2005, A Very Good Year
Team AMSOIL shows strong results during past 12 months
Superior, Wis. ~ With the start of a new year, it’s the
perfect time to look back on the past 12 months to see how successful
Team AMSOIL actually was. AMSOIL added a number of high profile
corporately sponsored teams during that span, with great success and
exposure. We’ll take a look at who won, who’s new and who’s sticking
around for 2006.
Who Won
 Terry
Rinker returned to glory in 2006. The 2003 winner of the ChampBoat
Series was looking for a win of any kind in 2005 after failing to notch
one in 2004. Rinker, who signed a three-year deal with AMSOIL in the
off-season, designed a new boat and stormed out of the starting gates
with three wins in his first four races. Rinker held on to his early
season point’s lead for his second career title.
 AMSOIL
slammed into the world of competitive rock crawling with a championship
start in 2005. AMSOIL signed UROC champions Lovell Rock Racing to a
one-year deal last winter. The Lovell Brothers, Brad and Roger, battled
a slow start in the UROC series to win their second straight title. The
team, and the sport, can be seen on ESPN 2 on Sunday afternoons during
January and February.
 Kevin
Windham of the AMSOIL/Chaparral/Honda team finished second in the AMA
Supercross and Motocross series. Windham won the season opener last
year in Anaheim, Calif. His success was overshadowed by the dominating
run by Ricky Carmichael. However, Windham and Carmichael teamed up in
late September to win the Motocross des Nations in France. The race can
be described as the World Cup of motocross racing. Windham’s 2005 ended
on a sour note as he broke his arm in mid-December during a practice
session. His return in 2006 is tentatively scheduled for late February.
 AMSOIL/Scheuring
Speed Sports team owner Steve Scheuring has his snocross pilots flying
high again. DJ Eckstrom took second overall in the WSA Pro Stock class
and a third overall in the Pro Open field. To start the New Year,
Eckstrom defended his AMSOIL Duluth National title with a win in
December. He also took third in the Pro Stock race. Teammate Carl
Schubitzke picked up his first podium for Team AMSOIL with a second at
the Michigan National Snocross in Gaylord, Mich.
 Oval
Ice racing is making a strong comeback after years on the slide. AMSOIL
hopped on board with one of the sport’s up-and-coming stars in 2005. PJ
Wanderscheid, who has two Eagle River World Championships on his resume,
returned to the USSA’s Pro classes with a win in the Pro 440 class and a
third overall in the Pro 600 circuit. Meanwhile, former teammate Shaun
Bielke finished first in the Semi-Pro 440 class. Wanderscheid Racing
and AMSOIL have a new deal that will cover the next three seasons.
 AMSOIL
jumped into the CORR Off-Road Truck Racing scene in a major way in
2005. AMSOIL formed the AMSOIL/Kumho Tires “Super Team”. Dan Vanden
Heuvel led the way with three wins and four podiums. Two of the wins
came at the highly publicized races in California. The Flying Dutchman
took second overall in the Pro-2 class. Teammate Mike Oberg took six
podiums in the Sportsman 2 class last summer, including one win. Oberg
and Vanden Heuvel will both be running in Pro 2 in 2006. AMSOIL is
currently negotiating with new drivers for the Pro-4 and Pro Lite
classes.
Official Oil
 AMSOIL
grew its Official Oil status in 2005. The ChampBoat Series was the
latest in a successful run of Official Oil sponsorships. The ChampBoat
is the governing body of powerboat racing and the home for Terry Rinker.
 AMSOIL
is also the Official Oil of the World PowerSports Association (WPSA –
Snowmobiling), Rock Maple Racing, Canadian Snowmobile Racing Association
and Arena Racing. AMSOIL is also the Presenting Sponsor of the Loretta
Lynn’s Amateur Nationals and an officially licensed product of the AMA
Outdoor Nationals (motocross).
 AMSOIL
will also continue as title sponsor for SnowTrax Television, a show that
features all things related to snowmobiling. The show airs in January
and February on TSN in Canada and OLN in the United States. Along with
this sponsorship, Team AMSOIL racers can be viewed on major networks
such as CBS, SPEED, ESPN2 and OLN. Click
Here For a complete list of show times.
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. Thank you all and good luck.
More from Team AMSOIL
- Racer Neil Cheek took a second place finish in
his first 250-Novice race at the Blanchard Motocross event. Cheek
will be competing at the BooKoo Arenacross race coming up in Tulsa,
Ok. Cheek is sponsored by AMSOIL through Sponsorhouse.com.
-
 AMSOIL
Dealer Jason Keranen is happy to report that sponsored rider Nick
Erickson is having a good start to his young career. The youngster
is part of Team Wildman and recently had his first race of the 2006
Pro-Ice season. Erickson notched four, first-place finishes.
Erickson raced in 12 classes and made all but one final.
- Stoffle Racing is gaining some early-season
momentum in the Mountain States Snowmobile Racing circuit. A.J.
Stoffle won both the 120 Modified Class and the Jr. 7-10 class. He
also finished third in the Jr. 10-13 event. Michelle Stoffle,
meanwhile, placed fourth in the Jr. 10-13 and ninth in Beginner
Women.
-
 PMK
Performance Racing is gaining experience in the Pro Women’s classes
of the WPSA this season. Kristen Leirmoe traveled to Wausau, Wis.
last weekend for a regional event. Leirmoe advanced to the finals
after posting a second place finish in her third qualifying heat.
She would go on to finish fourth in the main. She also finished
seventh in the Novice Stock 500 class. PMK will be racing at round
3 of the Northern Wisconsin Championships (WPSA) in Mercer, Wis.
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