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Another Podium for Cadillac Challenge Series Racer Bob Michaels & Heavyweight Racing in C3 Modified

Jul 12, 2013

Bob Michaels and team Heavyweight Racing have earned podium positions during evry race of the 2013 nseason thus far.

As the second season of the Cadillac Challenge Series gets underway, team Heavyweight Racing's Bob Michaels, seems to be on the right track. Having competed in the series since its fruition, the driver came into year-two with a mission and hasn't looked back since the initial waving of the 2013 green flag.

Bob Michels is anticipating yet another successful season in the Cadillac Challenge Series.

Racing in the C3 Unlimited Modified class, Michaels challenged his competitors with vigor in round-one, at the Auto Club Speedway, in Fontana, California. When the checkered flag deemed the event over, the driver was sitting in second place, less than one-half a second behind the winner.

With the first event of the season in the rearview mirror, Michaels headed for the Chuckwalla Raceway, situated about 60-miles east of Palm Springs, California. And his intentions were no different. He had aspirations of earning yet another position on the podium.

Lining up against a record turnout in his class, the driver focused on the task at hand. After a fierce battle, Michaels closed the race in third place with only two-seconds separating him from the victory. Although a win would have been most savored, he was more than happy to have earned a rightful spot on the podium.

The driver's next bout in the C3 Unlimited Modified class took place just north of Bakersfield, California, at the Button Willow Raceway Park. Round-three brought with it another huge turnout of competitors, but Michaels had no intentions of letting numbers prove intimidating. In fact, he managed to finish the event in second place, putting team Heavyweight Racing in the overall points lead.

Looking back at his recent string of success, the driver said, "This season has turned out to be one of the most competitive and challenging racing series I've competed in. Many teams stepped up their programs from the C2 class and modified their cars to run in C3. Consistency has been the key to success this year. We have managed to place on the podium at each of the first six events, with our first win of the season at Willow Springs Raceway.

Bob Michaels is a strong advocate of proper maintnenace and depends upon K&N products for hisfiltering needs.

"We currently sit first in the championship point standings in our class," he continued. "But we are only half-way through the season, with five more races to go."

When asked the key to continued success throughout 2013, Michaels explained, "I don't know if there is necessarily one thing or another that captures success in this series. Minding your program and staying focused on the fundamentals in preparing for each race has been my practice.

"The key to holdong the lead (overall points) will be maintaining the constant pace we've established. We must keep the car on the track for each session and avoid any mistakes with set-ups. I fully expect my fellow competitors to be focused on catching me, and it will get tight by the end of December."

Bob Michaels is mindful that his team will play a significant role in his overall success throughout the season. "I started Heavyweight Racing to support my time attack efforts with the car," recalled the driver/team-owner. The team sets the foundation for the level of performance we want to achieve. All of the guys associated with the team are devoted to winning, and likewise, I stand behind the them, and our efforts."

With an increasing stiffer competition, Bob Michaels and his team will be quick to agree that mechanical issues must be avoided in order to experience success on a consistent basis. That being said, they are strong advocates of using K&N products to keep their engines running contaminant free.

"When you push your equipment to the edge, it's very important to be proactive with maintenance," explained Michaels. "It can be the difference between winning and losing. With regular maintenance, we can avoid the distractions caused from a mechanical issue."

Referring to their filtering systems, the driver continued, "I run K&N products on all of my equipment. For the race car, we run a custom cold-air intake with a K&N air filter. Since we run on remote and dusty tracks, I also use the K&N pre-charger filter wrap as well. It's surprising how much dust you can collect throughout the day.

K&N products have always represented quality," he continued. "When we built the car and needed a special size and shape for the air filter, K&N had what we needed. K&N air intakes on my trucks and transporters certainly help us get to and from the tracks efficiently."

With one-half the season ahead of them, Bob Michaels and Heavyweight Racing are anticipating more trips to the podium in the weeks to come. When asked what fans can expect throughout the remainder of the season, The driver ensured, "We're headed into the second half of the season with determination to continue with our pace and consistency. We're determined to take the championship for a second straight year."

Outlaw 5.0 Index Class Drag Racer Eric Gullett Gets a New Lease On Life

Jul 12, 2013

Eric Gullett is looking forward to getting his car fine tuned and growing more consistent throughout the remainder of the season. Photo by Chris Sears Photography.

Most folks in the business of racing dove into the sport at a fairly young age. Eric Gullett, on the other hand, recently embarked upon his fourth season as a drag racer at the age of 41. One might ask why Gullett waited so long in life to chase his dream. The answer is not only interesting, but is also an inspiration to many.

Upon experiencing his first event, Eric Gullett fell in love with the noise, speed and sensations of drag racing.

"I ran a successful clothing company in Southern California, which back at that time was heavily involved in the exploiting counter-culture movement of surf, skate and motocross," he explained. "I guess you could say I chased after as many of life's highs as I could get - money, girls, cars, etc. . . As a young single man, that was a lot of rope, and I eventually got tangled up in it. In 2005, I had a life threatening motocross accident, and after so many highs and lows, I just struggled with what my true purpose would be," Gullett continued. "Depression, alcohol and prescription drugs led me down a dead-end path and into trouble with the law."

But with time, Gullett eventually came to the realization that his life was not going in the right direction. "In 2007, I decided that I didn't want to live like that anymore," assured the drag racer. "So I pulled the plug on everything in California and moved to Tennessee, where I got a fresh start and a new lease on life. I went through drug and alcohol recovery, started going to church and got baptized in 2008," he shared. "I've come to realize that my true purpose in this life is to love God with all of my heart, all my mind, all my soul and all my strength; And to honor others by having a servant attitude."

After getting hooked on alcohol and drugs earlier in his life, Eric Gullett is now headed in the right direction and is engulfed in the sport of drag racing.

Not only had Gullett totally changed his mindset, but he was also on the brink of embarking upon a sport that would spark a burning desire that could not be quenched. That's right, he purchased his first, and only, drag car - A true 1969 Camaro with a steel body, stock frame rails and a fiberglass front clip.

"I've pretty much always raced something," recalled Gullett. When I was in my teens, I started road cycling. Later, I got into motocross, and with age came the roll cage (drag racing)! After my first pass, I was hooked! I instantly fell in love with the noise, speed and sensations. Ever since, it's been an ongoing process to push a little more and race in a faster class every season."

Competing in the Outlaw 5.0 Index class. the driver is still a little wet behind the ears compared to some of his fellow drivers. And as expected, his record will benefit from improvement.

In fact, modifications to the car throughout the winter months have led to a few bugs that have yet to be fine tuned. In turn, he has experienced a lack of the consistency needed to win at index racing. However, when the 2012 season was deemed over, Eric Gullett earned a win in the 5.0 class at the final Head Hunters South Big Dog Shootout.

The driver also managed to cinch six wins in the 2010-2011 season and earned the runner-up spot in the points race for the ORSCA series. That being said, Gullett was optimistic about the future. "I believe it will come back around," he said.

Mother Nature brought with her heavy precipitation and a rain-out to his most recent race, the Southern Outlaw Tour, at Montgomery, Alabama. However, the driver is looking forward to the remaining events of the season.

Referring to the most anticipated race, he said, "The Owingsville, Kentucky NOPI series. It's located near my hometown, and we're going to try to run some Outlaw 10.5 stuff, which will be an all-out 'Run what you brung' type of deal."

With aspirations of what lies ahead in his racing career, Eric Gullett is acutely aware that proper maintenance will play a significant role in his overall success. "It's of utmost importance," he explained in reference to maintenance. "You can't win anything if you've neglected your equipment, and it fails. Parts attrition will reach up and bite you at the most inopportune time."

That in mind, the driver is a strong advocate of keeping the internal components of his engine clean. In turn, he uses K&N products for his filtering needs. "I've been using K&N air filters on the street for years," he explained. "In the race car, I've used K&N oil, fuel and air filters for the past couple of seasons with great results. K&N not only makes extremely durable products, but they are always on the cutting edge with research and development. I like companies who are progressive. K&N is so involved in all forms of motorsports that there's crossover in technology. And in the end, we all benefit."

Savoring the sport of drag racing, Eric Gullett stated, " I enjoy the relationships and kinships that you develop with competitors, sponsors and promoters as you go through the highs and lows. It's a tough sport. takes up a lot of time and money, and there aren't too many people outside of it that can relate to the insanity."

In closing he continued, "Short-term, we're looking to nail down some index consistency and start running near the front again. . . Long-term, We'd really love to be running in the modified some day."

Related K&N News Articles about Drag Racing: NHRA Mello Yellow Drag Racing's Pro Stock Drivers Battle for Position in K&N Horsepower Challenge; Drag Racing's Team Ballard Family Racing's Emma and Arley Ballard Set Goals for 2013 Season; Lamb Motorsports' NHRA Drag Racing Team Experience Stellar 2012 Season; Frank Hawley's Drag Racing School - Building Dreams and Successful Careers

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Female Off-Road Race Team Zen Pro Racing Looks Forward to Continuing Their Winning Streak

Jul 12, 2013

ZenPro Racing competes in a variety of off-road racing series.

In early 2009, Mo Martinez, and Chuck Neugebauer embarked upon a film production focusing on a girls racing team competing in the SCORE-International events. "We were absorbed by the competitive spirit associated with off-road racing and morphed into one of the most successful female off-road racing teams to date," recalled Zen Pro Racing team owner, Mo Martinez.

Zen Pro Racing is an all female off-road racing team that has experienced an impressive amount of success.

"Soon after filming and documenting the race-team in San Felipe, Mexico, we decided to regroup and search for the finest female racers in the nation, providing them with corporate sponsorship incentives. In turn, we would provide the racer with media exposure and strategically provide our sponsors the same in form of signage at all of the race events attended."

In turn, team Zen Pro Racing (ZPR) came to fruition, a team comprised of all female racers. The team has continued to grow, and in fact, sports 21 members in all. Although there are other off-road race teams consisting exclusively of females, Martinez considers their crew as more structured and organized.

Zen Pro Racing wasted no time in proving the team would become a force to be reckoned with. Competing in the SandFest week, at North Bend, Oregon, they walked away with seven titles in just one week. ZPR dominated the events for the next three consecutive seasons, thus earning them the honor of being declared the "Best of the West" against the other females teams in the competition.

Zen Pro Racing has earned titles in many of the most renowned off-road racing series and is looking forward to continuing their winning streak.

Although most teams would be more than satisfied to excel in one series, Zen Pro Racing is revered for their skills and riding abilities in many. In fact, the team's riders have earned several championships. They have walked away with 8 titles in the past few years. including the X Games, WORCS, Quad X, AMA District 38, Dirt Series, Dade Series MX, RMX and Lucas Oil Series. The team has earned championships in a plethora of other series as well.

Having consistently been well-represented throughout the community of female off-road racing, the team obviously has a knack for recruiting some of the best competitors in the business. When asked the characteristics of a good rider, Martinez said, "We feel strength, combined with endurance, are the key traits to a good racer; That combined with strategic and mental awareness."

Looking back, Martinez suggested that, sisters, Shannon Crouch and Chelsea McShane are the "two most profound racers" who have been with Zen Pro Racing for the longest period. According to the the owner, both team members played a significant role in their early success, with seven podium wins at SandFest 2009 between them.

Referring to the newest member of the team, Martinez mentioned Clearwater, Florida native, Sara Sandusky. The rider jumped aboard early on in 2012 and closed the season with a series win.

Although some of the riders have obviously been members of the team for longer periods than others, Martinez ensured that no particular rider is considered as the leader. "Although our girls are proficient in many aspects as team members, we share one thing in common - to do our very best," the team owner explained. "We do not structure our team in forms of a hierarchy system. We do not believe it is important to assign a team leader amongst our racers."

Zen Pro Racing's stat's are a testimony to each and every team member's riding skills. However, Martinez is also savvy to the fact that one of the greatest keys to success is well-tuned and dependable equipment.

" To get the holeshot is a definite advantage in all of the series. Us signing on with Barnett Performance clutch kits has given us that extra edge. Utilizing their race clutches has helped us along the way to numerous victories.

"Maintenance of our vehicles is very critical and goes hand-in-hand with safety factors as well," Martinez continued. "We recognize the importance of the right maintenance plan, the right equipment , detailed preparation, and most of all, safety for everyone involved in the sport. "

With proper maintenance in mind, the team is a strong advocate of using the best filtration systems on the market. Striving to ensure the internal components of their engines remain contaminant free, Zen Pro Racing recently turned to K&N products to help fight the rigors of off-road racing.

"We currently use an assortment of K&N air filters and are looking to equip our vehicles with their oil filters in the very near future," stated Martinez. " In the pursuit of perfection, we found that K&N products have improved our machines' performance ten-fold. After researching numerous possible replacements, we decided to give K&N products a go and have not been disappointed. Stellar performance products which are pertinent to our system's integrity on our race machines.

"We feel, especially with their air filters, it has provided and increase in mass air flow, thus increasing our machines' ability to breath easier and simultaneously providing a quicker throttle response throughout the power-band range of our machines.

With an impressive crew of excellent drivers and quality products on board, Zen Pro Racing is looking forward to what lies ahead in the future. When asked what fans can expect throughout the remainder of the 2013 season, Mo Martinez said, "For the past few years of the making and fielding of outstanding team racers, ZPR has truly been a formidable presence in off-road racing and a dominating force in the world of desert racing. We look forward to sweeping several of the nationals and international series."

Related K&N News Articles about female off-road racing: Off-Road Racing's Brooke Kawell Racing Readies for 2013 LOORRS Modified Kart Championship Bid; Brooke Kawell Currently Sits 8th in Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series Modified Kart Points; Fourteen-Year-Old Modified Kart Off-Road Racer Brooke Kawell Anticipates Success in 2013; Off-Road Racer Corry Weller Makes LOORRS History in 2011 as First Female to Win a Championship

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K&N's Madison Whitten Ready to Compete in Jr Dragster, Jr Comp and Wicked 330 in 2013

Jul 12, 2013

This season Madison Whitten also races the Wicked 330 Jr. Dragster owned by Keoki Desa.

Being 16-years-old and having a head full of dreams is typical, and generally the more colorful the imaginings, the faster they fade with the years as they get updated by more practical matters. However, you can bet dollars to donuts that Jr. Dragster driver Madison Whitten's dream won't grow faint anytime soon.

Madison Whitten with Division 7 director Mike Rice and her Bracket Jr. Dragster.

"One day I'll make my dreams come true and until that day I'll say over and over again that I'm going to drive Top Fuel," Whitten declares. That's where my heart is set and I wouldn't want to do anything else, that is my priority in life and it will never change. I'm trying to race what I can, as much as I can, whenever and wherever I can."

Whitten has already spent half her life working towards making that dream a reality. When she was eight her dad, Doug, who works in the race shop at K&N, took her to Pomona to see the best top fuel racers in the country run and on the spot she told him - "that's what I want to do." Wanting and dreaming are one thing, having the dedication, work ethic and talent, is an entirely different matter and Whitten has consistently proven she has plenty of all the above.

In April of 2010 Whitten began her race career, and even though it wasn't a full race season, she still managed to win five times. The following year in her first full season of racing, Whitten won the 2011 Fontana Dragway Track Championship for 13 to14 year-olds. And last year, she successfully defended her division 7 championship and added yet another.

Bud Fizone's Jr. Comp is the third dragster Madison Whitten is racing this year.

"Last year we caught more than we could ask for," Whitten says. "Going head-to-head with some of the best Jr. racers around, we won the Barona track championship, which came down to the last race battling it out with Brandon Seraphine. He has been racing for 10 years so I have learned a lot from racing him. It seems like no matter what race or track we're at, somehow we meet up with him first round or in the finals. He has the drive to race just as well as I do, and I can't wait to hopefully compete with him in big cars as well."

Understandably Whitten was eager to get 2013 underway, as this season she accelerates her learning curve further by competing in three different dragsters. "Including my Bracket Jr. Dragster, Jr. Comp and Wicked 330," she adds. "I was lucky enough to have been recognized for my passion for racing and chosen to drive for two other people, Keoki Desa and Bud Fizone."

"The year started out great with all three cars and we were going rounds at every race. I was runner-up at the first two 330 races along with driving my bracket car as well. There were a few races where I ran two cars and I got worn out through the day running between both cars. My dad and I both realized that I needed to get in shape and start going to the gym. We got a personal trainer and I trained hard before the first two divisional races in Sacramento."

The training proved successful, Whitten is clearly physically and mentally tougher, although racing on Saturday in Sacramento didn't go as planned, with all three cars experiencing problems. Whitten was excused in the first round in all three classes, but then Sunday was entirely different story.

"We proved that we can come back from hard losses. I won the race in my bracket car racing past champions, lost in the semis in Jr. Comp because of a minus .004 red, and I lost first round in 330 because the car was still having issues. The following race in Irwindale we clenched another two wins on Saturday, as I was good on the tree, and my dad had the car running right where it needed to be. I couldn't begin to tell you how close the majority of the rounds I've won and lost have been, but those races are the ones that help shape me for the next level in racing, and that's the way I like it. To be a competitive racer you can't let stress or pressures get to you, and that's one of the main things I try to avoid."

"I sincerely want to thank everyone who supports me and believes that I can make my way to the top. Top Fuel is more than a few years away but I get closer every weekend that I race and that's all that matters at this point. I'll soon be licensing for the quarter-mile and driving a front engine dragster in the NE3 class at ANRA races, and hopefully running other track races in another car. There's no telling what the future holds, but I'm working towards my dream, and I understand that I still have plenty more to work on."

Murray Motorsports Manage Mechanical Malfunctions to Finish 3rd at 2013 Best in the Desert Mint 400

Jul 11, 2013

Murray Racing missed 2nd place in the Best in the Desert Mint 400 by a heartbreaking two seconds.

The Great American Race - that's the designation rightfully bestowed on the Mint 400. Created by Norm Johnson in 1967, as a public relations event promoting the Mint Hotel's annual deer hunt, it almost instantly grew into a legitimate desert race, and today continues to hold the title as arguably the gnarliest, most spectacularly demanding off-road race in North America. For many finishing is victory enough, for others like the Murray brothers, Jason and Derek, expectations are set higher. 2013 was the second time in the history of the famous Mint 400 Off-road Desert classic that UTV's were invited to be a part of this prestigious event, and the brothers were looking for a repeat performance of their history making first run at the Mint.

The K&N backed Murray brothers are racing Best in the Desert with full factory support from BRP Can-Am this year.

"We finished 2012 in 1st place," reported Jason. "This year we finished in 3rd, but we had the lead for the first quarter of the race, and then we had some CV issues with the new car, which dropped us down to 7th. We then got back up to 2nd and then had a steering issue. We fell to 3rd and lost 2nd by just two seconds this year. We were pretty bummed by that."

Murray Racing began in 2009 when the brothers began fabricating their first full build UTV to enter into the Best in the Desert class 1900 race series. They figured they were on to something when they finished in 3rd place in their very first desert race in the BITD series. Since then, Murray Motorsports has expanded with multiple cars competing in several different race series, including Best in the Desert, SCORE, WORCS, King of the Hammers and Robby Gordon Stadium Series. Fans can expect a much larger presence from the K&N supported Murray brothers all during the 2013 season.

"We got into desert racing as a hobby, and have found some good success over the past few years," Jason understates. "Up until this year we finished in 23 consecutive BITD and SCORE races, that's pretty impressive."

Murray Motorsports has in fact finished in the top-3 overall in Best in the Desert for the last three years in a row, and they currently sit 2nd overall. Their high level of consistency did not go unnoticed, as the team is proud to have raised the bar in UTV racing, by earning the full factory support of BRP Can-Am for the 2013 season. Earlier this year the brothers also announced that they'll be opening a new race shop which will offer full service fabrication and will produce top of the line Can Am Mavericks.

Clearly last season was "awesome" for Murray Motorsports, and the brothers remain absolutely focused on collecting more wins and top finishes this year. "We currently just finished the Baja 500, where we were running in the lead for the first 360 miles, and then rolled the car a few times to take us out. We had a 40 minute lead on 2nd place at the time. Up next is the Best in the Desert Vegas to Reno in August, and in WORCS we have the Taft race. And later this year we have the SCORE Baja 1000, which is the biggest race of the year."

Related K&N News Articles about the Mint 400 and Best in the Desert racing: Randy Merritt and Mongo Racing Finish Best in the Desert Mint 400 in Debut of New Ford Truck; Macrae Glass Gets Class 8 Win at the 2011 Best in the Desert Mint 400; Jefferies Racing Built K&N Filters Buggy Strong in Best in the Desert's Mint 400 Desert Off Road Race; K&N's Dr. Macrae Glass Grabs Class 8 Win at Best in the Desert's Silver State 300; Las Vegas to Reno Best in the Desert Off Road Race Win for K&N Supported Team

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