The WPSA PowerSports ATV Tour will make history this weekend as it stages its first-ever race west of the Mississippi River.

_{source: WPSA PowerSports ATV Tour}

The Tour visits Cooperland Raceway for the Southwestern National, a double weekend of racing that comprises Rounds 3 and 4 of the 10-race Tour. The event, scheduled for this Friday, Saturday and Sunday, will be telecast on ESPN2 on Saturday, July 7 at noon EDT, and again on Saturday, July 14 at 2 p.m. EDT.

The racing weekend will feature the nation's top Pro riders, competing in three Classes: SuperQuad Pro 450, QuadTerrain Challenge Pro Stock, and SuperSport Side by Side. The SuperQuad Pro 450 Class features big air, motocross style racing.

QuadTerrain Challenge features larger, utility-type ATVs, competing on an obstacle course that includes log jams, mud bogs, rock crawls, as well as high-speed sections. The SuperSport Class comprises four-wheel utility vehicles piloted by a driver and co-driver, sitting side by side.

The purpose-built racing machines compete on a modified course that includes both big-air sections, as well as obstacles.

The race weekend will also feature nearly 20 other classes for Pro Am, Amateur, Junior and Women's classes.

The Pros will be competing in two complete races, with qualifying scheduled for Friday and Saturday and finals scheduled for Sunday.

SuperQuad Pro 450

With two races in the books, the manufacturers' battle is in full song, as Honda and Suzuki are squaring off. In Round 1, John Natalie, Jr. (No. 13 Elka, Maxxis/Honda) returned to winning form, dominating the 450 final. After suffering injuries to his ribs and leg in a tumble during practice for Round 2, Natalie still managed to run in the top 10 most of the final, but the door was open, and Suzuki's factory team took advantage.

After dicing it up with his teammates for most of Round 2's final, "Big" Chad Wienen (No. 44 Team Rockstar, MSR, Pro Taper, Yoshimura/Suzuki) came out atop a Suzuki sweep of the top-five positions, marking a first in the history of professional ATV racing.

With his runner-up finish, Dustin Wimmer (No. 191 MSR, Pro Taper, Yoshimura/Suzuki) took the lead in the Riders' Championship, ahead of his teammate and defending WPSA champion Doug Gust (No. 55 Team Rockstar, MSR, Pro Taper, Yoshimura/Suzuki).

Wienen sits third points, just ahead of privateer rider Joe Haavisto (No. 75 Lost Creek/Suzuki) and Keith Little (No. 60 Lonestar/Honda).