Team AMSOIL Improves Lead In UROC
Lovell Brothers grab second place finish on difficult circuit

Cedar City, Utah ~ Brad and Roger Lovell continued their onslaught over the competition in the UROC Pro Pacific Tour last weekend as the brothers headed to Cedar City, Utah.  The Lovell’s brought their AMSOIL Ford Ranger to the only natural course of the season, and were looking to extend their points lead with a strong showing.

The track proved to be one of more mind-boggling courses the Lovell’s will see this year.  Teams were pushed to the limit with the most technically challenging courses to date. Winning scores in the Modified Class, usually in the negative, topped 300 points after the final runs were completed. 

The first day found Team Lovell facing course #1 that consisted of a twisty climb, boulder field, 10’ drop, and undercut climb. The pair worked quickly to conserve time but only had 1:07 left before the final ascent. Smoke and rock flew as Brad stuck the throttle looking for the right line. Only 14 seconds remained as Brad made his last attempt hurling the Ranger into the wall. When the smoke cleared, the truck was on top of wall with three seconds to spare. The Lovell Ford would be the only modified to complete the course.

If the courses were not enough to challenge teams, the weather on Saturday surely filled the void. 60 mph wind forced judges to nail cones to the rocks and blowing sand peppered fans. The wild weather caused communication issues between driver and spotter due to wind noise through the radios. At the end of the elimination round, the Lovell’s found themselves in first and the weather improving. The brothers lined up for the semi-finals only to discover a flat tire. UROC rules allowed the team three minutes for the repair so Brad raced to the BFGoodrich Tires support truck under Roger’s direction. FABTECH teammate Tracy Jordan was ready with the airline and got the team back to the start gate with time to spare.

“We really have to thank Tracy and the BFGoodrich Tires crew,” said Brad, “That was a life saver.”

The team twisted and clawed through the final courses until they lined up against Cedar City’s most infamous climb – a granite slab rising 23 feet at 68 degrees.

“It’s been done, but we didn’t want the ride that we saw the other guys getting.”

After a couple stabs, the roaring Ford V-8 put torque to the Alloy USA axle shafts and the Ranger shot to the top. The Lovell’s would find disappointment; however, as their custom transfer case shifter broke only feet from the finish gate.

“We were pushing a part way past its intended limitation for several years,” added Roger Lovell. “At some point it is going to give up.”

The effort was good enough to land the FABTECH sponsored team in second place giving them a strong lead in their bid to reclaim the UROC Pro Modified Championship.

Lovell Racing has a fast turn around as they prepare for the XRRA Rock Race this weekend in their hometown of Colorado Springs, Colo.

Big Dawg Finds Free-Wheeling Fun
Team unveils new monster truck, TailGator

Bloomington, Ill. ~ The AMSOIL sponsored Big Dawg had a busy month of May.  On May 6, the monster truck won the wheelie contest in Bloomington, Ill. by standing the truck up and walking it across the row of cars.  Driver/owner Doug Noelke also ran the fastest qualifying time, but lost in the second round.

On May 12, the Noelke’s unveiled their new monster truck to the world.  TailGator was displayed at a sponsor’s open house.  The name, TailGator originated from Noelke’s tailgate dragging, slap-wheelies he is famous for as well as the frequent tailgating the family does before St. Louis Rams games.

May 19 brought the team to the 4-Wheel Jamboree in Lima, Ohio.  Noelke made his way into both finals on Saturday, wining the first show over Metallic Mayhem.  On Sunday, Noelke and the Big Dawg went home early after losing in the first round.

On May 26, TailGator made its racing debut at the Elko Speedway’s Eve of Destruction in Elko, Minn.  TailGator put on an impressive freestyle show, smoking donuts and hitting some high-flying sky-wheelies.

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

• DB Racing/Team Tsukigi had a strong run at the drag race held in Richmond, Va. May 6-7. Rider Micheal Tjon put his Suzuki GSXR in the #4 qualifying spot in the 100 Supersport class with a 9.23 time.  The team also qualified third in the Superstreet Class thanks to a strong run of 8.40 seconds by Darren Burnett.  DB Racing is sponsored by AMSOIL Dealer Tom Kinkade.