Rinker Wrecks, Recovers

St. Louis, Mo. ~ 2003 ChampBoat Series champion Terry Rinker just wanted to win something, anything in 2005 after a winless 2004 season. After the first four races of the new season, the Tampa native had easily accomplished his goal after winning three events. Now he has his sights set on another season title and a strong showing at the famous St. Louis race would help his chance immensely.

After four different starts, three different accidents and three different leaders, the water finally settled on the St. Louis race after two hours and 15 minutes. Rinker, who entered the weekend with a large lead over second in the overall points standings, was running hard with just seven laps to go before the unthinkable occurred. Heading into the final turn, a lapped rider had his steering brake hard right in front of Rinker's #10 boat. The unexpected move caused Rinker to climb up and over the other boat. A dangerous move when you're traveling over 100 mph. The accident forced Rinker to take his brother's back-up boat for the seven remaining laps of the event. Rinker would finish the race in fourth and still holds an 86-point leader in the overall standings.

"It was a struggle all weekend but we climbed ourselves out of a hole and overall we are proud of our efforts," said Rinker after the race. "We will now focus on the next event and plan to push for our fourth victory of the season in Colorado."

The ChampBoat Series heads off to Windsor, Colo. next week. The sixth round of the nine race series will be held August 27-28. The ChampBoat Series, sponsored by AMSOIL as the "Official Oil," airs on a tape delay basis on the Outdoor Channel. The next televised race will be Saturday, August 20. Check local listings for air times.

Keeping Cool In Millville

Millville, Minn. ~ Kevin Windham has been the unquestioned number two rider in the AMA Outdoor Nationals Motocross Series this summer. For the past month, he has finished second overall each week and has not had a third place finish in almost two months. Things were status quo for the Mississippi-native at the popular Spring Creek track in Millville, Minn. last weekend.

Windham started the first moto on Sunday getting caught up in the tight first turn. Starting in eighth, Windham quickly made up lost time by maneuvering his way into second before the first lap was half over. Unfortunately for the AMSOIL/Chaparral/Honda rider, race leader Ricky Carmichael had grabbed the holeshot and was increasing his lead without having to worry about passing anyone. Windham would hold about 20 seconds off the pace set by Carmichael, but was almost a full lap ahead of third place finisher Travis Preston when the checkered flag dropped.

Moto two started out in K-Dub's favor Sunday afternoon. Windham made amends for his poor start in the first moto by grabbing the holeshot over Carmichael. Windham led RC until the duo rode into the infamous downhill whoops section at the southern Minnesota track. Carmichael would increase his lead over the remainder of the race with Windham finishing in a solid second and another second overall for the weekend.

"Where he made the pass, and made up most of his time was in the sand whoops," said Windham. "It seems like week in and week out we've been riding about a second off; and he just keeps inching away to the 15 or 20 seconds that he ultimately wins by. I've just got to find that missing second, before he finds another one."

Windham was one of the few rider to consistently jump the "Holy Schmidt" jump. K-Dub and Carmichael were the only two riders to tackle the big uphill triple, the same jump that dropped Chad Reed out of the outdoor series in 2004.

"It was kind of fun to do," said Windham. "I wasn't really worried whether it was faster or not and I know it was a lot of air-time. Going back to Unadilla where I was having a really strong ride, there was a new rhythm section that Ricky was able to do, that I just put it out of my mind not to do it, and I think that's where he made up some time - so now when I can, I jump stuff."

For Windham, any extra second would be a big deal. His fifth straight runner-up to Carmichael seems to be getting a little old for the AMSOIL/Chaparral/Honda rider.

"Second is getting kind of boring," said Windham, the last rider to beat Carmichael in motocross. "It's getting to the point that I just race the clock. I'm doing the best I can do. I've got to find another second per lap and hope that Ricky doesn't find one."

Strong Showing

Millville, Minn. ~ The AMSOIL/Chaparral/Honda team had its best showing of the season, by far. Despite a flat tire by Juaqium Rodrigues in the first moto on Sunday, all four riders ran strong atop their Honda CRF 250's.

In the first moto, it looked like Tommy Hahn was in line to pick up his second podium of the outdoor season. The young-rider was in a battle for second place with KTM's Mike Alessi throughout most of the race. While running in third until three laps to go, Hahn "hit a dirt wall and high sided," dropping him back to eighth for the moto.

Meanwhile, Hahn's teammates were busy making up ground on the leaders. Josh Grant and Billy Laninovich, who was noticeably limping around the pits after the morning practice session, were turning some of the fastest lap times of the day. Both riders found themselves in the middle of the pack after the first turn. The two riders would work together to gain ground on the leaders, moving into the top five with less than five laps to go. Grant, riding exceptionally hard, was able to move all the way up into the third and final podium spot. Laninovich landed a well-deserved fifth finish. For Grant, the extra time spent in the Midwest this summer is paying off.

"I've been working really hard these last few weeks," said Grant. "I've been staying out here (Millville) working on the whoops and at other tracks around the area that I could find. I felt very strong through the whoops today, and I think that's where I was really making my time up. I didn't have the greatest starts but I'm hoping to do it next weekend! I'm only five points out of third, and third is where I want to be (if I cannot win the championship)."

The AMSOIL/Chaparral/Honda team will be back in action this weekend in Binghamton, N.Y. The Washougal race from last month will air this weekend on the Outdoor Life Network (OLN) Saturday at 4:00 p.m. EST.

More AMSOIL TV Coverage

Hurricane Mills, Tenn. ~ AMSOIL continues its support of grass roots racing with on-air sponsorships. AMSOIL has agreed to terms with Gear Media, the new television arm of the Loretta Lynn's Amateur Motocross Championships presented by AMSOIL. AMSOIL will retain its "presented by" sponsorship and will run one 30-second spot during each broadcast of the AMA Amateur and Mini Cycle National Championships at Loretta Lynn's. AMSOIL will also be featured throughout the program with the AMSOIL Team Spotlight and the AMSOIL Slow Motion Replay.
The events will air on the Outdoor Life Network (OLN), with each event being rebroadcast twice. The first airing will be this Saturday, August 20th at 2:30 p.m. EST. The Mini Cycle National Championships will air Saturday, August 27th at 2:30 p.m. EST. For a complete listing of Team AMSOIL on television, go to: http://www.amsoil.com/racing/calendar.aspx

Super Team Back On Track

Bark River, Mich. ~ After a five week hiatus from racing, the AMSOIL/Kumho Tires "Super Team" was back on the track in Bark River, Mich. last weekend. The "Super Team" was looking to extend their strong showing from the Topeka, Kan. race where they finished with five podiums in six races. Rounds nine and ten of the C.O.R.R. series promised some fierce competition for Dan Vanden Heuvel, Steve McCrossan and Mike Oberg.

The weekend started off on Friday with the track's long jump competition on what is measured as the largest jump in the C.O.R.R. series. Ninety-nine trucks took part in entertaining the 7,000 fans in attendance for the jump-off. Up first for the "Super Team" was Oberg, who pushed his Sportsman 2 truck a whopping 120 feet. As the competition moved on, the power of the trucks also increased. Vanden Heuvel pushed his 850 horsepower Pro-2 truck over the lip of the jump and scored a leap of 162 feet. With a few other trucks sitting just a little farther down the line than "The Flying Dutchman", it was up to the third member of the AMSOIL/Kumho Tires "Super Team" to bring home a win. McCrossan lined up the ramp perfectly and launched his Pro-4 truck 170 feet. That would be good enough to tie for first in the long jump competition.

Saturday - Sportsman 2

The first race slated on Saturday for the AMSOIL/Kumho "Super Team" was the Sportsman 2 division. Oberg had an excellent start and found himself coming out of turn one with the hole shot. After a turn two pile up behind him, the Eagle River, Wis. resident had a commanding lead that would only be extended in the coming laps. Just after the halfway point, Ross Hoek managed to break away from the pack, and challenge Oberg. With only three laps remaining and a ½ lap lead over the rest of the field, Hoek made contact with the AMSOIL/Kumho truck, pushing Oberg off the track, and causing a left rear flat. The contact also took Hoek out of contention. The AMSOIL/Kumho Super Team pit crew got the #280 back into the action to come home in eighth.

Saturday - Pro-2

The "Super Team" ride of Vanden Heuvel was next up in the Pro-2 division. Taking the drop of the green flag, "The Flying Dutchman" found himself in the top five for the first few laps of muddy competition on the overzealously watered racecourse. An ensuing battle with two other trucks was raging, and another truck tagged Vanden Heuvel's #77 in the quarter panel, swapping him sideways and sending the truck skipping across the track on the passenger side door. The Dutchman was able to correct the truck back on its wheels, sending the crowd into a frenzy. Unfortunately, the contact with the other truck and the ground had caused major suspension damage, and he was unable to finish the race.

 

Saturday - Pro-4

When the green flag flew for McCrossan on round nine of the Pro 4 race, he got a good start, and found himself in the middle of the pack. As the race progressed, the high-flying Canadian moved through the field, battling with Jason Baldwin and Carl Renezender. At the end of the race Steve was able to cross the finish line just outside of the podium in fourth place.

Sunday - Sportsman 2

Hoping for a better outcome in Sunday's event, the AMSOIL/Kumho Super Team headed into the day with force. Oberg headed up the Sportsman 2 field once again with an amazing hole shot, with Hoek in second, and Dan Badoux in third. Oberg held the position for the first three laps until he hooked a berm, and spun sideways, allowing Hoek to slip by. The top three trucks were bumper to bumper for the remainder of the race until the final lap, when Badoux pulled a bold move to try and take second away from Oberg. He saw Badoux coming, tapped the breaks, which caused Badoux to overshoot the corner, and hit the wall. Hoek took first, the AMSOIL/Kumho Super Team truck of Mike Oberg wound up with a strong second place, podium finish. The Oberg Team moved up one position in the point's standings to fifth.

Sunday - Pro-2

Vanden Heuvel's crew stayed up all night prepping the damaged AMSOIL/ Kumho truck for Sunday's action. Practice went according to plan, and Vanden Heuvel was ready to rock. The track crew once again managed to severely over water the racetrack, leaving standing water in every corner. After the green flag flew, other trucks throughout the first lap slammed the 77 truck. With the truck looking like it had been through a war, Vanden Heuvel slid out on an over watered corner, over a berm, and into a drainage culvert, wrecking the right tie rod. He pulled into the pits and the crew ripped what was left of the hood off for visibility. He got back on the track and went on to set some of the best lap times of the day, only to have his brakes fade due to the earlier contact, finishing ninth.

Sunday - Pro-4

Steve McCrossan was the final AMSOIL/Kumho Super Team member in competition. After the fierce battle of the first lap, he was holding strong in fourth position. By the halfway mark, he had worked his way into third, gaining ground on the leaders. As McCrossan held the throttle wide open in a corner, a transmission failure caused the truck to drift into the same berm that Vanden Heuvel had hit earlier, sending the #33 truck into a metal guardrail, which rolled the Chevy two times. When the dust settled, the truck had landed on its wheels, and McCrossan got back onto the track without losing a position. Unfortunately, the failing transmission only lasted a few more laps, and sidelined the AMSOIL/Kumho Chevy for the remainder of the race.
The AMSOIL/Kumho Super Team had a less than perfect weekend, but they are very hopeful for the upcoming rounds at Crandon, Wis. on Labor Day weekend.

More from Bark River…

Bark River, Mich. ~ The AMSOIL Super Team wasn't the only AMSOIL Team battling in the CORR series last weekend in Bark River. Ben Wandahsega headed into the weekend with a slim lead in the Sportsman 2 class.

Wandahesega battled power steering troubles all weekend, but was able to bring home a third and sixth place finish in Bark River. Wandahsega heads into the final two point rounds of the year with a 17-point lead over defending and two-time champion Dan Baudoux. Wandahsega has been enjoying his best year in racing in 2005. He has four wins, finished second once and has four, third place finishes.