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Toyota Race Development USA has collected many victories in 2009
Toyota Race Development USA was originally established to serve as an aftermarket performance parts distributor for TRD Japan, and as a subsidiary of Toyota Motor Sales (TMS). Since first opening their doors in 1979 though, the Costa Mesa, California based company has redefined itself as a premiere world-class engine and performance organization.
Kyle Busch won several races in all three top series of NASCAR in 2009
TRD first captured the world of motorsports attention, making history in the process, when Juan Montoya recorded Toyota's first Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART) victory, driving a TRD powered Indy Car at the Milwaukee Mile in June 2000. That race was a significantly sweet triumph because it was the first win for an American designed and built engine in 20 years. Since then it would be far easier to list what TRD hasn't won, than to list everything that they have.
In partnership with TMS, TRD has collected a shipload of noteworthy wins, which would have to include the monumental victory at the '03 Indianapolis 500, three Rolex 24 at Daytona victories, along with numerous Baja 500 and 1000 wins and manufacturers championships (NCTS, IRL, CART, IMSA, MTEG, Grand-Am, CORR, and the WSORR competition).
TRD engineered and built the V-8 powered Toyota Tundra engines for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series
Other historical wins include five Pikes Peak International Hill Climb Championships and the Import Drag Racing Class Championships ('04, '06 and '07) plus, multiple wins at 12 Hours of Sebring.
"We've had a good season so far, we've had 12 victories in the Truck Series, victories in the Nationwide Series. And we've done that with several drivers, which shows that we have a strong program, not only strong teams," says Laerte Zatta. Zatta is the Senior Program Manager for the Truck and Nationwide Series. He has been with TRD since 2001, working with the CART series, then IRL, and now NASCAR.
TRD engineers and builds the V-8 powered Tundra engines for NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (NCTS) and the V-8 Camry power-plant for the NASCAR Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series. They also create engines for most Toyota factory-backed US racing efforts, including Championship Off-Road Racing (CORR), the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA), and recently the United States Auto Club (USAC) Sprint Car and National Midget Car Racing Series.
"This year we had Kyle Busch, who won several races in all three top series in NASCAR. Also, Brian Scott and Timothy Peters both notched their first wins. It's always good for us to see our current drivers and new drivers having success. So far we have won three Truck Manufactures Championships ('06, '07, '08), two Drivers Championship ('06, '08), and we've also won the '08 and '09 Nationwide Manufactures Championship," adds Zatta justifiably proud.
"We use K&N air and oil filters in all of our Tundra trucks and our relationship has always been great. The product is reliable, it has excellent performance, and K&N has been the perfect partner for us, not only as a supplier, but also in helping us with the development of new products. Next season we will continue to work with K&N, there are absolutely no reasons not to. It's good product, good people to work with, and excellent support to our teams," adds Zatta.
Roger Penske has been racing and winning in the United States since 1958
The spell-check on my computer didn't recognize "Penske," how is that even possible? There are entire tribes of south Asian nomads living in yurts that would recognize that name. Roger Penske is arguably the most recognizable motorsports name on the planet.
Penske Racing is one of the most successful organizations in professional sports
The "Captain," as he's affectionately referred to, has been racing and winning in the United States since 1958. He has notched victories in every series he's ever competed in. With 22 national championships, including 12 in Indy car racing, the present day Penske Racing Team has often been referred to as the "New York Yankees of motorsports."
Back in the day, Penske was one of America's hottest and most successful young-gun road racers, before retiring from racing in 1965, to focus fulltime on his first business endeavor - a Philadelphia Chevrolet dealership. Today, the Penske Corporation has evolved nicely into a closely-held diversified transportation services company whose subsidiaries operate in a variety of segments, including retail automotive, truck leasing, transportation logistics, transportation component manufacturing, as well as, high performance racing. Positioned next to the definition of "Midas-touch" there most assuredly should be a photo of Roger Penske.
Penske Racing's Kurt Busch and the No. 2 Miller Lite team in the NASCAR Cup Series
"Penske Racing is one of the most diverse and successful organizations in professional sports. We currently field winning race teams in the NASCAR Cup Series and Nationwide Series, the Indy Car Series and the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series. We compete in over 100 races each year and we are privileged to represent some terrific sponsors such as Verizon Wireless, Dodge, Miller Lite, Mobil 1 and Philip Morris USA, just to name a few. Our organization has established a tradition of winning over the years as Penske Racing cars have produced over 300 race wins, more than 350 pole positions and 22 national championships" comments Jonathan Gibson, Vice President, Penske Racing.
During the course of a normal racing season there are always an unnaturally large number of highlights for the Penske team, asked to pin that down to just a few Gibson reflects. "Penske Racing has established its legacy at the Indianapolis 500 and we were fortunate to earn the team's record 15th win at Indy this past May with driver Helio Castroneves and the No. 3 Team Penske Dallara/Honda. We were also in the hunt for the IndyCar Series championship until the last lap of the final race this year, with driver Ryan Briscoe and the No. 6 Team Penske car before falling just short. Victories in the NASCAR Cup Series are also very hard to come by and we experienced a great win this season in Atlanta with Kurt Busch and the No. 2 Miller Lite team. Kurt returned to the Chase for the Cup Series championship this season and he continues to fight for the title."
"Our relationship with K&N has been a great one for Penske Racing," continues Gibson. "K&N filters provide top-level performance for our cars and we will continue to work hard to make sure K&N is in Victory Lane with Penske Racing – no matter where we are competing."
You don't get to top, or resolutely remain there, by ever allowing yourself to rest too long on your laurels though. "Penske Racing is always focused on its next challenge," says Gibson. "Right now, we are concentrating on a strong finish to the NASCAR Cup Series and Nationwide Series seasons and the chase with Kurt and the Miller Lite Dodge team. But we also have several other exciting challenges on the horizon. We are pleased to welcome Brad Keselowski, one of NASCAR's rising stars to the team, as he will race the final events in this season's Cup Series, driving in the No. 12 Penske Dodge. He will also join us for a full-season of Cup and Nationwide Series efforts in 2010. We welcome Discount Tire on board as the primary sponsor of Brad's No. 22 car in the Nationwide Series next season. We also look forward to competing for race wins and series championships in all of the series where we will compete in 2010."
Bryce Menzies and his off-road truck catching some air.
Racing off-road flat-out, plotting split-second, mid-air calculations, while thrashing over deliberately unpredictable terrain, requires an extraordinary set of driving skills. To win - requires an astonishingly persistent, and dogged confidence in those skills at every instant. Bryce Menzies, the 22-year-old off-road rising star from Las Vegas, Nevada, has all of that, in truckloads. Menzies showcased his racing prowess lately in both top classes of the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series, doubling-up with two victories in rounds nine and ten, held at Speedworld Raceway in Surprise, Arizona.
Menzies Motorsports use K&N products on everything they have.
"Bryce started racing off-road April '07 at CORR, in Lancaster, California, in a single buggy, that weekend he won his first event - and the rest has been a direct result of that weekend," believes Steve Menzies, Bryce's father, a successful entrepreneur and team owner of Menzies Motorsports (Big Red Machine).
The 22-year old phenom has been consistently tightening up on a wicked learning curve ever since. Only recently, he took his No. 7 Super Clean Ford F150 Unlimited Pro-2 truck, and scraped sponsor decals with the defending champion, Carl Renezeder, at Speedworld Raceway. Brutally hot temperatures did not deter over 15,000 fans from packing the grandstands for the Unlimited Pro-2 main event held over the two-day race weekend. At the finish though, it was the young talent that out raced all of the competition, earning the weekend sweep.
Bryce Menzies has a total of five wins in the Unlimited 2 for the season
"What a great weekend of racing. Bryce and the team performed better than ever. Anytime you can double up victories at this stage of the season it's a good thing. Once again the entire team came together and gave Bryce a perfect race truck and he went out and drove it to the checkers, twice! I couldn't be any happier with the performance of Menzies Motorsports," commented a jubilant Menzies senior. That gives Bryce a total of five wins in the Unlimited 2 for the season. He also holds two checkered flags in the Limited Buggy class this year.
"I think the extra seat time and a great truck, from the preparation, to the set up, is what has propelled Bryce to the front of the pack this year," adds Steve.
"We use K&N products on everything we have, the support has been phenomenal. K&N has spent time helping us develop a trick new air cleaner for the Unlimited 2, that really helps us with the weight and with increased clean air, we really appreciate it," comments Steve.
"The 2010 season will bring an expanded race program for Bryce, he will race Trophy Truck and also Short Course, in both classes," concludes Steve.
Next year the USAC enters it's 55th season in racing. In '09 they conducted nearly 300 total events, spanning nearly every possible type of racing. Since it's inception in 1956, the USAC has conducted more than 8,000 total motorsports events. This not-for-profit sanctioning organization is without a doubt the granddaddy of them all.
Billy Wease Western Speed Racing
The USAC actually came into existence out of necessity, when the American Automobile Association (AAA) unexpectedly announced in August of 1955, that it would cease auto racing sanctioning activities at the end of the year. Up until then triple-A had been the nations' leading sanctioning body ever since 1902.
Getting its start with the inaugural USAC Midget race on January 8, 1956, at Memorial Coliseum in Fort Wayne, Indiana, USAC events have spanned the globe from Europe to the Orient, from South America to Canada and 43 of the United States. On June 11, 1994 the United States Auto Club's 5,000th event was staged, a National Midget race at Indianapolis Raceway Park.
Midget and Sprint car races have made up the majority of USAC's first 54 years of competition, but competition over the years has included Indy cars, Formula One, Silver Crown Championship Dirt cars (in affiliation with K&N), Stock cars, Road races, Formula Ford 2000 and 5000, IROC, Mini-Indy, Pro-Fords, Late Models, Supermodifieds, Russell Pro Championship, Fast Masters, Pikes Peak Hill Climbs and Solar Powered races.
USAC Midget Sprint Car Racing Green Flag
A member of the ACCUS (Automotive Competition Committee of the United States), USAC is affiliated with the World governing council, F.I.A. (Federation Internationale de l'Automovil), located in Paris, France. In addition to motorsport competition, USAC, under its USAC Properties arm, also engages in testing and certification of automotive products and they are the officiator for the land speed records.
#14 USAC Midget Sprint Car
As a support group under the auspices of the FIA, USAC has also participated in Red Bull Moto GP Motorcycle events at Indianapolis Motor Speedway and annually conducts FIA World Land Speed Week at Bonneville Salt Flats where official World Records are established.
This year the USAC broadened its racing embrace further with its involvement in Off-Road Truck Racing, launching the TORC Series, or "The Off Road Championship" started by Ricky Johnson. USAC took the reins as the Official Sanctioning Organization to bring a professional and established racing organization to the off-road sport. USAC has also delivered on bringing safety and technical oversight to the series.
"TORC, and short course off-road racing is new to USAC. However, we do have a vast history with rally racing and the Pikes Peak Hill Climb, so this isn't too far from our core," commented spokesperson Kevin Miller.
Safety has always been of paramount concern at the USAC. Specifications established by the USAC in its competition rules have become industry standards and the basis for rules governing other sanctioning body activities. "We have thousands of racers across the country licensed with USAC today, keeping them safe always comes first and foremost," adds Miller.
USAC also launched its first youth program this year, targeting young racers starting at age 5 and going through 16. The new USAC quarter-midget series held their first race in March and has already grown to host events throughout the country, including a National event at the "Brickyard", the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway, where over 200 participants enjoyed racing in Gasoline Alley. This will be an annual event on the racing-calendar.
"We totally value K&N as a partner with the authenticity of its product in racing. Throughout our series we see the K&N brand and product being used by racers. It goes to show the quality of products offered, when so many of our racers depend on K&N's product," says Miller.
"For the future we are working on developing an even stronger marketing platform, we believe that's key. We have several initiatives underway to continue the evolution of our sport and our series'. There's continuingly growing demand, and we want to ensure we grow with it," concludes Miller.
Racing motocross requires tremendous levels of physical fitness, mental fortitude, and the right equipment. It is difficult to imagine performing any task for 24 hours straight, let alone racing a motorcycle for that amount of time.
Travis Ginter aboard one of two RM-Z450 motorcycles ridden by Team Malcolm Smith/Norco Tires. Photo courtesy of Sean Renshaw.
Team Malcolm Smith/Norco Tires kicking up roost. Photo courtesy of Sean Renshaw.
On October 17-18, 2009 the K&N supported five-person team of Brett Dimanno, Nick Hogan, Patrick Bleckert, Ronnie Anderson and Travis Ginter did not just race their dirt bikes for 24 hours, they dominated the 251cc-open sportsman class.
A pit crew member from Team Malcolm Smith/Norco Tires works on one of the motorcycles.
Team Malcolm Smith/Norco Tires racing through the obstacles at night. Photo courtesy of Sean Renshaw.
Travis Ginter, a senior service advisor for Malcolm Smith Motorsports in Riverside, California, said the 24-hour Glen Helen endurance event in Devore, California was almost unreal. According to Travis “There were no major crashes, injuries, or flat tires on the team,” said Ginter “Racing takes good preparation and it was one of those races where all the pieces seemed to come together.”
The 24-hours of Glen Helen race began at 10 am Saturday morning and ended 10 am Sunday. During the day temperatures hovered in the mid-nineties. Track conditions were rough, but race staff did a good job watering the track, keeping the dust down. The evening brought much welcomed cooler temperatures and the moisture in the air kept the dust to a minimum. “The course was tight with many turns and sections only wide enough for one motorcycle,” said Ginter.
An oversized gas tank on the RM-Z450 allowed the team to ride four laps before refueling. During the day Team Malcolm Smith/Norco Tires members rode 22-23 minute lap times. Each rider took turns riding one lap at a time. Lap times slowed down to about 25 minutes after sunset with each rider racing two laps before switching. This gave team members more time to sleep at night.
Teams were allowed up to six riders and two motorcycles. “Since we had 5 riders we shorted ourselves some sleep,” said Ginter. The K&N supported Team Malcolm Smith/Norco Tires rode identical 2008 Suzuki RM-Z450 cc motorcycles equipped with K&N products. Four hours into the race a minor crash put their first motorcycle out of commission. This forced the team to ride their second bike for 20 hours without changing the oil. Team Malcolm Smith/Norco Tires used K&N oil filter part number
KN-207 during the race. “When I changed the oil after the race it was clean and clear” said Ginter “Our K&N oil filter gave us outstanding filtration.”
When the race was over Team Malcolm Smith/Norco Tires finished 44 minutes ahead of the second place 251-open cc sportsman class team. “The 251-open sportsman class was one of the largest and most competitive classes at the event,” said Ginter. Finishing two laps ahead of second place is astonishing with 16 to 22 other sportsman teams at Glen Helen. Team Malcolm Smith/Norco Tires was able to clinch the endurance series championship, which consisted of a 6, 12 and 24-hour race, with their win in the 24-hour Glen Helen race.
Of course no championship winning team would be able to succeed with out the support of their pit crew. “I want to thank Sean Hodgdon and Justin Jones. Mike Bevan, and K&N’s Anthony Basso who both stayed awake the whole 24 hours. I also want to thank Malcolm Smith Motorsports technicians Javier and Freddy for helping out with the night shifts,” said Ginter. Legendary racer, Malcolm Smith, came out to personally support the team. Travis said “I offered Malcolm my fifth-wheel trailer, but he slept outside on a cot the whole night.”
