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K&N Pro Series West racer Michael Self wins at Brainerd International Raceway in NAPA Know How 125
Michael Self won the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West race at Brainerd International Raceway in Minnesota for the second year in a row on a day when the contenders ran into tire troubles and fell back.
Self's car cut a tire on the last lap of the race. He stayed out on the 2.5-mile road course and maneuvered his car to his fourth career K&N Pro Series West win.
Michael Self and Derek Thorn at the NAPA Know How 125 at Brainerd International Raceway
"Those last 17 laps, it just went like crazy and I never looked back," Self said. "Coming down the backstretch, that last lap, that tire went and that had to be the most nerve racking thing in my entire life. I couldn't believe it."
Self started on the outside of the second row and passed Cameron Hayley for the lead on lap 35 of the NAPA Know How 125. Self was out front for the final 16 laps of the race.
He has won four of the past 13 K&N Pro Series West races starting with the race at Brainerd in 2012. He was the top finishing driver from the West Series at the K&N Pro Series race at Iowa Speedway and won the 2012 season finale at Phoenix International Raceway.
Self's win at Brainerd on May 25 was his first of the 2013 season. His experience at the track was beneficial in repeating as the race winner.
Derek Thorn took 2nd after leading the most laps in the NAPA Know How 125
"You got to be smooth. You got to conserve your equipment," Self said. "That's what kept us there at the end, being smooth, not missing shifts. Whatever happened to the tire happens. We made it long enough to make it happen."
Andrew Ranger won the pole and was challenging Self for the lead on the last lap. But Ranger cut a tire and spun out. He finished in 10th place.
Derek Thorn started on the front row with Ranger. He led a race-high 24 laps, taking the lead from Ranger on the first lap and holding it for 16 laps before giving way to Hayley.
Thorn and Hayley battled for the lead during the middle of the race while Self waited patiently to make his move.
Thorn tried to chase down Self on the final lap, but crossed the finish line 0.952 seconds behind Self.
"We were pretty steady. We started off at a really slow pace and kind of kept it there," Self said. "There were a couple times that 24 car (Hayley) got way out front. He looked like he was gone. These races, anything can happen. Fifteen laps here is a ton. You got plenty of time."
Celebration begins for Michael Self after winning the K&N Pro Series race at Brainerd International
Thorn remains the leader in the K&N Pro Series West standings after three races. He is eight points ahead of Halyey.
Greg Pursley, who finished third at Brainerd, is third in the K&N Pro Series West standings, nine points behind Thorn.
Self moved up to fourth place in the K&N Pro Series West standings and is 15 points out of first place. He has two top-five finishes, including the win at Brainerd, in the three K&N Pro Series West races.
"The last lap was definitely the nerve-racking one," Self said. "It was like life flashing before my eyes."
Rookie Dylan Lupton was fourth in the race at Brainerd followed by Hayley in fifth.
The next race is the Casey's General Store 150 at Iowa Speedway on June 7. It is the first of two combination races for the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West and East.
Related K&N News Articles about Michael Self and the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West:Michael Self Wins the K&N Pro Series West Race at Brainerd International Raceway in Minnesota; Greg Pursley Wins NASCAR K&N Pro Series West Season Opener at Phoenix International Raceway; Cameron Hayley Wins NASCAR K&N Pro Series Race in UNOH Battle of the Beach at Daytona International; K&N NASCAR Pro Series West Season Comes to a Close with Dylan Kwasniewski on Top
Printed Materials Product Manager, Jeremy Templeman takes 3rd in Southern California Flat Track Association Series at Perris Raceway
Being a motorsport racing buff and working for K&N is like being a line-cook and working for the Food Channel, before you know it you're a full-blown chef. Take graphic designer, upgraded to Printed Materials Product Manager, Jeremy Templeman.
"I've been riding motorcycles since I was three-and-half, but I didn't start doing any kind of racing until around the time I began working at K&N in 2004," reported Templeman.
Since working at K&N Templeman has sampled a variety of motorsport flavors and experiences, he's raced off-road Grand Prix motorcycle events, Hare Scrambles in the desert, even a 24-hour race as part of a six member team riding a 50cc Honda two-stroke motorcycle. That event was held on the Willow Springs Kart Track as part of the M1GP race series.
"M1GP is dedicated to racing mini motorcycles," said Templeman. "I spent several years focusing on racing mountain bikes, and road cycles too. That's where I encountered burn out from training, traveling, and the expenses involved."
At the beginning of 2013 Templeman honed his focus to flat track racing. He enrolled in a training course in northern California and went old-school, riding small displacement bikes on small tracks in an attempt to perfect his technique.
"I'm learning that a lot of what I was taught in this school isn't how people ride modern "DTX" bikes. DTX bikes are motocross bikes converted to dirt track, as opposed to the more traditional "framers". Framers are custom built frames/engine combinations for the purpose of racing flat track. So far I'm planning to stick to racing at Perris because it's close and doesn't involve hours of travel or overnight stays. The next closest series has a couple of events at Willow Springs. But that's a few hours away. Northern California is a hot bed of flat track racing as well as other parts of the country. But I've found that traveling to race is an easy way to over spend and burn yourself out." Been there, done that, adds Templeman.
In round 4 of the Southern California Flat Track Association series contested at his home track Perris Raceway in Perris, California, Templeman's diligence paid off with a 3rd place in the Open Novice class main event. And it doesn't make any difference whether you've been racing for three months or thirty years, finally getting it done tastes real sweet.
"I started from the pole position because I took the hole-shot and led my entire heat race to take a win. The heat race decides your start position in the main event. I settled into 4th place in the main event going into turn-three for the first time. With about two-and-a-half laps to go, the third place rider crashed, and the officials threw out the red flag. With only two laps remaining they restarted the race single file, with the person who crashed going to the back. I restarted in third and protected my position through the checkered flag."
Templeman missed the first round of the SCFTA series because his bike wasn't ready, admitting that he's still going through a rookie learning curve. Round 1 was on Saturday and round two the following day. "I took 5th place in round 2 on Sunday because someone crashed and I moved up a position," he said candidly. "I took 5th place in round 3, but at least I earned it. It was a race long battle between me and another racer for 5th and 6th position. I got him in a tight drag race to the finish line."
"Round 5 was two weekends ago. I finished 6th because of a near crash that sent me back to last, or near last place, and I spent the rest of the race trying to regain positions. I passed a few guys, but I was stuck behind two racers battling for 5th. I couldn't get around them either in, or outside." Spoken like a full-blown racer.
Another sure indication that Templeman continues to move closer towards the racing light is the way he's sharing the love with his son, who is exactly the same age Templeman was when he started. Zach started just two weeks ago, racing the 50cc beginner class on his CRF50F (with training wheels).
"Round 5 was his first race," said the proud dad. "He had a blast and finished last, but there were only three kids in his class, so he got third. He's little, so the concept of finishing last is beyond him, and he thought he won. He had a blast."
Related K&N News Articles about Jeremy Templeman: K&N’s Jeremy Templeman Wins the 2013 SCFTA Open Novice Championship
Honda NC700X, NC700S & Integra Replacement K&N Air Filter Front
A huge part of the overall motorcycle experience has always been shifting; it's how riders complete the connection between the road, the bike, and themselves. Now imagine removing the boot-scaring, click, stomp that is shifting and replacing it with effortless acceleration and instantaneous response as you flick through the gears like the paddle shifters on an F1 racecar. Named one of Cycle World's "10 Best Bikes for 2012" in its first year, the 2013 Honda NC700X continues to explore new territory few motorcycle manufacturers have gone before.
K&N Replacement Air Filter Back for Honda NC700X, NC700S & Integra
The NC700X is available in two versions; one features a conventional six-speed, manual-clutch transmission, and the other features Honda's exclusive Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT). With the DCT option you can choose between a manual or automatic setting, allowing one machine to run as an effortless daily commuter or a nimble Adventure Touring Bike. The DCT option also comes with linked anti-lock brakes.
Honda took the NC700X platform still one step further by creating the Integra maxi-scooter, a hybrid motorcycle-scooter using the same 670cc liquid-cooled parallel-twin engine and offering the DCT transmission option on the Integra as well. The engine produces tons of torque and plenty of power for easy two-up cruising. And now with K&N's HA-7012 high-flow, reusable air filter, you can increase both horsepower and torque on any version of the NC700X, by simply upgrading the existing air filter. Simple being the operative word, because the K&N HA-7012 high performance air filter is designed to slide directly into the OE air filter assembly, without the need of any modifications.
The specially pleated material on the HA-7012 air filter provides a large filtration area that continues to provide excellent filtration for long service intervals. Depending on your driving environment, servicing intervals can go up to 50,000 miles before maintenance is necessary. When cleaning is finally needed, that too is as effortless as following the four easy steps on a K&N Recharger Kit (part no. 99-5050).
This will be the last air filter you'll ever need to buy for your Honda NC700X or Integra - you have K&N's celebrated Million Mile Limited Warranty backing that claim.
Jon Henry wins American Late Model Series Race at Attica Raceway Park
Sometimes in racing you need to take a step back in order to take a step forward. That's been the strategy for Ada, Ohio native Jon Henry this season. After years of waging an all-out war on both modified and dirt late model racers throughout the Midwest, Henry decided this year should be about fun, and the results are showing early.
Henry already has wins in both his dirt modified and his American Late Model Series dirt late model, and the trophies keep piling up, making Henry an early favorite as the annual $100,000 Dream at the world famous Eldora Speedway approaches.
American Late Model Series Racer Jon Henry
"Success has come early in both classes," Henry said. "This season is about having fun and less about structure."
One win in particular stands out to Henry as being a moment when he realized that this season was truly going to be fun.
"Winning the ALMS race at Attica by outdueling late model standout Jeep Van Wormer," Henry said when asked what the best moment of the year has been so far. "It was a side-by-side, up-on-the-wheel battle for 25 laps and we gave the fans their money's worth. People won't forget that race and are still buzzing about it a month later.
"Those are the type of races you want to win."
Things haven't been completely glamorous for Henry this season. After returning to his home track, Limaland Motorsports Park, with a second place and a win in his first two modified races, round 3 was a disaster. After a rough heat race, Henry was disqualified in the B Main for debris.
But the rough night helped him appreciate the good ones.
"The worst part about that night was the debris didn't even come off of our car," Henry said. "It was an awful night, but those nights make you appreciate it when you have a good one."
Henry is also battling an ill-handling late model on slick tracks, something he says the team is working hard at fixing before the heat of the summer.
Still, after winning a modified feature at Eldora in early May, mixed with his past success at Eldora, Henry and his team are geared up for a strong showing at the Dream.
And if Henry makes it to victory lane, K&N Filters will be right there with him.
"The reason K&N is so successful is because their products truly work," Henry said. "Our engine builder is always amazed on how clean our engines are during a rebuild. Thanks to the washable air filters, when cleaned with the K&N Power Clean and then re-oiled with the K&N Oil, it's like having a brand new filter every night."
Related K&N News Articles about Jon Henry and Jon Henry Racing:Jon Henry Racing LTD and Their New Rocket Ready to Blastoff Into 2012; Late Model Racer Jon Henry Wins at Attica Raceway Park After Tire Problems Slow Him Down; UMP American Late Model Star Jon Henry Wins Again at Attica Raceway Park; Jon Henry Racing LTD Notches Another Late Model Victory at Attica Raceway Park;
Andy Forsberg in front of the F&F X1 360 Sprint Car and a Fan
When you've been in racing as long as Auburn, California native Andy Forsberg has been, you're bound to experience every up and down there is. This season has been no different for Forsberg, but like always, he has found ways to battle through adversity and the good results are starting to roll in.
Andy Forsberg Family #92 Sprint Car
The seven-time and three-time defending California Sprint Car Civil War Series champion is in contention for his eighth championship this year, but a scary crash will keep Forsberg from challenging for his third Silver Dollar Speedway championship.
"I have been very lucky in my racing career, in that I've always gotten out of the car after a wreck," Forsberg said. "But this year during a heat race at Chico (California's) Silver Dollar Speedway, I got upside-down…my crew was waiting to put another wing on the car, but when the car came back down, it hit square on the rear-end."
"Sprint cars don't have much of a suspension, so when it landed, it slammed flat on the ground. I thought I broke my back, I was in and out of consciousness and I had to be pulled from the car and taken to the hospital for observation. I was lucky, everything was alright…but because it happened in a heat race, I missed the main and got no points for the night, ending my chances for a championship."
Despite that scare, Forsberg also had a bright moment at Silver Dollar this year. After crashing his family-owned No. 92 car, Forsberg and longtime friend Cody Gainy of P.T. Shocks got together for the Silver Cup race.
Andy Forsberg and the Owners of the 7c Cody Gainy PT Shocks 360 Sprint Car
"We kind of talked about it and said ‘what the heck, lets try it,'" Forsberg said. "We won our first night at the Silver Cup. Then we went down to Ocean Speedway in Watsonville (California) a few weeks later. The promoter was offering a $1,500 bonus to any Civil War Series driver to make the long haul to the track and win a Taco Bravo main event.
"We won that night, and it was really funny because the promoter didn't recognize the car I was driving, and when he walked down on the track to congratulate the winner, I took my helmet off, and he just about had a heart attack. $1,500 out the door!"
The one surprise for fans of Forsberg and the driver himself is the lack of victories in the F&F X1 entry.
"That's the car I've had the most success in," Forsberg said. "I'm a little surprised we haven't won yet. We've had a lot of top five's, but no wins."
A racer's racer, Forsberg runs as much as possible, and he says that's why he keeps coming back to tracks like Silver Dollar and to series like the Civil War.
"Really we are not attracted to any one series, we just love to race," Forsberg said. "The Civil War does not travel long distances and the 360's are obviously less expensive than the 410, so we always end up racing for points. The 410's at Silver Dollar are on Friday's and the only other series that competes on Friday is Watsonville, and that's a long tow. The promoters set it up so the drivers competing for points don't miss races due to conflicting events, so we are always in multiple points chases."
Forsberg credited K&N Filters for allowing his team to run as much as they do with minimal engine wear.
"K&N has products that keep the motor clean and running efficient," Forsberg said. "We have a lot of money tied up in these sprint car motors and taking care of them is very important. K&N Oil and Air Filters keep our engines clean inside, which is great, because we can't afford to have issues because of dirt in our engines."
Related K&N News Articles about Andy Forsberg:Andy Forsberg Continues his Journey of Dominance in Open Wheel Racing; Andy Forsberg Earns 9th Win of the Year in a History Making 100th Win 2012 Season; Andy Forsberg has Successful Weekend with Podium Finish at Silver Dollar Raceway; Andy Forsberg Wins Second Championship of 2011 at the Civil War Series Championship; Andy Forsberg Voted 360 Sprint Car Driver of the Decade
