In a little town where everyone knows everybody else, newly crowned world snowmobile racing champion Nick Van Strydonk is more than just the average 21-year-old to his neighbors here.

Van Strydonk, who captured the recent 49th running of the AMSOIL World Championship Snowmobile Derby in Eagle River, Wis., has unusually close ties to one of the event’s main sponsors, Case Construction Equipment. He was part of the crew who built the new Product Reviewing Center, Oak Lodge and Roughneck Gym at the Case Tomahawk Customer Center, working for his uncle, Jim Van Strydonk. Allen Van Strydonk, Nick’s father, owns a local snowmobile and ATV dealer, Erv’s Sales and Service. Together, the Van Strydonks are among Tomahawk’s most prominent residents.

“We’ve followed Nick’s racing career for most of his life,” said Russ Wadzinski, general manager of the Case Customer Center. “Seeing him win that race was like having a member of the family win a gold medal at the Olympics. We’re all proud of him and happy for the Van Strydonk family.”

In the week following the race, Nick Van Strydonk, his father and uncle visited their friends at the Case Customer Center for a brief celebration and some commemorative photos.

Wadzinski, an experienced snowmobile racer in his own right, said sponsoring the Eagle River snowmobile derby provided great exposure for Case, as well as excitement for the Tomahawk customer center staff. As part of the sponsorship, Case provided skid steers, compact track loaders and a wheel loader to support the derby and facility in various chores, such as building the snow course, cleaning the ice course between races and moving equipment and materials.

“Case was proud to be an official product sponsor of this legendary snowmobile competition and to have our brand associated with the best of the best in the world of snowmobile racing,” said Wadzinski.

The championship event is one of the highest-ranking winter sports events in the Midwest and one of oldest continuous snowmobile races in the world, drawing more than 40,000 spectators and more than 500 of the most talented snowmobile operators from around the world.

The Case Tomahawk Customer Center provides personalized equipment training, state-of-the-art product demonstrations and hands-on equipment operation to help Case customers make informed buying, operating and maintenance decisions. More than 2,000 guests visit the center each year.

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