Never too slick

BIG LAKE — A dozen snowmachine racers turned out for ice racing over a windy, 1.9-mile Ice Racing Alaska course set up near the south shore of Big Lake Sunday afternoon.

Wasilla’s Cassidy Nelson was the day’s big winner, taking home first place in a competitive 0-1000cc pro class that also included Bill Wilkes, David Branholm, Josh Estes and Frank Harris.

Wilkes, who last year teamed up with Chad Gueco to win the prestigious International 500 race in Michigan, placed second in the open class, while Branholm was third.

“Any of the open class guys could go Outside and do well,” racer and club co-founder Josh Estes said during the races Sunday. “Everyone is fast.”

Jim Wilbur won the 0-500cc pro class over Mike Estes and Tyson Sena, while Garrett Lyons was the top rider in the 0-1000cc semipro open class, edging out Steve Cole, Noah Ewing and Nathan Christy.

At speeds reaching 100 mph, racers were able to get in two, five-lap preliminary heats and a seven-lap main event Sunday in chilly temperatures that hung around zero degrees Fahrenheit.

“Too many more laps and you’d be coming back with frostbite,” Estes said.

Ice races at the grand prix-style course will be held again this weekend beginning at noon.

Ice Racing Alaska

Snowmachine racing

Big Lake

Sunday

0-500cc Pro — 1. Jim Wilbur, 2. Mike Estes, 3. Tyson Sena

0-1000cc Pro — 1. Cassidy Nelson, 2. Bill Wilkes, 3. David Branholm

0-1000cc Semipro — 1. Garrett Lyons, 2. Steve Cole, 3. Noah Ewing