Gulla who is just 22, will focus on winning the three Pro snocross year-end championships on the Rock Maple Racing (RMR) circuit in the eastern United States. He might also compete at major World Snowmobile Association (WSA) events during off-weekends. The Colchester, Vermont, resident intends to qualify for the ESPN X Games, the annual extreme sports competition where he has enjoyed success.
Despite his age, Gulla joins Team Polaris Racing with a great deal of racing success already in his trophy case. At the 2003 Winter X Games, Gulla won the gold medal in Hillcross, and in 2000, he placed third in the ESPN Winter X Games Snocross. In 2000, his first season as a Pro racer, he won the Pro 440 class final at Syracuse, N.Y.  

Gulla, who will race on Polaris snowmobiles for the first time in his six-year career, jumped at the chance to join the Team Polaris program for 2003-2004.
"I am looking forward to working with Race Manager Tom Rager, Sr., again," Gulla said. "I really liked working with him and Racing Coordinator Bill Rader in the past and I thought Polaris has a lot to offer this season."  

Like all the top Polaris racers, Gulla will compete aboard a 2004 PRO XR 440 race sled, which delivers the sport's best acceleration thanks to it's patent pending Dragon Ignition system; a Walker Evan's dampened race suspension and driver forward rider ergonomics. On the Rock Maple circuit, Gulla will race in the Pro 440, Pro 600 and Pro Open classes, riding a Polaris PRO XR race sled in each class. His father, Mike Gulla, will be his crew chief.  

"T.J. raced for me when he was very, very young, so I'm very familiar with both him and his father, and when this opportunity came up, it was a no-brainer to have him join our team," said Polaris Race Manager Tom Rager, Sr. "We are extremely happy to have them on board. I know T.J.'s racing style and I think our product will suit his style perfectly. We think he's going to have a banner year with Polaris.  

Gulla started racing motocross at age 6 and began riding snowmobiles when he was 15. He has always been a fast racer, but has had to overcome injuries in the past year.  

"I broke my right knee last year in a race at Canterbury [in Shakopee, MN]," he said. "I basically trashed my knee in the crash, but since I was wearing my CTI knee braces, I didn't hurt my ACL (anterior cruciat ligament). My leg healed, and then last spring I broke my left kneecap on my motocross bike. I had a heck of a summer."
Fortunately Gulla has rehabilitated both legs fully and feels strong heading into this winter thanks to a rigorous training program. Gulla's sponsors will include: Polaris, Scott Goggles, Hellion Design, Woody's and CTI knee braces.

About Polaris

Information about the complete line of Polaris products is available from authorized Polaris dealers or from the Polaris homepage at polarisindustries.com.
With annual 2002 sales of $1.52 billion, Polaris designs, engineers, manufactures and markets snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), personal watercraft, Victory motorcycles and the Polaris RANGER for recreational and utility use. In addition, the Polaris Professional Series, a line of heavy duty Workmobiles targeted at lawn and landscape companies, equipment rental companies and construction operations, marks Polaris' expansion into the commercial equipment marketplace.
Polaris is the recognized leader in the snowmobile industry; one of the largest manufacturers of ATVs in the world; and a leading manufacturer of personal watercraft. Victory motorcycles established in 1998 and representing the first all-new American-made motorcycle from a major company in nearly 60 years, is rapidly making impressive in-roads into the motorcycle cruiser marketplace. Polaris also enhances the riding experience with a complete line of Pure Polaris apparel, accessories and parts, available at Polaris dealerships. Consumers can also purchase apparel and vehicle accessories anytime at polarisindustries.com
Polaris Industries Inc. trades on the New York Stock Exchange and Pacific Stock Exchange under the symbol "PII," and the company is included in the S&P Small-Cap 600 stock price index.
# # #