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K&N sponsored lawn mower racer Katie Jones, 14, said she likes the speed and the noise on the track
Dawn and Lauren Filos of Bel Air, Maryland are too young to drive cars, so their dad takes them to compete in the lawn mower races
Kevin Penne and Mike Miller have each been around lawn mower racing since 1993 and are both Triple Crown Champions
K&N sponsored lawn mower racer Ken Jones competes in the AP portion of the IMOW class at the STA-BIL National Lawn Mower Racing Series in Delaware, Ohio
Father and daughter Ken and Katie Jones competed at the 17th Annual STA-BIL Challenge of Champions Labor Day weekend
Lawn mower racer Allen Minaker is known as LawnMonkey on the lawn mower circuit and said lawn mower racing is his redemption
The mantra was the same at the Lawn Mower Races in Delaware, Ohio. Most of the riders said they saw lawn mower racing on television for the first time, and had to try it. If the mantra was saw it and tried it, the product was K&N. Lawn mowers were everywhere, all shapes and sizes, some more powerful than others,but almost every lawn mower used a K&N air filter at the 17th Annual STA-BIL
Challenge of Champions.
“It’s an American cultural phenomena,” said Bruce Kaufman, President of the United States Lawn Mower Racing Association. “No one races for money, but our riders go for the glory, a trophy and bragging rights.”
Mike Miller and Kevin Penne can brag, they’ve been around the sport since 1993 and are each Triple Crown Lawn Mower racers. Triple Crown champions have the most cumulative points, win the Challenge of Champions and the Nationals all in one season.
After 17 years of growth, lawn mower racers now have the option of selecting one of 43 local chapters along with participating in an 18 race series. “When I saw my first lawn mower race the machines were going about 26 mph at their fastest,” said Miller. “I knew I could more than double it and I did. K&N air filters give me excellent filtration and additional horsepower.”
Penne’s current $15,000 ride started off as stock and only had 13 horsepower. “I’ve modified every single piece of my lawn mower,” he said. “I have billet connecting rods which are akin to having an insurance policy inside the engine. I have also used K&N my entire career and now I get 37 horsepower. I've won seven national championships with K&N.”
Even though Miller and Penne are at the top of their game, there are a lot of classes in lawn more racing. Some people can get in the sport with as little as $50 for a used mower. The bottom line is you will run as fast as you are willing to spend. Riders reach speeds of 60 mph depending on track conditions, some have been clocked at 80 mph.
There is a regulation book and blades must be removed before any competition. Drivers have to wear a helmet and neck support and every mower
must have a kill switch. “It’s kind of like kart Racing, kind of like snow mobile racing or quads,” said Miller. “But really
lawn mower racing is its own little sport and there is nothing else that drives like it.”
Lauren Filos of Bel Air, Maryland has been racing lawn mowers since she was 8-years-old along with her sister Dawn Filos. The girls are 11 and 14 and their father takes them to as many races as he can. The family also travels with K&N products on their lawn mowers.
K&N sponsored Ken and Katie Jones, a father and daughter race team set up a K&N table at
every lawn mower race with K&N filters and information. Katie is 14 years old and in the Junior Prepared Class. Ken races in the AP portion of the IMOW class. “Nothing else protects our engines like K&N,” he said. “K&N gives us more air and more horsepower.”
Allen Minaker of Turtle Lake, Wisconsin is known as LawnMonkey on the Lawn Mower circuit. “This is so much fun,” he said. “We are all close friends
and are like a family out here, but we are deadly competitive on the track. Everyone helps each other because we want the challenge at race time.” Minaker said he has to get air in and out of his motors and K&N helps him with additional horsepower on the dirty and dusty track.
Minaker has raced lawn mowers for seven years. “At one time or another most of us have raced something else,” said Minaker. “I’m a drag racing fan and if someone approached me with a big drag racing deal tomorrow I would say no. That is how much I love this sport. It is my redemption.”
Twelve year old Bradley Morris always wanted to race motocross but his parents thought it was too dangerous. His father heard about trophy karts and bought Bradley a used one to try out. "I loved it so much that they have only bought new ones since then. Even though they are pretty fast, they are safer than racing motocross," says Bradley. His trophy kart is a smaller sized trophy truck with a 450cc engine, 18 inches of travel, a chromoly frame and a fiberglass truck body. It is chain driven with Walker Evans race shocks, quad tires, window nets and a 5 point harness for safety. Trophy kart racing is done on a short course in a dirt stadium setting and the karts can jump twenty feet into the air while traveling at speeds of eighty to ninety miles per hour.
Twelve year old Bradley Morris from Perris, California raced for the first time at ten years old.
The Perris, California native raced for the first time at ten years old and finished in second place. He also finished fifth in points overall that year. "I got first place at the Championship Off-Road Racing series at Pomona, California. I won the Championship at Monster Jam's 4 race series. I got to speak in front of 30,000 people three times. It was so awesome," says Bradley. He is currently in the top three in the SXS nationals and top four in the Lucas Oil Off-Road racing series.
With such an impressive resume so early in his racing career, Bradley Morris will definitely be the trophy kart racer to watch. He is working hard to improve his racing skills with the goal of racing in the short pro classes in the future. "We are working on a new kart from Newline Products with a Kawasaki 450cc engine and of course, K&N filters. I run K&N products in my motorcycles and ATV's because they are the best choice! They have provided me with an awesome racing suit, a really cool helmet and other great products too. I really appreciate all they have done for me and my racing career," says Bradley.
Find K&N products for your vehicle using the application search then use the K&N dealer search to find a K&N dealer in your part of the world.
One of the top street bike stunt riders in the XDL series is 25-year-old, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania resident Brian Bubash. XDL is the premier competition series for sportbike freestyle athletes with events that stretch across the U.S. Bubash began competing in sportbike freestyle competition in 2005 and has not stopped progressing since.
Brian Bubash performs a stoppie during XDL qualifying for round 4 in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Brian Bubash said "Stoppies are my favorite stunt because they're the most exhilarating."
When asked what his thoughts were about XDL round 4 in Indianapolis, Indiana, Brian said, “If I were to sum it up in one word, that word would be AWESOME!” Bubash certainly did have an awesome event taking home wins in both the Individual Freestyle and Team Battle competitions as well as a third place finish in the K&N Circle Challenge.
Bubash rides a 2004 Kawasaki ZX6R with a nostalgic Yamaha paint job to support the Pittsburgh Steelers.
K&N air filters offer Bubash increased power and protection for his Kawasaki stunt bikes.
XDL round 4 was held on a public street, which was closed to traffic for the event, in downtown Indianapolis, Indiana. Indianapolis has a strong racing tradition, and the XDL finals were held the Friday before the Indy MotoGP race. Friday saw a torrential downpour of rain during Individual Freestyle qualifying. Even despite the unfavorable weather, crowds packed the bleachers to watch the XDL competition.
“The rain didn’t affect my qualifying run, I felt more confident than usual,” said Bubash. Being from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Bubash is not a stranger to riding in wet weather, which gave him an edge over his competitors. Brian had an excellent qualifying run with good execution. His qualifying performance landed him second place during qualifying in Individual Freestyle. Brian said, “I hate qualifying in the top three because it puts a lot of pressure on you for the finals.”
The finals were later that same night, and luckily Mother Nature chose to cooperate. The rain eventually stopped and the pavement dried out. The dry pavement allowed competitors to ride harder which began to heat up the competition for the finals. Finals are run in reverse order of qualifying, which meant Bubash was second to last to compete in the finals.
When Brian finished his run his friends told him he did well. “My friends won’t lie. If I didn’t have a good run, my friends will tell me I sucked,” said Bubash. Brian also felt like he had a very solid run, and felt confident in his performance. XDL differs from most judged competitions. In XDL, competitors do not know their score until officials present the awards. “It’s an agonizing wait,” said Bubash. However, when all was said and done, Brian Bubash stood atop the podium going home with the first place trophy and prize money.
Bubash has been using K&N products since he was a kid. “I’ve always run K&N,” said Brian, “I always look for that red and black box when I need a filter.” Bubash protects his valuable engines with K&N air filter part number
KA-6003 and wrench-off oil filter part number
KN-204 for his twin 2004 Kawasaki ZX6R stunt bikes. “My stunt bikes run way more crisp with a K&N air filter,” said Brian. He also runs a K&N wrench-off oil filter, which simplifies oil changes. Bubash prefers to service his own bikes because he has more confidence in their reliability and performance when he does. “Some people will take any sponsor, I only look for sponsors that I believe in,” said Bubash.
Even though the XDL round 4 event in Indianapolis, Indiana concludes the XDL Sportbike Freestyle Championship season, Brian Bubash won’t be taking any time off. There is not an actual off-season for Bubash. Having made stunting his official job, Brian will continue to travel across the country for other events. Follow Brian Bubash throughout the year at the
K&N news site.
Modified 2008 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 that includes a K&N Air
iNtake
Since he was born, Taylor Knight has been watching his father modify numerous cars and trucks. "Let me put it this way," said Knight. "My dad had a Cadillac Escalade, Porsche Turbo, BMW M3 and an E55 AMG all at once. Each one had its own unique touch." Modifying vehicles has been in the Knight family for a long time. "My dad got it from his dad," he said. "Now my brother and I are addicted as well."
Taylor Knight's 2008 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 with a 5.3 liter engine is the ultimate daily driver
Taylor Knight owns a unique 2008 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 with a 5.3 liter engine. Although his Silverado was in the Off-Road Expo at the Orange County Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa last year, Taylor's truck is more of a practical one than one for exhibition. "It is not a truck with an extreme amount of horsepower
nor does it have six 12" subwoofers just for show," said Knight. "I am going for the best looking truck that can be used as a daily driver. And I believe I have accomplished that."
K&N has been a part of the Knight family for generations. "My father, brother and most of my cousins have been using K&N since I can remember," Knight said. His first truck was a lifted GMC Denali C3 Sierra, "I have used K&N since I got my license at 16 years old."
Taylor Knight uses K&N air intake 57-3058 on his 2008 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 with a 5.3 liter engine. "My K&N intake performs wonderfully," he said. "I installed it myself, with no previous experience. I can tell my truck runs better with it installed."
Currently, Knight still wants to install a sound system and an AMP Research PowerStep Running Board. For his next car, however, Knight wants something more luxurious like an Escalade or Lexus GS 350. Taylor Knight won't be giving up his passion for modified cars and trucks any time soon. "Customizing cars is in my blood," he said. "And I'll do it until I grow old and die."
Modifications for Taylor Knight's 2008 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 with a 5.3 liter engine are as follows:
- K&N High-Flow Intake (Part# 57-3058)
- 37" Toyo Open Country
- 20" KMC XD Hoss Wheels (blacked out nuts and center cap)
- 10" Sway-Away Lift with 2.5" Coil-overs
- Fox Racing Shocks 2.0 Reservoir in the rear
- 4.56 Gears
- All the Chrome Parts were painted Black
- Tinted Tail Lights and Limo Tint all the way around
- Allied Exhaust systems pipe cut to spit down below rear doors
- All work done by Custom Motorsports in Corona, CA
Find K&N products for your vehicle using the application search then use the K&N dealer search to find a K&N dealer
near you.
Champion drag racer Steve Dillman has been racing since he was 17 years old
Dillman Motorsports
Car
Steve Dillman, champion drag racer and founder of Dillman Motorsports, has been racing since he was 17 years old. "I started out street racing in the 60's with Bob Glidden. When Indianapolis Raceway Park (O'Reilly Raceway Park) opened up, that was my first time at a race track. Since then, I have had race cars in almost every NHRA sportsman class," says Dillman. After racing for Stout's Racing for around 10 years, Dillman founded Dillman Motorsports, Inc. in 2002 and has been racing under that title ever since. "My wife, Frosty, is my crew chief and my entire family, children, siblings, even extended family, is involved in drag racing."
Steve Dillman continues to come up with innovative ideas in
racing.
Dillman Motorsports
During his 48 years of racing, Dillman has earned many titles, including the Moroso Five Day
over-all points Champion and Five Day Event Winner, Mid-Michigan Big Money Champion, Bowling Green Ten-Tuck Winner, Track Champion at IRP, as well as several NHRA titles, including SuperComp Divisional Winner at IRP, Jegs Sports Nationals Super Street Runner-up at Columbus, and Super-Pro Finals Runner up at IRP.
Dillman says his relationship with K&N started in 2006. "After installing a K&N air filter, my car actually ran one and a half miles per hour faster. I feel that the performance of K&N air and oil filters is superior and the individuals at K&N are always professional and very supportive."
Dillman Motorsports was even instrumental in helping K&N become the official oil filter of Steve Schmidt Competition Engines. "I retired from the Indianapolis Fire Department after a 38 year career. I now work part-time in outside sales and as tech advisor for Steve Schmidt Competition Engines. Given my sponsorship by K&N and my position with Schmidt, it made sense for me to connect two companies that I believe rank at the top of the list in motorsports. Schmidt is the only builder who guarantees his
race engines for one year. It is important that his engines are outfitted with the best possible filters to accommodate his guarantee. Who better to do that than K&N?" says Dillman.
With so much already accomplished in the racing industry, Dillman shows no signs of stopping and continues to come up with innovative ideas. "I am putting together a deal with Steve Schmidt to build a new engine for the 2010 season. I hope to debut it in Atlanta in April, 2010," says Dillman. For now, he will continue racing his 1967 Chevy II in Super Street and Super Pro, doing just what he loves best. "The people I have met in drag racing, the relationships I have cultivated with my sponsors, my wonderful friends from Racers for Christ, as well as my family, sustain me."
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.
