MOUNT SNOW, Vt. – You couldn't have asked for a better script.

With the Foo Fighters' "My Hero" blaring over the sound system on Exhibition Run, 16-year-old Matt Luczynski's friends – four of which were shirtless to spell out M-A-T-T in red paint – sang along as they watched their hero chase his dream in Sunday's HillCross event.

Luczynski's friends (they must be great friends to do this) braved temperatures in the 20s as they stood along the fence at the start line.

As he approached the starting area each time, Luczynski played to the crowd of 20 or so friends and family members. Chants of "Matty, Matty, Matty" erupted. He even did his own version of the Green Bay Packers Lambeau Leap, jumping over the fence and into the arms of his frenzied fans.

Luczynski, of Clarksburg, Mass. (about 40 minutes away from Mount Snow) had his partially nude posse and others in Luczynski t-shirts screaming for him. It seemed nothing could break Luczynski's karma on this day, not even having to change his sled number from 99 to 199 because veteran SnoCrosser Jesse Strege had it. He simply added a one, a noticeable manual change but not a damaging one. His karma was still intact.

Luczynski didn't disappoint his underdressed, partially insane contingent. He exploded off the line just like his heroes – Blair Morgan and 16-year-old phenom Tucker Hibbert.

"There goes my hero
watch him as he goes"

Why would anyone stand shirtless on a Vermont ski slope in February?

"I wanted to do something nutty, something insane that would get Matty all pumped up to race," said Jason Willamson, 17, who represented the letter A. "I want him to look over here (along the start line) and see all his friends here and just get psyched."

A small portion of the Luczynski clan. The missing T must have wandered off for hot chocolate.

The shirtless wonders didn't go without a few strange looks. They were even subjected to a few zingers from the crowd.

Choice comments included:

"Hey cupcake (referring to one of the guys), put some clothes on!"

"Do those guys know anything about hypothermia?"

"He's turning purple, dude!"

"Hey darlin' (a woman comes up and pinches one of the guys on the back), put some clothes on!"

Luczynski was more than psyched to have his friends cheering him on, he was overwhelmed with emotion.

"They're awesome," Luczynski said. "My friends are the best man ... they pumped me up so much."

Luczynski's dream was coming true; unwavering support from half-naked friends, an enormous crowd and a shot at a medal.

He was following in Hibbert's tracks one year later as he rocketed into the final.

"There goes my hero
he's ordinary"

He's just an ordinary guy to his friends, but he may be the next hero in snowmobile racing.

This new hero heads back to Clarksburg, bronze medal in hand.

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