Wanderscheid: World Champion

Team AMSOIL wins prestigious Eagle River Snowmobile Derby

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Eagle River, Wis. ~ Snowmobile Racing is a northern sport.  To have a successful weekend of racing one only needs a good helping of snow and ice, below freezing temps and few sleds.  This concept has been put to the test in Northern Wisconsin for the past 43 years.  The World Championship Snowmobile Derby in Eagle River, Wis. boasts an incredible level of competition in oval ice racing as the world’s best prepares all year for the weeklong event.

Heading into this years contest, only two racers in history have won the Eagle River World Championships three times in their careers.  Team AMSOIL oval ice racer has been knocking on the door to the exclusive club the past three years.  It was five years ago that P.J. Wanderscheid won his first of two consecutive World Championships.  This year, he was looking to make it into the history books by becoming the youngest 3-time World Champion.

The Wanderscheid team would get a good start on the weekend of racing during last Thursday’s 600 Open class qualifying heats.  The early rounds were also a good place to continue testing their new Arctic Cat 600, which is only three races old.  Wanderscheid was able to hold on around the wet track for a sixth place finish for the tracks Friday Night Thunder performance.  In that Formula 1 Shootout, Wanderscheid was able to get into second off the start behind Terry Wahl, Wanderscheid was able to hold onto second place until the final corner when Dustin Wahl overtook the #28 sled of Wanderscheid with an aggressive inside move.

Saturday meant qualifying for the Champ 440 Open race on Sunday.  Wanderscheid won his first round qualifier and grabbed two; second place finishes, putting him in the top 10 row for Sunday’s World Championship.

At the start of the final, Wanderscheid got a good hole shot and was heading through the first two turns in the mix with the rest of the race leaders.  Contact was made in the second corner with Jeff Moyle, who was sent into the bales that guard the tracks walls.  The red flag came out, meaning everyone was able to restart the race.  On the restart, Wanderscheid got in behind Terry Wahl, and was battling with Mark Mondus for second place.  Wanderscheid ran a high line for about half of the race and continue to battle with Mondus for second.  After a few laps, Wanderscheid found his groove on the inside and began picking up time on race leader Wahl, who had built up a full-straight-away lead over Wanderscheid.  On lap 22 of the 25-lap race, Wanderscheid was right behind Wahl.  He made a hard charge down to his inside line and was able to pull ahead with two laps to go, moving out to a three-sled length lead when the checkered flag dropped.

“People questioned our decision when we went to a Wanderscheid Chassis and Speedwerx motor and this just redefines us as one of the top oval race teams,” said Wanderscheid.  “To be put in a class with Dave Wahl and Jacques Villeneuve has been the teams goal since that tough loss in 2004 and not being able to qualify last year because of an electrical issue, makes this win even better.  We were more determined than ever to have a good run at the 2006 Championship.

Results

OVAL

World Championship: 1. P.J. Wanderscheid, Sauk Centre, Minn., Arctic Cat; 2. Terry Wahl, Greenbush, Minn., Polaris; 3. Mark Mondus, Hudson, Ski-Doo; 4. Gary Moyle, Houghton, Mich., 5. Jacques Villeneuve, Canada, Ski-Doo; 6. Philip Moulton, Canada, Polaris; 7. Brian Bewcyk, Canada, Ski-Doo; 8. Jeff Moyle, Houghton, Mich., Arctic Cat; 9. Chris Hortness, Canada, Ski-Doo; 10. Dan Fenhaus, Wausau, Arctic Cat, dnf; 11. Matt Schultz, Wausau, Ski-Doo, dnf; 12. Jeff Ludwig, Freedom, Polaris, dnf.

News Contact:
AMSOIL Racing Coordinator
AMSOIL Building
Superior, WI 54880
(715) 392-7101 ext. 220
racing@amsoil.com