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NASCAR K&N Pro Series Rookie Kody Vanderwal Takes Advantage of Opportunity

NASCAR K&N Pro Series West driver Kody Vanderwal at Meridian Speedway

Rookie Kody Vanderwal is 10th in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West standings after 11 races

What started as a one-race deal in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West has turned into a productive rookie campaign for Kody Vanderwal. The 16-year-old driver from Colorado was racing late models and trucks in Tucson, Arizona, when the K&N Pro Series West had its season opener in March.

Vanderwal was offered a ride for the K&N Pro Series West race and he finished in the top 10 in his debut. After the race in Tucson, Vanderwal had the opportunity to drive in the races in Bakersfield and Irwindale in California. After two more productive results, Vanderwal had the backing and support to continue the season.

“At the beginning of the year, I really didn’t have any goals,” Vanderwal said. “It was just a random chance. One race, one off deal thing.”

Vanderwal finished ninth in the race at Kern County Raceway, in Bakersfield, and was eighth in the race at Tucson, giving him two top 10s in his first two races. His results in Irwindale, a pair of 100-lap races, weren’t as good. He was 14th in the first race and 15th in the second race. Both were respectable finishes. More importantly, Vanderwal brought the car back in one piece.

“It was an awesome learning experience for me,” Vanderwal said. “After that whole deal, we decided to run the whole season. We’re all learning like crazy. It was a God deal. He wanted us to do this for a reason.”

Vanderwal didn’t disappoint. He had his best result at The Orange Show Speedway in California in May, a fourth-place finish.

“We were getting more comfortable. We were starting to work together better,” Vanderwal said. “We didn’t have an amazing car. We went down a lap early on. Had a few small issues. All this came down to attrition. All those guys kept wrecking each other. It was luck, good communication.”

He followed with perhaps his best race of his rookie season at Colorado National Speedway, his home track. He qualified 11th and worked his way through the field to finish fifth. His car lost second gear during the race and he had trouble on restarts. Plus he made contact with another car and suffered damage for a good portion of the race.

“That’s my home track. That was a big advantage there,” Vanderwal said. “Toward the end, I worked my way up to fourth.

“We had a really good car there at the end of the race. That was a really fun race.”

NASCAR K&N Pro Series West driver Kody Vanderwal at Meridian Speedway

Kody Vanderwal has two top-five finishes in his rookie season in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West.

But Vanderwal’s season took a turn for the worse at Iowa Speedway in July. He finished in 34th and last place in the race that pits the teams and drivers from the K&N Pro Series East and West against each other. It started a string of three races in which Vandewal finished outside the top 10.

“It started in Iowa,” Vanderwal said. “That’s just a really big track. We didn’t qualify well. Got caught up in a crash on lap 6. We had to tear the nose off of it. That was like three seconds off the pace for the whole first half.”

Vanderwal’s crew repaired the nose of the car, but the air box was damaged in the crash. His car overheated and he had to withdraw to the pits on lap 69.

“I had to pull off,” Vanderwal said. “That was the end of that night.”

He ran into more trouble at Evergreen Speedway in Washington and Douglas County Speedway in Oregon in the next two races and he dropped to 10th in the K&N Pro Series West standings.

“We just showed up with the totally wrong set-up,” Vanderwal said about the Douglas County Speedway race. “We struggled all day in practice and qualifying. We made a few adjustments for the race, but the car went from being a little but loose to the tightest car I’ve ever driven in my life. It wasn’t working at all.”

With three races to go in the K&N Pro Series West, Vanderwal said he wants to put together some more top-five races. The next stop is Meridian Speedway in Idaho on Sept. 30.

“I know we can do well there,” Vanderwal said. “It’s another one of those survive tracks. I feel like we’re working together well now. We’re looking forward to that.”

The season ends with races at All American Speedway in Roseville, Calif., and Kern County Raceway in Bakersfield, Calif.

“We definitely want to stay in the top 10 in points,” Vanderwal said. “We definitely want to finish off the season with a couple more top fives. Obviously, a win would be a major goal. Right now the McAnally cars are in their own ZIP codes. That would definitely be very difficult.”

Vanderwal said he would like to return to the K&N Pro Series West next season. But he does not have a deal in place presently.

“The goal and hope for next year is to run K&N again,” Vanderwal said. “We don’t really have any plans yet. The dream is to go all the way. It takes all three. It takes talent, it takes people and it takes money. All the things have to fall into place at the right time. Can’t really expect any of that to happen but we have to try.”

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A Look at K&N-Sponsored British Speedway Racing Champion Tai Woffinden

K&N-sponsored Tai Woffinden racing in Speedway Grand Prix

Tai Woffinden lives life sideways. Notice the K&N patch on his right shin.

For those of you who have not experienced the raw excitement of speedway racing, we’d better start with a little background. Speedway dates back to before the first World War. It is a fast, raucous, elemental, and thoroughly entertaining form of motorcycle competition.

In keeping with his electric personality, Tai Woffinden, a K&N-sponsored British speedway racer, enthusiastically sums up the form of racing that he loves.

“Speedway is pretty much motorsport in its rawest form,” says Woffinden. “We race 500cc motorbikes that weigh around 75 kg (165 lbs), and they accelerate faster than an F1 car, with top speeds of up to 80 miles per hour. The big difference is we don’t have brakes! The bike just has a throttle, clutch, and one gear. We race on shale-based oval tracks, and you basically power-slide around the corners. It’s pretty gnarly!”

K&N-sponsored Tai Woffinden racing in Speedway Grand Prix

Speedway bikes accelerate faster than Formula 1 race cars and have no brakes

Gnarly indeed! Woffinden races in the elite Grand Prix Series which features the top the top 16 riders in the world who race in an 11 round season. Woffinden has fought through violent crashes and serious injuries to become one of the most respected and popular European motorcycle racers.

The Early Years

Woffinden’s impressive racing resume dates back to 2006 when he was a 15-year-old racing prodigy. In that first year, he won the Western Australian Under-16 Championship and was named Supporters Rider of the Year.

Over the next few years, Woffinden continued to rack up wins and attract the full attention of the speedway racing world. At the age of 16, he became the British Under-18 Champion and was the youngest rider ever to appear in the British Championship Final.

K&N-sponsored Tai Woffinden celebrating a win with a burnout

Woffinden punctuates another win in a cloud of celebratory smoke

His racing prowess and leadership skills were recognized as he was named as the captain of the British Under-21 Speedway team in both 2008 and 2009. He won the British Under-21 several times in the early years of his career.

Rising to the Top

2013 was a banner year for Woffinden. In addition to winning the British Speedway Championship and the Czech Speedway Grand Prix, Woffinden reached the true pinnacle of the sport winning the FIM Speedway World Championship. He did all of this fighting through two broken collarbones. He was named MCN Man of the Year and World Speedway Riders' Association Rider of the Year.

After a solid year including several prestigious titles in 2014, Woffinden returned to the speedway mountain top in 2015. He was the British Champion, the FIM Scandinavian Grand Prix winner, the FIM Czech Republic Grand Prix winner, and ultimately he regained the Speedway World Championship.

K&N-sponsored Tai Woffinden leading a Speedway Grand Prix race

Woffinden in a familiar position - at the front of the speedway pack

The Present

The 2017 Speedway World Champion has been a challenge for Woffinden. He has fought through crashes and had dodged serious injury twice in recent weeks. In a freak incident in Sweden, Woffinden narrowly escaped a potentially season-ending injury.

“I just wanted to do another lap because I was feeling good and our next meeting will be back on that track,” Woffinden says. “But it all went wrong! I couldn’t believe it, I got some grip and the bike was pulled towards the fence. I was thrown off the bike and anything could have happened, but I’m fine - thankfully! It was ironic because of the crash I’d had in Poland the week before, but in both cases, it could have been worse so I suppose I have to count myself lucky.”

Woffinden is currently 17 points behind Grand Prix Series leader Maciej Janowski. Supremely driven and ever optimistic, Woffinden says a third world title is still a possibility.

Tai Woffinden un-helmeted after a speedway race

Tai Woffinden has his eyes focused on another speedway world title

“Of course I’m still believing I can win the world title,” says Woffinden. “The day I believe I can no longer do that is the day I stop riding in the Grand Prix, and I believe a good round for me in Gorzow (Poland) will keep my hopes alive. I still think it will all come down to Melbourne and the final round in October to establish the World Champion.”

It would be unwise to count Woffinden out of the title race. He possesses a rare combination of determination, toughness, and talent that makes anything possible.

K&N is proud to part of the Tai Woffinden team!

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K&N's Air Intake Systems Offer Guaranteed Power Gains for Harley Milwaukee-Eight

Harley Milwaukee-Eight engine view

The new Harley Milwaukee-Eight engine benefits from the 63-1138 intake (Photo H-D)

Change comes deliberately for a venerable, tradition-based company like Harley-Davidson®. You have to tread lightly with a customer base that so values history and familiarity. Harley riders claim their engine allegiance like badges of honor. Knucklehead, Panhead, Shovelhead, Evolution, and Twin Cam have become an indelible part of the motorcycling lexicon.

In just its third all-new big twin in 80 years, Harley has unleashed the exciting new Milwaukee-Eight. As Alex Bozmoski, Harley’s Chief Engineer of New Products puts it, “It’s a brand-new motor, tip to tail.” The “Eight” in the new engine’s title indicates the utilization of 8 valves. Interestingly, the octet of valves is actually reminiscent of the power-train of the Harley board track racers of the company’s early years.

To get the most out of the new 107 CI Milwaukee-Eight engine technology that powers much of the 2017 Harley FL line, K&N has developed the K&N 63-1138 air intake. The 63-1138 is designed to enhance the visceral riding experience in a very exciting way. The intake is designed to improve throttle response with a significant increase in clean airflow to the new engine.

The 63-1138C chrome intake for the Milwaukee-Eight engine

The chrome version of the 63-1138C intake gleams with K&N technology

That’s not just a hollow claim – it’s a promise. The 63-1138 intake carries the K&N guarantee to increase the horsepower delivered by the Milwaukee-Eight engine. As an example, K&N’s strict and rigorous testing showed an estimated horsepower gain of almost 6 horsepower and over 7 foot-pounds of torque in an otherwise stock 2017 Harley-Davidson Road Glide with the Milwaukee-Eight 107 CI engine.

In keeping with that visceral riding enhancement theme, the 63-1138 emits an aggressive and satisfying engine growl. When running the 63-1138 the deep breathing Milwaukee-Eight’s intake sound is unleashed.

The performance enhancement that the 63-1138 offers up for the Milwaukee-Eight engine is a direct result of careful engineering. The intake starts with a special billet aluminum throttle-body mounting plate that attaches to a mandrel bent aluminum intake tube.

The 63-1138 black intake for the Milwaukee-Eight engine

The 63-1138 presents a subtle and mean black look to the Harley FL Series

That free air passageway is capped off with a high flow K&N filter. Multiple layers of cotton gauze filter media are formed into a pleated conical filter element that flows significantly more air than the stock intake.

K&N knows you want your Harley fully protected from the ravages of the road. K&N’s oil-impregnated filter media has been proven over 4 decades of real world testing. Not only will your Milwaukee-Eight engine breathe freely, it will also breathe clean.

The intake comes pre-oiled and ready for a simple, straightforward installation on your Harley FL model. When it is time to clean the element, that process is easily accomplished with a K&N recharge kit like the 99-5000. For added protection and a unique look, the filter element can be dressed in the RC-3680DK filter wrap.

The intake comes in two distinct finishes to complement your Harley’s styling. The 63-1138 is powder-coated in an aggressive black finish. While the 63-1138C features a gleaming chrome finish.

The 63-1138 black intake for the Milwaukee-Eight engine parts view

Everything that is needed for easy installation is included in the 63-1138 kit

The K&N 63-1138 and 63-1138C are designed to fit the following bikes:

2017 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLTRXS ROAD GLIDE SPECIAL 107 CI - All Models
2017 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLTRX ROAD GLIDE 107 CI - All Models
2017 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLTRU ROAD GLIDE ULTRA 107 CI - All Models
2017 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLRT FREEWHEELER 107 CI - All Models
2017 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHXS STREET GLIDE SPECIAL 107 CI - All Models
2017 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHX STREET GLIDE 107 CI - All Models
2017 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHTKL ULTRA LIMITED LOW 107 CI – All

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K&N Offers Both Street and Race-Only Performance Filters for the 2017 GSX-R1000

The 2017 GSX-R1000R and K&N-sponsored Hayden and Elias

The 2017 GSX-R1000 is all new, and dominating the sportbike world

The New GSX-R1000

The 2017 Suzuki GSX-R1000 is proving itself on the grueling MotoAmerica Superbike race circuit, just as it is on the public streets around the world. The all new flagship Gixxer is a lean, mean, canyon-carving machine whether in the hands of weekend warriors or Superbike stars like K&N-sponsored Yoshimura Suzuki racers Toni Elias and Roger Hayden.

The 2017 GSX-R1000 and the limited-production, higher-spec GSX-R1000R are the latest and greatest incarnations of the legendary GSX-R sportbike line. As Motorcyclist Magazine puts it, “It’s nice to see that the fire is still burning at Suzuki, and the GSX-R1000 is defending its title as the granddaddy of superbikes with more drive than ever.”

Cycle World Magazine continued the praise parade. “It’s an incredibly confidence-inspiring motorcycle overall, and strikes a perfect balance between user-friendliness and raw performance.” CW goes on to declare that the 2017 GSX-R, “could very well be the bike that brings the ‘King of the Superbike’ crown right back to Suzuki’s doorstep.”

MotoAmerica Superbike points leader Toni Elias holidng the K&N filter he uses in his GSX-R1000R

MotoAmerica Superbike points leader Toni Elias shows the K&N filter he uses in his GSX-R1000R

K&N Performance for the GSX-R

There may not be a motorsports segment that is more passionate about squeezing every ounce of performance out of a machine than the sportbike community. That is exactly what both the K&N SU-1017 direct replacement air filter and the race-specific K&N SU-1017R are designed to do.

The SU-1017 is designed for the street with no engine mapping or fuel management modifications needed to benefit from the increase in airflow to the GSX-R’s thirsty inline 4-cylinder powerplant. The SU-1017 is the smart performance choice for everyday riders and weekend canyon carvers.

Performance is taken to the next level with the race and track only SU-1017R. The SU-1017R is designed with a reduced amount of filtration media for the ultimate in airflow. Unlike the SU-1017, the ultra-high performance SU-1017R race filter will require fuel management modifications when fitted in the GSX-R.

K&N Protection for the GSX-R

Product view of the SU-1017 and SU-1017R for the 2017 GSX-R1000 and GSX-R1000R

The application-specific filter body on the SU-1017R fits perfectly in the stock GSX-R air box

K&N’s legendary oiled, cotton gauze filter media is used in both the SU-1017 and the SU-1017R. However, whereas the SU-1017 uses several layers of the dirt grabbing material, the SU-1017R uses only two and is only recommended for use on the track.

For full engine protection and longevity, the SU-1017 is the obvious choice. Its base seal and sealing bead ensure a secure fit in the stock GSX-R air box and those multiple layers of cotton gauze have an estimated dirt holding capacity of over 70 grams. In the same K&N testing that garnered that impressive statistic, the SU-1017 showed an estimated overall filtration efficiency of over 98%.

Of course, the SU-1017R is a different story as its design goal is heavily weighted toward the performance end of the spectrum. The two layers of filter media will perform to the protection standards expected on the racetrack, but it is not designed for the real world.

The SU-1017 and SU-1017R filter and box for the 2017 and GSX-R1000 and GSX-R1000R

The SU-1017 and SU-1017R for the 2017 GSX-R1000 come pre-oiled and ready to install

Care and Installation

The K&N GSX-R filters are designed to install in the factory air box with a secure and reliable fit. No intake compartment modifications are needed. As stated before, the SU-1017R will require engine management modifications for its intended closed-course use.

Both the SU-1017 and SU-1017R come pre-oiled and ready to install straight out of the box. When the time comes to clean the filters, both models are fully washable and rechargeable using a K&N kit like the 99-5000.

The SU-1017 comes with a 10-Year/Million Mile Limited Warranty so it is likely the last filter you will buy for your Gixxer. The SU-1017R is warranted against defective materials or workmanship for a period of 1 year from the date of purchase with no mileage limitation.

Check K&N’s convenient online application tool for all of your air and oil filtration needs.

The K&N SU-1017 and SU-1017R are designed to fit the following bikes:

2017 SUZUKI GSXR1000R 999 - All Models
2017 SUZUKI GSXR1000 999 - All Models

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