After Nearly Dying This Year, Arctic Cat Already Won Its First Snowmobile Race

Arctic Cat is having a whirlwind year, as at the start, it looked very likely that the storied nameplate would be gone before 2026 ended. Yet, after getting new owners, rehiring a bunch of folks who were laid off, and restarting production, it's back doing what it does best. Winning races with the brand's snowmobiles. 

Yep, you read that right. The company not only did all of the above, but even with the slightly warmer-than-average winter for the Western states, but it sent its pro riders to the top spot in one of the first snowmobile snowcross races of the season at the ISOC Amsoil Championship Snocross race in Ironwood, Michigan. 

And the team, according to recent press releases, ain't stopping there, as this is just the start of the season. 

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"Arctic Cat kicked off the 2025-2026 snocross racing season the right way with a thrilling victory by Daniel Benham Jr. upon his return to Team Arctic at Ironwood, Michigan," states the press release, adding "The Deer River, Minnesota, native grabbed the lead early on his Frattalone Racing Arctic Cat ZR 600 R-SX on a rugged ski hill course and then dominated a star-studded field to earn an impressive victory on the world’s top snocross circuit." 

The team was quick to also point out that while last year Benham raced for another team, he's come home to Arctic Cat, as his family and he are all die-hard Arctic Cat fans. And while that may not sound all that interesting, it's pointed in that if you have a team you're comfortable with, or one that's paying you to race, there's little incentive to leave said team. Yet, that's exactly what Benham did. 

"The team I ended up on last year was fantastic and there was no reason for me to leave other than my  passion for Arctic Cat," Benham said, "I bleed green, it’s where I belong. And the timing of this win was really good – there’s a lot of excitement around the Arctic Cat brand right now." 

Benham's win comes at a perfect time for the brand, too, as like I mentioned above, the brand's resurgence is one that feels like a phoenix from the ashes, as Textron Inc, the company's previous owners, basically threw Arctic Cat to the wolves at the start of the year. But it's since arisen, and the win has to feel good for the folks at Thief River Falls. And like I said, this was only the first race of the season. More is to come. If Arctic Cat can keep it going, along with getting some seriously good wins during winter in terms of sales, the company will be more than on the right foot forward. 

Here's hoping the West gets more snow real soon.

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