Lovell Brothers Take Part in Easter Parade
Two-time champs start season with a pair of tune-ups

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Globe, Ariz. ~ The Lovell Rock Racing team of Brad and Roger Lovell is getting some early season tune-ups before they begin their UROC Modified title defense next month.  Two weeks ago, the Lovell’s headed to Globe, Ariz. for the first round of the We-Rock Rockcrawling Series.  The two-time UROC champs were hoping to be the headliner at the opening event, and came away as a crowd pleaser.

At first glance, the course may have looked easy but it provided hidden dangers for the Colorado brothers.  Brush and dead leaves hid holes, soft ground easily eroded and large boulders became dislodged, changing the course difficulty minute by minute.

The Lovell Brothers were heating up the Pro Modified division in their new Ford Ranger. The pair was unstoppable during the first day of competition, leaving the course securely in first. The second day, however, put the pair in the crosshairs of veteran competitors. The highlight of the day came as the team side-hilled a rocky slope. One slip of a loose boulder caused the front end to drop and the Ranger to barrel roll, crashing down the course. As it completed one revolution and the tires once again met rock, Brad Lovell stabbed the throttle with hopes of returning to the course. With seconds remaining, the team desperately snaked the Ranger through the course and raced to the end, finishing with two seconds on the clock.  The slip cost the team two positions but they remained on the podium with a third place finish.

“I am amazed that the truck stood up to that abuse,” commented Brad, “We got a lot more than we ever thought to ask out of the Ranger this weekend.”

After a brief stop at their Colorado Springs homes, the Lovell’s continued to Moab, Utah for the 40th Annual Easter Jeep Safari. The weeklong event was held under near perfect skies in the enchanting slick-rock canyons of eastern Utah.

“We try to go to Moab every year,” said Brad. “It is sort of a revival for us and a chance to get back to the roots of our passion. There is no other place in the world that combines the same quality of trials and scenery.”

While the event was more of a fun trip for the team, they were busy with trail testing and autograph signings at the widely attended vendor show and media trail rides.  The next event for the Lovells will be the UROC Pacific Pro National season opener in Phoenix, Ariz., May 9-10. 

Smith Picking Up The Pace
Late Model driver nabs top ten, top five

Solon Springs, Wis. ~ Brady Smith is gaining momentum as the spring racing season gets into full swing.  Smith, driving the AMSOIL Chevy Monte Carlo, grabbed his best finish of the year so far on the NARA schedule.

“The Deuce” has been traveling the Midwest with the touring late model series, gunning for the season championships as well as Rookie of the Year status.  Last weekend, Smith started well at the Farley Speedway in Farley, Iowa.  He finished third in his heat race at the big oval to advance into the “Open Shootout.”  Starting 13th, Smith made his way all the way up to third, before finishing the main in fifth, his best finish of the year so far.

The team then packed up the trailer and made the long overnight trip to the famed Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio for American Late Model Series event.  Smith finished second in his heat race and transferred directly to the main event.  The Deuce was able to power his Monte Carlo into the top 10 and crossed the finish line in ninth.

“We have been trying some new stuff on our cars lately and we got it better this past weekend,” stated the 2004 PolyDome World Dirt Racing League Champion.  “At Farley, we were really good the first half of the race before our car got loose late in the event.  We just didn’t get it tight enough for the track conditions at the end.  Then at Eldora, I was pleased to get some good laps around that place and finish inside of the top ten.  That is our best ever finish there, so hopefully we can translate that to some good runs in the Dream 100 and World 100 there later in the year.”

The Solon Springs, Wisconsin based Dirt Late Model team will travel to the first mega-event of the 2006 racing season this weekend, as the inaugural Circle K ‘Colossal 100’ will take place at the Dirt Track at Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C.

Co-op Sponsorships

If you are a T-1 certified AMSOIL Dealer looking to sponsor a local racer through the AMSOIL Co-op Race Program, please fill out the G-2074 and send it the AMSOIL Racing Department.  Teams who were sponsored last year will need to fill out the form once again.  Also, please remember to send in your race results, as they will be included in the Checkered Flag.

More From Team AMSOIL

• Travis Schmidt finished strong at a recent ATV race in Chilton, Wis.  The 12-year-old Schmidt finished the first night of racing at Gravity Park with a second.  AMSOIL Dealer Brian Gaffney sponsors Travis Schmidt ATV Racing.

• Jason Baldwin is making a name for himself in the National Association of Motorsports Enterprises (NAME).  Baldwin finished first in the 30+ Expert MX class and took home a second in the Open Expert field at the Reidsville, N.C. track.  AMSOIL Dealer John Coffey sponsors Baldwin.

• Team AMSOIL driver Randy Hall made his first start in a 360 Late Model Saturday night at Black Rock Speedway in Dundee, N.Y.  The former IMCA competitor failed to make the A- Main, but stormed through the field in the B-Main to show off his promise.  Hall pushed his car from a 21st starting position to finish the race in third.  AMSOIL Dealer Larry Rosenthal sponsors Randy Hall Racing.