwest and Northeast. Of the 17 confirmed travelers, ten will tackle the nine month campaign for the first time in their careers, attempting to etch their names permanently in the All Star history books and claim “Rookie of the Year” honors with one of America's oldest and most prestigious traveling sprint car series.

Despite the heavy, rookie presence invading the tour, it is the talented, veteran roster of travelers that aim to conquer headlines once again in 2017, led by five-time and defending Arctic Cat All Star champion Chad Kemenah. Kemenah, who claimed the 2016 championship by a mere-20 markers over fellow Ohio native Dale Blaney, earned one feature victory last season, using relentless consistency to claim 33 top-ten feature finishes in 43 contested starts. The Findlay native will return to the driver seat of the familiar Hunter Racing/Seneca Energy/No. 10H in 2017, aiming to score a second-ever title for car owner Rob Hunter.

Other experienced travelers returning to the road full-time in 2017 include Pennsylvania native and 2015 Jim Ford Classic winner Ryan Smith; former USAC Kenyon Midget champion Caleb Armstrong; Findlay, Ohio, native Caleb Helms; 2005 Knoxville Nationals champion and son of 20-time World of Outlaws champion, Kraig Kinser; the 2016 All Star “Rookie of the Year” runner-up, the “Texas Traveler” T.J. Michael; and Etters, Pennsylvania, native Bradley Howard.

In perhaps what will turn into the largest rookie battle in Arctic Cat All Star history, the contingent of newly formed All Stars is diverse; representing a multitude of tracks, series and divisions from across the country. Although some competitors have limited or part-time experience with the Arctic Cat All Star Circuit of Champions, some will compete for the first-time ever in 2017.

Joining Ryan Smith and Bradley Howard, seven of the ten “Rookie of the Year” candidates hail from various parts of the Keystone State, each attempting to extend a rich, Pennsylvania presence on the road with the Arctic Cat All Star Circuit of Champions. Former Lernerville Speedway champion and Buckeye Outlaw Sprint Series (B.O.S.S.) non-wing ace Brandon Spithaler; the father-son duo of Brent and Brandon Matus; former Lernerville Speedway super late model champion turned open-wheel competitor John Garvin; 358ci sprint car graduate Tyler Esh; and the third generation family duo of Hunter and Jordan Mackison, will each represent Pennsylvania in 2017.

In addition, Ryan Linder, a Mexico, Indiana, native who will compete out of a Pennsylvania-based race shop; Dane Lorenc, a New York native and former Patriot Sprint Tour feature winner; and “Mad Max” Stambaugh, an Elida, Ohio, native who claimed back-to-back NRA “360” Sprint Invaders championship runner-up finishes, will also follow the Arctic Cat All Star trail in 2017, raising the total number of states represented to four within the “Rookie of the Year” chase.

The 2017 Arctic Cat All Star Circuit of Champions campaign will ignite officially on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, February 9-11, with three, full nights of Winter Nationals competition at the Bubba Raceway Park near Ocala, Florida. All three events will award a $5,000 top prize, as well as full points toward the 2017 Arctic Cat All Star championship. The upcoming visits will bring “America’s Series” within close proximity of 30 total appearances at the Ocala-based oval since traveling commenced in 1970; recording 25 starts since February of 1991.

With Mother Nature claiming control during most of the Ocala visit in 2016, Kraig Kinser left Florida as the only victor during competition at Bubba Raceway Park. The Bloomington, Indiana, native held off Dale Blaney and Greg Hodnett for the highest spot on the podium. It was Kinser’s first of two All Star victories in 2016.

Those seeking additional information regarding the 6th Annual Winter Nationals at Bubba Raceway Park should visit the facility live on the Web at www.bubbaracewaypark.com. Updated news and content regarding the event will also be shared on all of the available social media networks.

Additional Arctic Cat All Star Series Info:
Those seeking additional information regarding the Arctic Cat All Star Circuit of Champions should visit their official online home at www.allstarsprint.com. Series updates and breaking news will be posted regularly on the official Twitter account of the Arctic Cat All Star Circuit of Champions: https://twitter.com/ASCoC. Find full text results from each and every event, as well as an up-to-date schedule, online at www.allstarsprint.com/schedule/

About the Arctic Cat All Star Circuit of Champions:
All Star Enterprises, LLC, wholly owned by Tony Stewart, d/b/a the All Star Circuit of Champions, is a winged sprint car series. The All-Star Circuit of Champions Sprint Car Series is one of the oldest traveling 410 sprint car organizations and is a staple of grassroots, open-wheel racing.  Formed in 1970 by Bud Miller, the series has largely been considered the first 'outlaw' Sprint Car organization of the modern era. After a 10 year stint as owner of the All Stars, Miller passed control of the series to Bert Emick in 1980; a reign that would continue through 2002. Guy Webb then purchased the series from Emick in the summer of 2002 and served as the series President for the next 12 years.  Motorsports entrepreneur Tony Stewart agreed to terms with Guy Webb to become the sole owner of the original winged sprint car tour in January of 2015.

About Arctic Cat:
The Arctic Cat brand is among the most widely recognized and respected in the recreational vehicle industry. The company designs, engineers, manufactures and markets all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), side-by-sides and snowmobiles, in addition to related parts, garments and accessories under the Arctic Cat® and Motorfist® brand names. Arctic Cat Inc.’s world headquarters is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Its common stock is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the ticker symbol “ACAT.” More information about Arctic Cat and its products is available at www.ArcticCat.com.

Donny Schatz wins wild Arctic Cat All Star season opener at Bubba Raceway Park,
Winter Nationals action continues Friday, February 10

OCALA, FL. (February 9, 2017) - Fargo, North Dakota’s Donny Schatz survived a wild ending on Thursday evening at Bubba Raceway Park; advancing two positions during the last two circuits, each while battling nearly nose-to-tail in heavy lapped traffic, to clinch the season’s first Arctic Cat All Star Circuit of Champions victory.  Schatz, the eight-time and defending World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series champion, advanced six positions during 30 non-stop laps to capture his 14th career Arctic Cat All Star victory. Tim Shaffer held on to finish just behind the pilot of the Tony Stewart Racing/Arctic Cat/Ford Performance/No. 15, followed by Kraig Kinser, Ian Madsen and Caleb Armstrong.

“Oh man, that was crazy,” said Donny Schatz. “I started to notice Kerry’s [Madsen] tire was really beginning to get low; almost down to the chords. I knew that I didn’t want to be above him at that point because when the right rear tire goes flat, the car tends to drift up the race track. When it blew, we just went to work on Shaffer. I didn’t have a lot of time, but he was racing a little too protective and I was able to set him up and get around him. I never give up and I never count us out, no matter where we are at on the race track.”

Donny Schatz commenced his campaign to the front of the field right from the drop of the initial green, eventually working forward from the inside of row four to a podium position by lap 15. By the time Schatz solidified himself third in the running order, Kerry Madsen was already in control, tailed closely by the “Steel City Outlaw” Tim Shaffer. All three drivers navigated traffic nose-to-nail for nearly ten circuits, each utilizing the bottom groove of the racing surface. Shaffer was strong enough to periodically make a bid for the top spot, but each time it was negated.

Unfortunately for Kerry Madsen, who took command officially on lap 13 aboard his GoMuddy.com/Big Game Treestands/No. 2M, disaster would strike in the form of a flat right rear tire with just two circuits remaining, caused by the rubbered-up racing surface that started to build along the bottom edge of Bubba Raceway Park. Without bringing out a caution, Madsen exited the speedway, surrendering his top spot to Tim Shaffer. Despite Shaffer’s attempt to race conservatively and protect the rubbered-up racing groove, Schatz continued to apply pressure, ultimately working around the Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, native on the final circuit to clinch the $5,000 payday.

“It feels really good to get it done here tonight, especially with Arctic Cat playing such a big role in our program now,” Schatz explained. “They are big supporters of the Arctic Cat All Star Circuit of Champions, and obviously big supporters of Tony Stewart Racing, so to win right out of the gate with this new deal is very special. Hopefully we can do this a few more times this weekend.”

The Arctic Cat All Star Circuit of Champions will continue their Winter Nationals triple-header at Bubba Raceway Park on Friday evening, February 10. Identical to Thursday, “America’s Series” will showcase a complete program on Friday night, awarding $5,000 to the main event winner, as well as full points toward the 2017 Arctic Cat All Star championship.

It was Bloomington, Indiana’s Kraig Kinser who earned the Friday night victory at Bubba Raceway Park in 2016. The win was Kinser’s first of two during the season, eventually revisiting the top spot on the podium at Tri-City Raceway Park in Franklin, Pennsylvania, during the I-79 Summer Shootout.

Those seeking additional news and information regarding Bubba Raceway Park, such as gate times and ticket prices, should visit the facility live on the Web at www.bubbaracewaypark.com.

Contingency Awards/Results: Bubba Raceway Park - Thursday, February 9, 2017:
Event: Bubba Army Winter Nationals
EMi Driver’s Meeting: 38 entries
State Water Heaters Warm-Ups: Tyler Clem - 12.502 seconds
Lincoln Electric Fast Qualifier: Danny Dietrich - 12.368 seconds
Kistler Racing Products Heat #1: Tim Shaffer
All Pro Aluminum Cylinder Heads Heat #2: Greg Hodnett
Hunt Brothers Pizza Heat #3: Kerry Madsen
Kear’s Speed Shop Heat #4: Joey Saldana
JE Pistons Dash #1: Kraig Kinser
JE Pistons Dash #2: Greg Hodnett
Classic Ink USA B-Main: Chad Kemenah
Daido Engine Bearings Main Event Winner: Tim Shaffer (2nd)
MSD Performance Hard Charger Award: Chad Kemenah (+11)
Outback Steakhouse A-Main 5th Place Finisher: Caleb Armstrong
Outback Steakhouse A-Main 10th Place Finisher: Chad Kemenah
Outback Steakhouse A-Main 15th Place Finisher: Steve Buckwalter
(Lincoln Electric, Daido Engine Bearings, MSD Performance, Outback Steakhouse: Need decal to qualify for contingency award)

Qualifying
1.13D-Danny Dietrich, 12.368; 2.15-Donny Schatz, 12.381; 3.11K-Kraig Kinser, 12.385; 4.24-Rico Abreu, 12.526; 5.7C-Caleb Armstrong, 12.539; 6.2M-Kerry Madsen, 12.556; 7.10H-Chad Kemenah, 12.640; 8.49x-Tim Shaffer, 12.703; 9.27-Greg Hodnett, 12.711; 10.5-David Gravel, 12.779; 11.22-Cole Duncan, 12.832; 12.14-Tony Stewart, 12.860; 13.87-Aaron Reutzel, 12.974; 14.18-Ian Madsen, 12.983; 15.5M-Max Stambaugh, 12.988; 16.M1-Mark Smith, 13.008; 17.14T-Tyler Clem, 13.162; 18.4p-Paul McMahan, 13.177; 19.17s-Joey Saldana, 13.192; 20.2-Parker Price-Miller, 13.197; 21.17B-Steve Buckwalter, 13.242; 22.17-Caleb Helms, 13.291; 23.8M-TJ Michael, 13.410; 24.4-Danny Smith, 13.478; 25.O7-Jacob Wilson, 13.497; 26.21-Carson Short, 13.524; 27.59-Ryan Smith, 13.540; 28.7J-Joe Swanson, 13.543; 29.49H-Bradley Howard, 13.637; 30.40-Mark Imler, 13.637; 31.13F-Todd Fayard, 13.670; 32.33-Brent Matus, 13.833; 33.51-John Garvin, 14.099; 34.13-Brandon Matus, 14.134; 35.9-Ryan Linder, 14.160; 36.7W-Tasker Phillips, 14.207; 37.76-David Jones, 14.288; 38.45-Trevor Baker, 15.537;

Heat 1, Group A -  (8 Laps)
1. 49x-Tim Shaffer[1] ; 2. 7C-Caleb Armstrong[2] ; 3. 22-Cole Duncan[5] ; 4. 11K-Kraig Kinser[3] ; 5. 13D-Danny Dietrich[4] ; 6. 5M-Max Stambaugh[6] ; 7. 13F-Todd Fayard[8] ; 8. 49H-Bradley Howard[7] ; 9. 33-Brent Matus[9] ; 10. 45-Trevor Baker[10]

Heat 2, Group B -  (8 Laps)
1. 27-Greg Hodnett[3] ; 2. 5-David Gravel[2] ; 3. M1-Mark Smith[6] ; 4. 87-Aaron Reutzel[5] ; 5. 17-Caleb Helms[7] ; 6. 14-Tony Stewart[1] ; 7. 10H-Chad Kemenah[4] ; 8. 59-Ryan Smith[8] ; 9. 7W-Tasker Phillips[9] ; 10. 76-David Jones[10]

Heat 3, Group C -  (8 Laps)
1. 2M-Kerry Madsen[2] ; 2. 15-Donny Schatz[4] ; 3. 4p-Paul McMahan[1] ; 4. 24-Rico Abreu[3] ; 5. 17B-Steve Buckwalter[6] ; 6. 2-Parker Price-Miller[5] ; 7. 7J-Joe Swanson[8] ; 8. 51-John Garvin[9] ; 9. 8M-TJ Michael[7]

Heat 4, Group D -  (8 Laps)
1. 17s-Joey Saldana[2] ; 2. 18-Ian Madsen[4] ; 3. 21-Carson Short[6] ; 4. 4-Danny Smith[1] ; 5. O7-Jacob Wilson[5] ; 6. 14T-Tyler Clem[3] ; 7. 40-Mark Imler[7] ; 8. 13-Brandon Matus[8] ; 9. 9-Ryan Linder[9]

Dash 1 -  (1 Laps)
1. 11K-Kraig Kinser[1] ; 2. 2M-Kerry Madsen[3] ; 3. 18-Ian Madsen[2] ; 4. 15-Donny Schatz[4] ; 5. 5-David Gravel[5]

Dash 2 -  (1 Laps)
1. 27-Greg Hodnett[2] ; 2. 49x-Tim Shaffer[3] ; 3. 13D-Danny Dietrich[1] ; 4. 17s-Joey Saldana[5] ; 5. 7C-Caleb Armstrong[4]

B-Main 1 -  (30 Laps)
1. 10H-Chad Kemenah[1] ; 2. 14-Tony Stewart[2] ; 3. 5M-Max Stambaugh[3] ; 4. 14T-Tyler Clem[4] ; 5. 59-Ryan Smith[7] ; 6. 2-Parker Price-Miller[5] ; 7. 7J-Joe Swanson[8] ; 8. 49H-Bradley Howard[10] ; 9. 13-Brandon Matus[14] ; 10. 40-Mark Imler[9] ; 11. 7W-Tasker Phillips[16] ; 12. 51-John Garvin[13] ; 13. 33-Brent Matus[12] ; 14. 76-David Jones[17] ; 15. 45-Trevor Baker[18] ; 16. 9-Ryan Linder[15] ; 17. 13F-Todd Fayard[11] ; 18. 8M-TJ Michael[6]

A-Main 1 -  (12 Laps)
1. 15-Donny Schatz[7] ; 2. 49x-Tim Shaffer[4] ; 3. 11K-Kraig Kinser[1] ; 4. 18-Ian Madsen[5] ; 5. 7C-Caleb Armstrong[10] ; 6. 22-Cole Duncan[11] ; 7. 27-Greg Hodnett[2] ; 8. 13D-Danny Dietrich[6] ; 9. 5-David Gravel[9] ; 10. 10H-Chad Kemenah[21] ; 11. 24-Rico Abreu[15] ; 12. 21-Carson Short[14] ; 13. M1-Mark Smith[12] ; 14. 4-Danny Smith[17] ; 15. 17B-Steve Buckwalter[16] ; 16. 2M-Kerry Madsen[3] ; 17. 14-Tony Stewart[20] ; 18. 17-Caleb Helms[19] ; 19. 17s-Joey Saldana[8] ; 20. 5M-Max Stambaugh[23] ; 21. 4p-Paul McMahan[13] ; 22. O7-Jacob Wilson[18] ; 23. 51-John Garvin[24] ; 24. 33-Brent Matus[25] ; 25. 14T-Tyler Clem[22] ; 26. 59-Ryan Smith[26]


Additional Arctic Cat All Star Series Info:
Those seeking additional information regarding the Arctic Cat All Star Circuit of Champions should visit their official online home at www.allstarsprint.com. Series updates and breaking news will be posted regularly on the official Twitter account of the Arctic Cat All Star Circuit of Champions: https://twitter.com/ASCoC. Find full text results from each and every event, as well as an up-to-date schedule, online at www.allstarsprint.com/schedule/.

About the Arctic Cat All Star Circuit of Champions:
All Star Enterprises, LLC, wholly owned by Tony Stewart, d/b/a the All Star Circuit of Champions, is a winged sprint car series. The All-Star Circuit of Champions Sprint Car Series is one of the oldest traveling 410 sprint car organizations and is a staple of grassroots, open-wheel racing.  Formed in 1970 by Bud Miller, the series has largely been considered the first 'outlaw' Sprint Car organization of the modern era. After a 10 year stint as owner of the All Stars, Miller passed control of the series to Bert Emick in 1980; a reign that would continue through 2002. Guy Webb then purchased the series from Emick in the summer of 2002 and served as the series President for the next 12 years.  Motorsports entrepreneur Tony Stewart agreed to terms with Guy Webb to become the sole owner of the original winged sprint car tour in January of 2015.