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Mario Buendia's 2010 Scion xB SEMA Showcar is Real World Commuter

27 janv. 2011

The 2010 Scion xB isn't just another pretty face, it's also loyal and reliable daily driver.

The 2010 SEMA show was custom car builder Mario Buendia first time at the Las Vegas car extravaganza and his reaction was "WOW. A lot of people and nice cars."

doors on Buendia's SEMA Scion are care of Vertical Doors, Inc.

As in so many other automotive endeavors, skills such building custom cars, are often handed down from one family member and generation to the next. "My family has been building cars for a long time - it runs in my blood," said Buendia. "I started building cars the moment I bought a car which was my Honda."

Before building the 2010 Scion xB that Buendia displayed at SEMA, he built a 1998 Honda Accord with 20 inch wheel, including a complete custom autosound system. And before that he had a 2007 Scion tC with a custom built fiberglass sub-woofer enclosure, suede interior, TRD suspension and exhaust, 18 inch HP Lighting wheels, a K&N intake, and a very custom Supermario hood. Buendia's inspiration for the cars he builds is the people around him. We have to suspect that's because the people around him are into custom cars.

What makes Buendia's Scion xB showcar unique is that it's not only eye-candy, it's a real world commuter.

"When not at shows it's my daily driver. I Drive 61 miles to work every day so, I drive my car 122 miles daily." Buendia works at Vertical Doors, Inc. in Corona, California, which is where he did the work on the Scion's vertical doors.

Buendia explains that the process for his getting the Scion to the SEMA show was extremely long and stress laden. "First we got the K&N intake installed, next was the Air-Ride, next the upholstery, and finally it was the fiberglass custom (sound) enclosure."

Buendia's explains that he uses K&N air and oil filters and went with the K&N high-flow intake system simply because "I wanted the best performance for my car." He's been using K&N products exclusively since 2007. His tip for up-and-coming car builders is just as straightforward, "Be open to negative feedback."

It was Buendia's deep appreciation for Scions that brought him to the car club, Revoluscion CC. "Revoluscion CC is a family with the same goal in mind," remarks Buendia. "We have been meeting in downtown Los Angeles since ‘07. Our main goal is to build nice looking cars while still having fun."

Buendia says his goal for next year is to return to SEMA and to place in all the major shows. "The sky is the limit," adds Buendia.

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.

2010 Was Vaters Monster Motorsports Grandest Season Yet - But Beware 2011

27 janv. 2011

The Monster Truck Racing Association voted Vaters' Monster Motorsports the 2010 Promoter of the Year.

"We were concerned going into the 2010 season, about ticket sales, and shows, because of the downturn in the economy, but 2010 was our busiest year ever," commented Michael Vaters. "We competed at 50 different venues, in 77 events, and our trucks were on display 43 times."

Vaters Monster Motorsports competed at 50 different venues in 2010 and out those they were on display 43 times.

The team's impressively consistent success last year wasn't overlooked by Monster Truck Racing Association either. "The MTRA voted our small production company, Vaters' Monster Motorsports, 2010 Promoter of the Year," added Vaters.

"These numbers indicate just how popular monster trucks are and the loyalty of the fan base," continues Vaters. "In comparison, I think monster truck tickets are more affordable than other motorsports events. If it wasn't for the fans spending there hard earned money on tickets, and our sponsors support such as K&N, we wouldn't be out here doing what we love."

The Vaters' team reinvested their 2010 success into purchasing a third truck.

It's Vaters' pragmatic approach to his sport that will continue to keep him at the very upper levels, and perhaps to redefine even greater levels of the sport. By all measures, Vaters had an exceptional year, with great competition results and minimal property damage to his trucks. "We have so much faith in this motorsport that we reinvested in the team and are bringing out a third truck this year," said Vaters.

The driver of the new Black Stallion 2 truck, James Tracy, has been a fixture with the team since he was a teenager.

"At this time we are running the third truck as a second Black Stallion in the first quarter racing season."

The driver of the second Black Stallion is long time friend James Tracey. Tracey has been helping the team out with the trucks since he was a teenager.

"He is a great mechanic and has racing experience in the form of drag racing at the local tracks," detailed Vaters. "We have some great ideas for a more permanent identity for the truck. In preparation for bringing a third truck into competition we had to completely over-haul one of our toter-homes, which took a great deal of time, along with getting the new truck race ready."

The 2011 is the first year that Vaters Monster Motorsports team will be going in different directions, to different venues, and it is a challenge that the team eagerly accepts. Ever vigilant to the promoters view Vaters adds "This is great for our sponsors, as it increases the number of spectators that will see their logo."

Talking about the start of the 2011 season Vaters says "The first weekend out was really hard on us, we had expensive mechanical problems on all three trucks. This is not uncommon, as the trucks are completely torn down, and all the parts are gone through and replaced as needed in the down season of November and December. It often takes a show, or two, to break everything in, and work out the bugs of the new parts."

"The whole team deserves credit, they all worked day and night to get the trucks ready to go out, and then the first weekend out we broke stuff up, and they all pitched in again to get everything back together again."

The Black Stallion team that works at the shop, and on the road as pit crew, are all great guys, and put in the extra effort, with little or no pay, just for the love of the sport, according to Vaters. That team consists of: Michael Thompson, Matt Cody, Jimmy Tracey, Jeff Dickinson, David Rhinecker, Mikey Vaters II, Andrew Moats, Cory Newcomer, Rich Wright, Jimmy Tracey JR and Ronnie Schildtknecht.

The Black Stallion 2 team was able to return to the home shop and make the needed repairs. "Trey and I, in Black Stallion and Iron Warrior, geographically couldn't make it back to the shop," said Vaters

"The great thing about monster truck racing is the good relationship between the competitors. We were able to stay out and borrow another drivers shop to make the needed repairs. The team really pulled together and we were able to get all the repairs completed and back out for the next weekends show."

For Black Stallion and Iron Warrior that next show is this weekend, January 29, in Indianapolis, Indiana. And James Tracey in the second Black Stallion will be in Salisbury, Maryland, this Friday January 28.

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.

2011 NASCAR Nationwide Series Debut for Travis Pastrana

25 janv. 2011

Pastrana-Waltrip Racing's Travis Pastrana

Before Travis Pastrana makes his NASCAR Nationwide Series debut, he will put his limited stock car racing skills to the test against the top drivers from the NASCAR K&N Pro Series.

Michael Waltrip, Boost Mobile and Red Bull Sponsored No. 99 Toyota

Pastrana, the X Games, rally car and freestyle motocross champion, will race in the NASCAR Toyota All Star Showdown at Toyota Speedway at Irwindale Jan. 28-29. Race winners from the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West and East earned automatic starting spots in the race. In addition to the K&N Pro Series regulars, NASCAR Nationwide Series regular Steve Wallace, former Champ Car driver Andrew Ranger and NASCAR Mexico Series champion German Quiroga are entered in the Showdown.

Pastrana said he has a simple strategy for his first venture into NASCAR.

"Hopefully qualify and keep it out of the wall. I think would be a great plan for the first round," said Pastrana, who will be driving the No. 99 Toyota for Pastrana-Waltrip Racing.

Unveiling of Pastrana-Waltrip Racing's No. 99 Toyota

He won't be making his NASCAR Nationwide Series debut until July in Indianapolis. Until then, Pastrana said he will be performing in his Nitro Circus show in Australia and New Zealand and preparing for X Games in Los Angeles. Coincidently, the X Games in L.A. are on the same weekend as the Indianapolis Nationwide Series race. He added that he wants to squeeze in some stock car seat time between now and the Nationwide Series race in Indianapolis.

"I'd definitely love to, but it's just a matter of trying to figure out how much time we have to do whatever," said Pastrana, the 27-year-old driver from Annapolis, Maryland. "It's going to be a big learning process. I'm going to drive as many places as possible." Pastrana is teaming with two-time Daytona 500 winner Michael Waltrip in his NASCAR efforts. Waltrip will also be the grand marshal of the Toyota All Star Showdown. Pastrana said working with Waltrip has been a unique experience.

"Michael Waltrip is the most low-key, but funny guy you'd ever meet," Pastrana said. "He's probably the best - I wouldn't say coach - but the best mentor that I could ever really have. I'm just really excited to be able to work with him. He thinks outside the box and likes to have fun. But at the same time, it's all about performance."

Pastrana has been able to pick Waltrip's brain about stock car racing. Waltrip has been able to instill one important piece of wisdom in Pastrana.

"I think the biggest piece of advice, right after my first test, had some pretty good times," Pastrana said. "I was like man, I feel pretty good. He goes, 'Yep, you can drive, but so can all the other 40 drivers on that track. Good luck to ya. Have fun, be patient.' He says it's going to take time."

Making the switch from freestyle motocross and rally cars is going to be an adjustment. He's not only learning new equipment and cars, but drivers and driving styles. He admits his knowledge of the K&N Pro Series drivers is limited, but he is learning as much as he can by watching races.

"I don't know too much about the K&N Series," Pastrana said. "I've been kind of following it this past year, trying to do a little research on who's who and how the races finished. I definitely watched the Irwindale race from last year a countless number of times now. I definitely expect them to be quite a bit better, more experienced than I am. Just got to get out there and try to qualify, hopefully not qualify dead last, and go from there."

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.

Ford and K&N Team Up to Supercharge the 2011 K&N Horsepower Challenge

25 janv. 2011

27th annual K&N Horsepower Challenge

The start of the 2011 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing season on February 24th will mark the resumption of the hotly contested battle among Pro Stock competitors for one of seven guaranteed spots in the 27th annual K&N Horsepower Challenge which will be held on June 25th at Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio. In revealing some of the details of this year's edition, K&N officials today confirmed that for the second straight year the eighth and final starting spot will be filled by a popular vote.

2011 K&N HPC Sweepstakes Ford Explorer XLT

"2011 marks our fourth year as the sponsor of the K&N Horsepower Challenge, and I'm proud to say the event continues to get bigger and better," said Steve Williams, Vice President. "For example, last year we introduced the fan vote, which was a huge success thanks to a great response by the fans as well as the many Pro Stock drivers who actively campaigned to be chosen for that coveted eighth starting spot."

"This year, we're going to take everything we learned over the last three years and put it into making the 2011 K&N Horsepower Challenge the best ever. Even though the NHRA season doesn't start until next month, we're already off to a great start, with the Ford Motor Company providing one of their totally redesigned 2011 Ford Explorer XLTs that will be awarded as the grand prize to one lucky fan at Summit Motorsports Park."

The K&N Horsepower Challenge is a unique race-within-a-race pitting the seven NHRA Pro Stock racers who have accumulated the most qualifying points over the last year and one driver selected by the fans in a three-round, high-dollar shootout, with the winner pocketing $50,000. This celebration of the "factory hot rods" also includes the fans, who enter the K&N Horsepower Challenge Sweepstakes online at www.knfilters.com, with eight finalists receiving a trip to the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals in Norwalk, Ohio.

On the day of the event, each finalist will be randomly paired with one of the eight qualified drivers, with the finalist whose driver wins the K&N Horsepower Challenge taking home a brand new 2011 Ford Explorer XLT courtesy of Ford. As a three-time and defending champion of this specialty race, Pro Stock standout Greg Anderson is well-versed on what this race means to the fans, as well as the entire Pro Stock category.

"K&N is such a tremendous company, and one we are so proud to be associated with," said Anderson. "We are so grateful for everything they do for Pro Stock throughout the year, from the bonuses for the low qualifiers and tremendous products they make for our race cars to the K&N Horsepower Challenge, which is our most enjoyable race of the entire season.

"Every year at Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park in Norwalk, the eight best cars in our category get to line up and race for a ton of money without having to worry about points. It's a tremendous event that brings out the best in all of us. On top of that, we get to share the excitement with the fans with this year's winner driving home a new Ford Explorer. It's just a win-win deal for everyone concerned.

"We were fortunate enough to win the Horsepower Challenge last year with our Summit Racing Pontiac, which was the highlight of our season to that point, and catapulted us to the championship. It was also great to share the winner's circle with Stephanie, the fan who won the Harley and was just as excited as we were. All in all, it was a tremendous day, so we're naturally looking forward to getting back there to defend our title and help another fan drive home in a new SUV."

No purchase necessary. Sweepstakes ends May 27th at 3:00 PM PT. You must be at least 18 years of age to enter. Sweepstakes is subject to full official rules found at www.knfilters.com. Void in NY and FL and wherever else prohibited.

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.

K&N & FORD Bring You the Chance to Win!

25 janv. 2011

2011 K&N Horsepower Challenge Sweepstakes

2011 K&N Horsepower Challenge

Riverside, CA, January 25th, 2011 - With the start of the 2011 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series on February 24th, K&N will launch the annual battle amongst Pro Stock Drivers to accumulate the most points throughout a 20 race challenge Series called the K&N Horsepower Challenge. This special race-within-a-race bonus program gives Pro Stock drivers a chance to win big if they qualify for one of the seven spots in the final four rounds of the K&N Horsepower Challenge at Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio on June 25th.

K&N is pleased to announce the 8th spot will once again be awarded by popular vote from the racing fans.

The fans also have a chance to win big as K&N has teamed up with Ford Motor Company to give away a 2011 Ford Explorer XLT to one of the lucky 8 sweepstake finalists.

2011 Ford Explorer XLT for the 2011 K&N HPC Sweepstakes

On June 25th at Summit Motorsports Park, each finalist will be randomly paired with one of the eight Pro Stock drivers competing in the K&N Horsepower Challenge Championship. The lucky sweepstakes finalist who is paired with the winner of the K&N Horsepower Challenge will win a brand new 2011 Ford Explorer XLT courtesy of Ford.

Eight K&N Horsepower Challenge Sweepstakes finalists will receive a trip to the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals in Norwalk, Ohio. Each finalist package includes an air travel voucher, a maximum of four days and three nights accommodation at a hotel and ground transportation. Finalists must start travel on June 23rd, 2011 and complete travel on June 26th.

No purchase necessary. Sweepstakes ends May 27th at 3:00 PM PT. You must be at least 18 years of age to enter. Sweepstakes is subject to full official rules found at www.knfilters.com. Void in NY and FL and wherever else prohibited.

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.