AMSOIL Sponsored Monster Trucks Thrill Nashville Crowd

AMSOIL is stepping up its sponsorship program of Monster Trucks with the recent addition of the T-Maxx and Sudden Impact teams out of New Orleans. Both of the trucks headed north last weekend to the Major League of Monster Trucks (MLMT) series in Nashville, Tenn.

With more than 10,000 race fans in attendance, the evening started off with the AMSOIL Sudden Impact Monster truck driven by John Zimmer qualifying third out 16 trucks. Team member Carl Van Horn in the T-Maxx Monster Truck had a little trouble in turn one costing
him valuable time and he qualified 12th.

During the first two rounds of racing, Sudden Impact took home convincing wins against Madusa and WARWIZZARD, advancing into the semi-finals for a showdown against fellow AMSOIL sponsored monster truck, Tailgator. The two AMSOIL-sponsored riders battled nose-to-nose around the course, with Tailgator taking the narrow win. Tailgator and driver Doug Noelke went to the finals and lost a hard fought battle to Raminator for second overall. Sudden Impact was able to secure a third place finish. T-Maxx couldn't find the right traction and bowed after the second round.

Also in attendance was Autumn Woods Racing. Team AMSOIL driver Jeff Dedick set the fastest time among the Thunder Trucks with a 30-second run on the closed course.

After the Thunder Trucks were completed, the MLMT returned to the Monster Truck and the freestyle portion of the show. The freestyle was getting crazy after the Avenger truck rolled over, bringing the crowd to its feet. T-Maxx and driver Carl Van Horn met the challenge and launched the 2,000 h.p. truck over the difficult bus section and made a terrific run before losing the rear shock bar after a hard landing.

With only three trucks left, John Zimmer took the AMSOIL Sudden Impact truck around the course, hitting the same difficult sections as T-Maxx. Zimmer would get the crowd roaring after hitting the side of large landing ramp and rolling over in breathtaking fashion.

Van Horn is fourth in the season points race with T-Maxx, while Zimmer and the AMSOIL Sudden Impact truck are just a few points behind in fifth. Both T-Maxx and Sudden Impact appear on Clear Channel's Monsters Jam. The MLMT will host an 18-event series in 2008 at major NASCAR tracks such as Texas Motor Speedway and the Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Until then, we'll see you at the track,

Jeremy Meyer
AMSOIL Race Program Manager

Douglas Wins at Texas Motor Speedway

The AMSOIL/Kumho Tires Super Team traveled to Texas Motor Speedway last weekend. Pro 4 driver Scott Douglas was looking for the win that has eluded his team throughout the 2007 Championship Off-Road Racing (CORR) season. Before the weekend, Douglas was second in the PRO-4 points championship, with his sights set on the top spot and moving into a guaranteed starting spot in the Jason Baldwin Memorial Cup race.

The stop in Texas had CORR competitors racing on the shortest track of the year. The .8 mile track was built on and in the half-mile high bank clay oval at Texas Motor Speedway. Along with the jumps and bumps of the track, getting a handle on the clay surface seemed to be the greatest challenge for the competitors. The clay held the moisture very well, keeping the dust and mud to a minimum, but it made for a very slick race track.

Friday – CORR Round 9

After qualifying sixth on Friday, the rolling, inverted start saw Douglas take the lead, with the rest of the field battling for position. Several racers tangled halfway through the first lap bringing out a restart. Undaunted, Douglas brought the field back to the green flag, and once again took the lead. He powered his way to a flag to flag victory. It was his first CORR PRO-4 victory of the year.

“You had to be so smooth tonight,” commented Douglas. “You wanted to mash the throttle so hard; the corners were so slick you couldn't. No matter who was close, you had to roll it on, be easy, up shift, and then when you felt the bite, get on the throttle. You had to keep feeling for the bite and it’s the hardest thing when you got guys breathing down your neck.”

Saturday – PRO-4 Baldwin Qualifier

Cup Race Video

Saturday's qualifying saw the #7 AMSOIL/Kumho Tire Ford F-150 cross the scoring beam fifth fastest. The twenty two lap event saw Douglas gradually work his way up to second place. The final five laps saw a battle between Douglas and Carl Renezeder. On the last lap, Renezeder squeezed by to the runner-up spot, with Douglas right behind in third.

“This was an important race for us,” commented Douglas. “The podium finish automatically puts us in the field for the Baldwin Cup.” I knew Carl was back there, but I knew we had one more race tonight, and I didn’t want to tear up the truck. If there wasn’t another race today, I would have battled harder for the position.”

Saturday – CORR Round 10

The final race of the weekend ended early for Douglas. The first lap of the race saw a large amount of bumping and banging. The #7 AMSOIL Kumho Tire Ford F-150 was a victim of that contact. About halfway through the first lap, Curt LeDuc made hard contact with the left rear corner of the AMSOIL Ford. This resulted in a broken suspension member ending the weekend for Douglas Motorsports.

An extremely frustrated Scott Douglas couldn’t believe what happened. “This isn’t the first time with LeDuc, he didn’t even get a black flag,” stated Scott Douglas. “This probably ended our chances at the PRO-4 title.”

After ten rounds of racing in the CORR PRO-4 Championship, Scott Douglas is tied for second place, 34 points behind the leader.

The final standings in the Jason Baldwin Cup Qualifier Series, Scott Douglas finished in sixth position. This puts Douglas Motorsports in the field for the $66,000 winner take all event.

The final two rounds of Championship racing as well as the Jason Baldwin Memorial Cup will be held at Las Vegas International Off-Road Raceway in Primm, Nevada.

For complete results of the AMSOIL/Kumho Super Team, as well as other AMSOIL sponsored drivers competing in CORR, go to:

Overall Results

NBC Sports will broadcast the Texas Baldwin Cup Qualifying Rounds on October 28, from 2:30pm to 4pm – Eastern Time.

Until then, we'll see you at the races,

Jeremy Meyer

AMSOIL Race Program Manager

Teague Crowned Champion, Sets Speed Records

The AMSOIL Offshore Race Team traveled to Chattanooga, Tenn. to compete in the U.S. Championship on October 13-15. The three-day event included speed record runs on the Chattanooga Mile on Friday, a 5-mile closed course record competition on Saturday, and a 55-mile offshore race on Sunday. A total of 38 offshore boats registered for the event held on the Chickamauga Lake.

On Friday, the Team AMSOIL Cat Lite Offshore race boat was prepared for the speed run on the measured one-mile straight-a-way course. The boat was set up with the highest legal gear ratio and the largest prop in their arsenal. The event consisted of a timed pass in each direction on the course. Paul Whittier (driver) and Bob Teague (throttleman) piloted Team AMSOIL, setting a new Cat Lite Speed Record with an average speed of 128.004 MPH.

On Saturday, the boat was prepared for the timed 5-mile course competition. The boomerang shaped course consisted of six turns. Whittier and Teague put the Team AMSOIL through the paces twice on the course and set a new 5-mile course speed record with an average speed of 105.677 MPH.

On Sunday, Team AMSOIL was part of the main event. No other Cat Lite Class boats made the start so Team AMSOIL was pitted against the higher horsepower Super Cat 750 Class boats. Team AMSOIL took an inside line at the start and held off the “Wicked” Super Cat into the first turn. From that point, the AMSOIL #77 continued to stretch out the lead on the higher powered Super Cat. The Reliable Carriers #20 Super Cat led Team AMSOIL by about a dozen seconds for awhile until they started having intermittent mechanical problems. At that point, Team AMSOIL passed the Reliable Carriers Super Cat and later lapped them. Ultimately, Team AMSOIL #77 finished second overall, not too far behind the Super Cat 850 Class D&M Motorsports boat.

During the award presentation, Team AMSOIL was awarded two speed records with proclamations from the City of Chattanooga as well as the U.S. Cat Lite Championship Title.

Next Stop for Team AMSOIL is the OSS World Championships in Destin, Fla. on October 28 -November 4. Until then, we'll see you at the races,

Jeremy Meyer

AMSOIL Race Program Manager

LaRocco Wins in Return to U.S. Open

Team AMSOIL supercross superstar Mike LaRocco returned to the scene of his biggest victory this past weekend, the U.S. Open in Las Vegas.

LaRocco won the prestigious event and its $100,000 payday in 2002. After retiring mid-way through the 2006 Supercross season, LaRocco has kept in shape and returned to the U.S. Open of Supercross on Friday and Saturday night for a special race of champions. The Rock pitted his AMSOIL Honda CR 250 against past motocross champions Jeff Emig and Damon Bradshaw.

It was vintage LaRocco on both nights. Sitting on top of his 2-stroke Honda, LaRocco battled with Emig in both exhibition races. The Rock stood on top of the podium both nights, to the delight of the capacity crowd inside the MGM Grand Arena.

A little of the old was topped off by a whole bunch of the new for the SoBe/Samsung/AMSOIL team. Jake Weimer was joined by his new teammate, Australian Dan Reardon for a crack at the top prize. After finishing tenth on Friday night, Weimer stole Saturday's show. Taking advantage of some first turn carnage, which included front runners Chad Reed and Grant Langston, Weimer pulled the holeshot and took the win, easily the biggest of his career. Reardon, meanwhile ran strong in his U.S. debut, finishing seventh on Friday and fourth on Sunday.

Until then, we'll see you at the races,

Jeremy Meyer
AMSOIL Race Program Manager

Another Win for Lovell Racing

Just a week after winning the XRRA National Championship, the Lovell Rock Racing Team picked up another victory as Brad Lovell beat all odds at the UROC Rockcross last weekend in Pomona, Calif.

Since Roger had previous obligations, Brad teamed with co-driver Mike Foster for this race. No matter how fast the new duo went, however, they could not outrun terrible luck on the first day of racing. Mechanical gremlins jumped up during practice and qualifying.

“We felt like we couldn't keep the truck together,” said Lovell, “We qualified in second but were loosing confidence.”

In the first heat race, the bad luck continued after a tangle with another vehicle destroyed the steering ram. Brad could only watch from the sidelines as long time rival Dean Bulloch won the race. Discouraged, Mike and Brad returned to the pit to make repairs for the last-chance race Sunday morning.

Sunday was indeed a new day for the team. The first last-chance race was against the 600 hp Toyota of RJ Brown. Surprisingly, the Fabtech Ranger was only a nose behind off the line and first over the rocks. The lead would never change and Lovell won. Next was a race against Rockcross race one winner, Jimmy Maybe. Both trucks were quick off the line but Lovell took the lead on the rocks and advanced to the finals.

Bulloch had not yet lost a race and would need to be beaten twice in order for Lovell to win. When the green flag dropped, Bulloch got in front and had a big lead. The AMSOIL Ford Ranger rounded the sweeping bend and found the lead truck slowing to climb a rock face. Lovell took advantage and went on to win the race and have another chance at the overall win.

In the second final, the trucks raced side by side over the rock and into the dust. When the track narrowed they came together suddenly and Bulloch's wheel pushed under the Ranger, inciting a roll.

“I felt it lift and instantly knew that nothing else mattered except keeping it on the wheels,” said Lovell. “When I came back in the groove, I noticed a good line through the rocks and was just able to cut in front of Dean.”

With Team Lovell in front, both trucks were fast through the next four laps but the pair held off every charge and took home the victory. The team’s next stop is the Off-road Proving Grounds at the gigantic SEMA show in Las Vegas, Nev. October 30 – November 2.

Until then, we'll see you at the races,

Jeremy Meyer

AMSOIL Race Program Manager

Teague High Points Champion

Team AMSOIL traveled to Missouri to compete in the POPRA and OSS National Championships held at Lake of the Ozarks on September 29 and 30. An estimated 40,000 spectators on land and another 2,000 boats lining the perimeter of the race course had a ring side seat for the fierce offshore competition.

During the Saturday POPRA Championship race, Team AMSOIL drew the outside lane and had to fight their way through the fleet after being held wide on the first turn. While in the process of attempting an inside pass on Team All Jacked Up to take over first place, Bob Teague (throttleman) and Paul Whittier (driver) were forced into an extremely tight line at turn one. With three laps to go, the Team AMSOIL boat was carving the turn when it lost its grip on the water and spun into a 100 yard side slide, ripping the skegs off of both drives. Teague and Whittier were able to keep the boat from flipping and once the engines were restarted, they drove Team AMSOIL back into second place. Team AMSOIL would battle the third place Cat Lite boat, Reliable Carries for the net few laps, maintaining their second place position when the checkered flag fell. The podium helped Team AMSOIL secure its Pacific Offshore Series titles as both the 2007 Cat Lite Western Champion and 2007 High Points Champion.

After working all night to repair the broken drivers, Team AMSOIL entered Sunday's OSS Super Cat Lite race against eight of the series top teams. Team AMSOIL was running close in fourth place when the All Jacked Up boat flipped right in front of them, at the same place Team AMSOIL had its mishap the day before. Whittier and Teague were required to take evasive actions which left the door open for the fifth place boat, Popeye’s, to get by on the inside. Team AMSOIL battled back and passed Popeye’s a few laps later. At this point, Team AMSOIL was reeling in the second place Reliable Carriers. Feeling the pressure, Reliable hooked in turn two and ran over the turn buoy, resulting in a one minute penalty. Ultimately, Motley Crew finished first, Team AMSOIL second, and Popeye’s third.

Nine out of the ten races Team AMSOIL has completed this season were podium finishes, with five wins. Next on the schedule for Team AMSOIL will be in Chattanooga, Tenn. on October 10-14.

Until then, we'll see you at the races,


Jeremy Meyer
AMSOIL Race Program Manager

AMSOIL Proud Title Sponsor of Sandbox Arena

Synthetic oil manufacturer inks five-year deal

Superior, Wis. ~ AMSOIL, “The First in Synthetics”, and the Sandbox Arena have come to agreement on a five-year deal that gives the Superior, Wis. company the naming rights to the indoor motocross venue in New Richmond, Wis.

The AMSOIL Sandbox Arena houses two challenging tracks inside the 116,800 sq. ft. building. The smaller of the two tracks is designed for kids on small motorcycles and quads (65cc or smaller) and for people of all ages that are just learning to ride. The large track has been designed to challenge riders of all ages and skill levels and was professionally designed by Schaefer Tracks.

The venue will also house a large, heated pit area with room for up to 300 motorcycles and quads. AMSOIL will also have product for sale in the sizeable lobby that will also house concessions, riding gear and parts."Being a Wisconsin company, AMSOIL is extremely excited to be working with a wonderful project such as the AMSOIL Sandbox Arena" says Jeremy Meyer, AMSOIL Race Program Manager. "This brings our commitment to motocross and ATV racing to the forefront and helps us tie into the growing bike racing community here in the Midwest. The track is unbelievable and we invite every rider, from the pros to the beginners, to come and check it out.”

The AMSOIL Sandbox Arena opened its doors to the public on October 1, 2007. A media/industry day will take place on Thursday, October 4 and Friday, October 5. For more directions and information on the AMSOIL Sandbox Arena click here or go to http://www.sandboxarena.com/.

Lovell Brothers Crowned XRRA Champions

The Xtreme Rock Racing Association hosted the top 32 rock racers from across the United States last weekend at the RAM Off-Road Park in Colorado Springs, Colo. Team AMSOIL driver Roger Lovell did not disappoint the hometown crowd and raced the Alloy USA/AMSOIL/Ford Ranger to victory in what was one of the most unique races of the season.

As the morning sun illuminated Pikes Peak and race fans filled the parking lot, the green flag dropped on what was unanimously declared the best rock racing course yet. Jumps, climbs, side hills, and cracks challenged the teams and the Lovell's tested their risky strategy.

“We played everything conservative. The course was tough enough, and jumps big enough, we knew people were going to be breaking and we hoped to win by driving smart.”

As the times were compiled during the day, the pair was not the fastest on any single course but were extremely consistent. The final round started with Lovell in third place and just two seconds ahead of 2006 champion Shannon Campbell.

Their choice of keeping things simple paid off as Campbell hit a banner while landing a jump and then got wedged in a notch. The second pace qualifier suffered a similar fate after loosing his steering. With one race left, the Lovell's now had a lock on second if they could finish in the required time limit. They narrowly escaped the rock notch without rolling and carefully, but quickly, crossed the finish line. The brothers were ultimately rewarded for their patience when the last runner of the day (and race leader) Brian Shirley exploded a rear axle housing while landing a triple jump. Lovell Racing was now the only team to finish all the courses.

Roger Lovell paraded the checkered flag through the hometown crowd before claiming the XRRA National Championship Cup.

“We never had the fastest single time, but we did run the smartest race," said Roger. "We greatly appreciate the help from all our sponsors including AMSOIL."

The race season is not over yet. Brad Lovell will race the Fabtech/AMSOIL Ford Ranger at the UROC Rockcross October 6 and 7 during the Off-Road Expo in Pomona, Calif.

Until then, we'll see you at the races,

Jeremy Meyer

AMSOIL Race Program Manager

Smith Wins Knoxville Nationals

Team AMSOIL Late Model driver Brady Smith picked up his biggest career victory on Saturday night at the Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, Iowa. Smith started sixth in the 4th Annual 'Knoxville Late Model Nationals' and quickly made his way to the front of the stellar field. After a crowd-pleasing duel back and forth with Billy Moyer during the first half of the race, Smith set sail around the famed 1/2-mile oval for the second half of the 100 lap feature. The driver of the AMSOIL Monte Carlo lapped up to sixth place and survived a late race caution to bring home the $35,000 top prize. The high-profile mega event was taped by the cameras of the SPEED Channel for viewing on Saturday night, October 6.

Earlier in the three-day weekend at Knoxville, Smith team competed in a pair of $6,000 to win feature events. On Thursday, he won his heat race and wound up tenth in the 25-lap feature. The following night saw the talented Wisconsin native finish third behind race winner Brian Shirley and runner-up Moyer.

Smith continues is 2007 tour with a pair of WDRL late model races at the Davenport Speedway in Davenport, Iowa starting on Friday night.

Until then, we'll see you at the races,

Jeremy Meyer
AMSOIL Race Program Manager