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Polaris Unleashes the Outlaw 500
Company announces Outlaw rider sponsorships
and racing contingency programs
Minneapolis, February 20, 2006 – Polaris
Industries today announced its 2006 ATV racing
sponsorships, the continuation of industry’s
largest ATV contingency program for Grand
National Cross Country (GNCC) ATV classes, and
the addition of a contingency offering for three
races in SCORE International’s Off-Road Racing
Series.
Along with re-signing GNCC Racing Pro Matt
Smiley, Polaris has added seven new factory
riders including six new GNCC racers and one
World Off Road Championship Series (WORCS)
rider. Most riders will race the newly-released
Outlaw, the first high-performance ATV with
independent rear suspension (PRO-IRS), which
should excel on GNCC and WORCS’ cross country
courses. With its revolutionary suspension,
unmatched ground clearance and exclusive PRO
steering system, the Outlaw is purpose-built for
aggressive trail riding, making it the perfect
off road racer. The ATV already has received
various top honors including ATV Guide’s 2006
ATV of the Year-Sport & Performance, ATV Rider’s
Sport ATV of the Year and All-Terrain Vehicle’s
2006 Best New Concept.
“Our expanded 2006 racing roster and
contingency program are part of our ongoing
commitment to the high performance ATV market,”
said Mike Dougherty, general manager for the ATV
Division at Polaris. “Pairing the trail tough
Outlaw, and its independent rear suspension,
with some of the best riders will break new
ground in off road racing.”
GNCC Racer Sponsorships
Polaris re-signed Matt Smiley, a 13-year
veteran and a top five GNCC racer the last nine
consecutive years. Smiley and his Polaris
Predator 500 finished fifth overall in the GNCC
standings for 2005. For 2006, Smiley will pilot
an Outlaw and is backed by Chestnuthill
Trailers, a Polaris dealership in Effort, Penn.
Stephanie Parton is the second Pro GNCC racer
to be added to Polaris roster. A fan favorite,
Parton finished second in the “Women’s” class,
only two points out of first. Her racing
accomplishments include 2004 ATVA Female Rider
of the Year, Three-Time Morning Overall
Champion, Two-Time Women’s National Champion and
she has 34 Women’s National wins. Parton’s
employer, Don Wood Polaris in Athens, Ohio, also
is a sponsor.
Polaris also has signed “4-Stroke Stock A”
Racer Todd Rothermel, “Super Senior (50+)” Racer
John Gallagher and will sponsor the Wilson
Racing Team. Rothermel and Gallagher both
finished on top of their respective class
standings for 2005. Wilson Racing consists of
“4-Stroke A” Racer Mike Sroka, “Pro Am” Racer
Frank Grimplin and “Youth” Racer Jerry Welch,
who will race a Youth Predator 90. Polaris
dealerships supporting the racers include
Schreffler Equipment Inc. in Pittman Penn. (Rothermel),
Bair’s Polaris-Victory in North Canton, Ohio
(Gallagher) and Andy’s Motorsports in Smithton,
Penn. (Wilson Racing).
The first race of the 2006 GNCC series is The
Orange Crush GNCC, March 4-6, in De Leon
Springs, Fla.
WORCS Racer Sponsorship
Expanding its racing roster to the West
Coast, Polaris signed WORCS “Stock A” Racer Jeff
Bertuzzi to blaze the trails on an
out-of-the-box Outlaw. A 20-year veteran to
racing, Bertuzzi’s career highlights include
winning the Desert and MX championship In Utah
in 2000. Bertuzzi also is backed by Polaris
Dealer, Stephen Wade Powersports in St. George,
Utah.
Bertuzzi’s first race aboard the Outlaw was
WORC’s opening weekend, January 20-21, in
Phoenix, Arizona, where he took the Stock A
Class by almost six-and-a-half minutes. The
Outlaw’s second WORCS outing was in Taft,
Calif., resulting in another victory for
Bertuzzi by almost four minutes.
“Polaris is excited about the early success
of the Outlaw on the off-road racing circuit and
we look forward to many more podiums. Adding the
perspective and race experiences of various
racers also provides invaluable information used
to further enhance the machine,” added
Dougherty.
Contingency Programs
For the 2006 racing season, Polaris also
expanded the company’s contingency program with
the addition of the SCORE International Racing
Series. The company is offering the following
contingencies for three SCORE races:
San Felipe 250
First Place: $5,000,
Second Place: $1,000
Third Place: $500 |
Baja 500
First Place: $10,000
Second Place: $2,500
Third Place: $1,000 |
Baja 1000
First Place: $25,000
Second Place: $5,000
Third Place: $2,500 |
Polaris also will continue to offer the
largest ATV GNCC contingency program, offered
for all GNCC ATV classes, including youth
racing. The potential pay out for GNCC is more
than $250,000 across all GNCC ATV classes,
including the class champion. The maximum per
race pay out is $2000 for the Pro class. Polaris
currently is the only manufacturer offering a
contingency program for the Youth circuit. The
potential pay out for Youth is $10,000 and is
available to all three classes, with a maximum
per race pay out of $150.
Upcoming races and details on the contingency
programs are posted on
www.polarisperformance.com, the GNCC Racing Web
site,
www.gnccracing.com and SCORE
International’s Web Site,
www.score-international.com. WORCS racing
information can be found at
www.worcsracing.com.
About Polaris
With annual 2005 sales of $1.9 billion,
Polaris designs, engineers, manufactures and
markets snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles
(ATVs), Victory motorcycles and the Polaris
RANGER for recreational and utility use.
Polaris is a recognized leader in the
snowmobile industry; and one of the largest
manufacturers of ATVs in the world. Victory
motorcycles, established in 1998 and
representing the first all-new American-made
motorcycle from a major company in nearly 60
years, are rapidly making impressive in-roads
into the motorcycle cruiser marketplace. Polaris
also enhances the riding experience with a
complete line of Pure Polaris apparel,
accessories and parts, available at Polaris
dealerships.
Polaris Industries Inc. trades on the New
York Stock Exchange and Pacific Stock Exchange
under the symbol “PII,” and the Company is
included in the S&P Small-Cap 600 stock price
index.
Information about the complete line of
Polaris products, apparel and vehicle
accessories is available from authorized Polaris
dealers or anytime from the Polaris homepage at
www.polarisindustries.com.
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