The proverbial monkey has been somewhat lifted off of the backs of the AMSOIL/Scheuring Speed Sports team. In the final race of the double header weekend, the team turned the page on what has been a slow start to the 2006-07 snocross season.
First year rider Shaun Crapo took the Pro Open class by storm. The Idaho-native grabbed two wins in qualifying, grabbing the third qualifying spot for Sunday's final. There he turned in his best race of the season, pushing race leader Robi Malinoski the entire 20-laps. Crapo finished second despite the snow dust and extreme cold at the Brainerd International Raceway track.
Teammate Eckstrom, meanwhile, continues to find bad luck. DJ went sixth, fourth and seventh in qualifying after getting bumped off the track in two of his heats. In the Last Chance Qualifier, Eckstrom's skis got tangled with Blair Morgan in turn three, breaking a spindle in the process. Eckstrom failed to make the final.In Pro Stock, Eckstrom took a second and third in qualifying to start in the front row. He again got bumped off the track and ended up 14th. Crapo failed to make the final after getting his skis tangled with another sled during the start of the LCQ.
Crapo's podium put him back in the points race as he currently sits in sixth. Eckstrom finds himself out of the top 20 for the first time in more than five years.
The team will back in action at the Winter X Games in two weeks. ABC and ESPN will cover the events live.
Brainerd Results and Points Standings
See you at the races,
Jeremy Meyer
AMSOIL Race Coordinator
