(TOLEDO, Ohio – January 22, 2015) – When the ARCA Midwest Tour hosts their annual Championship Awards Banquet on Saturday night, January 31, in Wisconsin Dells, WI, Cardell Potter will be recognized for finishing seventh in the final point standings.
Potter doesn’t take a lot of time off of racing. When winter comes, he simply trades in his stock car for a snowmobile.
This past weekend, the ARCA Midwest Tour regular won the prestigious World Championship Snowmobile Derby in Eagle River, Wisconsin. It was the 52nd edition of one of the most coveted snowmobile races in the world.
“I’ve been trying to win the World Championship Derby for six years now,” Potter said. “It’s something I’ve been dreaming about for 18 years. This is extremely special for me.”
Potter had to race his way into the finals of the event, then, when he got there, had to start at the back of the field. What makes that so unique is anyone starting near the tail-end of the field gets a heavy, intense spray of snow from all of the sleds in front of them. Potter said that snow and ice can build up on your goggles.
“Being able to do that – race our way in, and then start from the back makes this even more sweet,” he said. “It’s one of the best feelings you can have, I know that.”
Potter took the lead with six laps left in the race, held on an oval course.
Potter, 22, is a Wisconsin native who has been competing in snowmobile races since he was 4. He has an ambitious lineup of snowmobile races this entire winter.
“Seems like every weekend we hit the road for these races,” he said. “We have a couple more Pro Championship races, and then we head to Michigan for an enduro snowmobile race then back to Wisconsin. We are at it until March.”
When spring arrives, Potter trades in that snowmobile.
“We put our sled away, swap out the trailer and start working on our race car,” he said.
Potter competed in a full ARCA Midwest Tour schedule last year, achieving one top five and five top 10 finishes. He was seventh in the final point standings. His plans call for a full 2015 ARCA Midwest Tour season as well.
“I love everything about the Midwest Tour,” he said. “We have a great group of drivers. It’s good, clean racing with a great group of guys. I stay friends with these guys on and off the track. We go to some great tracks, too. It’s such a good series.”
The ARCA Midwest Tour kicks off its 2015 season in Oregon, WI at Madison International Speedway with the Joe Shear Classic 100.
By Doug Donnelly, arcaracing.com
