AMSOIL Supercross Riders on Fast Track
Windham and Weimer find success in opening rounds
AMA Supercross, Opening Round – Anaheim, Calif.
 Rain dumped for three days on Southern California in early January. That meant the opening round of the 2008 AMA Supercross season was a full-blown “mudder”.
Team AMSOIL rookie Dan Reardon won the lottery in his first-ever AMA Supercross event. The Aussie took his Honda CRF250R to the holeshot and led the first four laps of the main event before settling in to a fourth place finish.
“I was reasonably happy with the way things went,” Reardon said of the event.” I just wanted to go out and stay out of trouble, and that’s what I did. I’m looking forward to Phoenix and the rest of the series.”
His Lites class teammate Jake Weimer, however, had a hard time in the mud. He was knocked sideways exiting the first turn in his heat race and went down while leading. Weimer returned for the last chance qualifier (LCQ) and was running in a qualifying position before again coming into contact with another rider, cutting his night short.
In the 450cc class, some expected a lot of Kevin Windham. The last time Anaheim I was this wet (2005) Windham won the event. After a good qualifier, things went bad for K-Dub as he got tangled up with James Stewart in the first turn. Despite the poor start, Windham put his mud-riding skills to good use and worked his way up to fifth place.
“I really had a strong ride,” Windham said. “It obviously wasn’t a podium performance, because when you have a podium performance, you end up on the podium, but I definitely had podium speed. I have a lot of things to be optimistic about from the first round.”
AMA Supercross, Round 2 – Phoenix, Ariz.
Unlike the conditions at Anaheim I, the Phoenix Supercross promised a dry track, and heads-up racing. What that meant for the AMSOIL team was a chance for a more straightforward race without the issues created by mud.
The chief beneficiary of the dry track was Weimer, who showed up ready to compete in Phoenix, despite injuring his shoulder at the opener. The young rider grabbed the holeshot in the main and battled with round-one winner Ryan Dungey for the win.
“I was pretty confident in my gate because it was pretty loamy, so I figured I would get a good jump,” Weimer said. “In my qualifier, I had a good jump, but I got a lot of wheel spin, so I tried to pick a gate that had a lot more loam. It worked out good, obviously. It always feels easy when you get the holeshot, so it was good.”
Reardon was a part of the epic battle for the top spot throughout most of the main event, as the leading pack of riders was uncharacteristically deep. Reardon finished eighth.
In the 450cc class Windham was looking forward to getting a dry race under his belt and was able to get through the first turn without getting hung up. He went to work immediately on maneuvering his way to the front, and he came from outside the top 10 in the first turn to third in only three laps. It was Windham’s first podium of the season.
“It took me a little while to get up to third, but once I did, I felt the pressure behind me, stayed focused, and brought it home,” Windham said. “It was a good night for me. I was happy with it. It feels good to be holding my own against at least 17 of the guys, other than myself. At first, we were struggling some, but the team worked with me and it got better with time. That feels good. It seems like all of the work paid off.”
 AMA Supercross, Round 3 – Anaheim II.
The third round of Supercross returned the series regulars to Anaheim, Calif., but this time it was for Retro Night. The track at Anaheim II was built to replicate the 1986 Anaheim Supercross track.
Team AMSOIL rider Kevin Windham continued to set his groove toward the 2008 championship, as he started well and grabbed his second podium (third place finish) in a row while simultaneously moving up into second in the point’s championship in the 450cc class.
 “I was pretty happy with my start,” Windham said. “I started in the same gate both times. I think the testing we did this week really paid off in how things came together for me. Once the lights came on, I won my heat and really put it together in the main. I wish I could’ve caught Hill, but two weeks in a row and two podiums, I’m fired up about that. Hopefully I can keep finding the podium.”
In the Lites class, Reardon continued to show his consistency. On a track that he said was similar to tracks he’s used to back home in Australia, Reardon came from near the tail end of the top 10 to finish fourth.
After his win in Phoenix, Weimer had a rough time in Anaheim, with a fall, a stall, and other issues. He recovered for 15th place despite the lack of a front brake.
AMA Supercross, Round 4 – San Francisco
Storms once again soaked California leading up to the fourth round of racing in San Francisco. The day of the race, practice was postponed and the racers received only 10 minutes of practice time. Once the heats began, the riders had to deal with heavy rains.
 Windham was the star of team AMSOIL all night long. He won his heat race going away, and then started out the stormy main event in second place before quickly passing race leader Timmy Ferry and grabbing the lead. K-Dub led for the first four laps before giving way to Davi Millsaps. Windham was able to get past Millsaps, but eventual winner Chad Reed had already secured the top spot. Windham finished second and is now in second to Reed in the SX points race with 13 rounds left.
“It was such a roller-coaster ride all night, because the track was supposed to be wet when we got here, and then it was pretty good, and then all of a sudden, in the main, it was bad again,” Windham said. “I don’t know. I wanted to be a little hesitant because I didn’t want to screw up, but as it turns out, I jumped off the track anyway, so it came back to bite me.”
Reardon got just an okay start in the Lites main event, but slowly and consistently caught and passed the leaders while they were making mistakes out front. At the end of the shortened 10-lap race, Reardon was fourth for the third time this season. He is now solidly in second in points behind Dungey with four rounds left to run in the Western Region. Weimer struggled in the rain and finished out of the top ten. He is currently 11th in the championship chase.
From here, the AMSOIL sponsored team heads back to Anaheim for round five of the AMA Supercross Series on February 2.
AMSOIL Triple Crown
Cross country races bring large payday
 AMSOIL, The First in Synthetics, and Sled Head 24/7 are proud to announce AMSOIL as the new title sponsor of Sled Head 24/7’s Triple Crown snowmobile racing series. The AMSOIL Triple Crown will feature a guaranteed $100,000 cash payout to racers this season in three U.S.C.C. sanctioned events.
AMSOIL is already a premier sponsor of many snowmobile events and race teams within the industry. This includes cornerstone industry events such as the AMSOIL Duluth National Snocross Race and the AMSOIL World Championship Snowmobile Derby and nationally visible race teams such as Scheuring Speedsports and Wanderscheid Racing.
The 2008 AMSOIL Triple Crown will feature three high paying, spectator friendly races starting in February on Mille Lacs Lake in Garrison, MN, at Brainerd International Raceway in Brainerd, MN and at the adapted motorcross track on-site at the LCO Casino in Hayward, WI.
 “AMSOIL sees big potential of the Triple Crown based on the promoter’s success with previous series and 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.
“It gives credence to our vision of tying in our television show and big time racing when key race sponsors like AMSOIL are excited about being part of our team,” said founder of the AMSOIL Triple Crown, John Daniels. Daniels also serves as the executive producer of Sled Head 24/7 and was the original founder of the I.S.O.C racing circuit in the 90’s.
The first AMSOIL Triple Crown race is the Mille Lacs 200, February 16 and 17, 2008. For more info about being part of the events as a racer, fan, or sponsor you can visit usccracing.com or sledhead24-7.com.
Eckstrom, Martin Find Podium
Top two riders make move at double national
WPSA Double National, Rounds 2&3, Shakopee, Minn.
 A long lay-off since the AMSOIL Duluth National on Thanksgiving weekend didn't faze the AMSOIL contingent of riders at the WPSA Double National in Shakopee, Minn.
AMSOIL/Scheuring Speed Sports rider DJ Eckstrom battled from mid-pack to storm to a second place finish in the Pro Stock class on Friday, January 11. Teammate Shaun Crapo, who was battling sore ribs after a minor accident on the practice track the week prior, won the Last Chance Qualifier and finished eighth in the final. AMSOIL/Judnick Motorsports rider Ross Martin also made the main, finishing fifth.
With the event being a Double National, that meant two rounds of Pro Stock and two rounds of Pro Open competition over the three day weekend. On Saturday, it was Martin’s turn to move into a podium spot. The Polaris rider started Saturday’s racing out with a second place finish in the second round of Pro Stock. Eckstrom and Crapo finished sixth and seventh, respectively.
 Saturday also meant Pro Open and Martin was the top qualifier. Eckstrom lined up third for the final and Crapo made it in through the LCQ. When the checkered flag dropped, both Eckstrom and Martin finished on the podium with Martin in second and Eckstrom in third. Crapo finished a great race in sixth after starting in the back row.
On Sunday, Martin was once again on the edge in the Pro Open final. As the top qualifier, he again grabbed the hole shot and never looked back, winning from flag to flag. Eckstrom was battling hard for third place but a broken throttle caused him to drop to from fourth to eighth with less than two laps to go. Crapo, who crashed violently in the second qualifying heat, came from the second row and finished seventh.
WPSA National, Rounds 4, West Yellowstone, Mont.
The WPSA then headed out west for round four of the Pro National series, and Eckstrom continued his climb back to the top of the Pro standings after a strong weekend of racing in West Yellowstone.
After three rounds of qualifying, Eckstrom was the number two qualifier in Pro Stock at the West Yellowstone Pro National on January 19-20. The long-time AMSOIL rider ran an exceptional race, finishing third and moving into second in the season long points race. Crapo raced to a ninth place finish in front of his hometown crowd and sits seventh in the championship standings. Martin finished sixth and is just two points behind Eckstrom in third overall.
Qualifying for the Pro Open class began on Sunday, but was cut short after two rounds due to heavy snow falling in the area. Beginning early Monday morning, Eckstrom and Crapo both started from the front row in the final. Eckstrom finished fifth and Crapo seventh. Eckstrom is now third in the points chase, just eight points behind Martin, who failed to make the final. Crapo is ninth overall in Pro Open.
ESPN Winter X Games – Aspen, Colo.
 DJ Eckstrom continued his 2008 resurgence with an impressive weekend of racing at the 2008 Winter X Games in Aspen, Colo.
Eckstrom, Crapo and Martin ran spectacular races on the ESPN designed course Friday night. All three riders took second in their competitive heat races and advanced directly into Saturday night's final.
It was Eckstrom, though, who shouldered the weight of the AMSOIL contingency in Colorado. One of the sports all-time greats, he pushed his Polaris into an early lead, battling with Tucker Hibbert. Eckstrom held second place for the first half of the race, battling with eventual second place finisher Brett Turcotte. Eckstrom piloted the AMSOIL/Air Force/Red Bull sled perfectly for the remainder of the 25-lap final for his third Winter X Games medal.
"That was a long race," said Eckstrom following his third place finish. "The air is so thin up there, it makes it tough for that long of a race. The sled was hooked up tonight, though. I felt great and want to thank AMSOIL and all of the guys on the crew. They put together a great sled this weekend."
Crapo and Martin finished back in the pack after they collided with one another early in the race. Watch the Winter X Games final.
Both AMSOIL teams will be back on the WPSA PowerSports Tour on February 8-10 in Vernon, N.Y.
Wanderscheid Top Five at AMSOIL World Championship
Busy month pushes AMSOIL rider to the top
The AMSOIL World Championship Snowmobile Derby hosted its 45th year of racing in Eagle River, Wis. last month. Over a four day period, the world’s top pro oval ice racers competed for the title of AMSOIL World Champion, January 17-20.
Before the Derby, Wanderscheid traveled to Plymouth, Wis. for a USSA event. Wanderscheid finished sixth in the Pro 600 class and third in the Champ 440 final.
At the 45th Annual AMSOIL World Championship Snowmobile Derby, temperatures sank well below zero and the western wind blew in the 30 mph range. Ideal conditions for oval ice racing.
 Long-time AMSOIL user and friend Bobby Unser visited the AMSOIL Derby Track this year. Unser was the lead rider on Friday’s "Charity Ride". Unser and his wife Lisa were honorary guests of the AMSOIL Derby Weekend and were each presented with an AMSOIL Winter Performance Jacket.
Friday’s racing started at 9:30 with qualifying in both oval sprint and snocross classes. Team AMSOIL rider P.J. Wanderscheid was looking to become the first person to ever win four AMSOIL World Championship races. Friday Night Thunder brought plenty of excitement to the fans standing on the general seating hillside in -20 degree temperatures. Each lap seemed to be a challenge as numerous snowmobiles found the banner-laced hay bales lining turns one and two.
 The AMSOIL Derby Track crew introduced the Sweet 16 qualifying races for Sunday's AMSOIL World Championship race. Ten riders were pulled from two, eight-sled heat races for a 10 lap final. Team AMSOIL rider PJ Wanderscheid qualified for the final and was able to finish sixth. Unfortunately for PJ and eight other riders, the race was only beneficial to Brian Bewcyk. The Canadian bested defending World Champion Gary Moyle and in turn, won the pole position for Sunday's race and the right to skip Saturday's qualifying rounds.
Wanderscheid took home a second in his heat race on Saturday. He followed that up with a strong semi-final race, finishing third and battling with the race leaders throughout. His top three finish pushed him directly into Sunday's final and a spot on the front row for the 25-lapper.
Wanderscheid, as well as the other nine front row starters received their AMSOIL Eagle River World Championship rings at a special ceremony on Saturday night. Unser was again the guest of honor, and a silent auction was also held at the event to honor a fallen Eagle River soldier who lost his life last summer in Iraq.
For Sunday’s final, Wanderscheid, riding an Arctic Cat, battled hard into the first turn and came out in third before settling into fifth. On the second lap, a crash brought out a complete restart. Wanderscheid settled into sixth until another accident stopped the race on lap 18. While defending champion Moyle and Bewcyk lined up one-two, Wanderscheid was hoping to take advantage of the restart from the fifth spot. After the green flag got the field on their throttles again, Wanderscheid drove the last seven laps in fifth, his final finishing position.
Bewcyk, the pole sitter for the AMSOIL World Championship, was able to retake the lead on the restart and held on for his first World Championship. Yuji Nakazawa was crowned the AMSOIL World Champion in the Pro Open Snocross race.
AMSOIL Re-signs Bob Teague
 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.
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