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Every year there is a multi week, multi event marathon of big dollar bracket races throughout South Georgia and Florida. Over the last 25 years, the Winter Series races have been predominately dominated by the greatest sportsman class competitors in the United States.
Palm Beach International Raceway in Florida held the money ticket for Luke Bogacki who drove a Malibu Station Wagon to victory, courtesy of BME Photography
Luke Bogacki’s wins in the sportsman ranks is on his racing resume. The
28-year-old Alabama resident has earned a reputation as one of the most
successful ET bracket and sportsman class racers in the country over the last
decade. However, the young veteran racer is still missing a handful of
accomplishments.
Bradenton Best of Both Worlds Winter Series Championship $10,000 windfall for sportsman racer Luke Bogacki, courtesy of BME Photography
This winter, Bogacki knocked off one major triumph off his races to-win list
in the South Georgia Motorsports Park New World 5 day Championship Series. He won his first winter series event at the Bradenton Best of Both World Winter Series Championship and took home a $10,000 windfall.
“Coming into the season, I felt like I still had four major goals in racing that I hadn’t accomplished,” said Bogacki. “I wanted to win a NHRA national event, a day of the Winter Series, a major NHRA or IHRA world championship and a Winter Series Points title. I still have the dream of becoming a world champion or 5-day points champ, but it’s been a great season. I was able to mark two of those accomplishments off my list.”
Bogacki earned his first NHRA
national event victory in April with a Super Comp win at the Southern Nationals in Atlanta, Georgia. He backed it up with a second title at the Mid-South Nationals in Memphis, Tennessee in October. He also earned multiple victories during this seasons’ Winter Series.
After the Bradenton win, Bogacki took another final round in a 1/8th mile event at Palm Beach International Raceway. Bogacki drove Jon Siegel’s Wheelie Wagon Malibu Station Wagon.
“Brian and I are pretty good buddies,” said Bogacki. “We talked about re-distributing the purse a little bit and even agreed to race for $1.000. Then we decided to split it even and swapped cars for the final. The tech guys at the end of the track were really confused when we got out of each others’ cars. It was a lot of fun.”
With a couple of bracket outings remaining in 2009, Bogacki has raced in 20 final rounds coming out with 16 event victories. In addition to his two NHRA national event crowns, Bogacki also claimed a pair of IHRA national event wins and the IHRA Summit All Stars Title in Top Dragster. On the bracket racing scene, Bogacki picked up three $10,000 triumphs and a pair of $5,000 victories.
Bogacki uses K&N air filters. “K&N helps my engine perform the way it should,” he said. “I can also count on K&N for additional power and great filtration to help me get to the Winner’s Circle.”
Bogacki will wrap up his 2009 campaign with pair of big dollar bracket events at Holly Springs Motorsports Thanksgiving weekend and at Carolina Dragway next week.
Ryan Gates won the Modified Class in the Redline Time Attack season finale and took the overall 2009 Redline Time Attack Championship at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California. Gates also set the new Modified AWD track record with a 1:43.4. "Every Time Attack race gives you a chance to perfect yourself as a driver," said Gates. "It's called Time Attack because someone puts up a time and everyone else tries to attack it."
Ryan Gates put his K&N sponsored 2008 Mitsubishi Evo X on display at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas, Nevada
Ryan Gates works on his Mitsubishi Evo X before the Redline Time Attack season finale at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California
Three days earlier, Gates destroyed the splitter on his 2008 Mitsubishi Evo X in the Super Lap Battle at the Buttonwillow, California track. The Evo was also running very lean.
Ryan Gates is the 2009 Redline Time Attack Series Champion in the Modified Class
Ryan Gates and the AMS team defeated all the issues and made it through the final weekend of the Redline Time Attack Series with another win to complete a perfect season
“We touched up the front bumper for reinforcement without the splitter,” said Gates. “We did this because of the high speeds you can reach at Auto Club Speedway.” During practice Gates discovered there was still a lot of work that needed to be done.
After a lot of time and effort the car was moving in the right direction and Gates felt better about the setup.
The AMS crew tuned the boost down to well below 20psi, normal is 31psi. Gates said the car was still running lean but he pressed on and finished out the day.
On Sunday, Gates planned to take it easy in the first session. Unfortunately, as
Gates headed out to the track his crew discovered a large crack in the turbine
housing. They were able to swap it out in time for the second session. "I did
not want to lose," he said.
Gates took a safe lap to get a time in the books and planned to press harder on the third lap. “I drove the car at ¾ - throttle and posted a 1:43.4 lap time, the fastest of the day in the Modified Class,” said Gates. “It was also a class track record.”
During the final lap, a few bolts fell of the turbine housing and caused problems with the boost. Even with all the issues, Gates and the AMS Team made it through the final weekend with another win to complete a perfect season.
Gates won each race he entered in 2009 and set records at each track. “Without the help of my sponsors, this season would not have been possible,” said Gates. “My K&N products last forever and help make power. The K&N air filter protects my engine from track debris. My K&N oil filter keeps a constant flow of fresh oil circulating through the engine. Oil filters are important in Time Attack because the engines are constantly revving at a high rate and K&N oil filters work.”
Gates will be back for the 2010 Time Attack season and is also testing out a Porsche for another possible racing series.
The first attempt to get Jessica Clark, from Westlake Village, California, to set aside time for this story had to be adjusted – she was apologetic, but homework just plain had her swamped. Clearly, this is a young lady with her priorities in perspective – on or off the racetrack. The sixteen-year-old Clark maintains a 4.0 GPA at Westlake High School, and she successfully reassigns every bit of that work ethic and intelligence from the classroom to the racetrack.
Midget Car Racer Jessica Clark on the Track
This year is Clark's fifth year racing overall, she got her start in go-karts, running a couple of southern California tracks, Santa Maria Race Track and Button Willow Raceway. She competed in karts for a year and a half, and then graduated into Jr. Midgets for an additional two and a half years. Clark's first Jr. Midget race took off at Ventura Raceway, Ventura, California.
In her first full season of Jr. Midgets she was awarded the Most Improved Driver and finished second in the points standing. Ever the achiever, the very next season she won the most races and top-five finishes of anyone. In October of the following season Clark applied to Ron Sutton's Winners Circle program and was one of only twelve drivers accepted out of 750 drivers that applied for the 2008-2009 season. This year will be her first full season running in the USAC Ford Focus Midget series.
USAC Ford Focus Midget Racer Jessica Clark
"Ron Sutton's Driver Development Program conducts a national talent search each year for young racers between the ages of 11-19 who have the talent and the desire to go all the way to a professional racing career in NASCAR. A driver selected to be part of the RSWC Driver Development Program will be groomed, coached, tested, trained and molded into what NASCAR Cup teams want in their drivers" says Clark.
Jessica Clark Was Awarded the Most Improved Driver in Her First Full Season of Jr. Midget Racing
750 racers from across the United States, as well as Canada, Puerto Rico, and Sweden applied to the program in 2008. Only 44 drivers with impressive enough winning results were selected to participate in a driver Shoot-Out held at Roseville Speedway in Sacramento, California. The Shoot Out included multiple diverse tests over a 3-day period to evaluate the drivers who have the potential for a professional racing career. All drivers were tested in identical Ford Focus Midgets.
Experienced personnel rated the drivers' on their ability to be coached, their levels of accurate feedback, focus, training retention, motivation, communication skills, personality, aggressiveness, learning rate, confidence and lap times. Out of the 44 drivers at the Shoot-Out, only twelve select drivers demonstrated the potential aptitude to go onto a career in NASCAR.
"Being apart of Ron Sutton's Winners' Circle has been a life changing experience," says Clark. "I have learned more in one year racing with Ron than I have in all the years I have been racing combined. I have learned how to be a positive role model as a driver, on and off the track. I am very grateful to have the privilege of racing with this outstanding team. The USAC Ford Focus Midgets race on a quarter-mile asphalt track – it's a fast and thrilling open-wheel racecar experience."
"We use the K&N air filter, which is awesome, because it lasts forever and provides optimum airflow to the race engine. In any engine that is important, but in a spec-engine like the USAC Ford Focus Midget series, it is really an important advantage. We also use the K&N oil filters, which insure we keep the engine oil clean and protect the engine. Lastly we use the K&N breathers on the crankcase."
Next season Clark will once again be racing with Ron Sutton's Winners' Circle in a Ford Focus Midget. "The support that K&N filters has provided Ron Sutton's Winners' Circle has been extremely helpful to my racing career and I feel honored to be affiliated with such an exceptional company."
Charles Mask Lewis 2009 Suzuki Haybausa outfitted with numerous aftermarket parts including K&N air filter, part number SU-1308
Tribute 2009 Suzuki Hayabusa in honor of TapouT founder Charles Mask Lewis
The 2009 Suzuki Hayabusa auction proceeds will go to the Make-A-Wish Foundation and TPOA Children's Charitable Foundation
Custom 2009 Suzuki Hayabusa on display in the DUB booth at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas, Nevada
Killer Kreations Custom airbrush took more than 300 hours to complete the job on the 2009 Suzuki Hayabusa named Believe
Jason and Meredith Peterson, owners of AKA Custom Cycles have information on the $10 donation for raffle tickets
A sobering tribute to mix martial arts mogul and co-founder of the TapouT brand clothing label was on display in the DUB booth at the SEMA (Specialty Equipment Marketing Association) Show in Las Vegas, Nevada.
TapouT Corporation teamed up with custom bike builder AKA Custom Cycles to construct a tribute bike in memory of Charles “Mask” Lewis Jr.
The finished product is a 2009 Suzuki Hayabusa named Simply Believe. It will be raffled to help underprivileged children and children with life threatening medical conditions.
Lewis died after a Newport Beach, California car accident in March, 2009. The proceeds from the $10.00 a piece raffle tickets will be donated to the Make-A-Wish and TPOA Children’s Charitable Foundations, said Peterson.
Jason and Meredith Peterson, owners of AKA Custom Cycles selected the 2009 Suzuki Hayabusa as their project bike and outfitted it with aftermarket and custom fabricated parts.
“The only person for the paint work was Fred Sicoli of Killer Kreations, Inc.,” said Jason Peterson. “There is over 300 hours alone into the airbrush job. The art looks just like the photographs of Charles.” Lewis was known for his signature war paint and outfits that branded him with the nickname Mask, along with his multi million dollar clothing company,
“Mask’s personal motto, Simply Believe is part of the paint job,” said Meredith Peterson. “That’s only one of the eye catching images on the Busa that separates it from the average bikes you see rolling down the street.”
Other modifications on the 2009 Suzuki Hayabusa:
Air Filter: K&N air filter, part number
SU-1308
Exhaust: VooDoo Exhaust System
Fuel Management: Power Commander V
Metzler Tires
Oil Filter: K&N oil filter (KN-138C)
Clutch: VooDoo
Stator Covers: VooDoo
Handlebars: Ransom
Levers: Gauge
Bezel: Gauge
Grips: STM Grips
Triple Tree: Roland Sands Busa
Top Triple Clamp
Seat: AKA Custom Cycles
Fuel Tank: RIS Designs
Undertail: HotBodies
AirScoops: HotBodies, Oversized
Swingarm: Greggs Customs: Single Sided
Spoke Wheels: Ride Wright Custom
Tires: Metzler, Front 130/70/18
Metzler, Rear 250/40/18
Rotors: STX Braking Front Wave
Brake Lines/Pads: Galfer Brake Lines and Pads
Rear Sets: Vortex Adjustable
Lowering Links: Vortex
Kickstand: Myrtle West
Custom Paint: Killer Kreations Custom Paint
Lewis was posthumously inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame in July, 2009 as its first non-fighter. He had his own reality television show called TapouT where he scouted mixed marital arts fighters across the globe to train and sponsor. Simply Believe will tour other car shows throughout 2010 and will be auctioned in August 2010.
Randy Cabral captures 2008 and 2009 NEMA Championship
Randy Cabral was named 1999 Northeastern Midget Association (NEMA) co-Rookie of the Year during his very first year of racing. His father, Glen Cabral was a veteran racer with more than two-dozen seasons spent in the Midgets. Having literally grown up watching his father race, it's no wonder he was in the pits the minute he was old enough, doing what he could to keep the car in top shape.
Midget driver Randy Cabral wins 2009 NEMA
*"I was selfish in the sense of not bringing my son along in quarter midgets," says Glen. "I loved it so much it was hard for me not to go racing and I would have had to stop to help him. That's why his first ride came in a Midget because that was the first chance he got. It's a tough thing for a father to say, but I wasn't ready to give it up."
It was during the 1999 year, when Glen was a teammate with Chuck Welling that they decided Randy was ready to race. They put Randy in his Dad's car, and he began to show real progress, once coming from dead last to pass his dad, and make it to the front. The following year, he captured NEMA's headline event, the Boston Louie, and in 2001 was the winner of the season's opener and finished third place in driver standings. *
Randy Cabral named 1999 co-Rookie of the Year in Northeastern Midget Association
In his decade of racing, Randy has both the 2008 and 2009 NEMA Championships under his belt, and at only 30 years old is the all time winner at Thompson Speedway and Waterford Speedbowl - where the NEMA series has been running for 53 years. Randy's most memorable career moment was winning at Thompson International Speedway in July of 2009 after his best friend, Shane Hammond, had been killed in a tragic accident there in April of 2009.
Tim Bertrand and Randy Cabral at 2009 NEMA
Randy has been driving for Bertrand Motorsports since 2006 where he finished second in points. In 2007, they finished third in points, and to date have won 19 races together. Owner Tim Bertrand hopes to have his 2008 & 2009 champion running races on the National level in the United States Auto Club (USAC) Midget series by next year.
Several years ago, Bertrand was introduced to K&N and Bob Harris by a mutual friend, Jeremy Frankoski to discuss possible sponsorship opportunities. Bertrand had been using K&N products on his race team vehicles for over 15 years, so it was a natural fit to team together.
Bertrand says, "K&N Oil Filters HP-3002 are absolutely the best racing oil filter on the market. They keep the bearings in our engines in 'like new' condition at all times - and we have never had an oil filter failure with K&N. Our K&N Midget/Sprint Car air box is also an awesome product. Since introducing this product into our program, we have been able to collect 13 wins in two seasons, out of 29 races."
