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Pat Gerber and his Shocker monster truck team spent the holidays giving back to their smallest fans.
The Shocker team visited the city of Corona in Southern California and joined the Cops For Kids Christmas event for underprivileged children and families.
The Shocker Monster Truck
The team members helped pass out toys and presents to the families. They also signed autographs and took pictures for the children. More than 1,000 families participated in the event.
"It was a no-brainer. We wanted to be able to provide that excitement," said Gerber, the driver and owner of the Shocker monster truck team. "The kids all day were taking pictures by the truck. Everybody got a real, up close feel for the monster truck."
Pat Gerber signing autographs for the kids
The Shocker team traveled through Corona with a police escort. They arrived at Sheridan Park and distributed presents with the police officers.
"They never had a monster truck at this event," said Lee Watkins, the team manager. "Being at this event, it's designed around kids and making it a memorable experience for them. It was just a perfect fit."
Passing out toys to underprivileged was only one of the ways the Shocker team kept busy over the holidays. The team is putting together a new engine for the truck and added some new sponsors for the 2014 season.
"We have a brand new paint scheme we're running in 2014. We're building a new motor in 2014," Watkins said. "Our current engine is a 523. Our new one will be a 540. That will obviously give us more horsepower and makes us even more competitive."
The kids were able to up close and personal with the Shocker Monster truck
K&N has been a supporter of the Shocker team for years. Lucas Oil is returning as well. MAV TV and Protect the Harvest are new to the team in 2014.
"It means a lot to have the right people behind you," Gerber said. "Our truck always looks clean and special. We here to keep promoting not only Shocker, but the brands that are associated with it."
The Shocker Monster truck team helped pass out gifts and sign autographs
The team will be competing in events throughout California to start the 2014 season. The Shocker team will be in Anaheim and Oakland in February. The team will compete in Las Vegas in March and Fresno in April.
"We compete with the big names in the industry like the Gravediggers of the world, the Bounty Hunters," Watkins said. "We're right there. This last year, we won some of the events. We're definitely going to be a contender every event that we go."
The 2014 event schedule for the Shocker Monster truck
In addition to competing, the Shocker team travels to other auto racing venues, the Grand Prix of Long Beach and Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, for promotional purposes. Gerber said K&N has been a great supporter of his team's efforts.
"We're partnered with K&N for the last several years," Gerber said. "It's been really good. It's hard to dispute why you would want to change something when it's working well for you. I wouldn't want to change."
Related K&N News Articles about Monster Trucks and the Fontana Speedway:
The Shocker Monster Truck Makes a Shocking Appearance at the 2012 SEMA Show;
Matt Kenseth is 2 for 2 in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Auto Club 500 at Daytona and the Speedway at Fontana;
Joe Sylvester with His Bad Habit Monster Truck Breaks the World Record Jump
For a car buff it's next to impossible to avoid a mischievous grin at the sight of a Ford Mustang. Introduced with epic flair at the 1964 New York World's Fair, for half a century the Mustang has symbolized American freedom and style, as much as it has embodied personal automotive expression.
Dave Martis and the K&N Ford Mustang will kick off the National Auto Sports Association (NASA) racing season at Chuckwalla Valley Raceway February 8-9.
In keeping with the celebration of 50 years of Ford Mustang, Dave Martis, R&D Manager for K&N has assembled a talented crew and an equally epic 2014 Mustang. Martis and the K&N Mustang will compete in the 2014 NASA American Iron Series and a number of other West Coast races. Representing K&N and some of our many special partners, the K&N Mustang Project will also attend a wide variety of national shows and other high visibility events.
After the Mustang was introduced in 1964 it caused traffic jams as inquisitive crowds converged on Ford showrooms to witness for themselves a new form of American automotive muscle and style. With the cooperation of our select partnerships with Ford Racing, Bassani Xhaust, Cortex Racing, G-Stream, Baer Brakes, RaceTech seats, Exedy clutches, Hawk Brakes, AEM Electronics, JRi shocks, Toyo tires, Optima batteries, Lucas Oil and Eibach – the K&N Mustang Project will honor the first 50 years of the original Ford muscle car experience. Curious fans will be able to follow the year long adventures of Martis, the K&N Crew and the K&N Mustang on the K&N News website and on Facebook and Twitter.
K&N Engineering, Inc. has announced several organizational changes in its executive staff. The Company's growth over the last several years has fueled the need for an expanded management team to provide the time and talent necessary for us to take maximum advantage of operational and market opportunities.
Tim Martin has been promoted to Chief Operations Officer. In this role Tim will become responsible for worldwide operations which include manufacturing, distribution, sourcing, information systems, E-commerce, and data management. In order to facilitate this expanded role, Tim will no longer be directly responsible for the sales department or sales activities; although, he will continue to help direct company sales strategy and execution. Tim has been with the company for 17 years and formerly led sales, customer service and information systems. The company will begin a national search for a Vice-President of Sales that will be responsible for the entire global sales organization. In the interim, the sales department will be managed by Steven Rogers, K&N's President and CEO.
Steve Williams will assume the Role of Chief Engineering Officer. Steve will be responsible for worldwide product engineering, warranty services, product and materials research, testing, quality control, regulatory compliance, OEM relations, and private label customer relations. Steve has been with K&N for 17 years and was formerly responsible for product development, manufacturing and distribution.
Douglas Hood will be joining the company in the role of Chief Financial Officer. Doug has over 25 years of financial experience working with consumer product companies and will be responsible for all financial, accounting and tax matters and have a key role in the operational management of the company. Additionally, Doug will handle all banking and financial relations, M&A opportunities, legal affairs, risk management, financial analysis, and strategic initiatives. Doug brings a wealth of experience to the team having formerly served as Chief Financial Officer for Spyder Active Sports, Inc., and Senior Vice-President of Corporate Development for Motorsport Aftermarket Group, Inc. Doug began his career with Price Waterhouse.
Jean Franks will become the Vice-President of Administration and will continue to be responsible for managing the accounting, administration and human resource functions.
Jesse Spungin has joined K&N as Chief Marketing Officer. In this role, Jesse will be responsible for all marketing, advertising and brand management activities of the Company. Jesse has over 15 years of experience in the world of brand management and marketing. He previously held senior positions with ConAgra foods and International Home foods managing major international consumer brands.
I am very pleased to announce these organizational developments and the expansion of our executive team. We will now be in a better position to handle the significant growth that has taken place over the last several years and the even more significant market opportunities we see in the future.
Sincerely,
STEVEN ROGERS,
President and CEO
K&N Engineering, Inc.
After his four round sweep of the Cocopah Cup Challenge Jason Johnson and son Jaxx celebrated together in victory lane
Why is the fourth movement of a symphony always the most powerful one? Why does the climax come at the end of the movie and a fireworks display instead of the beginning, and why do we eat dessert last? In psychology terms this is a human phenomenon related to "peak-end bias," yet in motorsports it's simply thought of as a champion's will.
The Cocopah Cup saw 40 drivers competing for the $20,000 prize, but with his clean sweep, it was Jason Johnson that also collected an extra five grand
"To win the Cocopah Cup Challenge by sweeping all four events at the Cocopah Speedway was fantastic," declared K&N's Jason Johnson. "At the beginning of the season we were aware of the extra bonus up for grabs, but knew it would be a very tough feat to accomplish. Great team work put us in position for the win each night, and staying up front in clean air is always a bonus to winning races. This accomplishment has to go down as one of the most prestigious tasks we ever achieved as a team here at Jason Johnson Racing."
After winning the first two rounds of the Cocopah Cup back in March, Johnson and his crew where meticulously focused on continuing their winning ways at the historic Yuma, Arizona 3/8th mile oval in November. The only thing standing in their way was 39 other drivers and an unlimited list of racing misfortunes that could run amuck at anytime. And that's where the indomitable "Ragin' Cajun's" champion mindset kicked in full force. Nothing, it seems, would stand in the way of Johnson's remarkable will to win, not starting dead last in his Round 3 heat race, or even dropping a cylinder in the waning laps of the A-Main. Johnson simply stayed on the gas of his Stenhouse Jr. Racing Roush Yates Ford No.4, and crossed the finish line 3.675 seconds ahead of second place.
Besides winning the Cup Jason Johnson Racing also locked up their fourth consecutive ASCS National Tour Drivers Championship
After his Round 3 victory all that now stood between Johnson and the $25,000 purse for sweeping the Cocopah Cup Challenge, which included the $5,000 "extra bonus," and the earning the 2013 Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour title, was the Round 4 A-Main. As the winner of the last round Johnson got an automatic pass into Saturday night's finale.
And in spectacular fashion, with a packed house cheering them on, Logan Forler and Johnson drag raced down the straight-aways as they repeatedly contested for the bottom lane as it was the fastest way around the oval to the checked flag. Refusing once more to be denied, Johnson made it there first, winning his fourth straight ASCS National Tour championship and collecting the considerable Cocopah Cup Challenge check.
Currently in a three-way tie with 4 National Championships Jason Johnson is looking to stand alone with 5 championships in 2014
In victory lane, the humble driver from Eunice, Louisiana, praised his race team, "It just speaks volumes about this team and what they accomplished. The biggest satisfaction for the 2013 season is the fact that Jason Johnson Racing has been in existence for four years, beginning in 2010. And with great supporters such as K&N aboard, we have managed to earn four ASCS National Championships in those four years. I'm very proud for everyone involved and who contributes to being a part of this successful team. In 2013 we did not win as many as we would have liked, but we managed to win several big events, which made up for it."
For the first time in the last ten years, my wife Bobbi and I decided to stay home in the USA, versus going down under to compete in Australia," remarked Johnson regarding his off season plans. "With our new son, Jaxx Hosea Johnson, being born on May 8th, we look forward to a little down time to enjoy family life and the holiday season. I'm very blessed!"
Jason Johnson Racing plans to compete for the 2014 ASCS National Championship. "We are currently in a three-way tie with 4 National Championship," Johnson adds, "And we would love to become the first with 5 National Championships."
Related K&N News Articles about Jason Johnson and ASCS Racing:ASCS Championship Driver Jason Johnson Leads After a Sizzlin' 2012 Speed week Performance;
ASCS 360 Sprint Class Racer Brian Brown Earns Top Podium Spot at Devil's Bowl;
ASCS Lucas Oil National Series Sprint Car Win for Jason Johnson at I-30 Speedway;
Arnold Motorsports' Miranda Arnold Ready for 2013 ASCS Racing Season
In his first season racing Modified Karts Trevor Briska finished 3rd overall in the Lucas Oil Regional Series and 11th in LOORS.
"We had a good weekend of racing for the final race of the Lucas Oil Off-Road Regional series at Lake Elsinore," reported Clint Briska. Clint is the Vice President of the international J.H. Sims Trucking Company, Inc., but more to the point, he's the proud father of Trevor, the up-and-comer with promising off-road racing skills.
The young K&N up-and-comer is looking forward to making into the PRO 2 or PRO 4 class.
The day started off a little rough for Trevor at Lake Elsinore Motorsports Park, with an electrical issue that kept blowing the main fuse and causing the car to shut down. The setback allowed Trevor to only complete two laps of qualifying, which relegated him into the 19th starting position out of 25 Modified Trophy Karts. However, the kid from Ontario, California has clearly illustrated early on in his life that he was not one to be slowed down by a little adversity.
When the green flag dropped at Lake Elsinore Motorsports Park, Trevor quickly started picking up positions. By the end of the race he made his way up to 5th place and had earned enough points to finish 3rd overall on the series.
Trevor just became a teenager in November, and what makes his competitive tenacity that much more impressive, is that 2013 was his first year racing Modified Trophy Karts. He got his first taste of racing motocross when he was just six-years-old, but two years later he was diagnosed with Diabetes. "At which time we took about seven months off of racing to get his health in order," said dad.
Trevor lists making it back to Crandon for the 43rd Off-Road World Championships as one of his 2013 highlights.
"In 2012 we started racing JR2 Trophy Karts, in which Trevor finished 10th overall in the LOORS, and if I am not mistaken, 4th in the regional's," Clint remarks. "I was helping a friend of mine, John Holmes, who was racing Pro Buggy in LOORS at the time and we were going to all of the races. This made us think that maybe Trevor would like to try racing the Trophy Kart series. This year we were able to compete in four of the Robby Gordon SST races that the Modified Karts were invited to, as well as making the trip back to Crandon, Wisconsin for the 43rd year of Off-Road World Championships. It was also the first time they have ever had the Modified Trophy Karts and all the fans absolutely loved it!"
As if the young K&N backed racer needed anymore character building experiences, on November 4th, right before his 13th birthday, Trevor had to have brain surgery. At the start of the season he had gotten a concussion, and after a CT scan his doctor noticed that Trevor had an enlarged Arachnoid Cyst that required draining.
"He is recovering well and should be able to get back in the car by the start of the New Year," confirms dad. "Trevor is very much looking forward to next year's race season and plans on running in both the LOORS and the Regional's, as well as whatever else comes about. And we are hoping to be invited back to Crandon next year for sure. Trevor's biggest off-road racing hero is Kyle Leduc and he hopes to someday be able to make to the top ranks of the PRO 2 or PRO 4 as a driver."
In his rookie year in the Modified Karts, Trevor didn't only finish an inspiring 3rd overall in the Lucas Oil Regional Series at Lake Elsinore Motorsports Park, he very nearly broke into the top-10 in LOORS, finishing 11th overall in points out of 24 racers.
Just want to give a big thanks to K&N and all of our sponsors that help make it all happen," adds Clint. "It has definitely been a long year with a lot of racing."
Related K&N News Articles about Modified Kart Racing:Kart Series Racer Hunter Smith in Top Five for Championship at Borger's Speedway; Brooke Kawell Racing Readies for 2013 LOORRS Modified Kart Championship Bid; Fourteen-Year-Old Modified Kart Racer Brooke Kawell Anticipates Success in 2013; Bradley Morris Finishes 2012 3rd in Pro Lite & Modified Kart, 2nd in Limited Buggy
