Eckstrom’s Second Sets Stage For Winter X
Fourth Podium of the year for Team AMSOIL rider
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Quadna, Minn., ~ Despite some troubles with his sled during
qualifying, Team AMSOIL/Scheuring Speed Sports Snocross pilot D.J.
Eckstrom took second place in the Pro Open class at the Air Force
National at Park X in Hill City, Minn. last weekend. The podium finish
puts him in second place, just five points out of the lead in the
overall points race for the WPSA Pro Open class.
Eckstrom adds last weekend’s podium to his Open class win at the
AMSOIL Duluth National and two Pro Stock podiums on the season,
reinforcing his reputation as one of the most consistent racers in the
sport.
Eckstrom will head to Aspen for the Winter X Games this weekend with
hopes to carry on his winning ways. He has a bronze and a silver medal
from previous X Games’ performances; this year looks like a promising
year to round out his collection.
“You always want to win Winter X,” said Eckstrom. “The track is the
best one we’ll see all year and it’s in front of a huge (TV) audience,
so winning that race can make your season a success no matter what you
do the rest of the year. I have a good feeling heading out there that
we’ll be bringing back some hardware.”
Eckstrom’s teammate, Carl Schubitzke, will be competing at the Winter
X Games as well, looking to get his first Winter X medal. “Showtime” has
grabbed on podium this year with a second place finish in the Pro Stock
race in Gaylord, Mich. Schubitzke was picked as a favorite at Winter X
last year, but a crash in the first turn of the final put him out of the
race.
“This is the year D.J. will get back a medal at Winter X,” said
AMSOIL Racing Coordinator Jeremy Meyer. “But I’d watch for Carl on the
podium. He’s been getting some great starts this year and could emerge
as the dark horse in Aspen.”
Winter X Games 10 airs live from January 28 – January 31 on ESPN and
ABC. Check local listings for times.
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2006 Winter X Games
Snocross Schedule
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DATE |
EVENT |
RACE TIME |
Live Telecasts |
Saturday
January 28 |
Quarterfinals |
1:30 - 2:30
p.m. MT |
4 pm - 5 pm
(EST) (ABC) |
Sunday
January 29 |
Semifinals |
1:35 - 3 p.m.
MT |
3 pm - 4 pm
(EST) (ESPN) |
Monday
January 30 |
Last Chance
Qualifiers** |
8:15 - 9 p.m.
MT |
9 pm - 11 pm
(EST) (ESPN) |
Monday
January 30 |
Finals** |
8:15 - 9 p.m.
MT |
9 pm - 11 pm
(EST) (ESPN) |
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**In Conjunction with skiing and snowboarding
finals |
Wanderscheid Finds Another Podium
Team AMSOIL star gets top finish close to home
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Sauk Centre, Minn. ~ Team AMSOIL oval ice racer P.J.
Wanderscheid finished in third-place at Lake Hassel in Benson, Minn.,
last weekend. After regaining the world championship at Eagle River the
week before, Wanderscheid enjoyed taking a podium a little closer to
home.
In the 600 Open class on Saturday Wanderscheid ran well in his
qualifying heats and overcame some mechanical difficulties to put
together a strong showing in the final qualifier of the day. After
spending most of the 10-lap final fighting for second with Gary Moyle,
Wanderscheid finished third behind Moyle and winner Terry Wahl.
On Sunday, after some track repair, Wanderscheid took first-place in
the first two heats of the Champ 440 class. After taking third in the
third heat of the day, they plowed the track one last time as the racers
lined up for the final. Wanderscheid took the hole shot and led into the
first corner with Wahl and Moyle on his tail. Wanderscheid couldn’t hold
his line coming out of turn two, allowing Wahl and Moyle to sneak by.
The final ended just like the other; Wahl, Moyle and Wanderscheid.
“The motors ran strong all weekend. We just couldn’t make enough
adjustments to the handling of the machine on the lake ice today,” said
Crew Chief Mark Wanderscheid.
The Benson race was the first stop in a string of WPSA races for Team
AMSOIL/Wanderscheid Racing. The team will be in Wausau, Wis., for the
Flip Merwin Memorial Race, then in Garrison, Minn., for the second leg
of the Woody’s Triple Crown.
Laninovich Loses Ground In Anaheim
Supercross Lites driver stays in hunt for West
Championship.
Anaheim, Calif. ~ Billy Laninovich was looking
for his third straight podium of the Supercross Lites series this year,
but he couldn’t repeat the top speeds at the second Anaheim race that
helped him grab a third place finish at the season opener three weeks
ago.
Laninovich, who entered last weekends race with a slight lead in the
AMA Supercross Lites West Series points race, qualified high for
Saturday’s main event. The Southern California rider had to settle,
however, for a fourth place finish in the final. “Lano” is currently in
second place in the points race, just six points behind the leader.
Meanwhile, Lites teammate Jake Wiemer continues his strong start to
his rookie season. Wiemer finished with a strong sixth at Anaheim 2,
his third straight top ten finish. Wiemer is currently in sixth place
overall in the Lites West Series.
Team AMSOIL teammate Mike LaRocco finished seventh in the Supercross
Main event. It’s the second week in a row that LaRocco finished out of
the top five after a fourth place finish at Anaheim 1. The AMSOIL team
will be in action again this weekend in San Francisco. The race will be
televised on CBS on Sunday morning.
Changing Seasons
If you are an AMSOIL Dealer and are looking to sponsor a local racer
through the AMSOIL Co-op Race Program, please fill out the G-2074 and
send it to the AMSOIL Racing Department. Teams who were sponsored last
year will need to fill out the form once again. Also, please remember
to send in your race results, as they will be included in the Checkered
Flag.
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