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K&N's Shea Holbrook Approaches 2011 With a More Aggressive Winning Attitude

07.03.2011

After wrecking her car in the last race at VIR last year, Shea has her ride is back in great shape for this year.

Being the new kid in class tends to stifle your true nature, you wanna make a good impression, so you hold back. Last year Shea Holbrook's was a rookie making her pro racing debut in the World Challenge Touring Car Series, but according Shea, this year she's not holding anything back. So, when the 2011 season begins at the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on March 25-27th, sitting behind the wheel of her number 67 Honda Civic Si, you'll find a more aggressive person, both on and off the track.

Shea Holbrook isn't holding back in 2011, after making her pro racing debut last year, Shea says this year she's coming hard.

"We took a lot away from the 2010 season. There were many things we were proud that we did, and some things we would have changed, it's a learning process," said the Groveland, Florida, resident. "I think you will see a more competitive person this year. Last year, I put my out-spokeness in the background, which wasn't easy because I am an out-spoken person"

"Because it was our first year, we wanted to perform to the best of our abilities, and respect the veterans of the sport. You could say, we were playing the nice card off track. I know I proved myself on track, especially at the Streets of Toronto, when I took Robb Holland for P5. At the time, I really only knew the Holland name, and that I wanted to get him. After that race Holland came over to congratulate the team. Last year we were there to participate because we knew our car wasn't perfected to its prime. The 2011 season we're coming hard. This year I'm determined to be on podium."

Team owner, Jeff Holbrook concurs, "We're entering the 2011 season with winning attitudes. Shea has put a tremendous amount of effort into her racing career and K&N and Lucas Oil are our driving force. We have partnered with K&N and Lucas Oil for the 2011 season. K&N is a leading and innovative filter technology company for automotive applications. K&N has hit the motorsports market worldwide. To be an image for K&N is unbelievable, and I'm extremely thankful to be a part of it."

The 2010 season with World Challenge Touring Car did end on a positive note for Shea Racing. "With plenty of hard work we were able to capture sixth-place in the championship," commented Shea.

Shea explains that last season was truly an eye opener for her, in discovering just what the professional racing world is really all about.

"I was determined to have a fantastic rookie season on and off track. Every race we attended we finished in the top-ten and our best finish was a fifth-place. World Challenge presents the absolute best sports car fans. I was amazed by how much we were able to interact with fans. It's a blessing to be a part of a well-known, very competitive race series, and after last year I think we learned our spot."

Shea is a junior majoring in communications at UCF, and besides studying during the off season, Shea says she was able to lay down some rubber driving other cars around the Florida area.

"Unfortunately, in the last weekend we attended at VIR (Virginia International Raceway) in 2010, we got wrecked out on the start of the last race. This caused a lot of car damage, and all we could see were dollar signs. Last year we barely had any funding, and every minor, or major damage to the car had a price tag for us to pay. Therefore, our plans of testing the car during the off season really went out the window. Although, I'm happy to say with that with some funding backing us for the 2011 season, our Honda Civic Si is in great shape, and we'll be testing twice before the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg."

Shea says she has put a lot of expectations on herself for the 2011 season. "I'd like to win the hard charger and best move of the race awards once, along with being on podium, and winning a few races. I strongly believe I have it in me to be one of the best, and I know the team wants it badly enough to do everything possible to get us there. Lucas Oil is sponsoring the Grand Prix of Long Beach, April 16-17th. It's exciting to have partnered with such strong forces in the motorsports industry." K&N and Shea Racing have been partnered for three years now."

Shea will also continue to use her racing skills to help fund several causes near to her heart, foremost being the fight against Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, which has affected her own family. Duchenne muscular dystrophy is the most common fatal genetic disorder diagnosed in childhood, affecting approximately 1 in every 3,500 live male births (about 20,000 new cases each year). "Racing for a Cure to END Duchenne" is name of Shea's charity.

"Duchenne is a cruel disease and it affects my family. I have two cousins with Duchenne, Matthew (1989-2008) and Jordan. Matthew and I were the same age, his passing made me realize I had to do something to better Jordan's life before its too late. From there Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy and I began working together to educate, and raise awareness and funds to find a cure. Utilizing my professional racing career to help benefit Duchenne was a no-brainer. What young man doesn't like race cars!"

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National Champion Pro-lite Off Road Racer Marty Hart

07.03.2011

"Winning championships never gets old, each one you earn just gets sweeter" and that is exactly what Marty Hart does in his Pro-lite Off Road Racing Truck, win championships. Hart has been doing so for about 20 years. He told us "I started in motorcross, went to ATV racing because I love dirt, if it throws dirt I will ride it or drive it." From 1983 to 1988 Hart was an American Honda Factory ATV Rider.

Pro-lite Off Road Racing Driver Marty Hart

Hart has done well over the years and made a name for himself in the off-road world.

Marty Hart and his Pro-lite Off Road Racing Truck

His wins, awards and championships include; 1984 Score Baja 1000 Overall, 250cc ATV Class, and first 3-Wheel team to beat all vehicles, 1984, 1985 and 1986 AATVA Grand National Championship 4-Wheelers, 1990 Score Off-Road Series Class 5 Championship, 2005 ESPN Great Outdoor Games - Gold Medal Winner Terracross Event, 2005 Rookie of the Year - W.E. Rock, 2007 Rookie of the Year - WSORR Pro-lite, 2008 CORR Pro-lite Championship, 2009 2nd TORC Pro-lite and most recently 2010 Lucas Oil Offroad Series-Prolite Championship winner. Marty Hart's latest victory, the 2010 series championship, was won in his 2010, Keith Stamper-built Prolite truck.

Hart attributes his success to thorough car prep, strong team support and DESIRE. Speaking of team support, besides man and machine, Marty gets help from his crew Jason, Will, Mike & Dan. He also gets a lot of his support from his wife, Sharon. Wins like Marty's can't happen without great sponsors as well. Some of Hart's sponsors include Maxxis, Redilift, K&N, ProAm, Kolpin, Lucas Oil, Fiberworks, Fox and Simpson. Hart tell us "My K&N filters help improve engine life in a class that is brutal on engines. I have used K & N throughout my racing career and have never used any of their competitors. K & N helps me race at my best and that's the way it's going to stay."

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.

K&N Team Green Rider Wins the Team Green - 2010 Rider of the Year Award

04.03.2011

Wise before his years, Trevor says he didn't win the Rider of the Year award, his entire family did.

"I was given the award," said 13-year-old Trevor Pearson, "But my family won it. I didn't win it. We did."

13-year-old Trevor Pearson is the reigning Team Green - 2010 Rider of the Year.

Trevor is an eighth grader at George Elliot Secondary School, and it when it comes to life, or racing fundamentals, he's way ahead of the learning curve. As a member of K&N's Team Green Riders, he clinched the "Team Green - 2010 Rider of the Year Award."

2010 was the first year for Canadian Kawasaki's "Team Green - Rider Support Program," a program were riders signed up through their local dealerships and then reported their race results directly through a Team Green website. The rider of the year award was then given to the top Kawasaki rider in Canada, regardless of discipline, meaning it includes all sanctioning bodies of motocross, cross-country, Enduros, and so on. The winner is based on an overall point total for the entire year, which thereby implies a torrid level of racing consistency and perseverance.

Trevor's dad says that one of the mitigating factors for his son's success this year is that he simply loves to race.

"I think that Trevor's success can be attributed to a couple of mitigating factors. First of all, though maybe not the most important, he truly loves to race," remarked Chris Pearson, Trevor's dad.

Not only is the award a huge source of pride for Chris and the entire family, but it also upped Chris' "cool" quotient several notches at work, as Chris is District Manager, Canadian Kawasaki Inc.

"He enjoys the competition and the challenge of riding against top caliber riders. Although I don't believe that this in particular is what gave him the drive to finish the season with the results he did, I do believe that it is what kept him going when exhaustion and disappointment would have stopped others."

Chris explains that the real key to Trevor's continuing success is the relationship he shares with his brother, as well as the respect and admiration that he has for his mother's courage dealing with her own challenges. Trevor's mom was diagnosed with a very aggressive form of Multiple Sclerosis, yet her unwavering focus has steadfastly remained on the family.

"Trevor's focus was never in winning the "Team Green - Rider of the Year", it was simply to get better and spend as much time with the family as possible - until we couldn't."

"Witnessing firsthand the courage and determination of both his mom and brother as they struggled through rehabilitation, put his own challenges in perspective," adds Chris. (Justin, Trevor's brother, had a horrendous crash and broke his leg in six places halfway through last season.) "During that time, we focused on the positive things in our life - the fact that we could travel together, work together, and ultimately 'win' together - it gave each of us the opportunity to celebrate and remain positive, despite some of the other circumstances that we were facing. As a father looking in, I believe that this is what drove Trevor, his brother, and our family, to succeed."

Chris says his own clear perception of being a father was passed along from his dad, a great role model. And although his own father was always the definitive "father figure," he also continues to be one of Chris' closest friends.

"I have tried to emulate him as a father myself, and in doing so, have tried to teach my kids three things."

"Faith - that though things don't always work out the way we want, we trust that they'll work out the way that they should."

"Perseverance - it's not the results that define us, but rather the choices we made on our journey to get there."

"And respect - which is difficult to earn, easy to lose, and owed to those around us."

Chris has now prolifically passed on these essential values to his own family, continuing with the straightforward aphorism that a building a better world begins at home.

"Trevor has a great balance right now," continues Chris. "He is an Honor Roll student, and accomplished musician, and enjoys playing a number of different sports. Motocross is most definitely his favorite, and while I think that it's important to let it run its course, I also believe that racing must remain 'fun.' For 2011, Trevor will race both the Vancouver Mainland and Vancouver Island race series. In addition, Trevor would also like to run into Washington State and race against some different riders, as well as participating in the Western Canadian Amateur Championships in Raymond, Alberta."

Both Trevor and Justin will be working with CnC Crash Co. /BC Team Green Race Team for 2011. "In addition to racing at the above mentioned events, there will also be a strong 'non-profit' component to their 2011 efforts," adds Chris. "Last year, we helped organize the Kelowna and Victoria MX 'Ride for the Cure,' supporting Breast Cancer Research in British Columbia. We also coordinated the first ever 'Dry Grad Freestyle Show.' These events brought positive exposure to the Motocross community while also raising much need funds for two incredibly important causes."

"We realize the importance of having sponsors, and how their involvement makes it possible to participate in a far greater amount of events than you could as a privateer. While race results are important, the boys realize their responsibility to build exposure for their sponsor's products. Last year, we started making videos of the events that we participated in. This gave us the ability to keep our corporate partners updated on our progress, showcase our results, as well as acknowledge our sponsors involvement on a more global level. My daughter, Reanne, has taken an active role in this, and can be seen clicking pictures and video at the races, which can be viewed on YouTube under BCTeamGreen.

"Thank you to Johnny Jump and the staff at K&N for believing in us, and helping out all year long. You made it possible for us to achieve our goals."

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.

Lamb Motorsports - Three Wins, Three Classes, in Three Separate Cars, in Eight Days

02.03.2011

Lamb says his new Racetech Race Cars dragster is one of the most consistent race cars he has ever owned or raced.

"What a great way to start the season," declared 23-year-old Justin Lamb after branding his mark on 2011 in his very first race. The K&N sponsored driver took a double victory at the NHRA Division 7 National Open at his home track, The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. But that was so eight days ago, as Lamb followed that up with another win in the Competition Eliminator Category at the Lucas Oil Division 7 race in Chandler, Arizona. Let's count together shall we, that's his third Wally in three different classes in three different race cars. He also qualified number one with his updated Madcap engine.

The 2010 Cobra Jet Ford Mustang was a winner for Justin Lamb in his very first race of the season.

"We've worked real hard all winter to make all of these cars fast and competitive. It's nice to see it begin to pay dividends so quickly," remarked Lamb. Just like any off season we rebuilt all of the Lamb Motor Sports from front to rear. We rebuild all of the engines and update all of their components, as well as rebuild all of the working parts of the race cars."

This is a key aspect to their racing program explained Lamb, as it helps to prevent superfluous mechanical failures at the drag race, especially during pivotal races.

The K&N sponsored Lamb said he immediately felt comfortable in the new Mustang.

"As well as working on all of our current cars, we also received a 2010 Cobra Jet Ford Mustang to race in super stock. We spent a lot of time getting that ready to race and making it a better race car then it is from the factory. That is one of the cars we won with in the first race. The car worked great right out of the box, and I felt very comfortable and was able to drive it very well. I also won in my new Racetech Race Cars dragster which just works incredible. It is one of the most consistent race cars I have ever owned or raced."

The new Mustang came about when Rodger Comstock purchased the car and asked Lamb Motorsports for some help setting it up to be race worthy.

"He wanted me to help make it a great race car and also wanted me to try and win in it at a few races," added Lamb. "He felt it would be good for his company, Mail Terminal Services, to get some great exposure, and he was very excited to have a huge success right away."

From Lamb's perspective, all three classes were equally as tough to win. "Winning in the Mustang was a much bigger deal to the sponsors and to my father and Rodger, but for me, winning in my dragster was very important. The last few times I raced my dragster I did not drive it as well as I had hoped, and to go out and win in it really helped me build confidence in myself and in that car again."

Lamb says that for 2011 his goals remain the same as they do every year. "My goal is to win as many national events as possible and to try and make some big prize money. I do not currently have much interest in chasing points, but if I end up with a few race wins in a particular class, I am sure that view will change."

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.

Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series Team Tyree Motorsports

01.03.2011

Tyree Motorsports' Off Road Truck

Jimmie Johnson. Robby Gordon. Walker Evans. Brendan Gaughan. Those are just a few of the drivers who used off-road racing as a springboard to careers in NASCAR and Indy Cars. Nick Tyree wants next.

Nick Tyree and his Pro 2 Unlimited Truck

The El Cajon native is coming off a solid showing in his freshman season racing Pro 2 Unlimited trucks in the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series. Tyree overcame a sharp learning curve to post solid finishes week in and week out. He was rewarded with a 13th place points finish in a series that saw more than 30 drivers compete for championship points.

"I was introduced to the Lucas Oil Series by a friend at the end of 2009," said the former karting and motorcycle racer. "Last season was all about learning for us as a team. It would be hard to pinpoint one specific thing that we learned, because there was constantly an opportunity to learn. I think the value of humility, sportsmanship, and teamwork were front and center for Tyree Motorsports in 2010. We learned how to troubleshoot technical problems and performance issues with help from some of the legends of the sport. That really improved our team."

Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series Driver Nick Tyree

Tyree is looking forward to 2011, and a chance to stick his name into the discussion for most improved driver. He also wants a win, and he possesses a rare quality that the greats usually have; the ability to be self critical. "I am a perfectionist. I need perfection and I don't stop when I get it. Even when I drive a good race I am constantly looking for more ways to improve. I have a standard of excellence that I hold myself to both on and off the track."

Nick and his father Curtis founded the team in 2010 on the premise of bringing their family closer, and so far it's succeeding. "Tyree Motorsports would not exist without the support of our entire family. All of my crew members are friend and family, and they all have full time jobs to keep up with. Yet they all take time out of their lives to come work in the shop at night. That's what keeps this team going."

On that topic, Tyree says life would be a little less stressful heading into 2011 if more sponsorship could be secured. "The less I have to worry about funding, the more I can focus on our main goal; winning races. I want to focus on my skills as much as possible to ensure a successful season."

K&N bought in to Tyree Motorsports core values and entered into a relationship with the team for the 2010 season. Tyree is even more excited about the relationship heading into his sophomore campaign.

"Everyone knows K&N is a reputable company with a high standard for quality products. That's why we are proud to use K&N products at Tyree Motorsports. I am looking forward to establishing a long running relationship with K&N as Tyree Motorsports continues to evolve into a winning program."

And who knows, maybe a legend will be born as well.

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.