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Auto Racing seems to be one of the great American institutions that is enjoyed by multiple generations with-in families. Many of today's top professional drivers are carrying on the tradition started by their fathers and grandfathers. The same is true in the sportsman ranks of NHRA drag racing. Brett Brown has been involved with drag racing his whole life with his father, Gene Brown, who began racing in the early 60's running a '58 Pontiac in Junior Stock. In 1980 when it was Brett's turn to get behind the wheel, he initially competed with a Karman Ghia on the Volkswagen racing circuit and at NHRA events in Modified Eliminator, then Super Stock. With just one season under young Brett's belt he won the SS/BX class at the 1981 Winternationals in Pomona. His next win in the VW didn't come until in 1987 in the Pro Bug category at the 4th Annual VW World Championships.
NHRA Super Stock Drag Racing's Brett Brown
After taking some time off, fast-forward seven years and Brett is returning to drag racing earning his NHRA competition license behind the wheel of a 4 cylinder dragster, running in the F/ED class of Comp Eliminator. Through the late 90's, until 2001, Brett and his brother Tom shared the driver's seat; only confirming that racing truly is a family affair for the Browns. The passion of driving Brett inherited from his family led him to expand the team by purchasing a Jeep powered 1932 Bantam Altered. From 2001-2005, he competed in "The Jeep" in the E/EA class of Comp Eliminator. During this time he was fortunate enough to be Comp Eliminator champ at the 2002 SummitRacing.com Nationals in Las Vegas and was runner-up at the 2002 & 2004 Winternationals in Pomona.
After the 2005 season, Brett decided to sell "The Jeep" and purchase an '85 Camaro that he campaigned in Stock Eliminator from 2005 to 2008. In 2007, Lady Luck was again on his side at the SummitRacing.com Nationals in Las Vegas, winning the K/SA class, as well as winning the J/SA class at the K&N SPORTSnationals in Fontana, CA. As many drivers experience, the itch for a new set of wheels struck again and in August 2008, when he sold the Camaro and purchased a 1964 Chevelle Malibu that he still runs in the NHRA Super Stock category. Brett's racing accomplishments in his current ride, the 1964 Chevelle, include three SS/MA class wins at the 2009SummitRacing.com Nationals in Las Vegas, 2010 Jeg's Pacific SPORTSnationals in Fontana, CA and at the 2010 Las Vegas Nationals. He also was crowned Super Stock champion at the 2010 Auto Club Finals in Pomona. Through all these victories, Brett has had his family by his side. In addition to his father and engine builder Gene, plus his brother Tom, Brett owes a big thanks to his wife, Terry, who is his biggest supporter and fan!
Brett also gets support from great products like Arringdale's Engines, Tri-City Competition, Kilgore Racing Transmissions, Deano's Carburetors, Comp Cams and K&N Air and Oil Filters. His support from K&N also involves his family because Brett's brother Tom Brown works for K&N. He was able to introduce Brett to Steve Williams and Tony Yorkman of K&N eventually allowing Brett onto their racer program. "K&N is well known for their high performance and reliable products. K&N offers products that add horsepower, are reusable & never need replacing. We use their air & oil filters on all of our personal & race vehicles." says Brett.
Brett and his Family will compete at NHRA national and division 7 events, SCEDA and Summit Series events held at the Auto Club Dragway in Fontana, CA. So if you see Brett, Gene, Tom, Terry or any of the Brown family, ask them why they won't race without K&N filters.
K&N Filters is proud to co-host the 2011 “How to build Horsepower” seminar
presented by David Vizard. K&N in conjunction with Engine Builder Magazine
and the University of Northwestern Ohio is excited to facilitate the
transfer of knowledge that will cover three days of intense engine building
theory. David is one of the most published writers on the subject of High
Performance and Racing engine building. Considering David’s 50 plus years of
experience, and his ability to explain very complex topics to both the
novice and pro engine builders alike, he is uniquely qualified as the
presenter. He has been conducting engine technology seminars for over 20
years all around the world. This year’s Seminar is being held at the
prestigious University of Northwestern Ohio campus. Please join us March
11th though the 13th for this valuable learning opportunity. For more
information go to davidvizardseminars.com.
Teammates Doug Hendrickson and his navigator Hannah Macke were undefeated in 2010 - they are currently three-time National Champions.
Something wicked this way comes - and it comes at you like a bullet with a guidance system zigging through an obstacle course. Commenting on the United States Jet Sprint Boat Series, driver and co-owner of Wicked Racing, Dan Morrison once said "It's like a roller coaster with a throttle on steroids - only way more intense." During a typical event, racers and their navigators can expect to zigzag upwards of 32 times through a designated course, all in less than a minute.
Dan Morrison and navigator Cara McGuire finished 2010 in second place - this was only their first year running in the Super Boat Class.
The power-to-weight ratio of these "rocket-boats" is crazy, and by crazy we mean explosive.
"We are running an all aluminum 480 cubic-inch Chevy small block running on injected alcohol. This motor dyno'd at 900 horsepower and it pushes our 12-foot, two-inch boat, from 0-to-100mph in three seconds," detailed Morrison.
"We are able to pull up to 8G's in the corners and push 700 gallons of water a second out the 8 1/2inch Scott jet pump. We had a couple of ignition problems towards the end of the year that kept us from finishing on top. We are working on those issues in the off season and expect to be ready to compete at the same championship pace that we started out with last year. We are about to display our boat at the Seattle Boat Show at the end of this month. This will be our third year of doing so and expect to draw huge crowds, as our boat is always a magnet to any kind of race fan."
The Wicked Racing team got its start in 2008 with the understanding of the sport's need to gain national recognition. Morrison and his teammate Doug Hendrickson combined their boats and teams in order to more successfully attract sponsorship. Their abilities to market the team, and the sport, continues to be unrivaled in the United States.
"This last year our Wicked Racing Sprint Boat Team had a great year," said Morrison. "My navigator, Cara McGuire and I finished second for the season in the Super Boat class (Unlimiteds) after leading the points for most of the year. This was our first year in the Super Boat Class."
"My Wicked Racing teammates, Doug Hendrickson and his navigator, Hannah Macke, had a dream year. They went undefeated all year. Doug and Hannah are three-time National Champions, and they are always a force to be reckoned with on any racetrack."
Hendrickson and Macke's boat competes in the A-400 class with an exceptionally strong 406 cubic-inch Chevy small block. Their motor pushes over 700 horsepower and runs on 113 octane race fuel."
"Our first race this year will on the 18th of June in St. John, Washington, which is close to Spokane. We will finish our season in Port Angeles, Washington on the 17th of September, with races in Albany, Oregon and East Wenatchee, Washington in between."
The track in Port Angeles is currently being developed by Morrison, along with a huge amount of local support. "It is looking to be a state-of-the-art jet-sprint track," says Morrison. The inaugural race on the new course is slated to be the 2011 National Finals.
The Lucas Oil and K&N sponsored Wicked Racing Team was filmed in August of 2010 for several segments of Speed TV's - Lucas Oils "On the Edge" which just started airing on the 8th of January.
"This sport is very EXTREME and it's growing very rapidly, thanks to sponsors like K&N," adds Morrison.
The number 75 had its best finish of the series by posting an eighth place at Ponderosa Speedway in Junction City, Kentucky.
2010 was the inaugural year for the new American Modified Series. The series, which is sanctioned by the United Midwestern Promoters (UMP) Modified dirt track racing division, ran all its races in four states, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky and Ohio. After the first complete running of the AMS season it was K&N sponsored Elliot Despain that drove away with Rookie of the Year Honors and a very respectable fourth overall in the season ending series points chase.
Elliot Despain finished the inaugural year of the new American Modified Series with Rookie of the Year honors and fourth overall in the point standings.
"We had a really good first season with the AMS," said Despain. "Just getting out traveling and racing at new places was great. We raced against some of the toughest modified drivers in the country and proved we can run with those guys."
In total four of the events took the Despain Motorsports team to racing venues for the very first time.
"When we made the decision to chase the American Modified Series presented by Force Fuels and Engine Conditioners, we looked at it as a chance for us to gain additional racing experience by competing against the best Modified drivers in the Midwest", said the 21-year-old Campbellsville, Kentucky racer. "And, not only did we gain that experience, but we were also able to give our sponsors and product sponsors more recognition and exposure in areas of the country that we had never raced before".
Despain scored two top-ten finishes in the inaugural series and a tenth place finish at Fayette County Speedway in Brownstown, Illinois. He followed that up with his best finish of the series by posting an eighth place finish at Ponderosa Speedway in Junction City, Kentucky.
"We had some bad luck this year and we know that we could have had a higher finish in the series", remarked Despain. "But, we will take these results and work hard over the winter to be better prepared for an even higher finish next year."
Over the winter Despain says he will be getting a new 2011 Bandit racecar and he will focus on making certain his engines are finely tuned for the upcoming season.
"We also plan on going down to Florida for the winter national at Eastbay, so I'm looking forward to getting back out on the road. Last season being out on the road should carry over to this year, seeing a lot of different tracks and different surfaces can only make me better. Anything I can do to continue improving as racer. I'm really looking forward to getting the 2011 season started right and started early."
"Winning the ROY was great for us and finishing in the top-five in overall series points was another goal for us. A low point of the season however was losing my grandpa to cancer. He was very special to me and hardly ever missed a race. He was always there for us and helped out in so many ways. He will be greatly missed!"
The American Modified Series officials are currently in the process of putting together the 2011 racing schedule that they hope will include 18 to 20 racing events.
"It is sponsors like K&N Filters that help give us the opportunity to compete in such a prestigious racing series and without their support and dedication, none of this would be possible", commented Despain. "And for that, on behalf of Despain Motorsports, we would like to say thank you, and we look forward to representing K&N Filters in 2011."
Gibson exploded with the holeshot on his Cernic's Honda in Tulsa and never looked back.
Winning the first AMA Arenacross race on the 2011 schedule has got to be sweet, the season still has that fresh, New Year smell to it, it's totally wide open, a blank page looking to be written on anyway you see fit. TUF Racing's Jeff Gibson knows what that's all about, in front of a starved for racing chomping multitude in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Gibson grabbed the holeshot on his Cernic's Honda and never looked back. It was the Blacklick, Ohio racer's first win since the 2009 season.
Due to a severe injury before the start of 2010, the season opening win in Tulsa was Gibson's first since 2009.
"I was a little disappointed with how last season went," remarked Gibson. "As the defending champion I wanted to have a better year. I have worked very hard to be back in the front and this helps justify all that effort."
TUF Racing's team manager Dave Antolak said this about Gibson's performance - "Most people didn't know that Jeff came in last year injured and that he was a little off his game. I think some people wrote TUF Racing and Jeff off as serious contenders this year. Maybe after tonight we will even get some props in the opening ceremonies video."
The TUF Racing champion said he was happy to have his off season hard work rewarded with the first win 2011.
Last year Gibson ruptured his colon in a crash a little over a month before the season started, and he required surgery to repair it. "We kept his injury a secret from the other teams because Jeff didn't want to use that as an excuse," explained Antolak.
"The first race of the season is always one of the most unpredictable races in the year," adds Antolak. "I say this every year and the team is probably tired of me saying it, but you can't win the championship in the first race, although you can lose it. That being said, coming away with the win just shows what a great group I have. My mechanics, Tracin Seng and Andy Brannon, have been with me for at least six or seven years and I know, as well as the riders, that TUF has the best equipment on the track."
TUF Racing got its start racing Supercross and outdoor venues back in 1985. They made the switch to Arenacross in 1996, and like Gibson's holeshot in Tulsa, they never looked back. TUF Racing has amassed five Arenacross Championships, with three of those coming in the last four seasons.
Asked where the name TUF comes from Antolak says, "We were sitting around trying to think of a clever name for the company, after a while when we couldn't come up with anything someone said, this is TUF to come up with a name, so that's what we went with."
And how did the K&N connection come about? "Actually, we were doing some engine testing on the dyno for another team that was using K&N filters. We couldn't believe the performance gain we had just from installing the air filter. The next day we were on the phone with K&N."
Along with an improved year that more adequately returns the team to its true potential, Antolak has few other plans and irons in the fire for 2011.
"We will be introducing a new line of CNC heads this year," says Antolak. "By doing the heads on the CNC (computer numerical controlled) machine, we can offer the same exact heads we are using for the race teams. The CNC procedure is so precise that each head is within .0001 of each other. Right now we are building the engines for the Rock River Team, Jeff Alessi and a few others that we can't reveal yet, but we will be able to soon."
Up next on the Arenacross schedule for TUF Racing is Kansas City this weekend and Dayton, Ohio the week after.
