World Championship Derby to return to Eagle River next week

The 62nd World Championship Snowmobile Derby will be returning to the World Championship Derby Complex (WCDC) next weekend, with races starting on Thursday, Jan. 16, and running until Sunday, Jan. 19.
The event will start with all-day practice sessions for oval racers in dozens of classes, including Kitty Cats, Juniors, Amateurs and Pro Ovals. Admission is free on Thursday.
Friday will be a full day of qualification racing in oval classes. Then on Friday night will be the Friday Night Thunder show, where championship qualifiers go head-to-head to determine who will sit on the pole in Sunday’s Championship race, and is designed to show fans who is the fastest and who could be the new 2025 World Champion.
The top 16 qualifiers will run two heat races with eight machines in each and pull five racers from each heat for the final. The victor will automatically qualify in the top 10 and will sit on the pole position for the final. The winner won’t have to duel it out in qualifications Saturday afternoon.
Saturday will bring oval classes qualifying for the top 10 finalists for Sunday’s World Championship event.
Sunday’s World Championship brings on the final laps of the most competitive oval class snowmobile racing.
Early Sunday afternoon will feature a last-chance qualifier which will be held early for the two back-row spots on the starting line of the 62nd running of the World Championship, which will run promptly at 1:30 p.m.
After earning the checkered victory flag, the new World Champion will be honored in the newly created Ultimax Winner’s Circle in front of thousands of race fans. The SnowGoer Cup, inscribed with the names of all past WC winners, will be hoisted in victory for the Derby photographers.
For more information and tickets, visit https://derbycomplex.com/ or call 715-479-4424.