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- Oberg
Survives the Texas Grind
Eagle River, WI (October 23, 2007) - After successful season in the
Midwest, Oberg Motorsports headed to Texas Motor Speedway for the eastern
stop of the Championship Off-Road Racing series. The last minute decision
to compete in Texas made the logistics a challenge to get all the team
members to the venue.
Mike Oberg loaded up the #80 AMSOIL Kumho Tire American Racing Chevrolet
Silverado, and drove the transporter to Texas early in the week, while
Gilly and the crew were to arrive Friday morning. Unfortunately, CORR
scheduled practice and qualifying for Thursday night. This left Mike to go
it alone for qualifying.
Thursday
Qualifying
In the final practice session just before qualifying, Mike broke a
driveshaft and one of the yokes. Somehow he got it back together. He went
out with a conservative run and qualified ninth.
Friday
CORR Points Rd. 10
Starting back in the pack, Mike Oberg immediately was battling with
several drivers as everyone was taking different lines looking for
traction. The racing contact was incredible. The combination of the tight
track and the slippery track conditions made for some serious banging and
bumping.
Mike survived the melee and came home seventh.
Baldwin Cup Qualifier
Gilly and the crew went to work replacing body panels and trying to come
up with a better tire combination. With only two hours before the Cup
race. Prep time was at a premium.
The final race of the night was battle of traction and track position for
the #80 AMSOIL Kumho Tire Chevy. The result was a seventh place finish.
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Afterwards Mike Oberg commented, “Today we were really battling with
tire grooving. The track changed so much throughout the day and night.
There’s a lot of contact out there, so basically I’ve got to get more
aggressive. We changed gears between races, and that helped during the
second race. All and all it wasn’t too bad for the first time running on
such a short track. The problem here everyone is running close to the
same speed. You have to stick you nose in there and make your move. It’s
not about horsepower. It’s about being aggressive and not making any
mistakes. When you do there’s a guy right behind you taking your spot.
Your right on somebody’s tail and someone is right on yours.”
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Saturday
PRO-2 Points – Round 11
Starting back in tenth position, Mike knew he had to be more aggressive if
he had a chance to get on the podium.
The start saw Mike and his #80 AMSOIL Kumho Tire Chevy move up several
spots midway through the second lap. Then #71 Gordon got sideways as #80
was in the air coming off the table top. Mike did his best to pitch his
truck sideways to avoid a direct hit. Fortunately the contact did not
cause any serious damage to either of the trucks. By the time Mike had
gathered up his AMSOIL Chevy, much of the field had gone past. After
twenty two laps, the checkered flag fell with Mike Oberg crossing the line
on the lead lap, in ninth place.
- “We had
a good run going, until Robby got sideways in front of me,” commented
Mike Oberg. “I was in the air when I saw him. I tried my best to pitch
my truck sideways so there wasn’t a huge hit. I was able to keep going,
but I couldn’t get any traction. After I race I found out why. The
carcass on the right rear tire was gone. I didn’t get a flat. All the
tread was gone. We just rode it out to the end hoping more guys would
break. All in all we came out of this weekend without any serious
damage. We’ll prep the truck for Vegas tomorrow and head out for the
finals.”
- Mike Oberg
will be competing in the final rounds of racing in the Championship
Off-Road Racing series November 3-4, at Las Vegas International Off-Road
Raceway in Primm, Nevada.
Then he will also compete as the defending champion in the Jason Baldwin
Memorial Cup. This second annual event puts the top PRO-4 and top PRO-2
competitors in the country in a $66,000 winner take all event. Last year
in Chula Vista, Mike won the inaugural event in one of the wildest short
course races ever recorded in off-road racing history.
Television coverage of the Texas Baldwin Cup Qualifier will be broadcast
on NBC Sports, October 28, from 2:30pm to 4pm – Eastern Time.
Oberg Motorsports would like to thank all their supporters:
AMSOIL,
Kumho Tires,
Alloy USA, Precision Gear, KC Hilities, American Racing, Raceline Oil
Pumps, Mastercraft Seats, Stewart Warner, J & H Transmissions, Fox Shox,
Lund International, Ringers Gloves, Hawk Performance, Howe Performance,
Pro Power Racing Engines, and Millwright Services.
-Mike Reusche, marketing - MTG
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Photos from
Bark River, MI
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