WSORR: Bark River II: Phil's Inc weekend summary

Phil's Inc. Drivers Come Up Big in Bark River

Evanston, IL (August 15, 2008) - Phil's Inc. sponsored drivers hit it big, at the Island Inn Casino/Boss Snow Plow Off-Road Challenge in Bark River, Michigan. The event was host to Round IX and X, of the Lucas Oil World Series of Off-Road Racing. The sellout crowd was on hand to watch three members of the Phil's Inc. off-road race team members, stand on the podium.

Stephanie Krieman, driving her #918 Krieman Construction Phil's Inc. Bertils Engines Goodyear Tire VW powered PRO- Super Buggy, finished second in Round 10. This was the best finish of her WSORR PRO career. This was the highest placing woman race driver in a professional short course off-road race ever. (That was, until Rhonda Konitzer performed the same feat later in the day, driving her PRO-2WD truck, congrats to Rhonda, as well.)

Stephanie has been a consistent and solid driver throughout her off-road career. In 2008, she has stepped it up, as the Oregon native had the fastest lap of the division at the event in Oshkosh, just a few weeks ago. Stephanie is well supported by her father and brother, both champion off- road racers in their own right. Currently, Stephanie is in fifth place, overall, in the 2008 WSORR PRO Super Buggy Championship.

Eric Ruppel has been carrying the Phil's Inc. logo for a couple of years on his #837 PHILSINC.com Art Carr Transmission Beards Super Seat Halama Synthetics BFGoodrich Tire Ford F-150 Stock Truck. The hard charger was won several races, but the championship has always eluded the Chetek, Wisconsin native.

During the second visit to Bark River, Eric finished in the runner-up spot on Saturday and took the win on Sunday. The win also put Ruppel Motorsports in the lead of the 2008 WSORR Stock Truck Championship. With two only two rounds of racing to go, for the season, the team has to be at the top of their game, during that final weekend of racing in Crandon.

Mark Steinhardt, a past champion in the 1600 Buggy division, finished on top of the podium Saturday and was the runner-up on Sunday at Bark River International Off-Road Raceway. This weekend was a big boost to the Rhinelander, Wisconsin resident's confidence, as he had a hard crash at this track that knocked him out, just little over a month ago. Getting the #331 BFGoodrich Tires Phil's Inc. VW powered 1600 Buggy back on the podium, allowed the veteran racer to retake the 2008 WSORR 1600 Buggy Championship lead. The lead is only one point, over longtime friend and rival Mike Seefeldt. This championship fight will go down to final lap.

Phil's Inc. congratulates Stephanie Krieman, Eric Ruppel, and Mark Steinhardt for a job well done.

The final race of the WSORR season is the BorgWarner Off-Road World Championships, August 29-31, in Crandon, Wisconsin.

You can watch much of the WSORR action starting in November on SPEED.

-credit: Phil's Incorporated