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 prepare 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.

Laninovich Takes Points Lead
Supercross Lites driver lands second straight podium.

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Phoenix, Ariz. ~ Billy Laninovich wants this to be his year.  After injuries have shortened his Supercross and Motocross seasons the past few years, Laninovich is hoping his improved health will help him maintain his strong start to the 2006 Supercross season.

After finishing third in the Supercross Lites race at the opener in Anaheim January 7, Laninovich decided to show the world that that the speed he showed at A1 was no fluke.  “Lano” was one of the top qualifiers at round two.  He quickly found his lines in the final and walked away with a second place finish.  The runner-up spot allowed Laninovich to take over the points lead in the Supercross Lites class.  He’s hoping his consistency pays off.

“I’m excited, but I’m not thinking about it too much,” said Laninovich.  “I’m sure we will be going back and forth.  My whole goal this year was just to be consistent and do the best I can.”

Team AMSOIL teammate Mike LaRocco finished eighth in the Supercross Main event.  LaRocco finished fourth at Anaheim 1.  The AMSOIL team will be in action again this weekend in Anaheim.

Another Podium Weekend
Both drivers find a top ten finish at Canterbury

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Shakopee, Minn. ~ It was a record setting crowd at the third stop of the World PowerSports Association Snocross event at Canterbury Downs in Shakopee, Minn.  A crowd of 33,000 people was on hand to watch the best Snocross racers in the world compete at the annual event.

In Pro Stock, both Team AMSOIL/Scheuring Speed Sports riders Carl Schubitzke and DJ Eckstrom were having an up and down qualifying run.  In the first heat of the day, Schubitzke took the win, but Eckstrom was tipped over heading into the first corner.  In heat number two, it was Schubitzke’s turn to hit the powder and Eckstrom finished out front.  By the time the three heat qualifier had been run, Schubitzke was starting the final in the front row and Eckstrom had to line his Polaris IQ from the back.  In the final, however, Eckstrom found an extra gear after getting off to a great start.  He slowly worked his way through the pack.  When the checkered flag dropped, Eckstrom found his third podium of the year with a third place finish.  Meanwhile, Schubitzke was able to overcome a poor start and finished in the top ten.

In Sunday’s Pro Open class, it was another up and down day.  In the first heat, Schubitzke picked up another win, with Eckstrom finishing in mid-pack.  Heat number two saw Schubitzke getting pushed off the track by a questionable move after moving into the fourth.  Eckstrom was able to run a strong heat race, but still had to start in the back row of the final.  Schubitzke was in the front row line-up, but the 20-lap final didn’t go as planned for both riders.  Slow starts meant a slow finish for the AMSOIL team. Eckstrom is currently in second place in the overall Pro Open point’s standings.

The AMSOIL/Scheuring team will be in action again this weekend in WPSA action at Park X in Hill City, Minn.  The team will ten turn their race ready trailer towards the west to Aspen, Colo.  Both Eckstrom and Schubitzke will take part in the Winter X games at the end of January.

Changing Seasons

The race seasons are slowly changing from summer and motocross, etc., to winter and Snocross. That means most of the corporately sponsored teams are on standby for a few weeks.  If you are an AMSOIL Dealer and are looking to sponsor a local racer through the AMSOIL Co-op Race Program, please fill out the G-2074 and send it to me.  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. Thank you all and good luck.