Hentges Racing’s Kody Kamm Scores Top Five Finish at Canterbury Park in Shakopee, Minnesota

Teammate John Malmstrom Makes Pro Class Debut

SHAKOPEE, Minn. – After a commanding start to the season, Hentges Racing’s Kody Kamm was motivated to continue the momentum at the next stop on the AMSOIL Championship Snocross series. Also home to the team headquarters, Shakopee, Minnesota, saw Kamm take seventh at Round 3 and score a top five finish on Saturday in front of a packed stadium crowd.

With teammate Oscar Norum recovering from injuries sustained at Round 2 in December, Hentges Racing recruited 2022 Pro Lite Swedish Snocross Champion John Malmstrom of Kalix, Sweden, to fill in for the remainder of the season. Malmstrom arrived in the U.S. less than two weeks ago to begin training with the team and getting accustomed to his Polaris 600R. He made his pro debut at Canterbury Park, notching a top 10 result at Round 4.

Round 3

Twenty-eight-year-old Kamm battled a challenging track and tallied 7-2 in his qualifying races to earn a seventh qualifying position. For the final, he set himself up toward the center of the front row. Early in the race, he put himself into podium contention and was charging his way into second with seven laps to go when the sled came out from under him. He remounted his Polaris 600R and tried to regain several positions before the end of the 20-lap race. When the clock ran out, he was in seventh.

“It was a tough track with deep sugar and some ice edges hiding inside,” said Kamm. “I was off to an awesome final, racing my way into third. I was pushing for that second position and came off the sled. I got up as fast as I could and managed to salvage seventh place.”

Malmstrom qualified sixth in both of his heat races, even after getting caught up in a crash right off of the start of his first heat race. New to the series and the pro class, he worked his way up inside the top 10 at one point during the final. He continued to assess the track and keep pushing the pace, but ultimately captured 12th at the finish line.

“The track was rough,” said Malmstrom. “I was just thinking about staying on the sled. I had a few crashes, but luckily didn’t get hurt.”

Round 4

On Saturday, Kamm battled against deep holes on the track, and — like many riders — tried to remain on his machine despite the rough conditions. He grabbed sixth and fifth place results in his qualifying races. When it came time for the final, he quickly positioned himself towards the front off of the start. Then, the pace of his competitors began to increase. Kamm put in a good fight to hold them off, but, as time elapsed, he slipped back a few positions. However, Kamm remained focused on trying to gain back spots until the checkered flag waived. Ultimately, claiming a top five finish.

“We had a similar track to Friday, with warmer temperatures giving us a very deep and tough track,” said Kamm. “I struggled pretty much all day with my speed, and the team had a lot of work to get done after my second heat race before the final. I had last pick on the front row and was able to sneak around the first turn in a decent position. I battled at the front for the entire race but wasn’t quick enough for the podium.”

For Saturday’s qualifiers, 21-year-old Swedish rider Malmstrom went 7-6. He lined up for the final under the lights of Canterbury Park. Building on his experience from the day prior, he put in a good ride and scored a top 10 finish to top off his first weekend of racing in America.

“I learned a lot this weekend, and I had fun competing,” Malmstrom said. “I will keep on training to do my best.”

Looking Forward

Kamm of Kenosha, Wisconsin, is third in the Pro class after four rounds with 132 points. John Malmstrom, fill-in rider for Oskar Norum, is 15th after his first two rounds of competition.

“The race weekend in Shakopee was tough,” Kamm said. “We saw a smaller track than we typically have seen before, which presented its own challenges. I’m looking forward to deadwood in two weeks and getting back on the podium.”

“It means a lot for me to get this chance to race for Hentges Racing and do what I love fulltime,” Malmstrom said. “I will continue to get to know my new machine and fight for better results.”

Next Race: January 27-28 – Deadwood, South Dakota

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About Hentges Racing
Established in 2000, Hentges Racing is a factory Polaris Snocross team that fields two pro class competitors – Kody Kamm of Kenosha, Wisconsin, and John Malmstrom of Kalix, Sweden – in the AMSOIL Championship Snocross series. The team is owned by Nate Hentges and headquartered in Shakopee, Minnesota. Visit HentgesRacing.com for more info.

Sponsors
Monster Energy, Polaris, FXR, Pirtek, Polaris Engineered Lubricants, IAMACOMEBACK, Woody’s Traction Control, S.M. Hentges & Sons, Forterra Pipe & Precast, Walker Evans Racing Shocks, C&A Pro Skis, Camso, Apple Autos, Ergodyne, 139 Designs, Rox Speed FX, Heel Clicker, Starting Line Products, EVS, Uncharted Supply Company, and High Gear Success.