Team AMSOIL Gets Back on Track at St. Clair River Classic

Team AMSOIL, one of the most accomplished offshore racing teams ever, isn’t used to finishing below the top spot on the podium. In fact, the team has captured its respective Offshore Powerboat Association (OPA) class points championship the last five years.

Team AMSOIL’s Bob Teague and Paul Whittier won the Super Cat class at the St. Clair River Classic in Michigan. Photo by Paul Kemiel/paulkemielphotographics.comBut after crashing their 368 Skater in the first race of the season in Ocean City, Md., and taking second behind the PhoenixParts.com Skater in East Tawas, Mich., throttleman Bob Teague and driver Paul Whittier found themselves in an unfamiliar position in the Super Cat class standings. Fortunately the duo returned to familiar territory on Sunday in St. Clair, Mich., winning the St. Clair River Classic—the third stop of the AMSOIL Offshore Powerboat Series sanctioned by the OPA.

Although the team didn’t win in St. Clair last year, it has collected many checkered flags at the race, which takes place on the border of Canada and the United States. Teague admitted it was nice to get the victory at one of his favorite events, but he said the team has a ways to go if it wants to win a championship.

“We got a good challenge from PhoenixParts.com, even though we led the whole race,” said Teague, who owns Teague Custom Marine in Valencia, Calif. “Last year I missed the setup from the standpoint of wind direction, which has a lot to do with making a boat run good there. So I came in this year knowing what I needed to do differently.”

Paul Whittier, left, and Bob Teague were happy to win the checkered flag in again in St. Clair, Mich. Photo by Paul Kemiel/paulkemielphotographics.comTeague said he enjoys racing on the short river course, which has current variations on each end that can make the turns especially tricky, and always looks forward to the excitement surrounding the event.

“The crowds seemed bigger than usual this year, especially for the races on Sunday,” Teague said. “It looked like it was standing room only along the river. The town does such a good job with the event. They host street parties and have concerts on the barges every night. It’s awesome.

“We’re hoping to have a great turnout for the race in Port Huron (Mich.) in two weeks, too,” he continued. “Last year was our first year racing there and it was a decent event. We’re expecting good crowds on the U.S. side as well as from the town of Sarnia on the Canadian side.”

Below are the complete results from the St. Clair River Classic, which featured more than 30 race teams.

Warm weather and fast boats greeted the crowds who turned out for the St. Clair River Classic. Photo by Paul Kemiel/paulkemielphotographics.comEXTREME
1. Cat Can Do
2. Miss GEICO

CAT LITE
1. Team AMSOIL
2. PhoenixParts.com
3. Infinity

SUPER VEE
1. Wazzup
2. Strictly Business

CLASS 100
1. Cleveland Construction
2. BROADCO
3. Lightning Jacks

CLASS 300
1. Bull on the Beach

CLASS 400
1. Simmons Racing
2. Twin Screws
3. Tyler Crockett Marine
4. PFE

CLASS 500
1. Whoz Your Daddy
2. Pushin Tin

CLASS 600
1. Wazzup II
2. Maxed Out
3. Bat Boat
4. Knot Guilty
5. Country Service
6. Hurricane Force
7. Akula
8. PFE Racing
9 . Bad Newz

SUPER VEE LITE
1. Octane
2. Pirate Racing
3. Typhoon
4. Wild Ride
5. Tug It
6. Absolutely Not

SUPER STOCK
1. Talbot
2. DoubleEdge Motorsport