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Five Podiums Await AMSOIL in Crandon
Hord and Douglas win, Oberg second
Labor Day weekend brought a little extra work for the AMSOIL Super Team members as they decided to get a few extra laps in while the Championship Off Road Racing (CORR) series took some time off for the holiday. Scott Douglas, Mike Oberg and Chad Hord proved to be a powerful trio as they headed to the World Series of Off Road Racing's BorgWarner Shootout in Crandon, Wis.
Driving his BOSS Snowplow/AMSOIL/Kumho Pro Light truck, Hord started the weekend off with a stellar run in the "Decision at Sundown" on Friday night. Hord put together a tough battle with nemesis Jeff Kincaid in the non-points shootout and fought through traffic to finish second. On Saturday, Hord redeemed his near miss by overcoming a back row starting spot to take the win and another World Championship ring. Sunday's race brought a third podium to the AMSOIL pits as Hord again tangled with the back markers before finishing second.
 Pro 4x4 brought out the high horsepower of Douglas and his AMSOIL/Kumho Ford F-150. On Saturday, Douglas held the second spot for much of the race but was forced to the pits after a tussle with another driver cracked the fiberglass hood, blocking the truck's cooling system and his line of sight. The El Cajon, Calif. native and fan favorite delivered his signature smooth style in Sunday's class race by taking home the win and his third straight win on a Sunday. All that was left was a shot at his third BorgWarner Cup, but an accident directly in front of him by Johnny Greaves ended his chance at history as Douglas got tied up with the carnage and was forced out of the race.
"It was a good weekend for us," said Douglas after Sunday's Cup race. "We weren't here to fight for a championship, but we came out with a win and a lot of new information that will help us be even faster in the final CORR races of the year."
In Pro 2wd, Oberg showed off his top end speed with three strong races. On Saturday, he started in the back row and found himself in 10th coming into the first turn. On the third lap, however, Oberg started dialing in the truck and began picking off the field. Within four laps, the Eagle River, Wis. driver had one of the fastest trucks on the track and was looking at a podium finish. A large rock would play the spoiler after it kicked up and damaged the transmission, forcing Oberg to pull off.
On Sunday, Oberg would get redemption. Again starting in the back row due to not racing full time in the WSORR, Oberg received perfect bite off the starting line and came through the first turn in fourth. From there, he moved his AMSOIL Chevrolet into second with three laps to go and stayed there for the rest of the race. In the Cup race, Oberg ran fourth for most of the race, but another rock pierced the transmission casing an d ended the day for the championship driver.
Congratulations go out to Dan Vanden Huevel. The Flying Dutchman won his first WSORR points championship with a pair of strong finishes in Crandon. The Dutchman also finished third in the BorgWarner Cup race, which was swept by Pro 2wd's. It was Vanden Huevel's first Pro 2wd championship of his 30-year career.
Douglas Doubles Up on NBC
Super Team driver takes second win, point's lead in Pomona
 Scott Douglas told the live NBC audience following his first win of the season in Chula Vista, Calif. (July 27) that once the wins started, they were going to come in bunches. The AMSOIL/Kumho Tire Pro 4 driver may now be seen as a prophet after his second win of the season in Pomona, Calif. on August 17.
Douglas entered Saturday's race just one point behind Carl Renezeder in the Pro 4 standings. After Renezeder was black flagged, Douglas took advantage and battled for second with Johnny Greaves. Unfortunately for Douglas, CORR officials thought he wasn't playing nice and gave him a black flag after Greaves crossed in front of the AMSOIL Pro 4, causing both trucks to lose ground. Douglas was able to finish seventh, and he entered Sunday's race tied for the points lead. 
On Sunday, the black flag was once again flying strong in the Pro 4 race. This time, however, Douglas kept his nose clean and took advantage of the over aggressive driving by his competitors. Douglas sat just behind the race leaders, who were slamming into one another, and waited for the right opportunity to take the lead. Renezeder and Curt LeDuc banged into each other on lap 16, giving Douglas a narrow opening to take the lead. LeDuc was black flagged and Renezeder dropped to third after AMSOIL/Red Bull driver Steve Barlow made the move into second. Douglas picked up his second win of the season and leads the championship chase by nine points.
"I kept thinking about putting my nose into the mix between Carl and Curt," said Douglas after the race. "But something clicked inside my head to just let them battle it out and take advantage when I get the opportunity. The next thing you know, I had an opening and I was gone."
In the Pro Lite class, AMSOIL Super Team member Chad Hordalso picked up his second win of the year on Saturday, dominating the class on the tight Pomona track. The 2006 Pro Lite champion finished fifth on Sunday and moved into sixth in the points race.
"We had the extra caution because of an accident," said Hord, "and I saw them watering the track again. I knew right then that it was my time and that I wasn't going to lose that race."
AMSOIL is the Exclusive Official Oil of Championship Off Road Racing. The series turns back to Chula Vista, Calif. for rounds 11 and 12 on Saturday, September 13 and Sunday, September 14. The Saturday race will air live on SPEED. Round 10 from Pomona, featuring Scott Douglas' win, will air Sunday, September 14 on NBC.
Rinker Regains Lead in Michigan
Rough waters can't slow former champ
Despite extremely difficult conditions on the St. Clair River on August 9-10, AMSOIL ChampBoat driver Terry Rinker was able to secure his fourth straight podium finish and took hold of the overall points lead for the first time in 2008.
The three-time champion joined the ChampBoat Seriesin Algonac, Mich. for the fifth round of racing. Held on the longest course of the season (1.5 miles) and settled just north of downtown Detroit, the race became a survival test for most drivers due to winds that reached 28 knots and served up two foot swells. It became so rough that officials dropped the race from 50 laps to 35 before deciding to drop down to 30 during the race.
Rinker made the most of the dangerous conditions, running a conservative race and finishing the 30-lap feature in second behind winner Tim Seebold. His second place finish follows up his win last week in St. Louis and vaults him into the overall points lead with 2693 points, 49 points ahead of former leader Shaun Torrente. The Miami, Fla. driver barrel rolled his boat on lap 16, stopping the race and taking him out of the points lead.
"It's been a long time since we've raced in conditions that crazy," said Rinker. "The AMSOIL crew had a good set up today, but the weather was the biggest obstacle. We are excited about regaining the points lead and look forward to a great battle for the championship between Seebold and Torrente."
Robert Dinicolantonio did a nice job filling in for regular driver Randy Rinker in the #41 AMSOIL/Rinker Racing boat, finishing ninth.
The next round of the 2008 F1-ChampBoat Series will take place on the weekend of September 27-28 as the series heads west to Tempe, Ariz. for the "Tempe Grand Prix."
Rinker Wins National Championship
AMSOIL powerboat driver picks up another title
Team AMSOIL powerboat driver Terry Rinker marked the Labor Day weekend with a successful run at the 25th O.P.C. National Championship races in Kankakee, Ill.
Rinker took part in the festivities, which was not a ChampBoat sanctioned race, by competing in the Modified Unlimited class. Rinker earned the National Championship title driving the AMSOIL-sponsored #10 boat to a strong victory. The AMSOIL boat started on the pole and led the field for all 15 laps to secure the victory. This National Championship win increases the AMSOIL team's APBA national high points lead in the Mod-U class with just one race remaining. The final race will be held in Florida in mid-October.
AMSOIL team driver Randy Rinker finished a respectable fifth after suffering a propeller failure midway through the 15-lap race.
Terry Rinker is leading the F1 ChampBoat Series points championship. AMSOIL is also the Official Oil of ChampBoat.
The Flying Dutchman Zeroes in on WSORR Championship
AMSOIL off-road racer holds lead heading into final showdown
Dan Vanden Heuvel Sr. brought his AMSOIL-sponsored Chevy Silverado to Bark River, Mich. August 8-9 with thoughts of winning the PRO-2WD championship. Already having won three times this season, Vanden Heuvel had a 36-point lead over second place driver Evan Evans in the championship race. The team's goal for the weekend would be to stay out of trouble and finish both races on the lead lap. 
Saturday's start saw Kevin Probst grab the holeshot and the win, while Vanden Heuvel grabbed the second spot by the end of lap one. While Probst needed the win to stay in the championship fight, the #77 AMSOIL truck just needed to have a solid, trouble-free race. And that's exactly what happened. After 10 laps, Vanden Heuvel finished in a solid third place.
"I wanted to race for the win, but we weren't going to beat Kevin today," commented Vanden Heuvel. "His truck was really hooked up. After Evan passed me, I tried to make a move to get back around him, but I backed off. It could have become a bad situation, where either of us could have wrecked, and I didn't need that. Kevin and Evan finished just in front of me, but that's okay. I wanted to go for the win, but winning the championship is more important."
On Sunday, Vanden Heuvel continued his title trek with a clean start as he watched Probst and Ross Hoek battle it out for the first few laps. Rhonda Konitzer was also able to get out in front of Vanden Heuvel, but he knew Konitzer had run a limited schedule and didn't figure into the championship battle. By the start of the third lap, Vanden Heuvel had his #77 AMSOIL Chevy running in third, his finishing position.
The Flying Dutchman has finished on the podium in every round of racing during the 2008 WSORR season. With just two rounds remaining in the quest for the 2008 WSORR PRO-2WD Championship, Vanden Heuvel has a 32 point lead over Probst.
The final weekend of racing for the Flying Dutchman Off-Road Team in the 2008 World Series of Off-Road Racing is the BorgWarner Off-Road World Championship August 29-31 in Crandon, Wis. AMSOIL Super Team members Scott Douglas, Mike Oberg and Chad Hord will also travel from the West Coast to take part in the Crandon weekend of racing.
Smith Speeds Through Schedule
Team AMSOIL late model driver finishes sixth and third on recent swing
Brady Smith is settling in as a consistently fast driver as he heads into the fall racing season, recently taking home two top 10 finishes on his tour through Tennessee and Arkansas.
The AMSOIL late model driver invaded the Batesville Speedway in Locust Grove, Ark. August 15-16 for the annual "Topless 100," which was taped by the cameras of SPEED Channel for the first time.
The event was shortened to a one-day, $25,000 to win show on Saturday after storms pounded the area on Friday. When the action heated up, Smith laid down the second-fastest lap during time trials and later won his heat race. During the "100," Smith pushed his AMSOIL/Bloomquist car briefly into the lead before settling for a third place finish.
Next, Smith entered the "Scorcher 100" at the Volunteer Speedway in Bulls Gap, Tenn. on August 20-21. On the first night of racing, Smith ran second in his heat before driving his #2 AMSOIL car to a sixth place finish in the main. On Thursday, Smith won his heat race and took home the runner-up spot in the World of Outlaws-sanctioned event.
Smith will have one final tune-up before he takes part in the World 100 at the Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio on September 5-6. This Friday night, Smith will attend the WDRL event at Deer Creek Speedway in Spring Valley, Minn.
Race Tightens Up for Teague 
Wins becoming commonplace for offshore team
Team AMSOIL traveled to Orange Beach, Ala. on August 16-17 to compete in the "Thunder on the Gulf" race sanctioned by the Offshore Super Series (OSS). This race came just two weeks after the OSS race in Kenner, La., where Team AMSOIL was leading the race before snagging a crab trap that resulted in the team having to pull off a lap early.
In Orange Beach, tens of thousands of spectators lined the beaches and filled the high-rise condominiums to view the testing on Saturday and races on Sunday. The rough sea conditions in the gulf made for some spectacular racing.
During the first Cat Lite heat, Team AMSOIL was making a charge on the first place boat when an engine sensor went into "guardian" mode, causing the boat to slow. Team AMSOIL finished the heat in second place behind Peppers.
Team AMSOIL returned to the pits to make repairs and adjustments and then headed out for the second heat. Team AMSOIL was assigned to lane two for the start, between Peppers and Popeye's. After the green flag dropped at the start, all three boats ran side-by-side towards the first turn. Popeye's pinched the Team AMSOIL boat from the outside, and Peppers hopped out into their path. A minor collision transpired with the Team AMSOIL boat being hit on both sides. Bob Teague and Paul Whittier took evasive actions, which cost them precious seconds on the race course. Although Team AMSOIL was able to run some faster laps than the first place boat, there was not enough time to catch them while also battling boat traffic on the race course. Team AMSOIL finished the weekend second overall to continue their 2008 podium success.
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