Latest News | Read Our Blog

Rocky Mountain Challenge Series Strives To Be Affordable and Fun

5 juin 2012

Drivers representing several states, as well as British Columbia, Canada, race in the Rocky Mountain Challenge Series.

Nine years ago, the Rocky Mountain Challenge Series was born, with aspirations of welcoming all who race in the Late Model class and ensuring that the series remain fun. That in mind, the decision was made to deviate from some of the rules and guidelines to which drivers and other series were accustomed.

"We just tried to offer something different and our format resonated with competitors and fans, and we flourished," explained Public Relations Director, Derrick Shannon. "We have seen steady growth through the years, but it leveled off a couple of years ago due to a variety of economic factors: price of gas, and the downturn of the economy," he continued. "And while the downturn has had an impact, we continue to see a strong interest and support in the series from competitors, fans and track operators."

Striving to keep the sport of racing affordable, the series devised a tire rule. According to Shannon, the rule ensures that drivers are not forced to purchase several sets of tires to embark upon a weekend of racing. "Each competitor starts the season purchasing six tires, and we generally allow for the purchase of two new tires at each race. The Hoosier 2040 is a fantastic tire that repeats perfectly and lasts. Back in 2007, John Newhouse won the championship, and used the same left-side tires for seven races."

Referring to other rules deviating from the norm, Shannon said, "The (Full Field) invert is obviously what sets this series apart from others. With our invert and starting the fast guys in the back, fans will see cars passing cars, and drivers will learn how to pass cleanly. In order to promote healthy competition, we pay the event purse based on total point accumulation for the race. We award passing points for position, and we offer special awards as incentive," he continued. "If you start on the pole and win the race, you will not get the money or the points. The driver who starts toward the rear and finishes towards the front generally wins the most money and is awarded the most points. At the end of the day, it is about competition and performance. We award performance."

The Rocky Mountain Challenge Series was designed with allotting all drivers of Late Model race cars the opportunity to compete.

Those competing in the Rocky Mountain Challenge Series will race at three different venues during eleven scheduled events. When asked if he expected any changes in venues, Derrick Shannon said, "The simple fact is that the intermountain west is somewhat cut off from other hotbeds of racing by geography. It's about travel. The more miles we travel, the more costs we all incur. The three tracks in our region fit our series, and allow us to compete in the major markets within our region that is good for our local and regional sponsors. While we are open to taking the show to new venues, the financial side has to be a benefit to the teams," he continued.

"We have had numerous offers from tracks throughout the western U.S., but to date, the negotiations have not been mutually beneficial. We are very excited about the three tracks we run- Meridian Speedway, Idaho, Magic Valley Speedway, in Twin Falls, Idaho and Rocky Mountain Speedway, in Salt Lake City, Utah. We have three very invested and dedicated partners."

The Rocky Mountain Series welcomes any Late Model Type Car, including Big Spring, Coil Over, Tour Car, Super Late Model and Late Model. Although all Late Models are welcomed to compete, each car must meet strict safety requirements, track width requirements and weight expectations. Throughout the years, practically every combination of chassis has won the series championship. "It always comes down to driver talent at the end of the day," ensured Shannon.

According to Shannon, a simple and consistent rules package is partially responsible for the Rocky Mountain Challenge Series' growth and success. In fact, several states are represented by competitors in the series. Folks from Idaho, Utah, Oregon, Washington, Colorado, Wyoming and California participate as well as British Columbia.

In the racing world, it's a well-known fact that success depends a great deal upon proper maintenance of one's vehicle, and K&N products have set the standard on filtration needs of many drivers. When asked his take on K&N products, Derrick Shannon said, "K&N is a world-class company, delivering world-class products. Most of our competitors already use K&N products, and we would love to enter into a formal partnership with K&N to represent their brand to our loyal fans throughout the region."

When asked what fans can expect from the Rocky Mountain Racing Series in 2012 Shannon said, "Full-Field inverts, and cars passing cars. We have a special two-day show at Meridian in July that will have competitors from throughout the region in attendance. Two feature events, one each day. We also have a 200-lap race on August 11, at the Magic Valley Speedway. A 15-year-old racer, Jeremy Doss, has won two of the first three races this season, and he did it from the tail of the field. He could be the next young superstar in the sport, and fans will get to see him today."

In closing, Derrick Shannon summed it up with a few short sentences, "It is the age old story- do it better than the rest and you will be successful. Offer something that people want, and you will have a strong customer base. Be consistent, honest, and make it fun, and people will stick around."

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.

Cody Swanson Grabs 3rd at the VRA Midget Show in Ventura, California

5 juin 2012

Cody throwing it sideways in a heat race in Hanford, California. Photo by Patrick Grant.

The month of May was a busy one for California midget racer Cody Swanson. The up-and-coming open wheel racer made four starts, all on dirt, and although he hasn't found victory lane yet, he's knocking on the door.

"One of the biggest moments of the month wasn't a race," Swanson explained. "After the first VRA (Ventura Racing Association) midget race, I went to Cory Kruseman's school. I was able to test one of his Sprint Cars and it was a big learning experience. He taught me a lot that day, and it greatly improved my driving in the midget."

Swanson in a heat race with Pricket in Hanford, California. Photo by Patrick Grant.

Swanson's best finish of the month came at Ventura Raceway in the local VRA Midget show, where he grabbed a podium, finishing third. Swanson then embarked on a pair of USAC Western States Midget events, first in Santa Maria, then in Hanford, California. Swanson finished fifth and sixth, respectively, before returning to Ventura, where a flat tire derailed a strong run.

Cody Swanson qualifying in Hanford, California. Photo by Patrick Grant.

"We built a new car in 2011, and last year was a big learning year," Swanson said. "The car was much different then my old one. We made some slight, but significant changes to the car this past offseason, and those changes mixed with my added experience have made us very fast everywhere we've been so far."

Swanson and his team have gained enough confidence through the first three months of the season that they feel like their first win is just a matter of when, not if. "We have proven race after race this year that we have the speed needed to win," Swanson said. "We just need to hone in on whatever the circumstances at the track are that day, and take advantage of every opportunity we get to improve, from hot laps to the main event. Each time out on the track is another opportunity to learn from some of the more experienced guys."

Swanson was quick to praise K&N Filters for helping the team be so competitive right out of the box this season. "Every filter on our car, from the air to oil and even the breather filters are K&N and they perform great. They are the greatest filters manufactured and keep everything in our engine clean, helping us squeeze every ounce of horsepower out of the engine that we need, all while stretching out the life of our motor."

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.

Casey Currie Takes the Podium at LOORRS Race at Firebird Raceway

5 juin 2012

Once the green flag dropped it was an all-out mud storm but we made it through to position 3.

Talk about starting off on the right foot. Casey Currie blasted out of the gates at this year's Lucas Oil Off-Road season opener at Firebird Raceway in Chandler, Arizona this past April. After a shaky Saturday, Casey earned his podium finish, taking home 3rd place on Sunday in the Pro Lite class. The win on Sunday prepared Currie for a clear shot at the championship, amping up Casey and team for plenty more wins this season.

The win on Sunday was par for the course, as Currie is no stranger to winning, having clinched the 2010 Pro Light Championship and World Championship in Crandon, Wisconsin that same year. The third-generation motorcycle racer turned to racing in LOORRS and TORC after participating in Score, BITD, MDR, and CORR since he was 21 years old.

We lost this race by .5 of a second so it was an extremely tight battle.

Qualifying 10th on Friday in his Monster Energy/General Tire Nissan, Casey entered a huge field of Pro Lites on Saturday. Despite the popular class, he worked his way through the field to 3rd place. His finish however, wouldn't be achieved unscathed. After some wheel-to-wheel rubbing with a fellow driver on Saturday, Casey's truck was unable to continue, landing the team their first DNF of the season.

"First round of the year started out awesome and went down hill fast," explained Casey after Saturday's race. "We started 10th and moved quickly to 3rd with some great battles in between, but when wheel-to-wheel contact was made, a belt was spit off the truck, causing the engine to die, and ending our race. Sometimes accidents happen; now we're all about shifting our focus to gathering our points back tomorrow in round 2."

Thankfully, Sunday proved more fortuitous as Casey's driving landed him 1st place qualifier early in that day. Due to the top 6 starting inversion, Casey was placed to start in 6th position, providing the young racer an advantage. Currie moved quickly through the slower qualifiers to gain ground up the field. Currie caught up with Chris Brandt and RJ Anderson - giving the fans one heck of a show - as an extremely close finish came down to the wire, resulting in Casey taking 3rd in the Pro Lite class.

"Today was such a rewarding day for the team," commented Currie. "We qualified on the pole, and set the fastest lap. Once the green flag dropped it was an all-out mud storm but we made it through to position 3. With 3 laps remaining, everything else faded away and the track was in clear focus-my truck then really came alive."

The nail-bitingly-close finish that earned Currie his first podium of the season left the team in good spirits. "To finish 3rd isn't ideal but being on the box is amazing," Currie explained. "We lost this race by .5 of a second so it was an extremely tight battle."

When asked how his relationship with K&N Filters came about, Currie notes, "I got connected with K&N when I was racing motorcycles and quickly became part of the family, but I've always run K&N filters on my trucks and motorcycles. They protect my engines better and make the most amount of power than any other product on the market."

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.

Peter Biondo Battles Poor Weather and Wins $10,000 Purse at Atco Raceway

5 juin 2012

Peter celebrates with his girlfriend, Emily.

Peter Biondo is playing with house money these days. The Northeast drag racer captured the $10,000 Big Buck Bracket Race at Atco Raceway in New Jersey at the start of April, propelling him into the summer months, the most rigorous part of the season.

"Both the car and I did what we were supposed to do and the win lights just kept clicking," Biondo told K&N News. "The biggest challenge was the ever-changing wind that was playing havoc with the cars and trying to predict the performance of the car. It was nearly impossible to predict (your dial-in), as one minute you had a ten mile-per-hour cross wind, and the next minute it was a twelve mile-per-hour head wind. It wasn't a matter of getting it right; the goal was just to get closer then the other guy."

The big win, and bigger payday, couldn't have come at a better time for Biondo. The money helped Biondo and his business partner, Kyle Siepel, with the K&N Spring Fling 20's, a drag race promoted by the two in Bristol, Tennessee. "We guarantee the payout and have a lot of overhead within the event," Biondo said. "In the end, we had a massive car count, and the race went off without a hitch."

With the K&N Spring Fling 20's behind him, Biondo is excited to jump back behind the wheel, adding, "I'm looking forward to getting back on the other side of the fence again."

Biondo has been experimenting with different classes recently, including Top Sportsman and Top Dragster. Already a NHRA National Event winner in five categories, a win in either division would put Biondo in an elite, and presently, a very lonely group. Only NHRA bracket racing legend Jeg Coughlin, Jr. has won in six categories.

When Biondo gets his next Wally, it will be with the help of K&N products. "The air scoop on my dragster is K&N. When I first put the scoop and air filter assembly on, I realized a two mile-per-hour gain, as well as more consistency; I would highly recommend it. We also utilize the Wrench-Off Oil Filter, speeding up our maintenance and making oil changes a snap."

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.

Drag Racer Nikki Dunn Goes Enduro Racing at Arkansas' I-30 Speedway

4 juin 2012

Abe Neyland, publisher of Life & Home magazine lent Nikki the car and Rick Williams, proprietor of The Atrium at Serenity Pointe, backed her financially in her Enduro debut at I-30 Speedway.

Amazing 143 degree natural thermal waters with rumored magic healing powers, that's what Hot Springs, Arkansas is best known for, not racing. Although, if Lakeside High School senior, Nikki Dunn has anything to say about it, Hot Springs National Park, the first federally protected area in the national park system will be the second most famous attraction in the area.

After an engine overhaul on the borrowed Camaro and a new hot pink and black paint job, Nikki was ready to race.

"The racing bug first bit me when I was eight-years-old, which was ten years ago. My family has been racing for many years, my dad raced, and so did my grandfather," said Nikki explaining her genetically driven need for speed. "I always loved the movie Right on Track too, because it showed me that racing was not just a man's sport, it was also a woman's sport. I fell in love with racing instantly when I was young watching my dad race, and wanted a car ever since I was little."

Her dad, Ricky, was a drag racer, and that's what she's been doing for the past ten years already now. "I seem to fall more in love every time I race," said Nikki. "I love the adrenaline rush that you get for the few seconds that you are in the car. But, recently I have become a big fan of dirt track racing, which has shown me another side to racing, and I have also fallen in love with it too, because it's not just in a straight-line and you are out there for longer than just a few seconds."

It would be fair to say that Nikki simply loves all things racing, two of the racers she most admires are Danica Patrick and Ashley Force-Hood, and like her two idols, Nikki too likes to redefine perceptions and smash through limiting barriers. Nikki recently jumped from racing a quarter-mile at a time to running in her first Enduro race at I-30 Speedway in Little Rock, Arkansas. The Enduro in this case was a 200-lap race that lasted two hours, with the win going to the first car to complete all 200 laps, or the last car running. For Nikki, one of the most exciting aspects of the race was being the only female.

"My race on the 6th (May) was my first ever dirt track race, so I was in a completely different world from what I am used to," said Nikki. "My car ended up over heating after about 50 laps, so I backed off and let it cool down and then I pushed my car until it would not go no more, and that was at about lap 75."

In a car loaned to her from Abe Neyland, publisher of Life & Home magazine and with a generous race sponsorship care of Rick Williams, proprietor of The Atrium at Serenity Pointe, Nikki was able to successfully further whet her racing cravings and exercise her considerable driving skills. Nikki's dream is to someday race on the national stage, but she remains realistic about her chances, acknowledging the vast amounts of money required to live the dream.

"I would love to become an NHRA driver one day, but I have plenty to work on to get to that point," she says. "I would love to one day race with Ashley Force, but I need way more practice, an even bigger race car and more sponsorships."

Nikki says she has used a K&N air filter on all her race cars since she first began racing and she has one on her truck, and that was by choice not because she was sponsored by K&N. Although a sponsorship would be great, for now she remains grounded and focused on getting her basics out of the way at National Park Community College next year, with the goal of entering nursing school.

Team Dunn, which includes her dad Ricky, grandfather Richard, her sister Emily and family friend Cody Howerton, will race their next Enduro back at I-30 Speedway on June 24, 2012.

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.