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.
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.
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.
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.
