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Ron Appel earned his third consecutive "Night Fire" championship in 2011 and is anticipating the 2012 season.
It's human nature for a parent to be proud of their children's accomplishments, and one can only imagine how a father would gleam with pride if their offspring chose to participate in a sport that they have a passion for. Ron Pappel is in that situation, as he, his daughter, Rochelle, and her older sibling, Jim, all share a passion for and compete in NHRA Division Six drag racing. In fact, the three have been racing as a family for over ten years.
The youngest member of the Pappel Racing team, Rochelle began her racing career driving a junior dragster at the age of eight. Now a senior in high school, Rochelle carries a 3.68 grade point average and has earned a scholarship to Lane Community College, and plans to run track.
The Pappel Racing Team consists of a family of drivers, including Ron Pappel, his daughter, Rochelle, and his son, Jim.
As a race car driver, Rochelle is equally as successful. During the
2011 season, she raced in the high school and pro classes at Champion Raceway and Woodburn Dragstrip. Rochelle finished the season with two wins and two final round appearances. She also competed in the Hot Rod Nationals, going four rounds in the constellation race. When asked her strong point as a driver, her father said, "Rochelle is "ICE" at the starting line, and has learned to be a stealth competitor at the starting and finish line."
Jim, 24, is also no stranger to success. In fact, the driver raced the Woodland Dragstrip Super Shifter Series during 2011. Manning a 1970 Nova, powered by a 383 cubic-inch engine with a four speed transmission behind it, Jim finished the series third overall for the season. Referring to Jim's driving skills, Ron said, "Jim knows the ins and outs of each car and has experience driving many cars. He has competed for several years in Division Six."
Ron, the patriarch of the team, has set a great example for his youngsters to follow. In fact, he raced Super-Pro in the NHRA Summit Series, the Hot Rod Nationals and the Lucas Oil race at Woodburn Dragstrip during the 2011 season. Ron won the Night Fire race for the third consecutive year at Champion Raceway in Medford, Oregon. "Our family has grown up at the race track, and enjoy the friendly competition atmosphere that is great at every track where we have raced," explained Ron. "Our race team shows fellow racers and fans how much fun team work and competition is in the NHRA."
Ron, Jim and Rochelle Pappel welcome the opportunity to share their passion for and compete in the sport of racing as a family, but are also aware that victories make the overall experience even more enjoyable. "If you want to win races, your vehicle maintenance is crucial in every aspect," explained Ron. "We are able to keep our cars consistent on the track by ensuring that every component does its job the same every time. From air delivery to oil maintenance with K&N filters. You cannot cut corners anywhere if you want to win. We use K&N air filters on our race cars and tow vehicles," he continued. K&N oil and air filters are by far the most reliable and consistent product we have ever used to protect our engines. They have been a part of our race cars and team since we started in 2001. K&N has been proven in our pits and on the track by winning eight track championships, two Division six titles and one national championship."
Fans can plan on seeing "two great looking competitive 27 Ford Roadsters" on the Pappel team in 2012. Ron will man a 1927 Ford Brogie Roadster with a big block Chevy engine, while Jim and Rochelle will debut their new Suncoast Roadster with a 383 cubic-inch stroker engine. "NHRA drag racing is a great sport for families," shared Ron. "I would encourage racers and enthusiasts to get their kids involved. Great sponsors like K&N have helped our Pappel Racing family build memories that will last forever."
One week after his exciting feature event win in Vegas, Kaeding made his 2012 winged debut with the World of Outlaws.
"It was a great feeling to get the first win of the year out of the way," said Bud Kaeding after winning the "Sin City Showdown" at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The Campbell, California, USAC West Coast 360 driver passed leader Ryan Bernal with less than two laps remaining. This was the first round of the USAC versus ASCS series and for his win Kaeding collected the $2,500 jackpot.
At the end of the 2011 season Kaeding was entertaining thoughts about changing his number to two, as he had scored numerous second place finishes to close out his campaign. With his 2012 season opening win in Vegas, Kaeding got the monkey off his back, as he out-dueled Bernal to a crowd pleasing photo finish.
Bud Kaeding started off his 2012 campaign with an impressive win in the "Sin City Showdown" at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
As Kaeding stalked the young driver, the red flew on the lap-19, and Kaeding drove around Bernal on the restart to grab the lead. With the white flag waving, Kaeding nearly lost the lead as he got up on two wheels in the first set of turns, nearly opening the door for the hard charging Bernal. The duo had fans on the edge of their seats with a drag race coming out of turn four, but Kaeding held the spot and took home the big check.
"We grabbed the lead on the last lap," added Kaeding. "I entered turn one and two and I biked it up."
After the race a jubilant Kaeding entertained the crowd by spinning impressive donuts into victory lane. "It feels awesome to finally get back in victory lane," said an excited Kaeding. "This car was on a rail in the feature, and rolled around awesome on the top. I almost gave it away on the white flag lap, but luckily we were a little better then Bernal. I can't thank Buster, Ziggy and all my guys for working their tails off."
Jonathan Allard started 15 races in New Zealand and won 11, in the other four he ran second twice, finished fourth once, and had just one DNF.
The first time Chico, California native, Jonathan Michael Allard ventured to the other side of the planet to race was 2004. On that trip he raced in Australia, it's easy to remember because that was also his first full year racing the World of Outlaws. The exact year he started racing in New Zealand isn't as simple to pin down.
"I've made the trip to New Zealand for a few years now," said Allard. "I love the atmosphere the tracks provide. With 10,000 plus people on hand any given night, it's an amazing place to race. We are also very fortunate to have the races on prime time TV every week throughout the year. The competition was tough all through the season because there are many local competitors that know how to win. We also had Sammy Swindel and Donny Shatz from the U.S. competing in many of the events."
With the competition getting tougher each year it makes Allard's accomplishments even that more impressive, in 15 race starts, Allard saw the checkered-flag first a total of 11 times. In the four races he didn't win, he ran second twice, finished fourth once, and had just a single DNF.
"I can't say enough about my guys," said Allard. "This car was bad fast since the day we hit the track back in December. I can't thank the good people at the Porter Group, Hydraulink, Albany Toyota, Valvoline and K&N enough for making this trip possible. The Porter Group/Hydraulink team that I race for is different than the team I race for here in the U.S.," continued Allard.
The Allard Motorsports team is based around Allard running and maintaining the team car. "It's a major undertaking, but it has been great challenge for me to take that on, I have learned a lot building and maintaining the cars," said Allard. "I put to use all the knowledge I've learned over the years to win in New Zealand, now it's time to apply what I've learned to our U.S. based team. I feel very fortunate to have been a part of such an achievement in New Zealand."
Allard's 2012 season in the U.S. started the day after arriving back from New Zealand.
"It's great to jump in to racing straight away! We are very excited for the season ahead. Our goal for this year is to win races. If you win races the championships will follow. We Also want to promote our team and our products we use on the car. It's very important to our team to let the fans and competitors know what products we utilize to win races. We will accomplish this with our new promotion team headed up by PJ Peterson. We will now be better able to reach out to the public and other forums in and outside the racing venues."
"I look to have a successful 2012 season to come," adds Allard. "I'd like to take the opportunity to thank our friends at K&N for providing such great products for our team. We are on the cutting edge with the long term reliability that it takes to win races and championships! K&N has always been very involved with our team and provides us with situation of feeling like family! I feel grateful to be a part of that family."
The 2010 American Modified Series Rookie of the Year said his first ever win on one of the most prestigious tracks in the United States was huge for him and his family.
Few things in racing, or in life, inspire anymore emotion than that moment of perception when you realize you're living a childhood dream. For Campbellsville, Kentucky's Elliott Despain his field of dreams is a quarter-mile dirt oval track located inside Jackson County Fairgrounds called Brownstown Speedway. Despain ventured to the Brownstown, Indiana speedway and came away with his first ever victory at the hallowed grounds.
The season opening win at Brownstown Speedway was Elliott Despain's first ever at the legendary dirt oval.
"It was very big!" exclaimed Despain. "I went from a kid playing with cars in the stands to getting a win in my car on the track. All of our hard work during the winter has really paid off so far. I have been going to Brownstown since I was a kid and it is one of the most prestigious tracks in the United States."
Despain, driving in the No. 75 car owned by his parents, Billy and Lisa, began his evening by winning his heat and subsequently started on the front row of the Modified Feature event. "I would like to thank all of my sponsors, my mom and dad, my fiancé, and all of my crew guys: Dale, Mike, Terry, and Uncle Danny. My whole family has been coming here for a long-time and it feels great to finally get a win here at Brownstown. The track was excellent and we look forward to coming back."
The Despain Motorsports crew said they didn't do anything different to their car during the off season, except put a new body on and check over every inch of the year to insure it's ready to go for 2012.
The Despain Motorsports crew and their No. 75 Lucas Oil Products sponsored race car, featuring K&N products, have been coming to Brownstown for over five years and this 2012 season opening victory carries them along with plenty of positive momentum.
"I have no idea exactly how many times we've raced at Brownstown throughout the five years," said Despain. "This time we got a really good draw and I got to start on the pole of our heat race. We won the heat and were again on the pole of the feature. A great car combined with a little bit of luck, everything worked out for us."
Did you do anything different to your car during the off season?
"No, not really. We just continued our every year winter routine. We put a new body on the car and did a check over the entire car just to make sure everything was right."
The 2010 American Modified Series Rookie of the Year and the Despain Motorsports team head back to Brownstown Speedway this weekend to see if they can keep things on a winning track.
Brazil's Nelson Piquet Jr. wins Widow Wax 125 at Bristol Motor Speedway in Tennessee
Nelson Piquet Jr. is the first driver from Brazil to win a NASCAR K&N Pro Series East race. He won Saturday's Widow Wax 125 at Bristol Motor Speedway in Tennessee, leading a race-high 62 laps and holding off Ryan Blaney on a green-white-checkered flag finish.
Piquet won the pole and led the first 35 laps of the race. Chase Elliott took the lead from Piquet on lap 36, but Elliott and Blaney collided on lap 76. The damage to Elliott's car forced him to pit. Blaney stayed on the track and raced with the leaders the rest of the way.
Nelson Piquet Jr. winning the first NASCAR K&N Pro Series East race of the season
Blaney and Corey LaJoie battle for the lead until lap 101. LaJoie cut a tire and had to pit. Piquet moved back into the lead and held it for the final 27 laps.
"Stayed in control most of the race," said Piquet, a driver for X Team Racing. "In the middle we had a little issue, started getting a little loose. I was also probably not at my best on restarts and on giving space. It's still something that I'm learning, how much space I should give to the guy on the inside, on the outside. That's something that's going to come with time."
Piquet is a regular in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and is planning on racing in two Nationwide Series races this year. He has confirmed rides for the races at Road America and Watkins Glen. He said he has plans to race more in the Nationwide Series.
As for the K&N Pro Series East, Piquet said he is looking to return, perhaps for the race at Richmond International Raceway in April, but has no definite plans yet.
In the race at Bristol, Piquet said he needed to correct some early mistakes to win it in the closing laps. "I managed to get my act together at the end of the race, get my positions back, hold it and bring it in to victory lane," Piquet said.
Piquet is the son of Nelson Piquet, a three-time Formula One champion from Brazil. Piquet Jr. said he talked to his dad after the race at Bristol. "My dad called me, spoke to him a little bit," Piquet Jr. said. "He didn't see the race because it wasn't live in Brazil. I think he was pretty happy."
Blaney led one lap in the race, after knocking Elliott out of the race on lap 76. Blaney, the son of former NASCAR Nextel Cup Series driver Dave Blaney, apologized to Elliott after the race and said his team made key adjustments to his car midway through the race.
"First half of the race we were a little bit too loose for my liking and we couldn't really make up any ground on the leaders," Blaney said.
After the first round of pit stops, Blaney said his crew gave him a near-perfect car. "We were the best car on the track after six, seven laps," Blaney said. "It just took a little bit to get going. That's where Nelson beat us. He could get going really, really quick."
Ryan Gifford finished third. "It was fun today," Gifford said after the race on Saturday. "We had a real good car. I don't know if we had one to get up there and race with those guys. We were a little too free the whole time. That's good. That's an improvement from last year. I think we can come together and win a race here before the year is over. I'm really excited, realty pumped up and ready for Greenville."
Travis Pastrana, an X Games and rally car champion, made his first NASCAR start of 2012. He finished 12th. Elliott recovered from his mid-race collision and finished 10th. LaJoie dropped back in the field and finished a lap down in 22nd.
The next NASCAR K&N Pro Series East race is Kevin Whitaker Chevrolet 150 at Greenville Pickens Speedway in South Carolina on March 31.
