1. Hunter Patenaude
Patenaude has shown he can win at every level and was not phased by the pressure of several challengers nipping at his heels last season. In fact, given the state of the sport he is perhaps better suited to the Pro class where he would be an easy top 6-8 pick.
Patenaude’s unique relationship with teammate Lincoln Leimeux, a friend, mentor and fellow Vermonter will only continue to mold his rise to next-level status.
2. Francis Pelletier
Pelletier has the ability to match Patenaude’s speed and with a year of Pro Lite experience under his belt may be even better equipped to race for wins AND a championship.
There’s no doubt he will stack podiums along the way and will be the most exciting guy on the track most nights.
3. Ryley Bester
Bester was an impressive surprise in his rookie season that included an opening weekend win and three total podiums. A mid-season slump derailed any championship hopes but, like Pelletier, he’ll be better prepared for the grind in 2020. The only question is how an off-season move from an Arctic Cat to a Team LaVallee Polaris will affect his early season performance while adjusting to the change.
4. Adam Peterson
Peterson had a great rookie season in the Pro Lite class in 2019 that included a big win at Canterbury Park. As a result he gets moved into the Team LaVallee big rig this year along side Pro racer Kyle Pallin, and should only continue to improve with the increased support and confidence.
5. Andy Pake
We typically shy away from putting rookies in the top 10. However, in the case of Pake, he showed massive improvement throughout his first year in the Sport class and has an all business look and demeanor on the track that matches the pedigree established by his father who was a multi-discipline snowmobile champion.
6. Evan Daudt
In a class that can be a roll of the dice on any night, Daudt is a consistent performer. A solid bet to make the final field of 15 each night, he’s also never far from the podium.
7. Nick Lorenz
Lorenz is a bit of a wildcard pick coming off of two straight years away from the sport with serious knee injuries. Two years ago he would have been considered an instant contender for podiums, but in a stacked field with plenty of new blood, he will have to prove himself early and often to stay on the list.
8. Travis Kern
Kern has finished ninth in each of the past two seasons and comes into the opener with a new shot of enthusiam after making the move to the Cottew Motorsports team.
9. Leo Patenaude
The elder Patenaude shocked the pit area with his early season performance last year, winning at each of the first two venues. Equally shocking was his downward spiral in the second half, which included not qualifying for at least three finals.
We’re not ready to throw in the towel on him just yet and look for another strong performance out of the gate.
10. Jay Lura
Lura had a rough season in 2019, including an injury in Jackson, Wyoming that set him back for a good portion of the season.
A healthy Lura could be a force in the class and the KC Motorsports program has been boosted by increased support from Fly Racing and Lucas Oil.
