"Super Team" Nabs First Win of 2006
Three drivers end weekend top 10 in points race
Bark River, Mich. ~ The AMSOIL/Kumho Tire “Super Team” had just two weeks to get the bugs worked out before the Championship Off-Road Racing series went back to racing in Bark River, Mich. last weekend. The short time off between races proved a successful formula as the Super Team picked up two podiums, including its first win of the year.
 The newest member to Team AMSOIL in 2006, Scott Douglas, started the weekend out strong. Joining Dan Vanden Heuvel and Mike Oberg in the Pro-2 class, Douglas worked over the field and finished Saturday’s race in fourth. Oberg, meanwhile, had one of his best races of the year and came across the finish line right behind Douglas in fifth. Vanden Heuvel, however, had trouble with his rack and pinion and exited the race early, settling for a 14th spot in the final rundown.
Douglas would then switch over to his Pro-4 four-wheeled drive effort for the final race on Saturday. The El Cajun, Calif. native would drive his AMSOIL backed truck to his first Pro-4 podium of the season finishing in third place.
“The team has really worked hard to get both trucks ready for this weekend,” commented Douglas. “I was careful to get a clean start in both trucks today, because you can push too hard going into Turn One and end your day early. My Pro-4 crew chief, Mike Schoffstall tried a new setup and it really paid off. All in all it was a very solid day for Douglas Motorsports.”
On Sunday, Douglas again lined up with Vanden Heuvel and Oberg in the Pro-2 class. Vanden Heuvel got his gearing lined up and battled for a podium spot, finally settling for a fourth place finish. Oberg continued his strong driving in his rookie Pro-2 campaign, ending the day in sixth, marking the first time this year he was able to finish both days of racing without any major problems. Douglas, meanwhile, stole the show in the Pro-2 class. He powered his Ford out front and took home his first win of the season.
“The Pro-2 race was a real battle,” said Douglas. “I knew there wasn’t any room for error. AMSOIL kept our engine and transmission temperatures nice and cool. Again hats off to my whole Crew for putting a great truck under me.”
Also running for the Super Team this weekend was Dan Vanden Heuvel, Jr. in the Pro-Lite class. “Junior” had trouble during his starts on both Saturday and Sunday. On Saturday, a flat tire forced the rookie to head to the pits for some new treads. He would end up the day in 20th. On Sunday, another skirmish on the start dislocated his shoulder, a previous injury. After getting the joints realigned, he was able to work his way back into the top ten with a ninth place finish.
Heading into the next rounds in San Diego on July 22-23, Douglas is currently fourth overall in the Pro-2 class with Vanden Heuvel behind him in eighth and Oberg in tenth. In Pro-4, Douglas is seventh overall and less than 20 points behind the leaders. Junior, meanwhile continues to move up the standings and now finds himself in 17th.
SnoCross meets NASCAR
Scheuring gets front row attention at Chicagoland
Joliet, Ill. ~ While you might not see an AMSOIL sponsored car on the Fox telecasts of NASCAR, if you are attending races, it would be hard to miss the AMSOIL logo. Thanks to the sponsorship agreement the AMSOIL/Scheuring Speed Sports team has, team owner Steve Scheuring and riders DJ Eckstrom and Shaun Crapo were able to attend last weeks race at the Chicagoland Speedway. The trio signed autographs underneath their trailer awning outside of the main gates to Chicagoland. It marked the second year that the Snocross team has attended a NASCAR event on behalf of the Air Force.
“We had an unbelievable time,” said Scheuring. “We had the 53’ semi-trailer on display for the biggest Motorsports series in the world. We had a lot of people come and talk to us about AMSOIL and how great a product it is. The event gave our sport and AMSOIL great exposure.”
Smith Looking for “Summer” Groove
Late Model racer looks for wins in UMP Summernationals
Princeton, Ill. ~ Team AMSOIL Late Model driver Brady Smith continued his 2006 summer tour by taking part in a quartet of UMP Summernationals races in Illinois this past week. The Solon Springs, Wis. native was looking for his second win of the year after picking up his first 2006 victory two weeks ago.
“The Deuce” landed in the Land of Lincoln last weekend at the Bureau County Speedway in Princeton, IL on Friday night. Smith won his heat race and finished third in the dash to earn a second row starting spot in the A-main. In the feature, Smith battled the rough track conditions at the short oval track and ended up finishing seventh in the final rundown.
On Saturday, Smith headed to the Fairbury American Legion Speedway in Fairbury, IL. The Deuce finished second in his heat race before posting an 11th place run in the $10,000 to win feature race.
Smith continued his run in the UMP Summernationals on Monday night in LeSalle, IL. at the LeSalle Speedway. Smith would have trouble during qualifying and ended up running in the events B-main race, finishing fourth. On Wednesday, Smith left Illinois, but not the UMP series. The Deuce headed to West Burlington, Iowa and the I-34 Raceway were he was able to grab a fourth place finish.
Smith will be back in action on July 21 when the AMSOIL sponsored driver invades the Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, Iowa for an NARA sanctioned event.
Shryock Grabs Another Win
Team AMSOIL driver also plays comeback kid
 Cresco, Iowa ~ Seven-time defending United States Modified Touring Series national champion Kelly Shryock continued his dominating 2006 season with another win this week and a come from behind story in front of his hometown crowd.
The AMSOIL sponsored driver out of Fertile, Iowa scored a dominating win Thursday, July 13, at the Cresco (Iowa) Speedway. Shryock took the pole in qualifying and waded through four cautions and 35-laps en route to win. The victory also increased his season point’s lead and he picked up more points in his quest to win the AMSOIL Lap Leader award.
The win at Cresco came on the heals of a come from behind effort by Shryock on Wednesday night at the Dodge County Speedway in Kasson, Minn. Shryock started the race in ninth, but was able to work his way up to fourth when the checkered flag dropped. The AMSOIL sponsored USMTS will be in Arcadia, Wis. and Jackson, Minn. this weekend.
Summer Heats Up, So Does Schwenkbeck
BASS “Master” makes another payday on ESPN stage
 Syracuse, N.Y. ~ Pro Bass angler Darrin Schwenkbeck continues to show off his ability to find fish in the Bassmasters Elite Tour. The Silver Spring, Md. Native took part in the ESPN owned series last weekend on Oneida Lake in Syracuse, N.Y.
Schwenkbeck, who is sponsored by AMSOIL for the first time this season, found himself in the money for the third time this year after landing three day totals of 13lbs, 4 ounces, 13 lbs, 10 oz and 12 lbs, 11 oz. His 39 lbs and 9 oz of fish pushed him into 31st place out of more than 150 anglers.
Schwenkbeck is competing in the Bassmasters Elite tournament this weekend on Lake Champlain in Plattsburgh, N.Y.
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.
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Randy Hall Racing from Olean, N.Y. took a wire-to-wire win at the Little Valley Raceway in Little Valley, N.Y. last weekend. Hall was able to hold of some strong competition and four restarts during the race. AMSOIL Dealer Larry Rosenthal sponsors Randy Hall Racing
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