Windham Takes Down Reed
West Coast Series wrapping up for Weimer, Reardon

AMA Supercross Round 5 – Anaheim III
In the season’s final visit to Angel Stadium in Anaheim, Calif., the AMSOIL/Honda team looked to improve their standings in both classes. In the Supercross (450cc) class, Kevin Windham was looking for his first win of the season. In Lites, Jake Weimer was looking for his second win while Dan Reardon was hoping to improve from fourth place and get on the podium for the first time in America.

Things were looking good for the AMSOIL riders early on. Weimer started the night out strong in practice, and then went out and passed his teammate Reardon on the last lap to win his heat race.

“In practice, I was stoked,” Weimer said. “I didn’t ride well the first practice, but I was pumped on the track, so I was feeling good. Then, I got a good start in my qualifier and followed Reardon around the whole time. I knew that I could make a pass where I did, because I felt like I was a little bit faster right there. I got close enough on the last lap, and with a couple straight-a-ways to go, I made the pass and got the win. And we had the fastest heat by a pretty good amount, so I was feeling good going into the main.”

Unfortunately for Weimer, the main ended early. Heading into the sand section just after the first turn, he clipped another rider, went down, and then was hit by the riders behind him. Weimer slipped to 15th in the points standings with three rounds left to run.

Reardon’s night got tough just after Weimer passed him in their heat race when Jason Lawrence cleaned Reardon out for second and knocked him down in the last turn. In the main, Reardon was on the move after a mediocre start, but then fell, which likely cost him another top-five finish. Reardon is third in the West Coast Lites points standings.

“I was way outside off the start, and I worked my way up to about sixth, but then I crashed,” Reardon said. “That put me back in 11th or something, and I caught back up to eighth. I’m just kind of bummed out that I crashed. It was a silly mistake on my behalf, so we’ll pick it up. I’m working well during the week, but I’ve just got to put all of the pieces together on the weekend.”

Windham was fast all day on the Anaheim III track, and he briefly challenged points leader Chad Reed for the lead in his heat race before going down. He recovered for third and went into the main event with the confidence of knowing he could run with Reed.

AMA Supercross Round 6 – San Diego
The last California round of the 2008 AMA Supercross Championship started out promising for the AMSOIL/Honda team.  All of the riders grabbed the holeshot in their respective heat races, with Weimer and Windham holding on for wins.

Early on, the main events showed just as much promise for the riders. Weimer couldn’t turn a decent start into a top finish, as he fell and spent the rest of the race fighting from behind. Weimer finished the final in 17th and, despite a win earlier this year, is 16th in the points race with two rounds left to run.

“The heat race was good,” Weimer said. “I got the holeshot and checked out. I rode smart and smooth. I was feeling good going into the main, and I started fifth, and then just kind of went downhill from there. I maybe got a little over-anxious and carried way too much momentum into a corner, and that’s pretty much the end.”

Reardon had a similar main event, although damage from his crash eventually knocked him out of the race, following a strong heat. His misfortune dropped him from third to seventh in points.

In the Supercross class, Windham handed Reed one of few losses on the season in their heat race. It was Windham’s second heat win of the year.

“The heat race was great,” Windham said. “I got a great gate, and I got a great start and then kind of set my sails out there. I made a couple bobbles and Chad kind of closed up on me in the middle part of the race, and then I stretched the thing back out. It really felt good to me. Chad’s a strong rider, and any time he can go for the kill, he usually does, but I beat him in that one.”

In the main, Windham struggled his way to a fifth-place finish; even though he has not finished outside of the top five all season long. He held onto second in the points chase with 11 races left to run.
“I got a good start, but I just didn’t go to work,” Windham said. “I made a couple bobbles and didn’t do some key jumps, and I fell back to fifth. That was pretty much it."

From here, the team leaves California and heads to Houston, Texas, for round seven of the AMA Supercross Series on February 16 inside Reliant Stadium.

AMSOIL Triple Crown Series Begins
First of three legs starts Saturday in Minnesota

The first leg of the AMSOIL Triple Crown snowmobile racing series will begin under a fresh blanket of snow on Saturday.

The AMSOIL Triple Crown will feature a $100,000 cash payout to racers this season in three U.S.C.C. sanctioned events. The first event will start on Saturday morning at 10:00 am on Lake Mille Lacs near Garrison, Minn. The finals will be held on Sunday starting at 10:00 am.

The second leg of the Triple Crown will be held at Brainerd International Raceway in Brainerd, Minn. and on the adapted motorcross track on-site at the LCO Casino in Hayward, Wis.

“AMSOIL sees big potential for the Triple Crown based on the promoter’s success with previous series and the quick rise of the television show Sled Head 24/7,” said Jeremy Meyer, AMSOIL Race Program Manager, “we are excited to be in on the ground floor of this exciting new series.”

In addition to the large payouts, the AMSOIL Triple Crown events will all receive extended coverage on Sled Head 24/7’s nationally syndicated snowmobile show.

WPSA Slides into Quebec
Warm weather cancels New York, moves north to Canada

Team AMSOIL/Scheuring Speed Sports Snocross racer DJ Eckstrom is looking to build some momentum off his bronze medal finish at the 2008 Winter X Games.  Warm weather has caused a slight delay in Eckstrom’s pursuit of winning his first Pro National points championship.

Warm weather canceled the event scheduled for Vernon, N.Y. last weekend, but cold weather and plenty of snow will be found this weekend in Valcourt, Quebec.  Eckstrom sits second in Pro Super Stock and third overall in Pro Open.  AMSOIL/Judnick Motorsports rider Ross Martin sits second in Pro Open and third in Pro Stock.  Racing begins Saturday in Valcourt.

WPSA Snowmobile Tour on Debuts on SPEED Sunday
Two shows scheduled for this weekend

Your favorite AMSOIL Snocross riders will finally be hitting the airwaves this weekend.

SPEED will once again be televising coverage of the 2007-2008 WPSA PowerSports Snowmobile Tour. SPEED  will telecast PowerSports Snowmobile Tour events in one hour time slots, beginning Sunday, Feb 17th at 4:00 PM EST and then again at 5PM EST.  Included in the first show will be the AMSOIL National from Canterbury Park.

Smith Heads South for Winter
Team AMSOIL Late Model driver sets sights on Georgia, Florida

February 2, 2008
Team AMSOIL late model driver Brady Smith has been enjoying some southern weather the past few weeks and is now enjoying his driving as well.

After either getting rained-out or finishing with a pair of 11th-place finishes at the first few races of the winter racing season, Smith capped off the 'Super Bowl of Racing' on Saturday night at the Golden Isles (Ga.) Speedway with his best effort of the young 2008 season.

After winning his stacked B-Main, the Solon Springs, Wis. native rolled off from the outside of the tenth row for the $10,000-to-win feature. During the 50-lap A-main, Smith passed 16 cars en route to an impressive fourth-place finish.

February 8, 2008
Smith followed that top-five finish up with a better run as he made his first appearance at the annual 'Winternationals' at the East Bay Raceway Park in Gibsonton, Fla. on February 8.

Smith timed in second fastest in his group during the qualifying session and later won his heat race. After drawing a number-four prior to the start of the $10,000-to-win main event, he rolled off from the outside of the second row for the 50-lap main. Smith made it all the way up to the second spot and started putting pressure on race leader, Billy Moyer. Smith got up to Moyer's door on a couple of different occasions, but had to settle for a close runner-up performance after an exciting fifty-lap duel.

February 9, 2008
Smith closed out the UMP 'Winternationals' on Saturday night at East Bay Raceway Park with another strong performance. Smith was looking to grab his first victory of the year in the $12,000-to-win show, which was taped by the cameras of the SPEED Channel for broadcast later in the year.

Smith was third fastest in his group during qualifying and later finished fourth in his heat race. Following an impressive win in his consolation race, Smith lined up 22nd on the grid for the 75-lap feature event. Aboard his AMSOIL machine, Smith roared through the field up to fifth by lap 60. In the waning laps, the handling went away on his car, but he was still able to bring his entry home with a ninth place finish.

February 11, 2008
After a day off from racing, Smith was looking to keep his top-ten streak alive at Volusia Speedway Park as the format switched to the UMP DIRTcar Series and the Alltell DIRTcar Nationals.

Smith timed his AMSOIL late model in fourth-quickest in his qualifying group and later finished second in his stacked heat race. After starting 12th on the grid for the $7,000-to-win feature, Smith was able to work his AMSOIL/Bloomquist car up four spots during the 30-lap affair to finish 8th in the final rundown.

February 13, 2008
After rain cancelled racing on Tuesday night, Smith competed in round three of the 'Alltell DIRTcar Nationals just outside of Daytona on Monday night. Smith recorded the eighth fastest lap in UMP series qualifying and finished fifth in his heat race. After placing second in his B-Main, Smith rolled off 23rd for the feature event.

From there, Smith wheeled his AMSOIL / #2 Bloomquist machine past 13 cars during the 30-lap race en route to a solid tenth-place effort.

February 14, 2008
Smith spent Valentine's Day at the Volusia Speedway Park in Barberville, Fla. for round four of the 'Alltel DIRTcar Nationals.' The AMSOIL-sponsored late model driver timed in 12th-quickest in World of Outlaws Late Model Series qualifying and later finished fourth in his competitive heat race.

Following a win in his B-Main, Smith rolled off 21st on the grid for the $10,000-to-win feature event. Smith tried to advance his AMSOIL / Bloomquist car forward during the course of the 50-lap A-Main, but wound up posting a 20th-place performance in the final rundown at the Daytona Beach area venue.

Smith has two more nights of racing at Volusia (Friday and Saturday) before returning to his Wisconsin home.

AMSOIL Gives Amateurs Real-Time Scoring
Online timing provided at Loretta Lynn’s

Hall of Fame off-shore powerboat racer Bob Teague has agreed to a one-year contract with AMSOIL.

Teague returned to the OSS Cat Lite division in 2007 on board his #77 AMSOIL Skater. He was joined by driver Paul Whittier. Together, they were able to win nine times and found the podium in 14 out of 15 races. The team was also named the OSS Cat Lite World Champion and the POPRA World Champion in November.

"Bob and Paul bring a professional and competitive team to the docks every race," said AMSOIL Race Program Manager Jeremy Meyer. "AMSOIL is excited to have the silver #77 AMSOIL boat back on the water in 2008.”

The Off Shore Super Series (OSS) will begin racing on April 11-13 at the Smokin' The Sound event in Biloxi, Miss. Teague and Whittier will also race in other series such as POPRA and SBI.