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NHRA Super Comp Racer Al Kenny Wins 4th Annual Dollar General NHRA Four-Wide Nationals

May 18, 2013

Al Kenny puts his JEGS/K&N Engineering Super Comp dragster in the winner’s circle

The defending 2012 NHRA Super Comp world champion, Al Kenny just might be working on keeping that number one on his Dan Page dragster. During his most recent outing, for the 4th annual Dollar General NHRA Four-Wide Nationals in Concord, North Carolina, Kenny whipped his way through six rounds to put his JEGS/K&N Engineering ride into the Super Comp winner’s circle.

4th annual Dollar General NHRA Four-Wide Nationals win for Al Kenny

Time runs for the sportsman classes were conducted on Friday morning of the event, well before the rain came in and washed out most of the day’s on-track activities. With such a change in air and track conditions the following morning for first round of eliminations, Kenny refers to the time runs the day before as more of “exhibition runs”, since there wasn’t a whole lot of info drivers gained from their first day on the track that could be used on Saturday.

“The data was showing almost a tenth and a half faster Saturday morning than the day before,” Kenny explained. “That is a tricky track anyway with the winds. We had some tailwinds, but it’s kind of a stadium style track, so you’re not really sure where the winds are picking you up. That one and Chicago are probably the two worst because the winds get to swirling around.”

With everyone pretty much in the same boat when it came to lack of data for round one on Saturday morning, Kenny pointed out the air and track conditions were certainly leaning to the cool side. “It was cold Saturday morning, even by Canadian standards,” he joked. “My tires were chucking pretty hard and as I came up on [Ed] Richardson, I saw the back end of his car start to waggle a little bit, so I thought, well this is good for me. Basically the cold track meant a super slow race and I didn’t think it was a close as it was down there until I saw the time slip.”

That would set Kenny up to meet Chuck Westcott and his 1996 Beretta in round two. “There’s a big mile-per-hour difference between us, so I tried to dial it close,” he said. “He was way out on me and I knew there was no way I was getting there. With that massive air change and everyone was dead slow in round one, because I think the track was so cold, most of us ran mid-nineties, so we knew we couldn’t go back up there and run a ninety-five and hope to win the round. So, I’m just guessing here, but that he sped it up to make sure that he ran at least a ninety and by that point the track is better and he was way fast.”

NHRA Super Comp champion Al Kenny

Round three, Kenny and his K&N dragster would face Todd Kujawa who in the previous round did not get a hit at the tree and that may have been the reason for his very late light. “When I went past the tree I thought holy cow his stage light is still on,” laughed Kenny. “Actually, it wasn’t to that extreme, but I’m getting better at saying man, I think I got that one and that time I was absolutely sure.”

Kenny used his .022 to Kujawa’s .090 to safely take the stripe with ease and move on to the quarterfinals to pair up with Ken Griffiths. There, Kenny turned on the win light in his lane once again with his lesser of two evils double breakout, 8.888 to his opponent’s 8.871, thanks in part to his one full hundredth starting line advantage.

The semifinal would be the round Kenny would consider his “lucky” round of the weekend after making it past Danny Waters Jr. “That was just me tightening it up almost a little too much,” Kenny admitted of the .0003 margin of victory at the stripe. “Again, I didn’t think it was that close and I had backed into him and saw my win light come on. Now, if you would have asked me before I got to the ticket booth, I would have said yeah, it was close but maybe like five thou or so and I had no idea it was three ten-thou.”

Kenny was now moving into the Super Comp championship round to line up with Jason Lynch where it would be a quick one when Lynch turned it red.

“My four rounds on Sunday, my sixty foot only moved three thou,” Kenny pointed out. “My window was tremendous [range of reaction times] and for the final, we just bumped up the launch RPM. I was like .022 to .026 every hit and feeling like I’m really hitting it, so apparently that’s all I got, so we gave it some more RPM. Honestly, two-hundred RPM shouldn’t have moved it up that much, so I’m guessing that final round adrenaline, better concentration or a combination of above, well I came up double-oh.”

“That was kinda cool,” he continued about his reaction time. “I was happy to see the red-light, but had he not been red, I think I would have had a pretty good shot at it with a light like that.”

The reigning NHRA Super Comp champion uses numerous K&N Engineering products not only on his trusty Dan Page dragster that his grabbed the Super Comp Wally with during the national event, but also on the entire fleet of Kenny family race cars that son Jason and Samantha drive. “This dragster has the 2nd Gen K&N composite scoop with the high flowing K&N filter, plus we use the K&N HP-3002 wrench-off oil filter and various other smaller filters on the breather tanks and such.”

While Kenny is pleased with the performance he enjoys with the K&N filters on the race cars, it just may be the excellent results he has experienced getting to and from the events with the addition of the K&N Heavy Duty filter on the team’s semi chassis based motorhome.

“Already this spring, we have had a couple of truck drivers ask us at truck stops about the K&N filters,” Kenny said. “When Greg Boutte at K&N had us try them, he told us we wouldn’t down shift going up hills. I thought, OK that’s the salesperson in him and wow, let me tell you, you can feel the difference. Going up hills with the rig is incredible. Like the big hill on I-77 coming out of Charlotte when you hit the Virginia line [approximately 1,500 ft climb over a six-mile grade], the last third of that, I used to go up in ninth gear at about 35 MPH. The last two trips with my K&N air filter, I’m going up in eleventh gear at 55 MPH.”

“I mean that’s huge,” he stressed of the results. “Well, diesels are all about compression and if it’s flowing a lot more air, well the compression is going to be a lot better and I can tell, more power.”

Find K&N products for your vehicle using the K&N application search then use the K&N dealer search to find a K&N dealer in your part of the world.

Related K&N News Articles about Al Kenny and Super Comp: NHRA Driver Luke Bogacki Experiences a Stellar Super Comp and Super Gas Race Season; Samantha Kenny Makes Strides Towards Successful Career in NHRA Super Comp Class; Exciting Super Comp Final for K&N's Greg Boutte During NHRA National in Las Vegas; Alan Kenny Wins First NHRA Super Comp Championship with the Help of Son Jason Kenny;

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Andy Gregg Wins Wing 360 Sprint Car Race at Placerville Speedway in Northern California

May 18, 2013

Andy Gregg and his Wing 360 Sprint Car

Andy Gregg won his first Wing 360 Sprint Car race of the season at Placerville Speedway in Northern California, completing the final seven laps of the race with a broken shock. Gregg passed Mason Moore for the lead on lap six and was able to extend his lead on the dirt track, but ran into some trouble in the closing laps of the race.

“Something happened and the bolt pulled out of the shock,” Gregg said. “I was able to make adjustments to my line and my driving to accommodate for it. We actually were still able to inch away a little bit from second place to keep our comfortable lead even with the shock not being there.”

Andy Gregg now third in Wing 360 Sprint standings after Placerville Speedway win

Gregg said his left front shock was knocked out of place on lap 18 of the 25-lap main event.

“The track was pretty hooked up and the car wanted to wheely up a little bit sometimes coming out of turn 2,” Gregg said. “One of the times when I wheelied up, when the front end came back down, it was just the right angle and the right pressure on the shock and it just popped it off. I think it was just kind of a fluke thing. I’ve never seen anything like that before.”

It was Gregg’s first win in eight starts at Placerville. He has four top-five finishes at the track. He qualified second for the race, but had to pass two cars to take the lead. “Once I got the lead, I could pick and choose my line,” Gregg said. “We started to stretch out a little bit of a lead.”

He was fifth in the heat race, but Gregg said he wanted to take it easy early in the night and try to avoid the last-chance qualifier to make the main event.

“Sometimes it’s better just to settle in and take that transfer spot than to not make a direct transfer in to the main event,” Gregg said. “Heat races don’t pay any money. That fifth-place finish doesn’t necessarily reflect how good the car was. The car was handling great. We had a lot of momentum. The heat race is more strategy than anything.”

Gregg, who lives in Placerville, was third in the Wing 360 Sprint standings at the track after winning his first race. Even though Placerville Speedway is his home track, he doesn’t race there as much as he would like to.

“It’s actually my hometown track, but I don’t get to race there that often because we are constantly chasing the bigger races,” Gregg said. “We venture up into Oregon and Washington, Nevada and Arizona, too. It’s a lot of racing to do.”

He does not plan on racing for the track championship at Placerville. There are races in Oregon that he plans to enter during the summer.

“We’re not committed to the championship there,” Gregg said. “At the moment we’re third in points. We might venture out to some bigger, more prestigious races.” He credits the K&N air and oil filters for allowing to his team to compete at such a high level.

“Every little bit helps,” Gregg said. “They’re air filters are bar-none the best when it comes to dirt. It’s really strong and can really handle the abuse. That’s why their stuff is far superior than the other Sprint car air filters out there. Their oil filters are my favorite. On the bottom of them they have the nut, where you can use. There are times when things get really greasy and dirty and it’s hard to get the oil filter off. The K&N brand has the quick remove.”

Find K&N products for your vehicle using the K&N application search then use the K&N dealer search to find a K&N dealer in your part of the world.

Related K&N News Articles about Andy Gregg and Sprint Car racing: Andy Gregg Kicks Off 2013 with a Strong Showing at Marysville Raceway Park; New Golden State Challenge Sprint Car Track Record Broken with Fastest Time at Ocean Speedway

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ASCS Lucas Oil National Series Sprint Car Win for Jason Johnson at I-30 Speedway

May 18, 2013

Jason Johnson gains third win of the season at ASCS Lucas Oil National Series at I-30 Speedway

It was a night of near perfection for Jason Johnson in the ASCS Lucas Oil National Series at I-30 Speedway in Little Rock, Arkansas. The three-time and defending series champion started on the front row, waited patiently for an opening and attacked when the time was right to win Round 8 of the sprint car series and take a commanding lead in the points standings. It was Johnson’s third win of the season.

“Anytime you can win an ASCS National tour event, it is a big night,” Johnson said. “We always look forward to coming to I-30, and the management changed the surface up this time, so we had some work to do. The team did a great job dialing in the Maxim Chassis to perfection.”

Johnson used the cushion to make the pass for the lead and then took advantage of lapped traffic to hold off Johnny Herrera in the final laps. Johnson currently leads Herrera by 43 points heading in to the April 27th event at Riverside International Speedway in West Memphis, Arkansas.

Johnson’s Stenhouse Jr. racing team is on a tear lately. The team dominated the weekend at Cocopah Speedway in Yuma, Arizona., in early March.

“The team put together a picture perfect weekend by sweeping both events,” Johnson said. “Cocopah Speedway has promised a bonus if any driver can sweep the four ASCS events at the track, so we are definitely looking forward to that challenge.”

The only hiccup in Johnson’s season came the night before his win at I-30. The ASCS National Tour race at Golden Triangle Speedway in Beaumont, Texas, was set to be a good race, but Johnson spun himself out in turn one on the first lap. After restarting in 24th, he managed to work his way back to fourth before the checkered flag flew.

“No doubt, if it was not for our first lap incident, I feel we had a car good enough to add to our victories,” Johnson said.

Johnson said continuity is the biggest reason his team has carried over its success from last season.

“Philip Dietz, Tim Courmier and Jamie Martin have been working together for a few years now, and they work well together,” Johnson said. “That continued relationship plus the relationship with all of our marketing partners and product partners give us confidence to represent all of those brands well both on and off the track.”

Of course, it’s never too early to start looking ahead to the most prestigious event in dirt track racing, the Knoxville Nationals.

“We’ve won championships and races at Knoxville, but it’s always our goal to win the 360 Nationals and have a strong showing in the 410 Nationals,” Johnson said. “We are confident that our Roush Yates Racing Engines will give us that opportunity come Knoxville time.”

One constant in those engines is the protection provided by K&N Filters.

“K&N Filters have become an important ingredient in the success of our team year in and year out,” Johnson said. “K&N has kept our Roush Yates engines at peak performance while filtering out all the dirty environments we race in. From air filtration to oil filtration, we have had no engine troubles related to our K&N Filters.

“K&N Filters give us the opportunity to compete for championship.”

Find K&N products for your vehicle using the K&N application search then use the K&N dealer search to find a K&N dealer in your part of the world.

Related K&N News Articles about Jason Johnson: Jason Johnson Rolls Into I-30 Speedway With Points Lead; ASCS Championship Driver Jason Johnson Leads After a Sizzlin' 2012 Speedweek Performance; Jason Johnson and Stenhouse Jr. Racing Have Successful First ASCS 305 Outing; Jason Johnson and JJR Puts I-30 Behind Them and Focuses on Remainder of the Season;

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Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series Pro-4 Driver Carl Renezeder Wins at Firebird International Raceway

May 18, 2013

In spite of mechanical issues, Carl Renezeder took a win during his first Pro-4 class race of the 2013 season.

Carl Renezeder and his crew pulled into Chandler, Arizona with an eagerness to get the 2013 season underway. A veteran in the LOORS series, the driver had an idea of what it would take to pull off a win at the Firebird International Raceway. In fact, his expectations were high.

“We had a lot of confidence going into the first event of the season, after a positive end to last year - winning five of the seven races, including the Challenge Cup race from a 22nd starting position,” he recalled. “ We built on that during the off season, testing and fine-tuning our trucks throughout the winter.

Carl Renezeder started the 2013 LOORS season off with a bang at the Firebird International Raceway at Chandler, Arizona.

“I’m surrounded by a great team, he continued, “my crew, sponsors, family and fans, and I continue to be a student of this sport. Staying ahead of the innovation curve and being diligent about the small things both contribute to this team’s success as well.”

Getting in two practice sessions on the day prior to the race, it quickly became clear that the truck was fast right off of the trailer. With a little fine tuning as the track conditions changed throughout the event, Renezeder and his team would likely see their share of success.

After qualifying second quickest in the Pro-4 class, the driver didn’t waste any time when the waving of the green flag deemed the race underway. However, debris took out a rear brake line early in the event. But that was no indication that Renezeder had any intentions of doing anything but winning. In spite of the mechanical malfunction, he took the lead with three laps to go, starting the season off with a victory.

With a stellar start to the 2013 season, Carl Renezeder is looking forward to continuing his winning streak.

Qualifying fourth in the qualifying round of the Pro-2 class, Renezeder’s start of the race was not as hoped for, as he slid back into the sixth spot during the opening lap. But again, let up was not in the driver’s vocabulary. By lap 12, he had managed to muscle his way back to behind the lead driver, a position he managed to hold until crossing the finish line.

Returning the next and final day of the event, Carl Renezeder was eager to continue his winning streak. With a few minor modifications here and there and a functional breaking system, the driver was on the road to another win in the Pro-4 division.

Lining up for the Pro-2 race, Renezeder embarked upon a battle unsurpassed. Starting in the fourth position, he began working his way toward the lead driver. Anticipation filled the stands as he had reached the second place position by lap seven and was closing in on the leader.

The fans were getting their money’s worth, as the two drivers were making flawless decisions for the next several laps. An opportunity finally reared its head in lap sixteen, providing a chance for Carl Renezeder to take the lead. The driver managed to hold the position, earning him the checkered flag, and his third win of the weekend.

When asked if starting the season off with a victory would have a bearing on the remainder of the year, the driver was quick to answer. “Absolutely,” he ensured. “We started last season off with one of the worst weekends we’d ever had, and spent the rest of the year trying to make it up. We kicked off this year as the points leader in both divisions, and more importantly, proving to ourselves that we can battle for a win every single round.

“More than anything, I was proud of my team,” shared Renezeder. “They proved that their dedication, optimism and hard work during the off-season were worthwhile.”

With a great start to the 2013 season under his belt, Carl Renezeder is looking forward to what lie in store. As a veteran of the sport, he is perfectly aware that keeping his rigs in tip-top condition will prove of greatest importance. That in mind, Renezeder will strive to keep the internal components of his engines contaminant free.

“Without maintenance, you’re setting yourself up for failure,” ensured the driver. Referring to his filtering needs, he continued, “We use K&N air and oil filters on our race trucks and all of our support vehicles."

“I’ve always been a fan of companies that test and prove their products in the harsh conditions of racing and K&N has always been a leader in that way. They’ve been in my equipment for over ten years of my career. I’m proud to get to use K&N products. They are a leader of their industry.”

Looking back at the first race of the 2013 season, Carl Renezeder said, “There’s nothing like the experience of a great battle on the track. But I think my favorite memory of the event was after it was all over - standing around with my family and crew, talking about all the great moments of the weekend. We’ve learned over the years to really appreciate the journey.”

Find K&N products for your vehicle using the K&N application search then use the K&N dealer search to find a K&N dealer in your part of the world.

Related K&N News Articles about Carl Renezeder: Carl Renezeder Reclaims 2012 Lucas Oil Challenge Cup at Firebird Season Finale; Carl Renezeder Shatters the 100-Win Milestone at LOORRS Event in Las Vegas; Carl Renezeder's Pro-4 Lucas Oil Off Road Series Race at Miller Motorsports Park Marks 98th Win; Just A Bump In The Road For Pro-4 and Pro-2 Racer Carl Renezeder During Opening Weekend;

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Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series Pro 4 Truck Racer Jerry Daugherty Looks Ahead

May 17, 2013

Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series Pro 4 truck racer Jerry Daugherty

What started as a difficult and frustrating opening weekend for Jerry Daugherty and the Live Fast Play Dirty Motorsports team ended with smiles all around and some positive momentum heading in to the third and fourth rounds of the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series.

Daugherty’s Pro 4 team had issues with the front end in practice and came out of the gate slow, but after working hard to fix the problems, rebounded for an eight and fifth place finish in the two events at Firebird International Raceway in Chandler, Ariz.

Jerry Daugherty and the Live Fast Play Dirty Motorsports Team

“During round one of qualifying, my E3 Spark Plugs truck lost the front differential,” Daugherty said. “This is an issue in a Pro 4 because the trucks have a tendency to lose forward bite and want to spin. In round two of qualifying, we broke a front axle. This caused us to start in the back on race day, but I am thankful that we had those issues in qualifying and not during the race.

“It’s always frustrating to have mechanical issues, but we are thankful they happened when they did. It just forces me to work harder.”

Daugherty’s team managed to turn the negative in to a positive by using the first race as an open test session. The race went caution free, allowing Daugherty to work on the long run setup of his truck.

“I hadn’t been in the truck since the season finale last year,” Daugherty said. “The qualifying troubles allowed me to use the first round as a major test and tune for both the truck and myself. We were able to test some new parts thanks to some new partners, and those new parts plus my drive to perform well seemed to work to our benefit on Sunday.”

Daugherty believes the information obtained during the first weekend sets him up for a strong performance during the next event in Las Vegas, April 26-28.

“I loved some of the new parts that we added to the truck,” Daugherty said. “I feel that now that I have some comfort in using the parts, we can gain more speed on corner exit in Vegas.

“The entire Live Fast Play Dirty Motorsports team is dedicated to a great season and getting podium finishes.”

Daugherty said the help his team has received from K&N Filters is one of many reasons why he thinks 2013 can be his most successful year yet.

“K&N Filters continue to play a vital role in the performance of our race truck,” Daugherty said. “In order for these trucks to perform and run efficiently, the engines require a lot of air flow. K&N Filters allow for the engines to gain the maximum airflow, while keeping dirt and debris out. We are proud to have had a long lasting partnership with K&N Filters, and look forward to many more years.”

Find K&N products for your vehicle using the K&N application search then use the K&N dealer search to find a K&N dealer in your part of the world.

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Related K&N News Articles about Pro 4 race team Live Fast Play Dirty Motorsports: Live Fast Play Dirty Motorsports Eagerly Gets 2012 Underway at LOORRS Race; K&N Welcomes Team "Live Fast Play Dirty Motorsports" Onboard for the 2011 LOORS

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