AMSOIL Off-Road Invades SPEED Channel

AMSOIL Super Team members Scott Douglas, Mike Oberg and Dan Vanden Heuvel will be invading the SPEED Channel this weekend.

On Saturday, take time to block of two hours of your afternoon as the AMSOIL Super Team members show off their 800+ h.p. engines with two races being aired. Starting at 3:00 p.m. EST, the World Series of Off-Road Racing will host one-hour of program featuring Douglas and Oberg. Starting at 4:00 p.m. EST, the Championship Off-Road Racing races will air one-hour of programming featuring Douglas and Vanden Heuvel.

WSORR TV Schedule
CORR TV Schedule

Also starting this weekend, the Rock Maple Racing series will begin its season of exciting snocross racing at Whaleback Mountain in Enfield, NH. AMSOIL is the Official Oil of the RMR snocross series as well as the WPSA and the CSRA.

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

Martin Podiums, Four Riders in Top Eight

Team AMSOIL rider Ross Martin led early and AMSOIL/Scheuring Speed Sports rider DJ Eckstrom was hot on his heals at the AMSOIL Duluth National Pro Open on Sunday afternoon.

Martin, riding a Polaris out of the Judnick Motorsports trailer, grabbed an early lead in the modified class and Eckstrom was right behind him in second. At the races mid-point however, Martin had dropped to third and Eckstrom fourth. Eckstrom had a shot at getting around Martin on the closing laps after Martin dismounted his sled on the back stretch. Martin was able to keep the sled running and got going again just as Eckstrom was getting ready to pass. Martin finished third, just ahead of Eckstrom.

Judnick Motorsports, which signed a one-year contract with AMSOIL this off-season, also finished well with Matt Judnick taking seventh. AMSOIL/Scheuring rider Shaun Crapo finished 8th.

The next round of WPSA racing will be January 11-12 at the double national in Shakopee, Minn.

Pro Open and Super Stock Results

See Video from the 2007 AMSOIL Duluth National.

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

Jeremy Meyer

AMSOIL Race Program Manager

Eckstrom Excites AMSOIL Duluth National

Team AMSOIL snocross rider DJ Eckstrom set the tone for what hopes to be a championship season for Scheuring Speed Sports team.

Eckstrom, riding his Polaris Mod sled, made it a perfect Friday night of Winter X Games qualifying by winning all three of his qualifying heats in convincing fashion. Teammate Shaun Crapo also qualified well after finishing second, third and picking up a win in the third round. The WPSA held two Winter X Games finals with Eckstrom in the first race and Crapo in the second. Eckstrom continued his dominating run by grabbing the hole shot and leading the field by more than five seconds on his way to the win. Crapo then followed Eckstrom's lead, and line, winning the second final of the night and securing a spot in the 2008 Winter X Games in Aspen, Colo. Polaris/Dupont/AMSOIL rider Ross Martin, a medal winner at the 2007 games, did not have to qualify, but his Judnick Motorsports teammate Matt Judnick was able to advance with a fourth place finish on Friday night.

Eckstrom and Crapo continued to ride well on Saturday. Eckstrom was dubbed the fourth qualifier in the Pro Stock class after three rounds and Crapo finished seventh. Martin, riding his first races of the 2007 season, finished as the number two qualifier. In the final, Martin grabbed an early lead, but Eckstrom quickly closed the gap. Eckstrom had to battle from the number eight spot to catch Martin, the defending Pro Open champion. The two battled for 22 of the 24 laps before Eckstrom was tied up in lapped traffic. When the checkered flag dropped just before eight o'clock, AMSOIL had picked up a win (Martin) and a second (Eckstrom). Former Scheuring Speed Sports rider Mike Schultz finished third. Crapo, who crashed early in the race, recovered to finish 11th. Judnick finished 10th.

The WPSA Pro Open class will be held on Sunday afternoon.

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

Jeremy Meyer
AMSOIL Race Program Manager

Teague Wins World Cup, Championship in Florida

It was a very fruitful trip to the Sunshine State for Team AMSOIL in late October and early November. Bob Teague and Paul Whittier traveled to Destin, Fla. the last week of October for the four races, two with the Offshore Super Series World Championships and two more for the Pacific Offshore World Championships.

The POPRA races were held on were combined to determine the final finish positions. During Wednesday's race, Team AMSOIL dominated on the 6.8-mile, rough water course, winning in the P-1 class and the overall. (There were three classes racing on the course at the same time.) The next POPRA race was held on Saturday on a smaller, 4.8-mile course that featured tighter turns. Team AMSOIL once again dominated the P-1 class and the overall. The two first place finishes established Team AMSOIL as the POPRA World Champion in the P-1 class.

The OSS races were scheduled for Thursday and Sunday. In the first race, Team AMSOIL battled in the OSS Cat Lite class (the same class as the POPRA P-1 class), and finished in second place behind Peppers #2.

Sunday’s Final OSS World Championship race was held on the long 6.8 mile course in unusually calm conditions for the Gulf of Mexico. After starting in third, Team AMSOIL worked its way past the second place boat, Peppers #2 and went to work on the Popeyes boat. A few laps later saw Team AMSOIL take the lead and Teague and Whittier piloted the Cat Lite to the win. The combination of Thursday's second place finish and the win on Sunday crowned Team AMSOIL as the OSS Cat Lite World Champion.

KEY WEST FINALS

Team AMSOIL then headed to Key West, Fla. to take on the Superboat International contingency in the SBI Championships.

The SBI Championship consisted of a three race format. The finish positions from all three races are combined to determine the overall winner. Races on Wednesday and Friday each counted for 25 percent of the total. Sunday’s race counted for 50 percent of the combined total.

Team AMSOIL won in thrilling fashion on Wednesday and finished Friday’s race, in third, just seconds behind the top two boats. After two days of racing, the points were very close between Team AMSOIL, Motley Crew and Team Reliable. As it turned out, whoever won the Sunday’s race would likely be set to win the overall Key West title.
After three laps of racing on Sunday in a tight battle with Team Reliable, computer problems plagued the AMSOIL boat. Paul Whittier and Bob Teague learned to anticipate the engine shut down and were able to restart it on the fly and maintain a strong third position. Team AMSOIL ended up on the SBI Championship podium in third place.

Team AMSOIL won the checkered flag at 9 out of 15 races during this inaugural race season for the #77 AMSOIL Cat Lite Team. Team AMSOIL achieved a podium finish at 14 out of 15 races this season and set two speed records in the Cat Lite class.

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

Jeremy Meyer

AMSOIL Race Program Manager

AMSOIL Duluth National Schedule Change

The PowerSports Snowmobile Tour’s national Snocross racing season starts Friday November 23rd at Spirit Mountain with the 16th Annual AMSOIL Duluth National Snocross. The AMSOIL Duluth National is recognized worldwide as the largest terrain racing event on man made snow.

The AMSOIL Duluth National is using snow making equipment at Spirit Mountain for the start of this years WPSA Snocross tour and while early cold temperatures have been less than favorable, the 2007-2008 tour starts this Friday. The snow making will continue right up to race time on Friday morning.

The Friday racing is scheduled to start at 3:00 P.M. rather than the initial 9:30 AM. This change is to ensure time to prepare the best track possible for the racers and spectator viewing. Friday’s fireworks show is still scheduled for 6:00 PM

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

Jeremy Meyer

AMSOIL Race Program Manager

AMSOIL Duluth National Schedule Change

16th Annual AMSOIL Duluth National Snocross
At Spirit Mountain November 23, 24 & 25, 2007

(Duluth MN) – The PowerSports Snowmobile Tour’s national Snocross racing season starts Friday November 23rd at Spirit Mountain with the 16th Annual AMSOIL Duluth National Snocross. The AMSOIL Duluth National is recognized worldwide as the largest terrain racing event on manmade snow.

Established and promoted by WPSA, Spirit Mountain and Visit Duluth, the AMSOIL Duluth National has been the model of innovation throughout the sport and was created to bring traffic to Duluth, Spirit Mountain and local hotels. The annual event is Duluth’s third largest, drawing thousands of fans and injecting $6 million into the economy.

The top racers in the world of Snocross racing will be in Duluth, AMSOIL’s D. J. Eckstrom and Shaun Crapo both of Scheuring Speedsports will be at Duluth. Also at the AMSOIL Duluth National Ross Martin, last years Pro Open and T J Gulla, the Pro Stock champion. Making this year’s race very comptive is returning past AMSOIL Duluth National champions, Tucker Hibbert, Robbie Molinoski, and Blair Morgan to the field.

The AMSOIL Duluth National is using snowmaking equipment at Spirit Mountain for the start of this years WPSA Snocross tour and while early cold temperatures have been less than favorable the 2007-2008 tour starts this Friday. The snowmaking will continue right up to race time on Friday Morning.

The Friday racing is scheduled to start at 3:00 P.M. rather than of 9:30 AM. This change is to ensure time to prepare the best track possible for the racers and spectator viewing. Friday’s fireworks show is still scheduled for 6:00 PM

For more information call (218) 722-4011, 1-800-4-duluth or log onto www.visitduluth.com or www.powersportstour.com.

Eckstrom Covers Sno-X Magazine

With the AMSOIL Duluth National Snocross less than five days away, the pre-season press is going Team AMSOIL. The November 2007 issue of Sno-X Magazine arrived in mail boxes on Monday and featured Team AMSOIL/Scheuring Speed Sports snocross racer Dennis "D.J." Eckstrom.

Eckstrom, a two-time winner of the AMSOIL Duluth National, graces this month's cover with the caption "D.J. Eckstrom: Ready to take the points in 2008." Eckstrom, along with teammate Shaun Crapo will lead the Pro classes into action starting on Friday night with the 2008 Winter X Games qualifier. Team owner Steve Scheuring is also featured inside the magazine with a Q&A section, as well as his monthly "The Original Independent" article. Sno-X Magazine

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

Jeremy Meyer

AMSOIL Race Program Manager

AMSOIL Duluth National Preps Underway

The 16th Annual AMSOIL Duluth National Snocross is less than a week away. The annual World PowerSports Association event is the yearly kick-off for the world's best snocross racers.

Team AMSOIL/Scheuring Speed Sports riders DJ Eckstrom and Shaun Crapo will be looking for a championship season ride in 2007-08 at the Duluth, Minn. event. Also joining Team AMSOIL for the upcoming season will be the Judnick Motorsports team. AMSOIL is a co-sponsor of this championship team, which is heavily backed by Polaris industries. AMSOIL is also the Official Oil of the WPSA Snocross and ATV Tours.

The Spirit Mountain Ski Resort currently has 14 "snow guns" aimmed at the National track. Organizers will be making snow for the next week. Racing, and a spot in the 2008 Winter X Games in Aspen, Colo., will begin on Friday, November 23 and contine through Sunday.

SEE AMSOIL Duluth National Commercial

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

Jeremy Meyer

AMSOIL Race Program Manager

Douglas Wraps Up 2007 With Another Win

Team AMSOIL/Kumho Tires off-road truck driver Scott Douglas headed to Las Vegas last weekend looking to take home the $66,000 Baldwin Cup, the same award that was won in 2006 by teammate Mike Oberg. Douglas also had his sights set on the CORR Pro-4 championship, which he was well within reach from his third place standing in the points race.

The special built off-road track in Primm, was a .94 mile long version of a true High Desert off-road course. The track consisted of four CORR signature banked turns, three table top jumps and a long rhythm section.

On Friday, Douglas qualified the AMSOIL/Kumho/Ford F-150 with the second fastest lap time of 54.890 seconds. Round 11 for the CORR Pro-4 series would take place on Saturday, and Douglas took advantage of the outside front row starting position by grabbing the early lead. After over driving a turn on lap four, Douglas reentered the fray in third. With just two laps to go, the #7 AMSOIL truck got caught up with tight traffic, breaking the right front axle and bending a tie rod. Douglas had to fight the truck around the track and finished 11th.

On Sunday, Douglas again qualified second with a lap time of 52.302 seconds. Coming off the rolling start, Douglas pushed the truck into the lead spot coming out of the first turn. Throughout the entire 17-lap event, Douglas held the lead, fending off all challengers. The flag to flag win, gave Douglas Motorsports the runner-up spot for the CORR PRO-4 Championship.

“I can’t say enough about my crew,” said Douglas. “Somehow they got the truck repaired and prepped in time. The support from Fox Racing Shox this year has been incredible. There shocks are second to none. We’ve torn up a lot of stuff because of racing contact and they are always right there with the support we need to get us back on the track. Thanks to Greaves Motorsports. We tore up a shock during the Cup race and Johnny brought over a shock to get us back in the show. Then we went out and raced each other side by side for much of this last race. I can’t be happier for AMSOIL, Kumho Tire, and Sycuan Casino. There the ones that make all of this happen and I’m so glad we ended the season on a high note. This truck is smokin’ fast, I just wish we were racing here tomorrow.”

Before his winning race, Douglas took part in the Jason Baldwin Memorial Cup race. Qualifying began in May during the first round of racing, and Douglas was able to secure the sixth starting spot for the NBC televised event. Lining up against 12 Pro-2's, including Super Team members Dan Vanden Heuvel and the inaugural cup winner Mike Oberg, and 11 Pro-4's, Douglas was looking to add his name to the unique trophy.

When the green flag fell on the 16 sixteen lap event, the 23truck field kicked up huge amounts of dust going into the first turn. The long opening ceremonies allowed the track to dry out and now the dust made if difficult for the drivers and spectators to see. CORR officials, on lap three, issued a full course yellow to get some moisture in the track. When the watering trucks got off the track, the field went back to green flag racing.

On the restart, Johnny Greaves spun on the front straightaway, hitting the concrete wall and tearing up the retaining fence. The race was red flagged while repairs were made to the fence. About 20minutes later, racing resumed. With three laps to go, the AMSOIL Ford F-150 was in fifth place with only one other PRO-4 in front of him. Douglas made a pass on the #5 truck when contact was made, bending the shaft on the left rear suspension. This ended his chances of bringing the Cup home to his native El Cajon, Calif. Oberg was the third fastest Pro-2 in the field. Vanden Heuvel finished seventh. Complete Results

In 2007, Douglas Motorsports completed the Championship Off-Road Racing Season with six top 3 finishes including two wins.

NBC Sports will broadcast the Baldwin Memorial Cup on December 8, 1:30pm -3pm eastern time. The PRO-4 races will be aired on SPEED on a date to be announced.

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

Jeremy Meyer

AMSOIL Race Program Manager

Rinker Wraps Up Season on Winning Note

Team AMSOIL ChampBoat driver Terry Rinker is really starting to like racing on the Savannah River. After winning in 2006 to wrap up his third series championship, Rinker wrapped up his 2007 campaign with a win from the pole position.

Rinker continued his dominance on the Savannah, fighting with a contingent of other boats during the 50-lap, 1.0-mile, 4-turn course. The Tampa, Florida resident took the pole after Saturday's qualifying and held onto the lead every lap despite being challenged early by Shaun Torrente and late by Chris Fairchild. The win marked Rinker's 17th career victory, moving him into third all-time ahead of legend Bill Seebold.

Rinker's teammate and brother, Randy Rinker, took home his best performance of the season with a strong fourth place finish. For the season, Terry Rinker finished third overall, while Randy finished a career best sixth.

The 2007 ChampBoat Series will air on SPEED Channel. The first show will air on Saturday, December 8 at 11:00 a.m. EST. For complete air dates, go to: ChampBoat Television Schedule

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

Jeremy Meyer
AMSOIL Race Program Manager