AMSOIL Title Sponsor of Snocross Series
Renewed ISOC signs The First in Synthetics

AMSOIL recently signed a three-year title sponsorship package with the renewed snocross racing series, the International Series of Champions (ISOC).

Starting with the 2008-2009 tour, the new series will be named the AMSOIL Championship Snocross Series, with ISOC acting as the sanctioning body. The AMSOIL Series will consist of a minimum of eight national races, starting with the AMSOIL Duluth National on November 28-30, 2008.

“For more than a decade, AMSOIL has been the leader in the snowmobile industry,” said Jeremy Meyer, AMSOIL Race Program Manager. “With winning teams on the track, AMSOIL has also shown a deep commitment to sponsoring race series. That commitment continues as AMSOIL steps into the title sponsorship role with the newly reformed ISOC series.”

ISOC has positioned itself to be the premier North American snocross series in the wake of the dissolution of the World PowerSports Association (WPSA). ISOC will sanction races throughout North America, including races in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, New York and Quebec. These events will feature the world’s premier racers, including AMSOIL riders D.J. Eckstrom, Shaun Crapo and defending Pro Open champion Ross Martin.

“The AMSOIL commitment to racing and snocross is not only a great thing for ISOC, but the snowmobile industry as a whole,” said Scott Lorentz, ISOC Director of Operations. “This partnership will help continue the great momentum and energy AMSOIL has created in our sport over the past 10 years and put in motion a number of ISOC goals to grow racing.”

ISOC is based in Albertville, Minn. and is led by former cross-country racer John Daniels. Daniels also oversees Sled Head 24/7, which creates multi-media news and entertainment for snowmobiling enthusiasts. Sled Head 24/7 has a presence on regional television and radio and on the Internet.

The AMSOIL Championship Snocross Series will open its season at the AMSOIL Duluth National on Thanksgiving weekend. For more information visit www.amsoil.com.

Three AMSOIL Riders Invited to Winter X
Eckstrom looking for repeat medal performance

Although their season doesn't start for another month, three Team AMSOIL snocross racers are already getting some early season accolades.

Scheuring Speed Sports riders D.J. Eckstrom and Shaun Crapo, along with Judnick Motorsports rider Ross Martin, have been added to the initial list for the 2009 ESPN Winter X Games. Eckstrom will head to Aspen, Colo. looking for a second straight medal after grabbing the bronze medal in 2008. Martin is the 2007-08 WPSA Pro Rider of the year.

The three riders were among the 14 invited snocross athletes for the X Games. They join, among others, fellow snocross stars Tucker Hibbert, Robi Malinoski, Levi LeValle and T.J. Gulla. The final 10 riders will be selected no later than December 22.

The AMSOIL Championship Snocross Series begins with the AMSOIL Duluth National in Duluth, Minn. on Thanksgiving weekend.

Chaotic Finish for Lovells
Rock racers find second place at XRRA finale

Jellico, Tennessee is a long way from Brad and Roger Lovell’s Colorado home.  While 23 hours in the team’s transporter adds up, the chance to win the XRRA National championship was not to be missed.
                        
Roger Lovell’s season has been marked by ups and downs in the #32 DirtLogic/AMSOIL Ranger.  In one event he’ll have a lightning fast run, but then succumb to vapor lock at the start of the next race.  Looking to change their luck, the team decided to put Brad Lovell’s wife, Natalie, in the co-driver seat. 

Their first run went well and the teamwork provided renewed confidence.  The second run featured some of the best driving Roger has turned in all season.  He pushed the AMSOIL Ford to the limit.  Several times he was on two wheels, slinging around a turn or mashing through the rocks.  The time was just a tick off the leaders, but well within reach of the finals.

The third race started with the #32 truck darting through the first few corners and into the backstretch.  As the crowd waited, the truck failed to materialize and the safety crew could be seen running to the scene.  The truck had barrel rolled off the course after stabbing a large hole.  Roger’s hopes of defending his 2007 championship faded with a disqualification for going off the track.

Meanwhile, Brad Lovell has had the #232 Fabtech/AMSOIL Ford Ranger dialed in all year long.  Lovell did not use a co-driver for this event due to the fast speed of the course.

On his first run, he almost gave away the race at the start.  With a frantic attempt at the first boulders, he carried too much speed and brutally smashed the truck into the rocks like a pinball.  He was able to hold on and finished the first run near the top of the standings.

Holding on was Brad’s mantra for the second run.  Off the line, over the first jump, up the dirt and down the rocks, Lovell didn’t make a mistake.  He set the fast time and began to feel in control of the race. 

His strong runs qualified him second for the finals, just 11 seconds behind Shannon Campbell.  He lined up against Campbell and made up the 11 seconds on the first of two races. With just one race remaining, Lovell found himself in a tie and had to beat Campbell in the final run.

With only minutes until the next run, Lovell stayed in the truck while Natalie looked for damage. Everything was looking good until the engine died. Assuming they were low on fuel, they scrambled to find some. Fellow racer J.T. Taylor came to their aid with a gas can and after some time, the engine was running again. However, when Lovell pulled up to the start line, the engine started to act up again. With only two minutes to fix the issue, Natalie exploded into action. As she literally ripped the hood off, an army of fellow racers came to her aid. Again, Taylor helped out and diagnosed vapor lock. He cooled the fuel pump and with seconds remaining, the engine came to life.

Lovell was shaken by the near-disaster, but quickly regained his focus. In the slower of the two lanes, the AMSOIL Ranger put everything it had to the ground, and Lovell was able to stay even with Campbell on the first lap and avoid his dust.  Through the rocks and turns they went neck and neck, but Campbell reached the finish line first.

“It was a heartbreaker to come so close to winning the championship after Roger did it last year,” said Brad.  “I was lucky to have a running truck for the final round. Second place felt pretty good in this extremely competitive field.”

The XRRA National brought a close to the Lovells’ season, during which they racked up four wins and a season championship.  They will spend the next few months preparing for the 2009 King of the Hammers.

Smith Finds Top 20 at DTWC
Late model driver solid at Crown Jewel Event

Brady Smith and his AMSOIL #2 team were back in Dirt Late Model action last weekend at the K-C Raceway in Chillicothe, Ohio.

Smith took part in the 28th annual running of the Dirt Track World Championship race, timing in third quickest in his group during qualifying on Friday night and running second in his heat race.  After rolling off from the outside of the fifth row for the $50,000 to win DTWC on Saturday night, Smith had his sights set on a top 5 finish.  During the 100-lapper, however, Smith wound up finishing 17th in the final rundown.

Smith is scheduled to attend the World of Outlaws doubleheader at Lowe’s Motor Speedway October 29-31 before wrapping up his season at the East Alabama Motor Speedway for the National 100 on November 1-2.

AMSOIL Sandbox Arena Readies for Winter Season
Indoor motocross track to host bikes, ATVs this weekend

The AMSOIL Sandbox Arena will begin its Winter Series on Saturday night.  The indoor motocross track in New Richmond, Wis. will host a six-race series for motocross riders and a shorter series for ATVs.

Race dates begin on Saturday, October 25 and run once a month through March.  Practice and registration begin tomorrow morning at 8 a.m. For more information, go to http://www.sandboxarena.com/index.aspx.