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Tony Hunt and Tony Hunt Motorsports managed to earn two USAC championships during the 2011 season.
Tony Hunt, of Lincoln, California, is no stranger to the sport of racing, as he has been participating in the sport for one-quarter of a century. During his twenty-five year stint, the driver has managed to see his share of success, winning fifty-five USAC features. As one might suspect, with so many feature wins under his belt, Hunt has experienced his share of USAC Championships as well. In fact, Tony Hunt and the Tony Hunt Motorsports team managed to add his seventh and eighth titles to his résumé during the 2011 season. When the season was declared over, the driver had claimed both the USAC Western Sprint Car Series and Western Pavement Championship.
"Many obstacles and challenges are encountered when committing to a Series Championship," explained Hunt. "This year there were three championships within our grasp. You have to stay focused on the big picture and minimize the inevitable distractions. Our success as a team year after year has been demonstrated by our ability to stay focused on our goals."
Although every victory throughout a season is important in the overall scheme of things, there are races that seem to stick in a driver's mind. Referring to the 2011 season, Hunt said, "Our win at Irwindale in August, was a pivotal race. A mid-season race usually identifies who has the will and determination to run for the championship. It showed our strength as a team to arrive without testing, and earn a hard fought victory after qualifying first and starting the main in sixth."
Tony Hunt plans to primarily compete in the USAC Western Classic Series during the upcoming season.
Throughout the years, Tony Hunt has raced predominantly on pavement. That said, the driver is obviously well versed at racing on this type of surface, and he and his crew are extremely efficient at preparing their car for various venues in the Western Sprint Series. On the other hand, when Hunt and Tony Hunt Motorsports opted to race in the USAC Western Classic Series they were aware that there would be a learning curve ahead.
"Driving the Western Sprint is very comfortable for me. From road courses to ovals, primarily my career has been on pavement," recalled the driver. "But I grew up around dirt tracks and have always had an affinity for dirt racing. 2011 was my first season on dirt," he continued. "Running the Western Classic portion on dirt was a challenge, not only on the driving side but more importantly, on setup. The tolerances on dirt are more forgiving, but having a proper starting point will decrease your learning curve."
When asked his plans for the upcoming season and how he would prepare for 2012, Hunt explained, "We plan to enhance our dirt resources and continue to keep our pavement program running at its optimal performance. We will primarily compete in the 2012 Western Classic Series, which combines both a dirt and pavement schedule."
As an experienced driver, Tony Hunt is aware that his team has played a large role in his success. "Racing is a business," Hunt explained. "Our team operates on a high level of structured business principles that allows us to keep an eye on the bottom line. Whether we are at the track or making a sponsor appearance, we continually strive to maintain a professional appearance."
Hunt and his team are also acutely aware of the importance of properly maintaining their race cars. They depend upon K&N products to keep the internal components of their engines well lubricated and contaminant free while still allowing an optimal flow of air and lubricant. "For the past three years, we have used a K&N air intake induction system; that is ideal not only for performance, but also for its ergonomic advantage," shared the driver. "I have been using K&N oil filters for over twenty years! Any part that you put on your race car is expected to perform at the highest level," he continued. "We put K&N products to the test every time we hit the track, and our success speaks for their unwavering ability to perform in all conditions year after year."
Their family made the purchase of a beautiful 1967 Mustang and he returned to the track in 2010 to compete in NHRA Super Gas class racing.
"The way my dad tells the story," says Brian Smith, "my mom had me early so we could make a race!" And so it began. He attended his first race when he was only 2 weeks old, and spent the majority of his childhood up until he was 10 years old at the racetrack. His father had spent the better part of 30 years drag racing throughout the West Coast, sometimes up to three times a week at different tracks. When Bayland's Raceway closed in the late 80's (the last of a long string of legendary tracks that shut down in California) he decided it was time to hang up his helmet.
Brian made his first trip down the track when he was nineteen. Starting off in a street driven 1965 Chevelle, he quickly made the decision to get more serious. With the help of his dad, he purchased a proven racecar, a 1977 Vega, and started competing in NHRA Super Street.
"Initially I raced at local tracks including Sonoma and Sacramento in the Summit Bracket Series before making the move to a busier schedule competing in the National Hot Rod Associations Super Street 10.90 category," Smith went on to say.
"The early years included some growing pains, but the rewards were numerous late round showings and Top Ten finishes in the Northern California Super Street Association over the first three years of racing. In 2003, we made the move into NHRA Super Gas 9.90 competition and immediately found success with a National Event Runner-Up finish at the Sonoma event. Years of hard work had come to fruition and I earned my college degree from California State University Sacramento, majoring in Communications and my father ended a thirty-five year career as a Truck Driver to enjoy retirement. In 2004, we embarked on a great journey to compete in the Full Throttle Racing Series for the entire season. Our experience was blessed with continued success, including a National Event Runner-Up finish at Route 66 Raceway in Chicago," concluded Smith.
Being able to depend, without any concern, on K&N products gives me great confidence allowing my focus to be on my driving.
Smith then took a six-year break. He stepped away from the sport to pursue a career in the fire service. He went back to school, volunteered as a firefighter, and after two years of testing, was hired as a Professional Firefighter in National City, CA. His years away from the track also included getting married, purchasing a home, and starting a family. All the while he was waiting for the right opportunity to return to the sport that he loves so much.
Their family made the purchase of a beautiful 1967 Mustang and he returned to the track in 2010 to compete in NHRA Super Gas class racing. Their first outing yielded yet another Runner-Up finish in the ultra competitive Southern California Pro Gas Association racing, followed by a Semi-Final Divisional finish.
Smith developed a partnership with K&N in his early racing years, as well as upon his return. He went on to say, "With ANY other sport, you have so many opportunities to make up for a hiccup in your performance. Stock car racing has 400 miles, Golf has 18 holes, baseball has nine innings, and football has four quarters. However, with drag racing, you are measured in thousandths of a second and you have one chance to be perfect and you have to repeat that six or seven times during eliminations to become a winner."
"Drag racers spend an incredible amount of time earning the money to race, building and preparing the car, engine, and drivetrain, preparing support vehicles, and driving to the events all for the opportunity to race down the track side by side with another competitor. All of the preparation and work can be for naught when you have parts failure."
"Being able to depend, without any concern, on K&N products gives me great confidence allowing my focus to be on my driving. K&N has gone to great lengths from development and R&D to track testing to produce superior products. In addition, they are MADE IN THE USA."
K&N's Brad Burton capped off his 2011 season by winning two of the four days at the Las Vegas Bracket Nationals run at LVMS.
West Coast drag racers were once again treated to one of the most important bracket races in the western United States when Las Vegas Motor Speedway hosted the 10th Annual Bracket Nationals at The Strip.
"Dad and I went to Las Vegas for Thanksgiving for their high dollar bracket race and I won two of the four days in Pro, and ended up winning the points for the four day race. Dad didn't do too bad either, with a quarter final finish Thursday and third round losses Friday, Saturday, and Sunday," reported Golden, Colorado's Brad Burton. "After what was a pretty rough year for me, it was great to end the year with some wins, which were hard to come by in 2011."
Burton Racing had their best year to date in 2010, with Brad winning two national events, a divisional, along with reaching the runner-up spot at another divisional.
Brad and his father, Scott, are entering their seventh year racing together as a team and both race Stock Eliminator. Scott started racing in 1998, competing in his 1971 Pontiac Formula Firebird, and back in 2004, Brad and Scott began building the 1972 Firebird that Scott runs. Although they receive a tremendous amount of support from family and friends, the two do most of the maintenance, crewing and research and development by themselves.
"I had done well at this race in previous years and I was feeling very comfortable with my car and driving this year," Brad told K&N. "As a competitive driver, I expect to do well at every race and I want to win every race. We all know that can't happen, but you have to go into these races with the right state of mind and attitude. Winning the points total in Las Vegas was unexpected as there were many good drivers there. You never go into something thinking you are going to win points totals. You take it race by race, and day by day, and set up small goals to reach a big one. First you have to win a round, then you have to win a race, and maybe then that leads to winning multiple races. After you do that, then you can think about winning championships and points totals."
Scott Burton started racing Stock Eliminator back in 1998 in his '71 Firebird.
The K&N sponsored driver said he definitely feels that ending the 2011 season with a couple of wins boosts his confidence and momentum heading into 2012. "You always want to end the year strong because you have three months of downtime. I hope to carry the momentum I had in Las Vegas into this coming season and come out strong in February."
Brad and Scott kick off their 2012 season racing in Pomona, California at the NHRA Winternationals at Pomona Raceway. "I plan on hitting a lot of races and hopefully getting back to my 2010 form and run for another national championship," remarked Brad. In 2010 Burton Racing had their best season to date, with Brad winning two national events and a divisional, along with reaching the runner-up spot at another divisional.
"As I said earlier though, you can never think about championships until you complete your smaller goals. My first goal this year is to go to Pomona and win a round, and then win the race."
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During Southern All-stars Dirt Racing Series (SAS) qualifying, Ray laid down the second quickest lap.
Brasstown, NC driver Ray Cook began his career in motorsports racing 4-cylinder cars in pony classes, moved up to super late models following the Hav-a-Tampa series and pretty soon realized he'd like to make a career out of the sport of racing. "Like so many others, I started out racing as a hobby, and over time made a career of it," states Cook. "Laying groundwork for the future, I then decided to form my own series so that one day when I pass the torch to other racers, I can still actively participate in the sport."
Ray is on the gas more than ever with 68 races under his belt for the 2011 season, and promotion for 27 more.
For now though, Ray is on the gas more than ever with 68 races under his belt for the 2011 season, and promotion for 27 more. He racked up eight wins, numerous 2nd places and his Dirt Late Model Series the Schaffer Oil Southern Nationals was a huge success.
His eighth feature win of the 2011 campaign in his season finale was on November 19 at the historic Cleveland Speedway in Cleveland, Tennessee. During Southern All-stars Dirt Racing Series (SAS) qualifying, Ray laid down the second quickest lap, which put him on the outside of the front row for the 50-lap "Gobbler." The popular driver known as the "Tarheel Tiger" grabbed the top spot at the drop of the green flag and held the point for the entire distance. At the end of fifty circuits, Ray found himself crossing underneath the checkers ahead of Jonathan Davenport, Dale McDowell, Brian Reese, and Shane Clanton to pocket the $5,000 winner's purse.
Hoping to start the 2012 season the same way he ended it in 2011, he and the D&R Motorsports team are heading to the Ice Bowl at the Talladega Short Track in Eastaboga, Alabama for the Jan 7-8 kick off of the year. Best of luck guys, and keep those wins coming. As a K&N partner for more than 15 years, we love hearing all of your success stories.
