Team AMSOIL Offshore Podiums at Orange Beach

Team AMSOIL traveled to Orange Beach, Ala. on August 16-17 to compete in the “Thunder on the Gulf” race sanctioned by the Offshore Super Series (OSS). This race came just two weeks after the OSS race in Kenner, La., where Team AMSOIL was leading the race and then snagged a crab trap which resulted in the team having to pull off a lap early.

In Orange Beach, tens of thousands of spectators lined the beaches and filled the high-rise condominiums to view the testing on Saturday and races on Sunday. The rough sea conditions in the golf made for some spectacular racing.

During the first Cat Lite heat, Team AMSOIL was making a charge on the first place boat when an engine went into “guardian” mode due to an overheat sensor. Team AMSOIL finished the heat in 2nd place behind Peppers.

The AMSOIL Offshore Race Boat returned to the pits to make repairs and adjustments and then headed out for the second heat. Team AMSOIL was assigned to lane two for the start between Peppers and Popeye's. After the green flag dropped at the start, all three boats ran side by side towards the first turn. Popeye's pinched the Team AMSOIL boat from the outside and Peppers hopped out into Team AMSOIL’s path. A minor collision transpired with the Team AMSOIL boat being hit on both sides. Bob Teague and Paul Whittier took evasive actions which cost them precious seconds on the race course. Even though Team AMSOIL was able to run some faster laps than the first place boat, there was not enough time to catch them while also battling boat traffic on the race course. Team AMSOIL finished the weekend second overall to continue their 2008 podium success.

Teague is scheduled to participate in the OSS race in Lake Cumberland, Ky on Labor Day Weekend.

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