AMSOIL Becomes Official Oil of AMA Pro Road Racing and Presenting Partner of AMA Pro Daytona SportBike Class
AMSOIL has reached an agreement with AMA Pro Road Racing that will see the company expand its presence in the motorsports community as the Official Oil of AMA Pro Road Racing and the presenting partner of the AMA Pro Daytona SportBike class.

“The new AMA Pro Daytona SportBike class should offer some of the most competitive motorcycle road racing ever seen in the United States, and we are honored to be one of the high performance components in the new AMA Pro Road Racing,” said AMSOIL Race Program Manager Jeremy Meyer.

A new class for 2009, AMA Pro Daytona SportBike presented by AMSOIL is a battleground between quick-handling 600cc motorcycles and a variety of big-bore bikes from Buell, Aprilia and Ducati. Daytona SportBikes are race-tuned descendants of some of today’s top high-performance production motorcycles, and the class promises to deliver some of AMA Pro Road Racing’s best and most competitive racing.

“AMA Pro Daytona SportBike presented by AMSOIL is going to co-headline AMA Pro Road Racing, and it is only because of the support of fine partners such as AMSOIL,” said AMA Pro Racing President Roger Edmondson. “Along with the AMA Pro American Superbike class, the Daytona SportBike division will provide a perfect partnership showcase for companies such as AMSOIL, and we are honored to have them on board.”

AMSOIL Signs AMA American Superbike Rider Larry Pegram

In addition to becoming the Official Oil of AMA Pro Road Racing and the presenting partner of the AMA Pro Daytona SportBike class, AMSOIL has signed a two-year sponsorship agreement with Larry Pegram and the Foremost Insurance/Ducati racing program. Pegram will compete in the 2009 AMA American Superbike class. Pegram has been racing professionally in the road racing ranks since 1988, spending the past two seasons competing in the AMA Formula Xtreme class. The Ohio native earned three podium finishes in 2008 and finished fourth overall in the modified class. Pegram opened the 2009 season by grabbing the lead for the first three laps at the AMA American Superbike race at Daytona International Speedway on March 5 before an electrical problem pushed him back to fourth. “The addition of a true professional like Ducati’s Larry Pegram will be a valuable asset to Team AMSOIL,” said AMSOIL Race Program Manager Jeremy Meyer. “He gives AMSOIL a great voice in the road racing market.” “The involvement of AMSOIL is going to be great for our program over the next two years,” said Pegram. “AMSOIL offers the best the market has to offer, and we are already seeing benefits on the track.”

Crapo Earns Third Place Podium in Hayward Another record crowd was on hand for round seven of the AMSOIL Championship Snocross Series, held March 6-8 in Hayward, Wis. In the Pro Super Stock class, Team AMSOIL racers Shaun Crapo and D.J. Eckstrom both qualified for the front row, putting the team in excellent position to earn a podium finish. However, near the end of the first lap, Eckstrom had his skis taken out from him, and he was ejected from his sled and run over. Although he was able to walk away under his own power, his weekend of racing came to an abrupt halt. On the ensuing restart, Crapo took an aggressive leap on the first straight triple jump to propel himself into third place and earn his second podium finish of the last three events. Team AMSOIL/Judnick Motorsports racer Matt Judnick finished sixth. In the Pro Open class, Crapo qualified strong and was running in the top five when his sled’s ignition system started failing after two laps. He eventually finished 12th. Judnick finished fourth. The final round of the AMSOIL Championship Snocross Series will be held March 20-22 in Lake Geneva, Wis.

Rinker Wins Lakeland Race
The 2009 F1 ChampBoat season is still two months away, but that didn't stop defending champion Terry Rinker from getting a little spring testing in last weekend.

Rinker headed east from his Tampa, Fla. home to take part in the 2009 Orange Cup Regatta, an APBA sanctioned event in Lakeland, Fla. He turned in a perfect weekend against both familiar and new competition, winning both finals on Saturday and Sunday. Rinker’s son, Rob, also raced in the SST-45 class, picking up the win on Sunday, while his other son, Ashton, finished third.

Rinker's next race will be in Chattahoochee, Fla. on the weekend of March 21-22. The F1 ChampBoat series will start May 2-3 in Port Neches, Texas. AMSOIL is the Official Oil of the F1 ChampBoat series.

Daniel Blair Steps in for Injured Metcalfe
Team AMSOIL Lites supercross racer Brett Metcalfe suffered a broken collarbone at round two of the AMA Lites Eastern Regional Supercross Championship in Atlanta. With the timetable for his return unknown, the team brought in longtime privateer Daniel Blair to fill his shoes.

“It’s very rare to be able to substitute your primary rider with someone aggressive and talented who may be able to finish up front right away in the series,” said team manager J.C. Waterhouse. “With Daniel Blair, I think we’ve accomplished that and I’m looking forward to great things from him.”

Windham Finishes Strong in Daytona
The 10th round of the 2009 AMA Supercross season, and the fourth round of the Lites Eastern Regional Supercross Championship, was held March 6 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. In the 450 class, Team AMSOIL racer Kevin Windham started outside the top five and quickly worked his way forward, getting up as high as third. He eventually earned a strong fifth place finish. In the Lites class, Team AMSOIL rider Blake Wharton recovered from a first-turn pileup to finish a strong ninth, while new teammate Daniel Blair started just inside the top 10 and battled for an 11th place finish.

Round 11 of the AMA Supercross season, including the fifth round of the Lites Eastern Regional Supercross Championship, will be held Saturday, March 14 at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans.

Teague Gearing up for 2009 Race Season With the 2009 race season just around the corner, Team AMSOIL offshore powerboat racer Bob Teague has been diligently preparing the #77 silver skater for another dominant season. He’s also found time to show off the powerful offshore boat at various boat shows around the country, including the 53rd Annual Los Angeles Boat Show and the Miami International Boat Show, both held last month. Teague and driver Paul Whittier will compete in their first race of the 2009 season March 26-29 in Biloxi, Miss.