ICE Racing Series coming to Ford Center with much on the line | Sports & Recreation

The Grand Finale of the 37th Annual World Championship ICE Racing Series is coming to the Ford Center this Saturday night.  The two most sought after and coveted titles in the sport of arena ice racing are on the line.

Both professional racing divisions of the ICE/International Championship Events sanctioned 37th Annual World Championship ICE Racing Series have several riders still in contention to win it all.  After seven previous rounds in this winter’s coast to coast series of events it all boils down to who is the best and bravest in Evansville.  This season produced one of the closest WC Points battles in many years.

The thoroughbreds of the sport are the Manufacturers World Cup Motorcycles.   Three riders, with outstanding season performances, have positioned themselves to possibly win their first ever World Championship Title.  Jake “The Snake” Mataya from Blaine, MN holds a slim WC Points lead over Hasting, MI’s “Captain” Kirk Cheney and Tom “Freight Train” McGrane from Honeybrook, PA. Assuming they all make it through their Heat Races and Last Chance Qualifier races unscathed, the 8 rider, 8 lap Evansville Main Event will decide who wins the 2013 Ice Racing World Championship.

Of course there are many other riders entered in this division who want to win this major event along with the cash. Such a win would set them up for good sponsorship in the 2014 ice racing season. One such racer is local Evansville pro rider Greg Childers running out of the Big 4 Cycle camp.

The wild and crazy ICE Unlimited Outlaw Quad Class will be more unpredictable than ever at this weekend’s event. It also comes down to three riders mathematically in the Title Chase. The “Kansas Tornados” Dusty “Time Bomb” Crouch from Topeka and Kevin “Cool Hand” Smith from Overbrook have battled back and forth for the points lead all season long. But now they have a tiger on their tail by the name of Mandy “Wild Child” Brodil from Poplar Branch, NC. Brodil is five-Time & Defending World Champion in the Outlaw Quads and has been a role model for young women and girls over the years.  She is the most successful ice racer in the sport’s 37 year history.

Last weekend in Trenton, NJ she moved up to third in WC Points and has a chance to win her sixth title. Making all this even more dramatic is that Mandy has hinted this may be her last ice racing season, Evansville her last event.

Other top Outlaws expected to compete this weekend are Kevin Veon from Red Oak, IA, Ryan Kaufman, Blaine and Ryan Jamison, On the 100% American made Harley-Davidson powered “Thunder Quad” Brandon Davis, Shane Quam on his “Nitrous Shot Quad”, Chuck “The Ice Man” Calvert, Ken “Stuntman” Remer, Anthony “Jersey Boy” Demeo and Mandy’s dad Jeff.

The action, promoters say, is fast and furious.  All riders will be competing with razor sharp steel studded tires.  Amateur classes are designed to give locals a shot at fame and glory.

 Several special attractions will also be featured in Evansville including the incredible death defying Ring Of Fire Quad Jump.  Action will begin at 7PM sharp Saturday at the Ford Center. Family priced tickets are on sale at the Ford Center Box Office, all Ticketmaster Outlets, online at www.ticketmaster.com, by phone at 800-745-3000 or at the door Saturday.