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Rinker Closes Championship Gap in Bay City Photos courtesy of Mike Randolph and http://www.mlive.com/ Tim Seebold took the win in Bay City, but it was AMSOIL driver Terry Rinker closed the gap on Shaun Torrente in the standings for the 2009 F1 ChampBoat Series presented by AMSOIL.  Rinker started the weekend gaining valuable points towards what could become his fifth career ChampBoat championship by becoming the number two qualifier behind Seebold, but ahead of series points leader Shaun Torrente. During Sunday's final, Seebold dictated the action at the front of the race, but the real battle was behind him between Torrente  and Rinker. Torrente would win Sunday's battle, but only because of a broken fuel pump suffered by Rinker's boat on the lap 31 of the 50-lap affair. After the red flag came out to stop the race, Rinker was able to repair the fuel pump and, after starting dead last, moved the Team AMSOIL boat back into fourth over the final 19 laps. Despite finishing one spot behind Torrente (third) in Bay City, Rinker was able to close the gap by 14 points thanks to his strong qualifying on Saturday. Rinker is no just 24 points behind Torrente. "We had a great set-up this weekend, from qualifying to the final," said Rinker. "It's too bad we had the fuel pump issue, because we could have been back on the podium for the third time this year. The guys did a great job getting us back out there after the red flag. Without their hard work, we wouldn't have been able to close the gap on Shaun and defend our 2009 championship." The F1-ChampBoat Series now is off until mid-August when it heads to Nashville, Tenn. on the August 15-16. for the first time in its 25-year history.
Until then, we'll see you at the races. |
Hord, Oberg, RJ Headline Team AMSOIL at Big House The Traxxas TORC Series presented by AMSOIL came to Crandon International Off Road Raceway for rounds five and six of the 2009 schedule this past weekend. It was the west coast teams turn to make the 2,000 mile trek to Wisconsin to compete at the most prestigious track on the TORC circuit, in front of over 24,000 fans.
 Saturday in the Kumho Pro 4x4 class, Monster Energy's Rick Huseman took both the win and the Oakley Bomb Run Award for the fastest lap time, almost breaking Johnny Greaves 2008 track record. The father son Rockstar team of Kyle and Curt Leduc swept second and third place. AMSOIL Super Team driver Scott Douglas was able to battle back from early battle's for a sixth.
 In the AMSOIL Pro 2WD class, Rob MacCachren and Todd Leduc took first and second place. Red Bull/AMSOIL star Ricky Johnson took third place and the Oakley Bomb Run Award for fastest lap. AMSOIL Super Team member Mike Oberg shot out of turn one in second and held on to the position before hitting a rutted section of the track, turning his truck over and putting him out of the race.
 In the Pro Light class the podium was stacked with talent including winner Marty Hart. AMSOIL's Chad Hord took a very close second and the Oakley Bomb Run Award; Steven Federico took third and his first podium of the 2009 season. Sunday's action in the Kumho Pro 4x4 class saw Red Bull/AMSOIL's Steve Barlow lead his first race of the season for several laps, before losing the lead in  a multi car incident. In the end it was Huseman who swept the weekend by capturing both the win and the Oakley Bomb. Despite flipping his AMSOIL Ford F-150 on its roof early in the race, Douglas was able to refire and track down the leaders for a fourth place finish.
In a similar race Barlow's teammate, Ricky Johnson also led most of the AMSOIL Pro 2wd race, but a punctured tire from contact caused him to finish in fourth place. AMSOIL sponsored Scott  Taylor took first place and the Oakley Bomb Run Award. Crowd favorite Dan Vanden Heuval rounded out the top three.
The highlight of the weekend was surely The Forest County Potawatomi Chairman's Cup. Pro 4x4 and Pro 2wd trucks battled it out in a shoot-out for the $25,000 prize, as well as the coveted Chairman's Cup Trophy. The Pro 2wd driver lined up almost a full half track ahead of the Pro 4x4 class. Ricky Johnson took the lead and held it throughout with Oberg hot on his tail. In lap two the Wild Man Cenni crashed on the front stretch taking him out o f the race. Johnny Greaves also pulled off early in the race. On lap 3 Douglas, Huseman and Mark Jenkins got into each other. Douglas was black flagged for a debatable rough driving call. In the end, Johnson took his first ever cup win, with Oberg putting pressure on him despite an obstructed view for much of the race.
The next stop on the 2009 TORC race schedule is Bark River International Raceway in Bark River, Michigan for rounds seven and eight. The action will take place over two days, July 11-12. Until then, we'll see you at the races.
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Team AMSOIL Beats Its Own Endurance Record & Wins
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Canard Third Overall in Texas The GEICO Powersports/AMSOIL/Honda team headed down to Wortham, Texas, for round three of the AMA Pro Motocross Championships, and it was the closest thing to a hometown race for Blake Wharton (from Texas) and Trey Canard (from Oklahoma).
Canard has been up front all year, and as the team left Texas, he still only has one moto finish  outside of the top three. At Freestone County Raceway, he got the hole shot in the first moto, but fell, and in probably his best ride of the year (following the crash), he fought his way all the way back up to a strong third-place finish. In moto two, he led for quite a while before finishing second. Still, it was good enough for third overall, and he’s still third in points.
“I had the holeshot in the first moto and was leading, and then I crashed, but I got up and I thought I rode with a lot of heart and came back up to third, which I thought was awesome,” Canard said. “Then, in moto two, I got the hole shot again, which was great. I led until nearly halfway before Dungey got around me, and I tried to shadow him for a little bit, and I thought I was actually making time on him, and the [lap time] sheet shows that I was, but then I went off the track and lost big. After that, I never got it back together, and there was only a lap left, so that was the end.”
His teammate Brett Metcalfe had a good weekend as he continues to improve physically, racing himself into shape. Metcalfe started near the front in the first moto and stayed there for most of the race before Canard got him at the end of the moto for third. Then, in moto two, Metcalfe was working his way forward before coming together with another rider and going down. Metcalfe was fourth overall on the day.
 Rookie Blake Wharton was hampered by a fall just like Canard, but it also didn’t stop him from being near the front of the pack. The Texan was fifth overall meaning three of AMSOIL's four riders 250cc riders were in the top five at the event.
Who was missing? Rookie sensation Justin Barcia, who fell on the opening lap of the first moto and got going again absolutely last –  by a large margin – and then caught up from 40th to 14th before he went down hard, dropping out of the moto. He hit his head and bit his lip, but made a go of it in moto two anyway. But it was a bit too much for him and he eventually finished 26th.
In the 450 class, Dan Reardon had another good day overall, with only a couple minor issues. Reardon went 12-4 for sixth overall. After moto two, he looked exhausted, but it was mainly because he  got so excited running up front in the beginning of the race.
“It was hot out here, but I think I worked myself up just being in the position I was in, and I was just revving bad the last few laps, and it hurt me really bad,” Reardon said. “But I feel all right now, and at least I tried my hardest, so hopefully I can keep it rolling along.”
From here, the AMSOIL sponsored team heads east to Mt. Morris, Penn., for round four of the AMA Pro Motocross Championship at High Point Raceway.
Until then, we'll see you at the races. |
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