Team AMSOIL Dominates TORC Series Standings

The inaugural run for the Traxxas TORC Series presented by AMSOIL helped showcase the worlds best off-road drivers on a nationwide schedule, highlighted by live television coverage on ABC and ESPN 2. Leading the way this season was the a line-up of talented Team AMSOIL drivers that found success week-in and week-out.

With AMSOIL Super Team members Scott Douglas, Chad Hord and Mike Oberg leading the way, Team AMSOIL drivers accounted for an astonishing 68 podium finishes, including 25 wins in the top three classes of competition (Kumho Pro 4x4, AMSOIL Pro 2wd and Traxxas Pro Light).

The numbers showcasing AMSOIL dominance don't stop there. Team AMSOIL won two Crandon World Championships (Douglas and Jeff Kincaid), the Decision at Sundown Cup (Hord), the Chairmain's Cup (Ricky Johnson) and 27 Oakley Bomb Awards which were awarded to the racer who set the fastest lap time during their respective class race. Kincaid led all racers with ten.

Overall, AMSOIL had 13 drivers finish in the top ten of their respective classes, with Kincaid taking the Pro Light championship. (Final results)

The Traxxas TORC Series presented by AMSOIL will air the final weekend of racing from Las Vegas on Sunday, November 8 at 1:30 p.m. EST.

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

Photos courtesy JnL Photography

Traxxas TORC Series Presented by AMSOIL Finishes Strong in Vegas

The Traxxas TORC Series presented by AMSOIL saw a full array of mud, dust and carnage at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway Dirt Track in Las Vegas, Nevada this past weekend.

On the line on Friday and Saturday were points and positioning in the top three pro classes: Pro 4x4, Pro 2wd and Pro Light.

AMSOIL Super Team member Scott Douglas was looking to finish in the top three in Pro 4x4, something he has accomplished four straight years since signing with AMSOIL. Douglas started the weekend well, taking a hard fought third on Friday. On Saturday, a broken oil line took Douglas out of one of the wildest races of the year. Traxxas/AMSOIL driver Mike Jenkins took advantage, racing to his first career win, just barely edging out Red Bull/AMSOIL driver Steve Barlow.

In Pro 2wd, AMSOIL Super Team driver Mike Oberg had to start at the back of the pack after the team found some dirt inside the motor, forcing them to switch trucks. Oberg made some spectacular moves to get near the top five before breaking a front wheel hub, forcing him out of the race. On Saturday, Oberg was again on floorboard, moving his AMSOIL/BFG Chevy up to fourth place after starting 11th. Oberg finished the night in fifth and the season in eighth. Red Bull/AMSOIL driver Ricky Johnson won on Saturday night, but just missed the championship to Rob MacCachren.

In Pro Light, Team AMSOIL driver Chad Hord had an outside shot at the championship, but Jeff Kincaid had a sizable lead. Early in Friday's race, Hord's hope of another title vanished when a front axle broke, ending his day. On Saturday, Hord kept the truck together, finishing second to Marty Hart. Hord finshed the inaugural TORC season in third, with Kincaid taking the title.

AMSOIL would like to thank all of the fans and drivers who supported the 2009 Traxxas TORC Series presented by AMSOIL. You can get your final TORC fix on Sunday, November 8 as ABC is schedule to air the Vegas Finale from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. (EST).

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

TORC Series Presented by AMSOIL Readies for Finale

The excitement of the Traxxas TORC Series presented by AMSOIL comes to a head at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway Dirt Track for "The Final Showdown" this Friday and Saturday. The action has been heating up throughout 2009; this weekend will see many battles won and lost, but there will only be three victors in the war for the 2009 Championship. Some will say that these champions have already been decided, but those most familiar with the sport will tell you it is far from over.

By far, the biggest battle will be the AMSOIL PRO 2WD class, as Rob MacCachren and Team AMSOIL driver Ricky Johnson have been fierce competitors throughout the season, but even more so these last few races with MacCachren edging ahead of Johnson by only four points. But the story does not end there; Todd LeDuc sits only five points back in third place. This three way fight for the championship will no doubt be a roller coaster of emotion for the teams, drivers, and fans.

The Kumho Tire PRO 4x4 class has seen some of the best racing, and some of the most spectacular crashes, in 2009. With two rounds of racing there's plenty of room for for the unexpected. Veteran Scott Douglas has been extremely consistent in 2009, moving the AMSOIL Super Team driver into third place in the points race, two points up on fourth place Johnny Greaves and just 15 points behind second place Kyle LeDuc. The championship hunt will not be easy for this hungry wolf pack as points leader Rick Huseman has a whopping 28-point lead and six Oakley Bomb Run Awards for the fastest lap time, leaving him playing defense for the weekend.

Like Huseman, Team AMSOIL driver Jeff Kincaid has dominated the PRO Light class for most of the season, with nine podiums and 10 Oakley Bombs. Kincaid, with a 27-point lead, still needs to finish well to secure the championship. AMSOIL Super Team member Chad Hord holds the second place position in points, with third place Marty Hart and fourth place Chris Brandt closely behind Hord.

In addition to the online broadcast efforts of Dirt Newz.com's Live at TORC and USAC Live Race Day Coverage, ABC will bring the Las Vegas Finale event into America's homes, airing the race on Sunday, November 8, at 1:30pm EST.

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

AMSOIL Extends Sponsorship With Scheuring Speedsports

Scheuring Speed Sports is proud to announce that it has reached a contract extension with its longtime title sponsor AMSOIL INC. The agreement will continue the 13-year partnership through the 2012-2013 snocross season.

“This is one of the best and longest relationships in all forms of motorsports.” said team owner Steve Scheuring. “AMSOIL has been our primary sponsor since 1997 and together we have experienced exceptional success, both on and off the track.”

For the upcoming 2009-2010 AMSOIL Championship Snocross Series the AMSOIL/Makita/U.S. Air Force team has retooled its championship formula by adding new riders Robbie Malinoski and Andrew Johnstad. Malinoski brings a pro championship resume to the Aurora, Minn.-based team, having won both a Pro Stock and Pro Open championship. Johnstad is just two seasons removed from winning both the Semi-Pro Stock and Semi-Pro Open championships.

“Our commitment to snowmobile racing begins with Scheuring Speed Sports,” said AMSOIL Race Program Manager Jeremy Meyer. “Since 1997, Steve and his team have delivered dedication and direction to AMSOIL and our race program. With the new additions to his program, all of us at AMSOIL are excited about what the future holds.”

The 2009-2010 AMSOIL Championship Snocross Series begins Thanksgiving weekend with the AMSOIL Duluth National at Spirit Mountain in Duluth, Minn.

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

AMSOIL Shock Therapy Continues Success

After successful runs by the AMSOIL Monster Truck team in California and Calgary, the Texas-Lone Star Raceway in Kilgore, Texas will never be the same. Team AMSOIL drivers Jon Zimmer and Chris “Panda” Ryan left the fans on their feet with memories of AMSOIL Shock Therapy and AMSOIL Excaliber planted firmly in their minds. Zimmer was able to take AMSOIL Shock Therapy to racing and freestyle victories, and newcomer Ryan nearly stole the wheelie contest as well.

“I’m really proud of what we did in Texas,” said Zimmer. “I really couldn’t have asked for much more. We beat Bigfoot in racing, and I went for a long time in freestyle. The fans were happy, and with AMSOIL behind me, I feel like anything’s possible when I jump behind the wheel.”

The straight-line racing course provided the added challenge of a roller hill before the final set of cars, and Zimmer’s reactions and Holbrook Racing horsepower were enough to take out the legendary Bigfoot in the finals. From there, it was on to freestyle, where a slight adjustment provided Zimmer with a “wow” moment for the night.

“We’re always looking for an edge, something to provide the fans with more,” said Zimmer. “We changed a few minor things on the front shocks in my truck, and we were able to get the rebound we wanted for slap wheelies.”

Zimmer got exactly the rebound he was looking for after jumping a double-stacked car set during his run, coming up with a huge slap wheelie that balanced the truck on the back wheels fifty feet after he let off the gas.

“Panda got us started with some nice donuts, and I was lucky enough to be able to finish it,” said Zimmer. “Overall it was a great weekend, and we’re looking forward to our next event Montreal.”

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

TORC Gears Up for Vegas Finale, Kick-off Party Planned

The Traxxas TORC Series presented by AMSOIL begins it's season finale weekend with a kick off party at Steiner's Pub in Las Vegas, Nevada on Thursday October 22 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. The party will be the start of what will be a thrilling weekend of off road action at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway Dirt Track on October 23 and 24, 2009.

Fans that attend the kick off will have the chance to win Traxxas R/C trucks, race tickets, and many other prizes. Come out, meet off roads finest, and take advantage of Red Bull drink specials and great food. Dirt Newz will be broadcasting live on dirtnewz.com with all of the latest news and driver interviews from the party. TORC sponsors will be on hand doing ticket giveaways and promoting the 2009 season finale race. Team AMSOIL and Red Bull drivers Ricky Johnson and Steve Barlow will be signing autographs and displaying their 800 horsepower trucks for fans to see.

Steiner's Pub is located at 8168 Las Vegas Blvd. South in Las Vegas, Nevada. For more information on the kick off or the race weekend please visit torcseries.com.

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

Team AMSOIL Offshore Wins SBI National Championship

The final event of the Super Boat International Series was held at Clearwater Beach, Fla. and drew record crowds and one of the biggest spectator fleets of the year. More than 2,000 boats lined the course while tens of thousands of spectators watched from the beaches and Pier 60.

Before the racing began, Team AMSOIL participated in the AMSOIL Direct Jobber convention held at the Sheraton on Sand Key. The AMSOIL Offshore race boat was on display on the beach for the Friday activities available for everyone to view. Team AMSOIL driver Paul Whittier and throttleman Bob Teague, along with the crew, attended the AMSOIL banquet on Saturday night at the Sheraton. Paul Whittier, Bob Teague and Team AMSOIL power boat champion Terry Rinker were recognized for their continued success and championship seasons.

Team AMSOIL raced in Sunday's main event which was the second race of the day. During the other races on Sunday, Teague worked as a commentator on the radio show which was broadcast on the area’s AM radio stations and streamed live on the Internet.

Team AMSOIL lined up in for the start of second race along with a number of boats including the Vee Extreme class. The Team AMSOIL #77 Skater performed flawlessly during the race, passing all of the boats in the starting group including many with significantly more horsepower. Team AMSOIL went the distance to receive the checkered flag in spite of having a battery post break four laps from the end of the race, which rendered the trim systems inoperative. Bob Teague and Paul Whittier made the necessary adjustments and finished the race at full speed.

During the awards ceremony, AMSOIL President and C.E.O. Al Amatuzio, along with Executive Vice Presidents Alan Amatuzio and Dean Alexaner, accompanied the Team to the podium to receive the trophy and flags. Teague and Whittier presented the checkered flags won at the event to the three men.

The win at Clearwater Beach clinched the Super Boat International National Championship for Team AMSOIL Offshore Racing. Team AMSOIL has already won the 2009 High Points Championships in the Offshore Super Series, Triple Crown, and OPA series.

Up next for Teague and Whittier is the SBI/APBA World Championships in Key West, Fla. on November 8-15.

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

AMSOIL Wins We-Rock National Championship

The AMSOIL/Torchmate Racing team has much to celebrate this week. After a string of victories in XRRA and BITD, the team just took home the We-Rock National Championship.
#232 Brad and Roger Lovell lead the team to victory against the best rockcrawlers from across the country. While mechanical issues plagued #28 Kunz/Shaffer, #199 Jesse Haines and Brian Howard narrowly missed the unlimited championship and pulled off a third place finish.

“I never dreamed that we could win both the XRRA and We-Rock National Championships,” comments Brad Lovell, “It’s a great reward for years of hard work.”

The Farmington event is known for its high bluffs and death defying climbs and the latest We-Rock courses did not disappoint. After a solid start, the #232 tackled course B4 which gave competitors the option to risk a horrific fall and climb a 30-foot bluff. The BFGoodrich rubber griped were others struggled and failed. Brad and Roger got a perfect score for the course and moved in to the lead.

The team continued to make smart moves all weekend and carried an 18 point lead into the final round. Brad recalls, “After we climbed another huge wall on A4, I knew we would finish well. A lot of people rolled there and we climbed right to the top.”

The team had a solid plan for the shootout course and with Roger’s skillful guidance, the AMSOIL/Torchmate Ranger furthered its lead before reaching the finish line and victory.

Bill Kunz and Mike Shaffer, also in the pro-modified class, had a strong start by putting the Torchmate/AMSOIL/Diablo to work on a daring slide across a rock wall. The optional line rewarded risk takers that maneuvered sideways across a steep face. Any slip would drop the vehicle off a ledge end over end down the rocks. Kunz made the right moves but would later roll on the A4 climb. Unknown damage later caused the team to roll again, smashing their hopes for a trip to the shootout.

Jesse Haines piloted his freshly rebuilt #199 unlimited buggy with the aid of spotter Brian Howard. The pair had their typical strong showing throughout the regular competition and were sitting well within striking distance for the win as the shootout started. Jesse put the pressure on and went straight for the first bonus climb using his rear wheel steering to climb up and over the impossible ledge. He would be the only one clear the bonus and made short work of the rest of the course. When the dust settled, Haines was in third place, giving AMSOIL/Torchmate Racing yet another podium finish.

The team now heads to scenic Moab, Utah for some filming before a much needed pause. The action has yet to stop though as the team still has several races to go before putting the 2009 campaign to rest. Mid-November the team will depart for the grand-daddy of them all – the epic Baja 1000.

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

Photos with watermark are free for use with this story and credit should be given to Chad Jock. Photos without watermark are free for use and credit should be given to Jud Leslie.

AMSOIL Championship Snocross Series Sets 2009-10 Schedule

The 2009-2010 AMSOIL Championship Snocross Series will feature four new race venues to compliment five established Nationals from seasons past. New venues in Milwaukee, Salt Lake City, Sarnia, Ontario and New Hampshire will help strengthen the growing series.

"We are very excited about the new race venues for this season," said ISOC CEO John Daniels. "We've worked very hard to find locations which will lend success for not only ISOC, but most importantly our racers, fans, sponsors like AMSOIL and the entire sport of snocross."

The new evaluation process weighs the combination of race track set-up, community population, enhanced event media coverage, and local commitment to support the race to ensure success and long-term growth.

Watch ACSS Season Highlights Part 1
Watch ACSS Season Highlights Part 2

The ACSS will also air on Versus television this season. The season starts with the AMSOIL Duluth National on Thanksgiving weekend.

2009-2010 ISOC National Tentative Schedule

Nov 27-29, 2009 AMSOIL Duluth National Duluth, MN

Dec 19-20, 2009 Potawatomi National Milwaukee, WI

Jan 9, 2010 Western Nationals Sandy, UT

Jan 23-24, 2010 Air Force Canterbury Snocross Shakopee, MN

Feb 5-6, 2010 Eastern Nationals Farmington, NY

Feb 13-15, 2010 NE Nationals Salem, NH

Feb 20-21, 2010 Canadian Nationals Sarnia, Ontario, CAN

Mar 6-7, 2010 LCO Casino 300 Hayward, WI

Mar 19-21, 2010 Nielsen Enterprises Grand Finale Lake Geneva, WI


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

Teague Wraps Up OSS Championship in Missouri

One week after moving into the first place points position in the Super Boat International series in Morehead City, N.C., Team AMSOIL traveled to Lake of the Ozarks, Mo. to compete in the Offshore Super Series 2009 National Championships finale. Going into this race, Team AMSOIL had fought its way to a slight one point advantage in the season point’s battle. What this meant is that Team AMSOIL would have to win the race in order to secure its second consecutive OSS National Championship.

Bob Teague and Paul Whittier tested the boat extensively, timing laps on Saturday to find the best set up. In all, nearly 150 miles were covered during testing on the course. Teague also throttled a boat in the Pro Am Race in the P2 class with a local friend, Roger Neighbors, which provided more experience on the course.

The race format was established by OSS as two heats of about 45 miles each. At race time on Sunday, the conditions had changed a little with more wind from a different direction than Saturday. Team AMSOIL #77 elected to stay with the Saturday set up which proved to be not as good as the day before. When the green flag dropped, Team MHQ Financial in their 388 Skater took a slight lead. During the first heat, the 388 boat finished 9 seconds ahead of Team AMSOIL. During the break, Team AMSOIL worked to change its set up of the 368 Skater with a propeller change and balance adjustment.

When the green flag dropped for the second heat, Team AMSOIL and MHQ Financial again locked horns in a deck to deck battle. After a couple of laps, Team AMSOIL gained the advantage at turn six and seven and continued to stretch their lead. Teague and Whittier knew in order to win the Championship that they must beat the 388 boat by more than nine seconds in the second heat. Looking in their mirrors at Team MHQ Financial’s position kept Team AMSOIL on their game with no room for even the slightest error. Teague and Whittier continued to nail the turns and carry good speed down the straights and eventually crossed the finish line 12 seconds ahead of MHQ. The two heat times are averaged which gave Team AMSOIL the overall win by a mere three seconds after 90 plus miles of racing.

After starting the OSS season with a disappointing fifth place finish in Biloxi, Miss. due to a one lap penalty for damaging a turn buoy, Team AMSOIL #77 is proud to have had a perfect balance during the season in its fight back to the top position.

With the win at Lake of the Ozarks, Team AMSOIL has won its second consecutive National and High Points title in the Offshore Super Series, and is currently unbeatable in the Super Boat International points chase. Already secured for the 2009 season are the OPA Cat Lite Championship and first place in the Geico Triple Crown Series.

The next stop for Team AMSOIl is in Clearwater, Fla. at the SBI Championship Festival starting today with racing held on Sunday.

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