Team BOSS Racing Year in Review

What a wonderous year in racing Team BOSS has had with some lows and a plethora of ups! Check back soon for a creative look at the season through my eyes and lens in the tightest of corners, biggest of jumps, and some pretty close calls. I'll take a look back at each race and break the weekend down into themes, lessons, and ever so awesome pictures!

Robbie and Team Boss are Brainerd, MN BIR WPSA CHAMPS!

March 10th 2008 – Brainerd BIR WPSA National Double Header –

Friday Pro Super Stock Double Header Finals 1 & 2

Pro Super Stock 600 Qualifying Rnd. #1 The steam rolling BOSS Racing Team arrived in Brainerd, MN. mid-week securing a staging lane pit position with the Ski-Doo FXR Racing rig in prime pit position. Friday was a bitter cold sunny day of racing with temperatures starting the day off at -23*F. Pro rider Jeff Snow battling the flu had a short weekend after struggling through two heats of intense racing; Jeff had a meeting with Crew Chief Garth Gordon to make the call to call it a day as his expedience to get to the hospital for proper medication took crucial importance. Robbie also feeling under the weather produced amazing performances. Robbie in his qualifying rounds finished 4th, 1st, and then 3rd for an 8th position on the front row for the first of two Pro Super Stock finals on Friday. In Robbie’s second heat, during the first lap while leading the race, he was landed on by Pro rider Parker Brown #119, the Team BOSS Racing photographer was able to capture the crash. Robbie never missed a beat and within a second of getting blown off his sled, he was full throttle through the corner to end the race in 1st!

Pro Super Stock 600 Final #1 Robbie Malinoski qualifying 8th took a center spot on the front row aimed for the crucial first corner. At the flag drop they were off; Robbie was pinched out violently with the ever aggressive pack or riders. Robbie was 14th out of the hole passing 3 riders on the front stretch with his veteran routed lines extremely effective on this tight-super technical track. During the first lap however, Robbie was once again landed on, this time no direct body impact, but the other rider snapped his shock reservoir off, taking Robbie out of the race, an unlucky end to a dominating day. Team BOSS returned to the race trailer to switch the shock and get ready for a second round of qualifying.

Pro Super Stock 600 Qualifying Rnd. #2 With Pro Rider Jeff Snow at the hospital it left the rest of the crew to intensely go over and hit every nut and fluid with a wrench or a check to start the next round of qualifying on the fast paced double header weekend. Robbie’s battle-scarred face intensified his look of determination and the clear hunt was on for him to win, despite his frost-bitten face turning his cheeks purple. Robbie qualified 2nd, 1st, and then 2nd again taking control of his heats and demonstrated his bewildering strength to pound through the track seemingly smooth and light. Not having to go through the Last Chance Qualifier gave Robbie opportunities to greet the many fans and young riders who came for autographs, pictures, and commentary.

Pro Super Stock 600 Final #2 With Robbie’s dominating performance in the qualifying rounds securing him a 5th place qualifying spot, Robbie was itching to get back out on his track. With the flag drop, Robbie came out of the first hairpin in 5th position, clear from the high side chaos where almost the entire pack jammed up. This final was one of the most aggressive races to be run that weekend with sleds flying side by side out of sync in their different lines displaying some unreal near misses. Robbie nearly avoided getting landed on a 3rd time while setting up for a towering 150’ triple jump on the backside. Snow dust destroyed the riders’ confidence in what they could do healing to lead to a cased landing from the 150’ backside triple that nearly jarred Robbie to pieces around lap 6. Robbie was able to continue to race but fell back to finish the race just outside the top ten in 11th place.

Saturday Pro Open 600 Qualifying Saturday started off with a fresh dusting of snow with warmer temperatures but much colder wind chills with a frigid wind prevailing. Robbie was a little quieter on Saturday walking with a clear presence around the pits with a fierce concentration and focus as he watched countless rounds of racing and other heats. Robbie qualified 3rd – 5th – 2nd to wind it up clinching the 10th qualifier position on the front row with a nice break to prepare for the big show.

Saturday Pro Open 600 Saturday was summed up in two words, “REPEATE DOMINATION”. Robbie explained to his crew to relax, “It’s on me now that’s all there’s to work on,” as Team BOSS confidently waited for the final. As the flagged dropped, Robbie the 2nd furthest out to the right from the inside took it, staying lower than the even bumper charge of the #3 Sean Crapo, as Robbie came rocketing out of the huge sweeper in 1st place. Robbie would continue to display his veteran style as he smoothly walked away from the whole field stretching his lead to half a lap! An ill-fated charge by the #68 Pro rider fell short as the checkered flag snapped away in the wind as Robbie gave the crowd a fist punch for their cheer; a great podium interview and ceremony to follow with Robbie frequently thanking sponsors, family, and crew for the supporting him and the Team’s efforts. In 2nd place was #68 Hibbert and 3rd #108 LaValle.

Sunday Pro Open 600 Qualifying After one championship taken; the BOSS crew was in to the race trailer early wanting the 2nd one just as bad, if not worse. Robbie put the teams’ confidence to display with his dominating 1st -2nd -1st qualifying finishes in his heats. The stage was set for another Robbie Malinoski show, and soon it would prove true. Robbie ended the qualifying with a 4th round front row pick for the last final of the crucial WPSA weekend.
Sunday Pro Open 600 Final With bright blue sunny skies and a light breeze in the air it was a perfect day of snowmobile racing with stands packed to the brim as fans lining the fence packing the facility tight. As the top 15 sat atop the 115’ table top fly away they fired the high octane sleds up and got staged to race. As the green flag waved Robbie took the hole shot hairpin perfectly as he braked and took the towering sweeper low coming out of the first corner in 2nd and for the first lap 3rd place. Quickly Robbie made the moves holding off hard charging #68 Hibbert and then passing the #108 of LaValle putting him in the clear lead of the field. Halfway into the race Robbie had a hard landing breaking the front shock in the rear suspension taking him out of the race; a disappointing finish to a dominating display in front of the many fans and cameras. Team BOSS Racing is now full steam ahead for the Lake Geneva Finale with riders and crew functioning in a perfect little ball of momentum.

Saturday & Sunday Report from Canterbury

Saturday

Race 1 Pro Open 600 Saturday was the start of Open Mod racing for the Double Header. Just shy of 7 am the crew was re opening their pit. Robbie would first be up the scheduled 11, 12, 1:00 pm qualifying round times. Robbie in his rounds went 5-4-3 to qualify 9th for the championship final. Robbie was simply just feeling it as he powered to make passes and soared tripling the course closing gaps during his heats. In Robbie’s final he was running in 10th position when the mag side of the motor burned down at lap 10 from an off re-jet of the carbs.
Jeff was also feeling much more confident on his BRP powered Rhino’s machine. Jeff had good runs but the machine would just not put out a holeshot performance to allow Jeff to show his attacking lines. Jeff placed 8-5-6 following Robbie’s trend as the crew continued adjustments to the sled. Jeff placed 8th in the LCQ for the day.

Sunday

Race 2 Pro Open 600 Sunday would bring long awaited finishes for Team BOSS Racing. The day started with an early Team meeting with some fightin’ words for the Team from the ‘BOSS’ to chew on and motivate; well it worked. Both Team Boss Racing riders drew same heats in all three rounds in the day. Jeff went 5-6-6 and in the LCQ he placed 5th. Robbie would place 6-4-5 and finish a dominating 2nd place in the LCQ. This brought both riders to the Second and final Pro Open of the grueling weekend. Both riders had back row starts that were complicated by zero visibility from snow dust leading to Robbie’s accident. Team BOSS Racing met Pro rider Levi Lavalle once again this time on the number 4 sled. Once Robbie was untangled with Levi he made a visible charge revving up the crowd and announcers to finish 13th right behind team mate, Jeff Snow.

Friday Canterbury Report

Here's Friday report and details. I'm trying a different way of recording the event in the blog. Seperating the racing and sights and sounds. Let me know if you like it.

Race 1 Pro Super Stock Friday January the 11th had a differing look than years past, the color of white and the ability for fans to sled to the track. Canterbury Park in Shakopee, MN held host to great performances of Team BOSS Racings’ Athletes, Crew, and Fans. The Team Boss Racing convoy was parked at the front of pit row and on pit road in view of the grandstands. Pro rider Jeff Snow was up first in Heat one of the tough Double Header weekend. Jeff placed 8th in his first heat, 8th in his second heat, and rebounded to a 5th place finish in his 3rd heat. Team Boss was chasing suspension failures and set up flaws brought on with the ever changing conditions of the track. Robbie Malinoski placed 7th in his first heat putting down one of the fastest lap times of the race, he then placed 8th, and in his third heat Robbie placed 6th. Team BOSS crew all day long chased holeshots and riders were piloting different sleds than had practiced on was the general feedback given. Upon Robbie’s LCQ he got tangled up with another rider sending him 20 seconds behind the leader with only sled characteristics that were seldom constant as the pursuit of perfect match of rider to sled was in high gear. The rest of the night was filled with intensive tweaking and fine tuning of settings to match the raw feed from the riders.

Race 2 Pro SS This second set of racing would also be a severe struggle to overcome poor sled to rider feedback that left Team BOSS riders 90% confident of its input keeping them from riding to their limits. Pro rider Jeff Snow placed in his three round series 7th,7th, and 8th. During round one Jeff got landed on by another rider tearing the right cowling off and spun his throttle 90* straight down. Adding more drama to the scene as Jeff was riding out of it he was caught in the final moments of another riders accident and skidded to avoid but visibility was so poor he missed the upside down sled and parked clean on top of Pro rider Levi LaValle. With in seconds Levi was up and attempting to over turn his sled while Jeff was left for the SPEED Channel cameras to replay. Pro Rider Robbie Malinoski faced similar challenges in the first race series leading him to three 6th place finishes and a 5th place LCQ transfer to the Final. In the 15 lap final Robbie led the Team BOSS Racing Ski-Doo FXR back sled to 8th place, inside the top ten and the highest placing Ski-Doo Team. With that under Robbie and the Crews’ belts they sat pumped for the weekend to pray to have better luck racing and tuning the favorite modified sleds.