A mid-race caution worked in Matt Goede’s favor this time.

Just over an hour after a red flag worked against the No. 28 driver in the Pro-Champ final, it helped the No. 28 Houle-powered Ski-Doo run away from defending World Champion Troy Dewald and the rest of the field.

For the second consecutive year the New Germany, Minn., driver will get Saturday off as Goede claimed the Formula III final during the World Championship Derby Complex (WCDC) Sweet 16 finale, and will start on the pole for the 63rd running of the World Championship Snowmobile Derby.

Dewald got the hole shot early and was out in front as Goede, Blaine Stephenson and Tanner Foss mixed things up behind him.

Goede for the most part looked to be on of the only drivers that was going to challenge Dewald, and though the defending World Champion seemed to have things in hand, fast qualifier Joey Burch had his front-end clipped sending him into a spin and eventually to the pits.

The mishap staggered the field at the restart with eight laps to go, and though Dewald again got the hole shot, Goede stuck right in his hip pocket and would eventually power around the No. 57 Polaris.

From there it was an all too familiar scene as Goede put himself in victory lane, and solidified himself again as one of the favorites in Sunday’s championship race.

Finishing Order
1. No. 28, Goede
2. No. 57, Dewald
3. No. 102 Stephenson
4. No. 111 Foss
5. No. 54, McCaig
6. No. 2, Towne
7. No. 220 Sterne
8. No. 23 Harris
9. No. 29 Burch