Sauk Centre, Minn. ~ Team AMSOIL oval ice racer PJ Wanderscheid is the first to call the 2007 USSA season a “struggle.” The Arctic Cat rider spent the entire year working on handling issues, and was surprised to find out that he had a chance at a season points title when he landed in Ontonogan, Mich. last weekend.

Wanderscheid was the top qualifier in Saturday's Pro 600 Open final. He won all of his heat races, and a great start in the final pushed him to the front of the pack. The Sauk Centre, Minn. native led from start to finish, winning his first race of the year. The great day of racing meant Wanderscheid had gained enough points to win the USSA Pro Open 600 points championship.

While out of contention in the Champ 440 class, the three-time world champion was hoping for a strong finish to the season in Michigan. He started the final in third, but finishing would be an afterthought after a local rider crashed into his sled after the second lap. Wanderscheid suffered a broken ankle and was unable to finish the race.

Team AMSOIL Supercross lites riders Ryan Sipes and Billy Laninovich showed off their riding abilities two weeks ago in Daytona, Fla. The pair of young riders had struggled during their early rounds of the East Coast Series, but they were able to lay down strong qualifying runs in Florida.

Sipes got the night of racing off on a strong note. He came out of the first turn of his heat race in second, but quickly took over the lead. By the start of the second lap, Sipes had the lead and checked out, leading the rest of the race for the win.

Laninovich struggled in his heat race. A poor start did Lano in as he got tied up in a first turn crash that claimed numerous riders. Laninovich rebounded well, starting the LCQ in second. He made quick work of the leader and was never challenged for the remainder of the race.

Fast starts were necessary in the Lites main. Laninovich proved his gate ability with a strong push off the line. The Californian would battle in the top five for much of the race, finally finishing in fourth.  Sipes also ran strong and was able to cross the finish line in ninth.

In the Supercross class, Kevin Windham posted a third in his heat race. Teammate Travis Preston also advanced into the main with a sixth place finish in the same qualifier. In the main, KDub ran strong and finished in fifth. Preston finished 20th. Windham currently sits in fourth in the Supercross points race and Preston has dropped down to tenth.

Daytona Beach Round 10 Results

Last weekend saw the AMSOIL sponsored team sticking around Florida as the AMA series moved south to Orlando on Saturday.  Fans also saw Laninovich continue his fast starts, both in qualifying and in the main event.

In the second “Lites” heat race, Lano got a great start, entering turn one behind Suzuki rider Ryan Dungey.  Laninovich quickly slipped around Dungey to take the lead.  The two battled back and fourth the entire race with Dungey getting the qualifying win by a mere second over Lano.  AMSOIL teammate Sipes finished ninth in the heat race and both riders advanced to the main.

In the final, Laninovich was able to rely on some early luck to put him into position for another holeshot.  With 22 riders lined up for the start of the race, Lano missed grabbing the holeshot.  A bad crash in turn three, however, brought out the red flag and another restart.  This time, Laninovich capitalized by grabbing the holeshot and led the field for the next six laps.  Lano was pushed wide near the finish line turn and had a battle on his hands with Ben Townley.  Townley would crash, but the battle gave other riders a chance to catch up.  Lano quickly dropped from the lead to fifth, where he would end the race.  Sipes was unable to make the restart and finished last.  For the season, Laninovich is eighth overall in the East Coast Lites points race.

In Saturday’s Supercross class, Kevin Windham had another strong night of racing.  In his heat race, Windham finished third behind Ricky Carmichael and Chad Reed.  The speed would level off when the final came and went.  K-Dub rode hard, but finished out of the top five with an eighth place finish.  For the season, Windham sits fourth overall.  Teammate Travis Preston has been battling injuries and despite missing the final on Saturday night, still sits in tenth.

Orlando Round 11 Results

The AMSOIL sponsored team heads north this weekend to the RCA Dome in Indianapolis. The AMA Supercross Series airs on CBS and SPEED.

“Season Comes to Close for Snocross”
Team AMSOIL looks toward improved 2007-08 season

Lake Geneva, Wis. ~ The ups and downs of the WPSA snocross season can level out now that the circuit has come to a close after the Grand Finale in Lake Geneva, Wis. The tough luck continued for Team AMSOIL riders DJ Eckstrom and Shaun Crapo at the final event of the year.

Eckstrom was the number 10 qualifier for Sunday's Pro Stock final. The Duluth, Minn. native got a great start and was riding in fifth for most of the race. Trouble would loom about mid-race as Eckstrom broke a trailing arm while descending one of the large hills. That pushed Eckstrom out of the race. Crapo, meanwhile, started in the back row and wasn't able to get a good start, eventually finishing ahead of Eckstrom in eleventh. For the season, Eckstrom finished 11th in the Pro Stock class and Crapo finished 13th.

In Sunday's Pro Open, Eckstrom again was a top qualifier after grabbing two fourth place finishes and a third in qualifying. Crapo had to go into the LCQ to try and qualify for the main, but a competitive run pushed the rider into seventh and out of the final. In the last race of the year, things started poorly for Eckstrom. After the green flag dropped, Eckstrom got bumped on the starting line by another rider, pushing his Polaris on its side. Eckstrom remounted and worked his way to 11th by the end of the race. For the season, Eckstrom finished 15th in Pro Open, the first time he's been out of the top 10 since he was injured four years ago. Crapo missed the top 10 in Pro Open after finishing 11th overall.

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Scheuring Speed Sports will begin testing for the 2007-08 season with a hillclimb event in Biwabik, Minn. in two weeks. The team will also be at AMSOIL University in May.

AMSOIL Late Model Series Returns in 2007
Local fan favorite back after one-year hiatus

Superior, Wis. ~ AMSOIL will be bringing its popular AMSOIL Late Model Series back to northern Minnesota and Wisconsin in 2007.  The Series was put hold in 2006 due to track and sanctioning conflicts, matters that have been resolved by the four participating tracks.

“Canceling the Series in 2006 was not an easy decision,” said Jeremy Meyer, AMSOIL Racing Coordinator.  “AMSOIL is excited for the Series return and extremely pleased with the ability of all four tracks to work together.  For the past year, fans and racers have asked for the Series return, and we have worked hard to bring back the best racing series in the region.”

The AMSOIL Late Model Series will return to Hibbing Raceway, ABC Raceway (Ashland, Wis.), Proctor Speedway and Superior Speedway.  The series will feature the top late model drivers from the Midwest and Canada in a six-race format. The Series will begin in Superior, Wis. on May 20 and will wrap up in October as part of Proctor Speedway’s ProctOberfest.

Pat Doar of New Richmond, Wis. won the last AMSOIL Late Model Series in 2005.  It was the first AMSOIL championship for the AMSOIL sponsored driver.  The Series will run under WISSOTA rules.  AMSOIL is the title sponsor and official oil of WISSOTA and the AMSOIL Dirt Track Series.