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2012 Triumph Big Kahuna Triple Crown Named K&N Official Air and Oil Filter Supplier

2 août 2012

The Triumph Big Kahuna is eager to work with K&N filters, who was named as the official air and oil filter supplier for the series during 2012.

During April of 2012, racing fans showed up by the droves for the Triumph Big Kahuna Triple Crown at Road Atlanta, to experience what has been referred to by some as "one of AMA Road Racing's most exciting event weekends in recent memory".

"It was a great weekend," explained M1 Powersports CEO, Cameron Gray. "We had over thirty-thousand(people) show up over the weekend, and were very pleased. We had great racing, a huge vendor area, stunt shows, and a bunch of previous champions. It was a great kick-off for us."

With the first of three events behind them, M1 Powersports and the AMA Pro Racing are anticipating an event unsurpassed at the Homestead-Miami Speedway in the weeks to come. In fact, the Triumph Big Kahuna Triple Crown will roll into town on September 21 and continue to entertain racing fans and their families with a plethora of activities over a three day period, before concluding the event on September 23.

Those putting the production together are anxious for mid-September to roll around, to say the least, as this will be the first time that the AMA Pro Racing circuit has been to the speedway in almost two decades. The event promises to be a great one, and K&N filters will be amongst the enjoyment and activities as they have been named as the official air and oil filter supplier for a race that promises to entertain those with a passion for the sport.

M1 Motorsports, AMA Pro Road Racing, and K&N Filters will then begin gearing up and preparing for the final event of 2012 in New Orleans, Louisiana. In fact, folks can start marking their calendars for October 5-7 and plan to experience an action packed weekend at the NOLA Motorsports Park, a brand new facility that should prove perfect for such an impressive production.

Referring to the array of entertainment scheduled for the Triumph Big Kahuna Triple Crown, Gray said, "We always try to think outside the box, so it will be more than just a race. Our motto is "Come for the party, stay for the race". We've got tons of young, great racers and we've got old statesmen. The racing and the paddock is really strong. We strive to offer the full family experience."

With one of three races behind them, M1 Powersports and K&N filters are looking forward to the final to races of the Triumph Big Kahuna Triple Crown Series.

Referring to entertaining the youngsters, he continued, "We have a huge kid's area with slides, dump tanks, jump houses, and kids demo rides. We've got a petting zoo, a bunch of interactive displays, and monster truck rides for the kids and adults.

While M1 Powersports has obviously gone to the extreme to keep the youngsters occupied, they have also taken steps to ensure the adults have a weekend full of fun and entertainment as well. "We do concerts on the weekends and Friday night fan parties. We have Saturday night movie nights and host fireworks shows. You name it, we do it," ensured Gray. "We try to give the fans much more than racing. We want them to say, hey, I took a weekend out with my kids and it was fantastic."

Just as M1 Powersports is excited about the entire production at all three of the venues chosen for the Triumph Big Kahuna Triple crown, they are also elated with K&N Filters' involvement.

"K&N jumped on board this year," recalled Cameron Gray. "They've been very supportive, and have been open to doing pretty much everything. They're coming out and supporting the events, and giving away some certificates, so we can give some gifts and K&N products away. They've been very good to us," he continued. "K&N products speak for themselves. They're proven winners, so to partner with a company like K&N is huge for us. It puts another stamp on our events that we're dealing with the best. We're dealing with the best promoters and we're dealing with the best companies."

I think that every motorsports fan loves every kind of the sport; if it has a motor in it, they love it. As we go forward, K&N becoming a bigger presence in the motorcycle racing industry is really going to help propel people to come over and see what a great product this is and see sixteen-year-olds going close to two-hundred miles per hour and racing elbow to elbow. As we progress things are just going to get bigger and better. That's just the way K&N is."

Referring to the quality of K&N's products, Gray continued, "When you put a K&N filter on your vehicle, you always notice an increase in performance. M1 Powersports has worked very hard to earn the reputation as one of the best promoters on the industry, and when you talk about air and oil filters, K&N produces the best out there. They're proven winners, and when you come to our events, I think you'll see that also. I think our partnership with K&N is a win-win situation, where both people are going to benefit and show their true performance."

Find K&N products for your vehicle using the K&N application search then use the K&N dealer search to find a K&N dealer in your part of the world.

Brooke Kawell Currently Sits 8th in Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series Modified Kart Points

1 août 2012

The hot pink Modified Kart driven by Brooke Kawell continues to break ground at every Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series event

Brooke Kawell is having a fine second season in her Modified Kart in the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series. The California kid has run in the top most of the year and is knocking on the door of her first podium at a national race. Last year Kawell became the first female to ever podium in a Modified Kart at a regional race in Chandler, Arizona.

Brooke Kawell hopes to one day become one of the few female drivers to thrive in off road racing

"The field is super competitive this year," Kawell said. "But I do feel that a podium is coming. I feel like I am getting stronger every race and we are getting closer. I hope I end up on the podium this year, that's the goal for every racer."

The ultimate goal for Kawell is to become a star in LOORRS top two divisions, Pro 2 and Pro 4 trophy trucks. It's an ambitious goal for the young girl. Currently the only full-time female in a trophy truck is K&N racer Corry Weller. But Kawell has her sights set on reaching her goal one day. In her second full season in the Modified Kart, Kawell is making strides towards her goal.

"I've become a stronger driver this year. I have matured and I'm using my experiences from last season to try and improve at every race. I won't back down."

Kawell is a respectable eighth in the extremely competitive Modified Kart point's standings. She said her favorite moment of the year was when she ran in the top five most of the day during round three at Lake Elsinore, California. Her friends say it is "super cool" that she is able to race so competitively, and the confidence boost for her and the team is immeasurable.

Brooke Kawell hopes to one day become one of the few female drivers to thrive in off road racing

Kawell has a lot of racing talent in her family to model herself after. Her father, Jason, is an accomplished Baja racer, and her cousin, Blake Baggett, is a budding motocross star.

Kawell made sure to thank K&N for their support.

"Thanks to K&N products, my Modified Kart performs great. The filters give me extra hours of power that I need to get me around the track faster."

Find K&N products for your vehicle using the K&N application search then use the K&N dealer search to find a K&N dealer in your part of the world.

Adam Kekich Victorious at Mercer Raceway Park in 410 Winged Sprint Car Class

1 août 2012

Adam Kekich enjoys the winners circle after domination at Mercer Raceway Park in the 410 cubic inch Sprint Car class

A budding star is rising in the world of winged sprint cars. Adam Kekich, a second-generation driver from Hermitage, Pennsylvania, had a statement win two weekends ago at his home track, Mercer Raceway Park, when he drove through the field for a dominant 410 cubic inch Sprints win, the first of his career.

"Driving through the field was pretty cool," the kid they call 'Adam Bomb' said. "It felt like any other race, because no matter what, I show up to the track to win. But to be able to race for the win with guys that I grew up watching win races, was really cool."

Adam Kekich hopes to keep crossing the finish line in 1st for the remainder of 2012 in his number 5 Sprint Car

Adam Kekich hopes to keep waving checkered flags for the remainder of 2012 in his number 5k Sprint Car

"If I had a helmet camera, my face would've been priceless to see when I took the lead. It was an unforgettable feeling."

Kekich is in the middle of one of those 'turning point' seasons, where a driver finally puts it all together and the talent shines through with results. He is sitting sixth in points at Mercer and he has started to run races at other tracks as well, perhaps setting him up for a move into some travelling series down the road.

"We have had our ups and downs (this year) but we keep working to be consistent week in and week out. We have moved around a little this year to help me get seat time at different tracks and to race with the top guys in the All Star series. We went to Fremont Speedway for the two-day All Star show, and by going to that race I learned a lot that helped me out when we came back home to race at local tracks.

"I would have liked to get my first win sooner, but we just started to get the balance of the car to where I can put it anywhere I want to and still be fast."

Many Sprint Car racers, like Adam Kekich, trust K&N products to protect their race cars

With the monkey off his back, Kekich is looking to impress potential owners and move into a United States Auto Club (USAC) ride in the future, a goal for all aspiring open-wheel racers.

"I feel like we are in contention to win more races this year, so I would like for my career to take off from here. I would really like to find the opportunity to find a USAC Midget ride. All I want to do is race as many days as I can, and I feel, if I got the opportunity, Midgets would help develop me as a driver in the open wheel cars."

You would think that getting his first career win would be the highlight of the season for a young racer, but perhaps in a sign of maturity, Kekich also pointed out that his performance at Fremont was a game-changer for his confidence.

"The All Star at Fremont was the first time we were at that track and we went out and qualified twelfth in a very strong forty-car field. That was pretty cool to go out there and run that fast."

Kekich said the race he looks forward to the most from here on out, is "whatever race is next." but ideally the team would like to travel some more, visiting Fremont, the incredibly competitive, Lernerville Speedway, and Attica Raceway Park, but "that is all depending on our budget. We are still looking for some extra help with sponsorship to finish off the year, but I am looking forward to the rest of the season."

"Our goal is to win more races and finish strong every week. Also, we'd like to be a solid car in the rest of the All Star races that we go to. K&N's support has made a world of difference for our program. First, in performance, these 410 engines need lots of air to make horsepower, and with the K&N air box attached it can really breathe.

"Second is in engine life. We race on the dirt, and the dirt is the mortal enemy of any engine, but especially when you are turning 8,000 plus RPM. Not only does our engine last all season, but at tear down each year, the bearing and cylinder walls have no scoring from dirt. It's less expensive to rebuild and there is no loss of power, amazing!"

Find K&N products for your vehicle using the K&N application search then use the K&N dealer search to find a K&N dealer in your part of the world.

Eric Holmes Wins NASCAR K&N Pro Series West Race at Evergreen Speedway in Washington

31 juil. 2012

K&N Pro Series racing certainly demands focus and endurance, something Eric Holmes has plenty of

Holmes won the 50th K&N Pro Series West race with Bill McAnally Racing, second only to Jack McCoy with 54, the most in K&N Pro Series West history.

"I didn't know about the 50-win thing until about a month ago and I wanted to be the one to get it. But with the bad luck we had been having I wasn't sure we need the extra pressure," he said. "I'm really happy for the whole team now that we got it. Now it's time to move on and get some more wins down the stretch."

Eric Holmes could not be more excited to pull off a NASCAR Pro Series win at Evergreen Speedway

It was also the 17th career West Series win of Holmes' career. He is tied with two-time West Series champion Bill Sedgwick for eighth most in West Series history.

Holmes, a three-time West Series champion in his own right, won his first race of 2012. He won two K&N Pro Series West races last year, the most recent coming at All American Speedway in Roseville, California, on Oct. 15.

"We've had a lot of bad luck this year but I think we got that changed tonight by getting the No. 20 NAPA Toyota back into Victory Lane,” Holmes said after the race on Saturday night. "The NAPA Toyota was really consistent all night long. The No. 21 car (Michael Self) gave me a great run for the fans and it was a lot of fun. Thank you Evergreen Speedway for having us."

Holmes took the lead in the Toyota/NAPA Auto Parts 150 on lap 131 and led the last 19 laps of the race to take the checkered flag. Michael Self was second, followed by Derek Thorn in third.

Greg Pursley won the pole and led the first 37 laps of the race. Holmes passed Pursley for the lead on lap 38 and held it for the next 44 laps.

Self used lapped traffic to take the lead on lap 83 and was out front for 48 laps before Holmes took back the lead.

Eric Holmes takes the number 20 Napa powered K&N Pro Series race car across the finish line

"His car was fast,” Self said. "At the end of that first segment right there, I didn't think we had a whole lot for him. He beat us by a straightaway. We came in and made some changes. That second segment, we were really, really strong. I'd say we were pretty dead even."

Holmes passed Self on lap 131 and stayed out front through a red-flag caution period on lap 140. John Wood crashed in turn 3 and stopped the race as the track crew cleaned up the mess.

When the race resumed, Holmes stayed out front and won by 0.475 seconds over Self.

Dylan Kwasniewski, the leader in the K&N Pro Series West standings, was seventh. He has a six-point lead over Pursley after nine races.

Pursley, the reigning K&N Pro Series West champion, ended up in sixth place.

Jonathan Gomez was fourth, followed by David Mayhew in fifth. It was Gomez's third top-five finish of the season and Mayhew's sixth top-five.

Find K&N products for your vehicle using the K&N application search then use the K&N dealer search to find a K&N dealer in your part of the world.

Bradley Morris Becomes a Fixture on The Podium During LOORS Events

31 juil. 2012

Bradley Morris earned a spot on the podium during rounds five and six of LOORS at Speed World, at Surprise, Arizona.

Bradley Morris began his racing career in 2008, racing trophy Karts. Since his passion came to fruition, the young driver has never looked back. In fact, two years later, he earned the title of 2010 Monster Jam Kart Champion, and continued his successful run during the following year upon being awarded with Rookie of the Year honors on the Limited Buggy class. Bradley Morris made his way to the record books in the Pro-Lite class, as he was the first driver less than sixteen years of age to take a spot on the podium. Although many drivers would be satisfied with the accomplishments Bradley has already experienced early on in his career, there is no indication that he has remotely reached his goals. In fact, Bradley's aspirations are not only of standing on the podium in this particular class, but he is focused on manning the top spot on the podium.

After earning a staggering four trips to the podium during rounds three and four of the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series (LOORS), Bradley Morris and Team BME Motorsports, rolled into Speed World in Surprise, Arizona, eager to get rounds five and six underway.

The driver had a full weekend ahead of him as he prepared to race in the Pro-Lite Unlimited, Modified Kart, and Limited Buggy classes. "I was a little tentative coming into this race," he recalled, "but once I got on the track, my nerves got confident and ready to race. The track was perfect."

Since beginning his racing career in 2008, Bradley Morris has seen his share of success.

After qualifying second in the Pro-Lite class, Bradley Morris started the race on the second row. When the waving of the green flag deemed the race underway, he wasted no time in his pursuit for the leading position. His charge forward was hindered in the fourth turn when another truck slammed into and caused him to spin out.

Although striving to get back on track, by the time Bradley Morris got all of his ducks back in a row, he was near the back of the pack. Knowing he had a lot of ground to make up, the driver began working his way back toward the front, but a flat tire demanded that he pit for repairs.

Once returning to the track, Bradley Morris had fire in his eyes and the lead on his mind. Working his way through the field at a furious rate, the driver managed to reach the sixth spot, but on the last lap, damaged suspension parts reared their ugly heads and lent to him roll his truck in the corner, and starting a fire. In spite of his string of bad luck, Bradley Morris was still able to finish in the top ten.

"I was surprised I even got a top ten, considering the roll-over at the end," he recalled. "But I was upset because I had worked myself all the way back to the sixth position."

With the first day of the event behind him, Bradley Morris returned to Speed World on the following day with an eagerness to get out on the track and make a showing. Starting in the middle of the field, the driver got a great jump at the waving of the green flag and immediately began working his way toward the front. Avoiding chaos caused by others, and sliding smoothly through the corners, Bradley was sitting in the fifth place spot at the mandatory caution. The remainder of the race prove a heated battle, and at the waving of the checkered flag, he had earned another position on the podium with a third place finish.

"The race on the day prior made me want to drive harder," explained Morris . "I was really fast on the first day, but had the bad luck." Referring to his third place finish on day two, he continued, "The key was to stay patient and drive smart. With a broken left suspension, I had to drive hard but cautious."

In 2011, Bradley Morris earned Rookie of the Year in the limited buggy class.

Bradley Morris also managed to make a showing in the Limited Buggy class during his weekend at the LOORS event. Qualifying fourth on the first day of action, the driver embarked upon a fierce battle during the first half of the race. After a mandatory caution, he took the inside and made a pass for the lead. Although challenged through a portion of the remainder of the race, Bradley eventually pulled away. Never looking back, Bradley Morris crossed the finish line leading all of the other drivers.

"I had to work hard to make sure no one would be able to catch me," he ensured. When asked the key to winning the race, he answered, "To be patient and to be there at the end of the race."

Bradley Morris returned on the following day with aspirations of earning yet another spot on the podium. After racing elbow-to-elbow, with six drivers during a portion of the race, Bradley Morris eventually put his sights on the leader. Although right on his bumper, time ran out and at the race's end Bradley Morris was in second place, earning another spot on the podium.

One obviously has to be a skilled driver to experience the success that Bradley Morris has seen throughout his career, but the driver also understands that maintenance is extremely essential. That in mind, he and his team are strong advocates of using K&N products for their filtering needs.

"I use K&N air and oil filters, their lubricant, and filter cleaner," he explained. "I've been using their products for six years. They are great. They keep my engine running strong, and last a long time."

When asked the key to success throughout the remainder of the season, Morris said. "I have to be patient and consistent. Fans can expect some exciting racing in all three classes and me on the podium multiple times each weekend."

Find K&N products for your vehicle using the K&N application search then use the K&N dealer search to find a K&N dealer in your part of the world.