Cherryfield’s Andy Santerre, who claimed the Busch North series points championship last season, headlines the list of series participants today at the fourth annual Busch North Poker Snowmobile Run for Charity in Rangeley.

The ride is open to everyone and the first group will leave the People’s Choice Restaurant at 10 a.m. Participants don’t have to ride, but those who want to ride and don’t have a snowmobile can rent them.

Participants can ride throughout the day.

Ride credentials cost $10 apiece. For each credential, riders will head to five checkpoints and receive a playing card at each.

The riders will meet back at the People’s Choice at 5 p.m. and the riders will have the opportunity to buy up to two more cards to improve their hands.

The winner will receive a prize package which will include snowmobile gear, gift certificates and more.

There will be a raffle, auction and a live band performing.

The proceeds will go to the Maine Special Olympics and the Busch North Series Women’s Auxiliary, which is tied in with several charities.

Santerre has had a busy off-season as he prepares to defend his title. He has joined the Aubuchon Hardware program and his team will be owned by former Winston Cup team owner and Busch Grand National series driver Joe Bessey, who has a home in Rangeley.

Santerre will have a teammate in Carey Heath of Eliot, who will continue to drive for her father, John Heath. John Heath owns the other Aubuchon team.

“We’re way ahead of where we have ever been before [at this time],” said Santerre. “We already have three cars and we’re building another one right now.”

Santerre, who was virtually a one-man operation last season while working out of Bessey’s race shop in North Carolina, has two full-time employees working with him now in Brian MacDonald and Eastport’s Carl Moore. MacDonald is a fabricator who came over from A.J. Foyt’s Winston Cup team and Moore will drive the car transporter.

Santerre, whose wife Sue is expecting their first child May 15, said he is also hoping to run a few Busch Grand National races as long as they don’t interfere with the Busch North schedule.

“I’ve had a few [BGN] teams call me and there may be a chance to get a ride for a few races,” said Santerre, a former Busch Grand National regular.

He added that he is looking forward to driving for Aubuchon and Bessey.

“We’re going to have a good time. We’re getting back to our roots and we’re going to have fun,” said Santerre, whose season gets under way April 27 at Lee USA Speedway in Lee, N.H.