Malinoski Adds Knock Out to X Games Schedule

Team AMSOIL snocross racer Robbie Malinoski will add another competition to his X Games resume today: Knock Out.

Malinoski has been added as a last minute alternate to the new snowmobile "Knock Out" competition in Aspen today. The program is pretty basic, jump farther than the other guy in a bracket style format. Knock Out will air live on ESPN 2 tonight starting at 6:00 P.M. EST.

Malinoski, who sits fourth in the AMSOIL Pro Open standings in the AMSOIL Championship Snocross Series after four rounds, is also competing in the Snocross competition this afternoon. The race is scheduled for 1:30 P.M. EST. on ESPN.

AMSOIL will also have two riders in Adaptive Snocross this morning (11:00 A.M. EST). Jim Wazny will race on a Scheuring Speed Sports sled and Mike Schultz will represent Warnert Racing on an AMSOIL/Ski Doo.

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

Rogers Flips Out at X Games 14

Photos courtesy of Brian Balsaitis Photography

Sam Rogers needed a sled to ride at Winter X Games 14 in Aspen, Colo., so AMSOIL/Scheuring Speed Sports team owner Steve Scheuring brought him one. After a few modifications to the 500-pound sled, Rogers took it for a few practice laps before qualifying sixth for last nights final on live on ESPN.

In the final, Rogers picked a stacked heat with former gold medalist Levi LeValle the early favorite. Since only two riders could advance into the final from his group, Rogers needed a perfect run. Unfortunately he came off his sled during a combination backflip about two-thirds of the way through his 90-second run.

"It was fun seeing the AMSOIL/Makita/U.S. Air Force sled in the finals for freestyle," said Scheuring. "Sam did a great job competing and he can ride our sleds anytime."

The same sled that Rogers used in freestyle will continue in its utility capacity this weekend. The team will make another round of modifications to the 600cc Polaris, getting it ready for Jim Wazny's Adaptive Snocross race on Sunday. Another AMSOIL sponsored rider, Mike Schultz, will also take part in the Adaptive Snocross race. Schultz, who lost his leg racing in the AMSOIL Championship Snocross Series last year, recently raced in the Pro Vet class in Shakopee, Minn. last weekend.

Also on Sunday, Team AMSOIL riders Robbie Malinoski, Andrew Johnstad and ACSS AMSOIL Pro Open points leader Ross Martin will vie for X-Games gold in Snocross. (Complete ESPN TV schedule).

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

Team AMSOIL Freestyler Goes For X Games Gold Tonight

Scheuring Speed Sports has added more riders to the AMSOIL/Makita/U.S. Air Force team, at least for one weekend of competition.

With snocross riders Robbie Malinoski and Andrew Johnstad looking for Winter X-Games gold in the snocross competition this weekend, Scheuring has also added a freestyle rider Sam Rogers and adaptive snocross rider Jim Wazny.

The Winter X Games started today with practice and qualifying in several disciplines, including freestyle. Rogers made it through qualifying in sixth place with a score of 76.33. Rogers will go for gold tonight on ESPN starting at 9:00 P.M. Est.

Wazny will race in Adaptive Snocross on Sunday morning. Malinoski and Johnstad will race in the Snocross competition on Sunday afternoon. Ross Martin and Matt Judnick from Judnick Motorsports will also be competing at this years event. Malinoski, who sits fourth in the AMSOIL Pro Open class on the AMSOIL Championship Snocross Series, took third in last years event.

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

Lovell Racing Heading to TORC Series

For 2010, Lovell Racing is headed in an exciting new high profile direction – The Traxxas TORC Series presented by AMSOIL. Brad Lovell will pilot an AMSOIL sponsored Pro-Light throughout the 2010 season in hopes of capturing a piece of the $200,000 purse. Brad comments, “I have watched off-road racing since I was a child and never realistically thought I would have a chance to compete. I’m thrilled and in awe that my dream is coming true.”

TORC carries a few similarities with the team’s roots but is more akin to NASCAR in dirt with added turns and high flying jumps. Two wheel drive Pro-Lites can reach speeds over 100 mph and jump as far as 150’; all while holding position mere feet from other drivers. Starting on May 1, The TORC series will feature racing in Tucson Ariz., Charlotte N.C., Bark River Mich., and end on Labor Day at the legendary Crandon Wis. track. Races are scheduled to air on ABC and ESPN2 during the summer of 2010.

Capitalizing off yet another dominating year in rock racing, Lovell Racing was only able to make this move with the steadfast support from AMSOIL. Race Manager Jeremy Meyer adds, “Brad and his team have shown they can be successful in so many different forms of racing over the past five years and we believe that stepping into short course racing will be more of the same. They bring a great program to TORC and short course racing and I can’t wait to see the new Pro Light on the track in Arizona.”

BFGoodrich Tires, another long-term supporter, also has confidence in both Lovells’ abilities to climb the ranks. Victor Angon of BFGoodrich Racing adds, “There is no doubt in my mind that Brad will catch on quick to short course racing. BFGoodrich Tires has stood behind the Lovell brothers because of their dedication and commitment to racing and with Brad moving on to a whole new level of competition we have complete confidence in Roger carrying on their winning ways in the rocks. Congratulations to the entire team.”

While Brad’s focus on TORC will prevent full commitment in other series, Roger will race the entire King of the Hammers Grand Slam Series as well as XRRA. In the multi-discipline Grand Slam Series, Roger will take the wheel for his first ever desert race and rockcrawl. For these events, the brothers will switch traditional roles with Brad as navigator / spotter. Aside from TORC, Brad will enter select We-Rock rockcrawls, XRRA races, and CHCA hillclimbs. Lovell adds, “With the universal design of our current vehicles and entrance into short course, we should be doing just about every type of off-road racing out there. It’s a huge challenge and very exciting, I can’t wait.”

In just over a week, the newly minted AMSOIL off-road team starts their charge into 2010 at the King of the Hammers race on Feb 12. This epic endurance race consists of 100 trucks and 135 miles of brutal rockcrawling trails. #232 Brad (finishing fifth in 2009) will be joined by Bill Kunz of Torchmate CNC Systems while #32 Roger (finishing 21st in 2009) will have desert veteran Greg Foutz as navigator. For those not watching the race in person, live coverage during the race will be available on Pirate4x4.com.

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

PJ Wanderscheid Donates Derby Uniform For Charity

When three-time world champion P.J. Wanderscheid competed at the AMSOIL World Championship Snowmobile Derby on Jan. 14 - 17, he was focused on two monumental goals: become the first-ever four-time winner; and raising awareness of breast cancer to help those affected by this widespread disease.

To accomplish both, Wanderscheid wore a one-off, pink AMSOIL/DRIFT Authority jacket and pants during the Derby’s Friday Night Thunder race program, after which he autographed and donated as auction items to the Pink Ribbon Riders. This is the same outfit that Wanderscheid won the Sweet Sixteen races with during the Friday Night Thunder.

An online auction for Wanderscheid's historic gear started on January 22 and bidding will run until March 2 on www.pinkribbonriders.com, the proceeds of which will help provide direct financial support to breast cancer patients to make their fight less stressful. Anyone can bid on this size-medium pink gear.

“P.J. is one of the highest-profile oval racers in the world,” said Jody McKay, Director, Pink Ribbon Riders. “By racing with and donating his pink DRIFT gear, he will send the message that help is available for people affected by breast cancer.”

Wanderscheid will be back on the track at the Flip Merwin Wasuau 525 in Wausau, Wis. this Saturday and Sunday.

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

Rain Doesn't Slow AMSOIL Championship Snocross Series in Shakopee

When the skies open up during a Minnesota January, snow usually prevails. With a strange storm hitting the Midwest this past weekend, the temps stayed above freezing causing a watery mess at the fourth round of the AMSOIL Championship Snocross Series.

For Team AMSOIL, and more than 20,000 fans cheering on, the conditions didn't matter much in the way of podium finishes. For AMSOIL/Judnick Motorsports rider Ross Martin, the battle wasn't with the elements but rather with Tucker Hibbert in the AMSOIL Pro Open final. Martin led for almost the entire race before Hibbert completed a remarkable comeback from eighth place to take the win. Hibbert even surprised himself with the win,
“I seriously don’t know how I got here,” Hibbert said on the podium. “That was the hardest I’ve ever had to work to get here.”

With Martin and Hibbert going bar-to-bar during the final four laps of the 22-lap final, it was one of the best races of the ACSS season. With Hibbert finishing first, Martin was a close second and Tim Tremblay third.

The AMSOIL Pro Open race in Canterbury tightened up the season points standings considerably as Hibbert was able to catch Martin. The two former champions are now tied at 179. Team AMSOIL Scheuring Speed Sports rider Robbie Malinoski finished 12th at Canterbury due to a blown fuel pump but still sits fourth overall.

Up next for Team AMSOIL is the ESPN Winter X Games this weekend. Practice and qualifying will be held on Saturday. The final will be on Sunday afternoon (1:30 P.N. EST) on ESPN. The next ACSS race will be in Farmington, N.Y.

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

Supercross Garners Podium, Snocross Returns to Midwest

Wharton Podiums in Phoenix SX

The second race of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross season yielded a second straight podium finish for the GEICO Powersports/AMSOIL/Honda race team. This time it was AMA West 250 Lites rider Blake Wharton taking third place in Saturday's main event, boosting his rankings in the early points to third place overall.

"I felt really good," said Wharton, who led 12 of the 15 laps in the main event before falling to third place late in the race. "This was my first time leading laps in the West and the more laps you lead the better you get at it. I just fell off a little bit in the last few laps, just the smallest amount, but it was enough to let a few guys past me."

Teammates Kevin Windham and Trey Canard also recorded respectable finishes with Windham taking sixth in Supercross and Canard seventh in the AMA West 250 Lites class.

Canard's effort was exceptionally heroic as he suffered a severe foot injury in the time trial when another rider drove over his left foot as he planted it in a turn. After X-rays at the onsite medical center determined nothing was broken, Canard made it back to the Last Chance Qualifier where he made the field for the main event with a superb ride.

Windham battled traffic for most of the early part of the race and dropped as low as 11th at one point but the veteran rider picked his way back through the crowd during the second half of the race and closed the evening in sixth place. Overall, he's now fourth in the standings after two of 17 races.

"I rode the second half great. The second half is always harder but things just worked for me tonight. I just needed a better start and I would have had a much better finish."

The tour returns to Angels Stadium in Anaheim, Calif., on Saturday.

AMSOIL Championship Snocross Series in Twin Cities

The AMSOIL Championship Snocross Series has returned from its Western swing in Utah for its annual trek to Canterbury Park in Shakopee, Minn.

Team AMSOIL stars Robbie Malinoski and Andrew Johnstad will look to keep their winning momentum going. Both riders picked up wins at the AMSOIL Eagle River World Championships last weekend and Malinoski has podiumed in five straight races.

Racing begins tonight at 7:00 p.m. and opening ceremonies are scheduled for 4:00 p.m. on Saturday.

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

TORC Launches 2009 DVD Sales

Starting today, race fans can purchase the 2009 season of the Traxxas TORC Series Presented by AMSOIL on DVD. Relive the excitement from the inaugural year of racing as it unfolded on ABC Sports and ESPN 2.

Order DVD's of each of the exciting races from the 2009 Traxxas TORC Series presented by AMSOIL season today. You can order by race for fifteen dollars each, or get the complete set of eight shows at the bargain price of $90. For more information on purchasing TORC 2009 DVD's visit www.torcseries.com/dvd.

The Traxxas TORC Series- The Off Road Championship, presented by AMSOIL is the world's premier short course off road series. TORC drivers push the limits with 900 horsepower, action-packed fender pounding on challenging natural terrain racetracks. For more information on TORC please visit http://www.torcseries.com/.

The 2010 TORC Series is scheduled to start in Tucson, Ariz. on May 1-2.

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

Team AMSOIL Steals Friday Night Thunder

It was an AMSOIL Eagle River Snowmobile Derby to remember this past weekend as the temperatures pushed near 40-degrees above zero and Team AMSOIL helped heat up things on the track.

After two full days of qualifying for the esteemed Friday Night Thunder, more than 10,000 fans packed the AMSOIL Derby Track for two rounds of Pro Snocross and the Sweet Sixteen oval ice race.

The Sweet Sixteen races pairs the top 16 oval ice riders into one final shootout race to determine who will garner the pole position in Sunday's AMSOIL World Championship race. The winner of the Sweet Sixteen is automatically entered into the WC, and does not have to participate in Saturday's grueling qualifying runs. Looking for his first Sweet Sixteen win was AMSOIL/Arctic Cat driver PJ Wanderscheid. With the sixth fastest time in qualifying, Wanderscheid got a great start and lead the 15-lap race from start to finish, despite being pushed by young riders Matt Schultz and Nick Van Strydunk.

"We knew we had a great sled tonight," said Wanderscheid after the win. "Saturday at the Derby is a tough day of racing, and to be able to rest the sled and the body before the WC is going to be nice."

Team AMSOIL also brought two of the world's top snocross racers to Eagle River, Wis. for the second straight year. AMSOIL/Scheuring Speed Sports riders Robbie Malinoski and Andrew Johnstad took a week off from the AMSOIL Championship Snocross Series to take part in the prestigious event. Success came quick and early for the two riders. In Friday's Pro Stock class, Malinoski lead from the first turn for the win and Johnstad was close behind in second. About and hour later, Johnstad returned the favor, holding of Malinoski for the win in Pro Open and picking up his first career professional win.

While Wanderschied took the day off on Saturday, the snocrossers had a full day of qualifying ahead. Johnstad was the top qualifier in both classes while Malinoski was the number two qualifier heading into Sunday's finals.

On Sunday, snocross and the Pro Stock class led the way early with Johnstad finishing second on the tight track and Malinoski rounding out the podium in third. In Pro Open, it was Malinoski running second and Johnstad in third for most of the race before a broken throttle cable took Johnstad out of the race. Malinoski finished second for the teams seventh podium of the weekend.

The big race at the Derby is the AMSOIL World Championship race on Sunday afternoon. With AMSOIL driver PJ Wanderscheid on the pole, a record fourth title was looking like a strong possibility. When the green flag dropped, Wanderscheid shot out of his inside starting position and entered turn one just behind the leader, Matt Schultz. Once the dust settled, Wanderscheid tighthtly trailed Schultz for much of the 25-lap affair before lapped traffic pushed Wanderscheid several sled lengths behind Schultz. With no one even close to Schultz, and no red flags stopping the race, Wanderscheid cruised to a second place finish.

"Matt got a great jump off the start, timing it near perfect," said Wanderscheid. "We set the sled up thinking the warm weather would get this track a lot rougher than it did, and Matt was strong all weekend long. We had a great sled, thanks in no small part to the help from AMSOIL, but we just missed out today."

The AMSOIL Championship Snocross Series heads to Canterbury Park in Shakopee, Minn. this weekend (Friday and Saturday). Wanderscheid will be in Wausua, Wis. in two weeks as part of the USSA event.

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

AMSOIL World Championship Snowmobile Derby Starts Thursday

In less than 24 hours, the AMSOIL Eagle River Derby Track in Eagle River, Wis. will host the world's best oval ice racers for the 47th running of the AMSOIL World Championship Snowmobile Derby.

The famous AMSOIL Derby Track is hallowed ground for those snowmobile racing and starting on Thursday, the 2010 event promises to be the most exciting ever, With temperatures expecting to be a balmy 25 degrees ABOVE zero, a record crowd is expected.

There will be racers from throughout the US and Canada converging on the AMSOIL Derby Track, all with hopes of claiming one of those beautiful bronze Eagles. Fans at this year’s Derby will be able to watch several past World Champions competing this year including three-time winner P.J. Wanderscheid of the AMSOIL/Arctic Cat team. While defending champion Brian Bewcyk has won the past two WC's, Wanderscheid is looking to become the first four-time champion in the event and has looked good early this season with a couple of podium finishes.

AMSOIL/Scheuring Speed Sports racers Robbie Malinoski and Andrew Johnstad are taking advantage of the break in the AMSOIL Championship Snocross Series schedule to attend The Derby this year. The snocross racers will take part in the Friday Night Thunder event, as well as other races on Saturday and Sunday.

If you can't make it to the AMSOIL Derby Track this weekend, you can watch it on Pay Per View at https://www.derbytrack.com/DTVideoFeed/register.cfm. Check back all weekend long for daily updates on Derby Weekend.

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

Martin, Malinoski Lead the AMSOIL Charge in Salt Lake City

It was mayhem and madness as the best snocross racers in the world battled it out bringing a surprise ending to the AMSOIL Championship Snocross Series Western Nationals in front of a crowd of nearly 9,300 screaming fans at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah. It was hard tight racing on the new track that proved to be the Talladega Superspeedway of snocross.

In an amazing race for the podium during the AMSOIL Pro Open final, Ski Doo's Tim Tremblay became the first rider to tag a pro final win other than Tucker Hibbert. It was two Team AMSOIL riders that kept the undefeated Hibbert off the box entirely as Ross Martin came in second and Robbie Malinoski rounded out the podium in third. Malinoski took his podium finish despite starting in the back row after getting landed on during his first round heat race.

"One of the riders came a little to aggressive and landed on me," said Malinoski. "I thought I was done for the day, but I love racing snowmobiles and the guys on this AMSOIL team gave me a great sled to work with today. It's great to be on the podium after a rough couple and this is a good motivator for the rest of the season."
Hibbert, who finished in seventh in the Pro Open final, did win the Pro Stock final earlier in the day for his 51st career win. Martin's second place finish pushed him in to the overall lead in Pro Open. Malinoski moved into third behind Hibbert.

Versus will air a one-hour Western National wrap up in just a few weeks. Check http://www.isocracing.com/TV%20Schedule for show details.
Many of the ACSS stars will be at the AMSOIL Eagle River Snowmobile Derby this weekend in Eagle River, Wis., including Malinoski and teammate Andrew Johnstad. AMSOIL sponsored rider P.J. Wanderscheid will be gunning for his record fourth oval ice World Championship on Sunday. Racing gets underway on Thursday.

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

Canard, Windham Podium at Anahiem Opener

(photos courtesy of Steve Cox)

After months of eager anticipation and plenty of intense training, the GEICO Powersports/AMSOIL/Honda race team, with the aid of new team manager and renowned Supercross multi-time champion Mike LaRocco, cashed in at the 2010 AMA Supercross season-opener at Angel Stadium in Southern California when two of its three riders made their way to the podium at the end of the day.

Veteran rider and team leader Kevin Windham rode his Honda CRF450R to a third place finish in the main event after finishing fourth in his heat. By the end of the first lap of the main, Windham had secured the fifth position and held on until he was able to capitalize on his opponent's mistakes and move into fourth in lap 11 and finally into third several laps later.

"It was a great day," Windham said. "The GEICO Powersports/AMSOIL/Honda team has done a lot of work in the off-season, and we've got another year under our belt on the new Honda. Luckily, for me, it worked."

After a wrist injury at the High Point National last year, Trey Canard is finally back in the Supercross Lites West running. In an impressive heat, Canard inched out ahead, nearly claiming the lead, when he crashed in the second turn. He quickly recovered, only losing one position and finishing the six laps in third. In the main event, Canard again shined, moving from fifth at the end of the first lap to third by the end of the second and crossing the finish line aboard his CRF250R in the same position, earning a coveted spot on the podium.

(Watch Racer X Supercross Show staring Trey Canard)

"This is definitely a way better start than last year," Canard said. "I was thankful to leave here with second and I look forward to finishing out the season. I was so nervous. I didn't have a really good week, I was just nervous the whole week. It's just been such a long time since I've raced so to end up with a second is a good thing for me."

With Brett Metcalfe injured, the team brought Supercross Lites East competitor Blake Wharton out west. The St. Louis Supercross winner nearly missed the show when he had a bit of bad luck in his heat, got jammed, and crashed at the first curve. After recovering, Wharton was temporarily relegated to the back of the pack and was 10th until right before the finish line, when he edged into the ninth position to earn his spot in the main event, in which he finished a respectable fourth.

The GEICO Powersports/AMSOIL team will head to Phoenix on January 16ace for the second round of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Series.

West Coast Swing(s) For Team AMSOIL

Team AMSOIL will be heavily represented on the West Coast this weekend as an annual tradition gets renewed and a new event gets underway.

The GEICO Powersports/AMSOIL supercross team featuring Kevin Windham, Trey Canard and Blake Wharton will open up the 2010 AMA Supercross Series in Anaheim, Calif. This Saturday's race will be live on SPEED at 10:00 pm EST.

Also heading West for the first time will be the AMSOIL Championship Snocross Series. Team AMSOIL stars Robbie Malinoski, Andrew Johnstad and Ross Martin will take part in the inaugural event at the Rio Tinto Soccer Stadium in Salt Lake City. The ACSS will also air the Milwaukee National on Versus this Sunday at 4:00 pm EST.

Not to be outdone here in the Midwest, the AMSOIL Eagle River Derby Track will host 800 vintage sleds at the annual Vintage Classic weekend in Eagle River, Wis. This event has grown from 200 sleds just four years ago to one of the largest vintage snowmobile races in the world. This event also starts the week-long AMSOIL World Championship Snowmobile Derby. Vintage racing runs Friday through Sunday of this week. The Derby starts next Thursday with the AMSOIL World Championship race on Sunday afternoon. AMSOIL racer PJ Wanderscheid is looking to become the first 4-time champion of the event.

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

Wanderscheid Prepares for AMSOIL World Championship

With temperatures dipping past the the zero-degree mark in the Upper Midwest, it might take a group of dedicated, (and crazy), individuals to spin around an oval sheet of ice at 100 mph. But the best snowmobile ice racers in the world used the USSA event in Amherst, Wis. this past weekend to get ready for the AMSOIL Eagle River World Championship Snowmobile Derby, which is now just two weeks away.

AMSOIL racer PJ Wanderscheid, with his three Eagle River World Championships, was one of the crazy ones last weekend. The Sauk Centre, Minn.-native used both the Pro 600 and the Pro 440 Champ classes to test his AMSOIL/Arctic Cat Champ 440 sled for the W.C. (at Eagle River, the World Championship race only utilizes a 440cc sled).

In the Pro 600 races on Saturday, Wanderscheid qualified for the final with a fourth, a second and a third against the more powerful 600cc sleds. In the final, he started fifth and took part in a three-way battle for third for most of the race. With two laps to go, he passed into third and the final podium spot.

In the Champ 440 class on Sunday, Wanderscheid won his first two heats and finished third in the final qualifier. As the number three qualifier for the final, Wanderscheid pushed the #28 sled into fourth off the start and battled for third the entire race. With just two laps to go, he made the pass into third on the final turn before the checkered flag, but a belt blew, coasting him across the finish line in fourth with an undriveable sled.

"We feel confident going into Eagle River that have the pieces to put together a competitive performance there and win our fourth World Championship," said Wanderscheid. "We will be doing extensive testing in the next week to work out the bugs and be 100% ready for the W.C. race."

The USSA is scheduled to be in Plymouth, Wis. this weekend and is the final tune-up to Eagle River.

The AMSOIL Eagle River Derby track, the home of the 47th AMSOIL World Championship race, will be hosting its annual Vintage Weekend this weekend in Eagle River. More than 500 vintage snowmobiles will spin around the 1/2 mile ice oval starting on Friday. The Derby starts January 14.

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