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Saulte Ste. Marie, Mich. ~ Team AMSOIL is on fire. While that's something a synthetic lubricant company doesn't want to hear, it is a good thing for this example. Before the 2005 Champ Boat Series began, Terry Rinker hadn't won a race since 2003. After two weeks of racing, the former champ is back in a big way.

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In the opener, Rinker pulled off the upset win in New Roads, La. The Florida-native gained back some of his lost confidence and headed into the second weekend energized and focused on a repeat win. The series headed north for round two, this time landing on the shores of two Great Lakes, Huron and Superior in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. The Kewadin Casinos River Rampage, in its second year, brought a number of challenges to the racecourse. Besides strong crosswinds and foggy weather, racers had to deal with an onslaught of shipping traffic since the course was laid out just above the Soo Locks and crossed shipping lanes. The SST 60 class was even cut short after eight laps because a 1,000-footer was on course for the St. Lawrence River during the main event. (see picture of the week)

The biggest challenge Rinker had to deal was the waiting. The former champ ran the third strongest qualifying time during Saturday's time trials, but the heat races were delayed after a small thunderstorm whipped through the area on Saturday afternoon. With temperatures in the upper 80's, the cool down caused the cold waters to produce a thin line of fog. Race officials thought safety first and decided to cancel the remaining races on Saturday, including the Champ Boat heat races. This gave the Rinker/AMSOIL team more time to find some speed they thought they had lost during the time trials.

Racing was also delayed on Sunday because fog. Heat races were scheduled for the Champ class at 8:30 Sunday morning, but a condensed program was formulated after the fog lifted around 1 p.m. By then, Rinker's crew had the boat dialed in, running with the right prop set-up for the choppy waters they were about to face.

Champ Boat officials decided to run only one heat race on Sunday, meaning the pressure was on for Rinker to grab a strong qualifying spot. The 43-year-old pushed his yellow-clad Lee Hull design to a fourth place finish in the qualifier and was hoping for a good start in the final.

The main event started with a bang, as 15 boats stormed off the beach and into the first turn. Reigning champion Tim Seebold from Fenton, Mo. grabbed the lead from the pole position. But his time in front of the pack would be only temporary after his propeller broke, forcing him to switch to his back-up boat. Seebold would lose four laps on the field before returning and finishing sixth.

The hang-up on Seebold's boat was just what Rinker was looking for. He quickly maneuvered the number 10 boat into the lead and literally blew the field away. For more than 40-laps Rinker held the lead over Todd Bowden. Rinker extended his lead over the second place driver by more than 10 seconds at one point. But the lead would evaporate with 10 laps to go. Bowden would work his way through the same pack that held up Rinker's progression to within four boat lengths of Rinker's ridr. But time ran out as Rinker finished the 50-lap feature just point-eight tenths of a second ahead of Bowden for his second win of the season and his seventh career victory.

"It wasn't all roses for us in this win," said Rinker. "We lost our power steering at about the halfway point in the event and it made it very difficult to drive in the strong cross winds we had today. Thankfully all those hours in the gym this winter paid off today. We are on a roll and we are pumped heading into Bay City."

The third round of the Champ Boat Racing Tour heads to Bay City, Michigan in two weeks for the annual "River Roar" on the weekend of June 25 and 26. Rinker has won the event in Bay City twice in his illustrious career.

Inside the Cockpit: Interview with Terry Rinker

Seeing Double

Antigo, Wis. ~ Accidents happen in racing. They always have and they always will. Some are very spectacular. Some are so amazing, especially when a driver is able to walk away without an injury. What's more amazing is their ability to get back in the driver's seat for the next race. Team AMSOIL has seen some of that this year and it was once again on display at the Antigo Kiwanis Off-Road Championships in Antigo, Wis. last weekend.

Take McCrossan for example. The Pro-4 driver has been looking to bust out and show the is a force to be reckoned with each weekend. Saturday's Pro-4 practice session started out like any other for the Toronto-native. But little did anyone know how it would end. The number 33 was the first truck out for practice and set a rapid pace. However, before the session ended, he caught a deep rut in the track while sliding around a high-speed corner. The rut sent the Chevy into a violent rollover, and when the dust finally settled, McCrossan's truck had barrel rolled five times. Thanks to the safety features, he was able to walk away from the crash, but his ride would need some serious work. It sustained extensive damage to the entire driveline and required replacement of the engine, transmission, transfer case, mounting plates and the entire body of the truck. That made the team's decision to use the back-up truck for round three. Due to the condition of the old truck, McCrossan opted to start at the back of the pack and run the race just to obtain his fifth place points standing in the Pro 4 trucks.

Normally the amount of repair work would take place over two or three days. But not if you're racing against time. The McCrossan Motorsports crew had 10 hours to complete the task and be ready for Sunday's round four. The crew pulled off a miracle and worked around the clock to bring the AMSOIL/Kumho Tire Chevy back to life.

As the Pro 4 race started, McCrossan got off to a great start and ran in second place for the majority of the race. As the race wore on, he was passed by Jason Baldwin and Carl Renezener. Meanwhile, front-runner Johnny Greaves had pulled off the track due to mechanical difficulties. When the checkered flag flew it was McCrossan who took home third with Renezener in second and Baldwin in first.

"This was a great podium finish," said McCrossan. "I have the best crew to do what they did overnight. They went the extra mile and completed a near impossible feat on almost no sleep. I couldn't have done it without them."

Mike Oberg got off to a great start Saturday, starting fifth in the Sportsman 2 division. The Wisconsin-native "drove the wheels off" his AMSOIL/Kumho Chevrolet and rocketed his way into second place. Oberg was on his way to claiming yet another victory, when he lost a spark plug wire. He was able to keep the second spot for the remainder of the race and crossed the finish line to capture his first podium finish of 2005.

Sunday would prove to be a trying day for the Oberg team. Starting in the back of the field in ninth, the veteran driver would have to push the truck to the limit to make it to the front. Unfortunately he may have pushed the Chevy too hard because it decided to push back. The driveshaft broke and Oberg had to settle for an 11th place finish.

Fan favorite Dan "The Flying Dutchman" Vanden Heuvel was the next Super Team driver on the track. The Appleton, Wis. resident started fourth in the competitive Pro-2 field. The Dutchamn worked his way around the very technical track, but due to a CORR tire pressure restriction of 15
PSI, his AMSOIL/Kumho Tire Chevy couldn't use the KUMHO TIRES to their full potential. Even with these tough conditions, he was able to bring the truck into fourth when the checkered flag dropped.

On Sunday, the playing field was evened out as CORR decided to reduce the tire pressure rule to 12 PSI. When the green flag dropped, Vanden Heuvel shot into the lead, but it wouldn't last long. A competitor hit a track marker, causing extensive damage to a safety fence, meaning the race was red flagged and had to be restarted. Even though he was in the lead, Vanden Heuvel was put back into the second row for the restart. When the green flag dropped again, the Dutchman fought hard with the front-runners, but had to settle for a fifth place finish.

"I was out in front by a good 200 yards before they stopped the race," said Vanden Heuvel about the restart. "CORR did the right thing by stopping the race because they were concerned about the safety of the other drivers. It was also a good move because the trucks wouldn't have been able to pass through the mess, which means I would have been the first truck to meet up with the accident."

The AMSOIL/Kumho Tire Super Team will be back in action June 24 and 25 at the famous Crandon Raceway for rounds five and six of the CORR Series.

In The Hunt

Southwick, Mass. ~ Team AMSOIL/Chaparral/Honda's Kevin Windham was the last rider to beat Ricky Carmichael on an outdoor track. That was 31 races ago, and like everyone else, K-Dub was looking to do it again. The streak would fall last weekend, but it wasn't at the expense of the Honda 450, instead it belonged to the Aussie, Chad Reed. But don't be fooled, Windham was right in the shadows of the sport's biggest upset.

The first moto of the Motocross 338 in Southwick, Mass. started off with a bang for Windham. The Mississippi-native took the holeshot in front of Reed and RC. The trio was followed by crowd favorite John Dowd, who says he's on his "farewell tour." The four left the rest of the pack in the dust. Unfortunately, Windham couldn't hold on to the lead in the sweltering heat and Carmichael took advantage. But the champion bailed on a downhill and took too long to get back on his bike, handing Reed a big advantage and a win. K-Dub would slip back to fourth when the checkered dropped.

The second moto was more of the same for Windham. Often called the best "technical" rider in the sport, K-Dub showed his consistency. Although he didn't grab the hole shot, he again rode with the top riders and was able to grab another fourth place finish. Windham finished fourth overall on the weekend and after three rounds of the AMA 250cc Motocross Series, he currently sits in third with 98 points.

For a complete television schedule of the 2005 AMA Outdoor Series click here:

Southwick, MA

 

Home Sweet Home

Solon Springs, Wis. ~ After several weeks of competing on the road against ultra-tough competition, the opposition will come to Brady Smith's backyard this week. Smith and the Brady Smith Racing team will compete in three events this week with the action kicking off on Thursday night, June 16 at the Superior Speedway in Superior, Wis. The World Dirt Racing League (WDRL) PolyDome Late Model Series will sanction a $5,000 to win event at the northern Wisconsin track.

The return home will be a good chance for the young driver to regain his bearings. 2005 marks the first summer that Smith has been touring on an "open" schedule against the biggest names and at the biggest tracks in the world of late model racing.

Smith tried his luck at the Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio last weekend in the annual 'Dream 100' event. "The Deuce" failed to qualify for the $100,000 to win feature after finishing qualifying eighth in his heat race. The young gun was able to qualify 48th fastest of the 144 entrants at the track. He was only two-tenths of a second away from being on the pole of a heat race instead of in the fourth row.

"Our car was pretty good, but we just couldn't make the invert for the heat races," Smith said about the Eldora race. "Qualifying means everything there and we just weren't quite fast enough to catch the invert. Our car ran good in the heat, as we started eighth and finished eighth. We learn more each time we go there, and this past weekend was no exception. I am looking forward to heading back for the 'World 100' in September."

The talented young driver is currently tenth in series, although he has skipped two series events this year. Smith has amassed three top five finishes and three top ten efforts in the nine series events that he has competed in this season. His runner-up performance at the Farley
(Iowa) Speedway back in May will be televised on ESPN2 on Thursday, June 16 at 3:30 p.m. E.S.T.

Along with this week's Superior event, Smith will be heading down to the renowned Cedar Lake Speedway in New Richmond, Wis. on Friday and Saturday nights. Both events of the popular 'Masters' weekend will pay $10,000 to the winner. On Friday night, the WDRL's passing points format will be utilized, with drivers qualifying for the 50-lap feature event based on a combination of finishing order points and position advancement points in a series of qualifying races.

On Saturday night, a trial format will be used to qualify cars for the main event. Each driver's best time of two time trial laps on the 3/8-mile, high-banked oval will be used for qualification purposes. Heat races and consolation events will then determine who transfers to the $10,000 to win main event. Saturday night's portion of the 'Masters' weekend will be taped by ESPN2.

"It will be great to race around home again," stated the 2004 WDRL Champion and Rookie of the Year on Monday night. "Superior and Cedar Lake have both been great tracks for us in the past and I hope that continues this week. Both tracks are usually pretty racy and all three races should be excellent. Hopefully, we can get our AMSOIL #2 Monte Carlo in victory lane this week."

The Smell of Cedar

New Richmond, Wis. ~ AMSOIL has become the "Official Oil" of the Cedar Lake Speedway in New Richmond, Wis. The new sponsorship reflects the Superior, Wis. company's dedication to racing and Cedar Lake Speedway's commitment to quality.

Cedar Lake Speedway is a dirt oval track located in New Richmond, Wis. Established in 1957, the track features weekly Saturday night racing and annually hosts two nationally televised events. Every week Cedar Lake showcases Super Late Models, WISSOTA Modifieds, Super Stocks, Street Stocks and Midwest Modifieds. More drivers compete at Cedar Lake Speedway annually than at any other track in the United States.

"We are thrilled to have AMSOIL on board as the official oil of Cedar Lake Speedway," said Bob Kaufman, owner of Cedar Lake Speedway. "AMSOIL has again shown its commitment to the racing industry and we are looking forward to a great long-term relationship. We are confident our fans, drivers and race teams will show their appreciation to AMSOIL by supporting their products."

You can catch AMSOIL sponsored racers Pat Doar and Brady Smith this weekend at the Cedar Lake Speedway. For more information on the track, go to www.cedarlakespeedway.com

The Rocky Road

Superior, Wis. ~ Just a reminder to the growing rock crawling fans that the third event on the United Rockcrawlers and Off-Road Challenge (UROC) schedule will be held this weekend in St. George, Utah. Coverage should start Friday on http://off-road.com and http://pirate4x4.com. The event will be held at a new natural venue that promises radical courses. The Team AMSOIL Lovell Rock Racing team is ready for anything UROC throws their way after spending several dayspracticing in New Mexico earlier this month.

Checkered Flag Notes

· Team AMSOIL sponsored rider James Disher took over the point's lead last weekend in the New Capeway Sports Committee series in Abington, Mass. The young rider takes part in the 50cc on top his KTM 50 Pro Senior. He currently sits seven points above the second place rider. Disher is also in ninth in the 65cc Novice class.

 

 

 

 

· Billy Leahy had lady luck on his side last Friday night at the Red River Valley speedway in North Dakota. The modified driver grabbed a fourth place finish in his heat race. During the feature, he started on the inside of the second row. He would quickly battle for third and hold to that position after five laps. The first and second place cars would bump each other, allowing Leahy to move into second before the yellow flag dropped. A few laps later, a nerf bar came off the first place car, allowing Leahy to move into first, where he would stay for the rest of the race.

· The Shelby County Speedway in Harlan, Iowa has been good to Team AMSOIL driver Barry Sorenson this year. Two weeks ago, the late model driver picked up his second win of the year at the track. With nine laps to go in the I.M.C.A. feature, Sorenson was weaving around his opponents before taking the lead in the outside of turn four. He would hold off the rest of the field for the win.

· Team AMSOIL driver Scotty Adema is on a roll. Known as the "Fort Myers Flash, Adema won his fifth race in a row last Friday. The sprint car driver blasted his way around the Miami Speedplant. By lap nine, Adema had moved the #67 car into second place and was chasing down the leader. Just two laps later, "The Flash" whipped by the number one car for the lead. He would wind his way around the ¼ mile oval, fighting only lapped traffic, for the win. The win also marked the third straight win for Adema and the Old Castle Precast Racing Team at the Hialeah, Fla. track.

· Konner and Casey Johnson are showing improvement in the District 22 Motocross series this year. The Deep River, Iowa brothers have turned in some strong finishes the past few weeks. At the Iowa State Fair Grounds on June 4, Casey brought home a fifth overall in the 85cc class and Konner a sixth in the 65cc class. The next day, the crew traveled to New Hartford, Iowa for a full day of racing. Casey was able to secure a fourth place finish with Konner taking home a sixth. The boys will be attending the prestigious Gary Semic Motocross School in Lisbon, Ohio, June 23-25. The school has trained some of the biggest names in motocross, including Team AMSOIL/Chaparral/Honda's Kevin Windham and legend Jeremy McGrath.

 

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