For anyone watching as Blaine Stephenson reached the paddock area following Friday night’s Pro Champ 440 final, you would have thought it was his first career win atop the No. 102 Wahl Bros. Polaris.

“One heck of a race,” said Stephenson afterwards. “Really proud of my team. They deserved that win.”

The sign of thumbs up from Matt Goede, second place finisher, echoed what everyone at the World Championship Derby Complex (WCDC) was thinking … one heck of a race.

Things started out tight as Goede got the early lead, jumping out in front of Will Garceau, Gunnar Sterne, Justin Peterson, Stephenson and a field of 12 of the fastest 440 modified machines in North America.

It looked early on as if Sterne was going to be the one to push Goede, with Stephenson shuffled back to seventh off the start line after he did not get a good hole shot into the first turn.

Sterne however had his hands full holding off Garceau for second with Stephenson now moved up to fourth, simply waiting as all three of the drivers could only watch as Goede pulled away.

Goede had his preference of lines as things strung out, and put his No. 28 Houle-powered Ski-Doo on rails, expanding his lead lap-by-lap, soon finding himself nearly half a straightaway in front as he put it in coast mode for what everyone thought was going to be a dominant win.

Stephenson may not have thought at the time, but his determined drive from fourth place to second meant everyone.

As is the case almost every year at Eagle River, things were far from over as with just three laps remaining when a red flag brought the field to a stand still, and staggered the restart on the front stretch with Goede just one sled length in front of rival Stephenson.

Goede following the race thought maybe, just maybe the sleds were staggered just a bit too tight on the restart. To which Stephenson said, “I am sure from first place it looked that way, but not from my view.”

What could have been almost anyone’s race off the start line turned into a two-sled showdown as Goede was challenged out of two by Sterne.

The high line however didn’t work for the No. 220 Ski-Doo of Sterne as he gave way to Stephenson who moved in behind Goede who led the first lap.

But then looked to slide a bit in the back of the sled heading between turns three and four, breaking his momentum and sending him higher than he prefered.

All Stephenson saw was an open door, as he slammed his Polaris to the bottom of the track and it was a drag race into the front stretch as the white flag waved signaling one to go.

Stephenson, now leading, stuck to the low line coming into the final two turns. Goede from the high side tried squeezing the 102, in an attempt to slow the momentum and make one last charge.

It wasn’t to be though as the four-time World Champion Stephenson rocketed to the front of the field, and used the final push of the throttle to solidify himself as the winner of the Pro Champ 440 final.