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Jane Thurmond’s LS1 powered ’64 Corvette “Scarlett” ready for OPTIMA Search for the Ultimate Street Car - Pike’s Peak International Raceway

Just weeks after the Pike’s Peak International Hill Climb of 2016, Pike’s Peak International Raceway was home to OPTIMA Search for the Ultimate Street Car (OSUSC) and this seasons fifth event. With a smaller field of participants, you might expect the competition to be a little less stiff, for lack of a better term. But that wasn’t the case. In fact, we saw driver’s pushing harder to secure their position with regards to the points championship or make up ground on some well needed points.

Jake Rozelle’s Lingenfelter Built LS7 Powered 1969 Camaro poised for the win.

K&N race team driver, Jake Rozelle, the youngest driver on the team, had one goal in mind; points championship. Rozelle started the season out with a win at Thunderhill earning him the first OUSCI invite of the 2016 season. Las Vegas Motor Speedway and Pike’s Peak International Raceway allowed Jake to pull off a “three-peat” in the GTV Class. He most assuredly has become the one to beat.

Jake was nothing but smiles after learning he the GTV class leader at Pike’s Peak.

Something new for the racers this season is most definitely leveling the playing field. The USCA - Ultimate Street Car Association - modified a few of the rules for 2016. In years past, the points champion was the participant who had the most points. Makes perfect sense, right? Not so fast! The points champion wasn’t necessarily the one who was the fastest, or had the ultimate street car, he or she could very well be the one who was capable of attending the most events. This year, all that has changed. This year, points are decided by the participants BEST three events and ranked accordingly.

Both car and driver cooling down between run group sessions on Sunday

Pike’s Peak, Jake’s third event of the 2016 OSUSC season, has him leading the points race with 1,417 points in the GTV Class. We had a chance to catch up with Jake and he said he was thrilled with his 3rd place overall position along with being in 1st at Pike’s Peak. He was seriously stoked with the performance of his 1969 Camaro, seemingly unphased by the heat and higher elevation. Rozelle considerably opened the gap between he and Larry Woo who is currently second in GTV Class with 880. Woo couldn’t make it to PPIR but we will see these two battle it out at Circuit of the America’s in Austin, Texas in early August.

K&N Race Team Driver, Jane Thurmond, sharing her strategy for COTA with Katie Osborne from Lucas Oil and MAVTV.

Coming in 4th at Pike’s Peak in the GTV Class is another K&N sponsored driver, Jane Thurmond. In fact, Jane is currently ranked 4th in GTV Class in the OPTIMA Series. Jane and her son, West, trailered the ’64 Chevrolet Corvette, affectionately named Scarlett, to the venue after meeting up with friend and fellow competitor, Matt Alcala, and Lingenfelter Design & Engineering Judge, Jon Lindstrom. We found out that the pair did a little sightseeing on their way to PPIR taking in the Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, and a quick stop to visit with some racing friends in Cortez, Colorado. When asked, Jane said their road trip is really what racing, to her, is all about. The friends, the incredible sights and the fast cars!

David Carroll in his LS-powered 1975 Datsun 280Z, complete with K&N cold air intake system.

The GTL Class, for vehicles weighing less than 3,200 pounds turned out to be the smallest class with just seven participants. David Carroll, a longtime supporter of all things K&N, raced his way to the podium at Pike’s Peak International Raceway earning a third place, along with class dominators Rich Wilhoff in 1st and Ken Thwaits in 2nd. But since Wilhoff and Thwaits have already received the invite for OUSCI, our third place finisher, David Carroll in his LS-powered 1975 Datsun 280Z received the invite.

Both Jake Rozelle and Jane Thurmond will be hitting the road again in August to have a chance to race at Circuit of the America’s (COTA) in Austin, Texas. The event sold out almost immediately due to COTA being a world class venue. They both agree, what other amateur racing series features such incredible destinations to test your skills amidst other very capable drivers. No less in a street car.

We are thrilled that such winning drivers are a part of the K&N race team and look forward to seeing what they pull off next. In good ole Texas style, we are certain it will be big.

Cody accepts trophy for a win at a King of the Wing feature race in Stockton.

Cody Gerhardt of Madera, California, grew up in a family that raced and built sprint cars. His dad Kevin and his uncle Kent, and their father and grandfather have all participated in sprint car racing. In Fact, a major race in the USAC Pavement Sprint Car Racing Series is the Gerhardt Classic, a 100-lap race on a 3/8-mile track that's named after Cody's great grandfather. And yes, Cody has competed in the race and in his rookie season qualified seventh in a field of 15 cars and finished eighth.

He won the Northern, Southern, and Western United States Midget Championships in 2010.

The fourth generation Gerhardt to race got started when his father bought him a quarter midget. "He took me up to the Madera Speedway, which is close to our home, and I trained there. When I was ready I raced. I was 5 years old and I was hooked," he said.

He progressed through the USAC Ford Focus Midget Racing Series and the Mini-Sprint Series and then on to racing winged pavement sprint cars. While he was moving through the classes from midget to sprint wing cars, Gerhardt's dad and uncle started Western Speed Racing in 2002. Cody joined the team in 2009.

The team, which also includes racer Dylan Nobile, competes in California in the Western King of the Wing Series and in Indiana, Idaho, Washington, Utah, and Arizona in the National King of the Wing Series. Drivers that have raced for the team include Jason Leffler, Tony Stewart, Bobby Santos, and Dave Steele.

Cody and the team had to overcome some setbacks. For example, in 2015 Cody's dad and uncle built a brand new car that featured a Diablo Chassis. Although they finished second in points in the Western Series and the vehicle was very competitive, they still experienced steering box issues throughout the campaign and had to keep changing it out.

"If we didn't have that problem I'm sure we would have won the championship, but we had a couple of DNFs," said Cody. According to Cody, the car wasn't ready to race at the beginning of this season because the engine wasn't complete. "So in the first event of the year I had to drive Ken Hamilton's famous Pink Lady and I finished second," he said. "We missed the next race due to an accident with our car that happened in practice."

However, they won the BCRA Midget Car Feature on May 7th and the Winged Sprints on June 11th. Both events took place at the Madera Speedway.

Western Speed Racing Team #40 and #60 cars finish second and third at Madera Speedway in 2016.

In the June 11th race, Cody qualified the Western Speed Racing's #40 Winged Sprint car 2nd with a 12.851 time and placed 2nd in the second heat race. Dylan Nobile qualified the team's #60 car 4th with a 12.888 time and finished 3rd in the second heat. Cody started 5th in the 3rd row and Nobile started 3rd in the second row. Both drivers were held up for 11 laps of the 30-lap race. Cody was in 5th and Dylan made a pass on the outside to capture 3rd place. Dylan finished 2nd after fighting to make a pass for the lead and Cody took 3rd.

Western Speed Racing will compete on July 9th in the 13th Annual Gerhardt Classic at Madera Speedway. According to Cody, the team will be racing in eight to nine more races including the Gerhardt Classic. He added that some events are in California and some take place in other states such as Washington and Idaho.

K&N Engineering is a major sponsor of the Western Speed Racing Team and a valued partner.

"K&N has been sponsoring the team for eight years and sponsoring me through my career before I joined the team," he said. "I've had a great relationship with K&N. They are great people to work with. Every time we needed something, they were on it right away.

Other sponsors of the Western Speed Racing Team include Lucas Oil, K1Racer Gear, University Market, Fresno Van Rental, Anderson Landscaping, XRP, Steele Performance, Johnny's Muffler Services, Brannon Corporation, Yak Graphics, Dennis's Body Shop, Truck Covers USA, Nobile Truck Accessory and Performance Trailers, Inc., and Paul Eskesen Motorsports.

The K&N 33-2321 replacement air filter is compatible with OEM vehicle electronics and will not void the vehicle's warranty.

Debuted in 2004 as a brand new front-wheel drive minivan, the Mercury Monterey Shares the same platform with the then-new Ford Freestar. However, the Monterey is considered more upscale.

The 2005–2007 Mercury Monterey included a 4.2-liter V-6 engine that generated 201 horsepower and 263 lb-ft of torque, a four-speed automatic transmission, fold-into-the-floor third row seats and a parking assist system that alerted the driver to obstructions in front of and behind the vehicle.

Featuring a wheelbase of 120.8-inches, the van had a total length of 201-inches and a height of 70.8-inches. It could accommodate seven passengers in three rows of seats that included removable captain's chairs in the third row. The 2005 model was available in three trim levels –- Convenience, Luxury, and Premier. However, the Convenience and Premier alternatives were dropped in 2006, leaving just the Luxury model. A power liftgate was standard on the Premier and an option on the Luxury model and a liftgate spoiler was also available.

Heated and cooled leather seats with perforated suede inserts were included in the Premier; Ford's electronic stability system dubbed AdvanceTrac, was offered as an option for the Luxury and Premier versions, and power-adjustable pedals were standard in the higher end models. The sides of the exterior of the Monterey featured monochromatic cladding and satin-aluminum accents, and Mercury's signature waterfall grille consisting of vertical bars. Dual power-operated sliding side doors appeared on the Luxury and Premier variations. The wheels were machined finished and held 16-inch tires. Self-sealing tires were available for the upper-end models.

The 2005 Ford Freestar replaced the Ford Winstar and came in five trim levels -- S, SE, SES, SEL, and Limited, which was the top of the line. The third row seat could be adjusted to face the rear of the vehicle for tailgate parties and it could also be folded down flat into the floor.

A 3.9-liter V-6 engine that produced 193-horsepower ran the S, SE, and SES models. While a 4.2-liter V-6 that generated 201-horsepower and 263 lb-ft of torque powered the SEL and Limited.

Everything needed to install the filter comes in the box. Also in the box is installation instructions and a free K&N decal.

The exterior looked similar to the old Windstar with the SEL and Limited sporting a chrome grille while the SES exhibited a black grille. The vehicle had the same dimensions as the Monterey and could accommodate seven passengers. The standard second-row bench seat could slide horizontally and it also included captain's chairs in the upper end models. There was an overhead console that included readouts for outside temperature, a compass, and auxiliary buttons for the power sliding doors.

The 2006 and 2007 Freestar came in three trim models – SE, SEL, and Limited. The second row bench seat on the 2005 model was replaced by bucket seats. The 2006 model retained the adjustable third row seat. Behind that seat were 27.4 cubic feet of cargo space. The overhead console from the 2005 model was retained on the 2006 and 2007 SEL and Limited models.

K&N offers the K&N 33-2321 replacement air filter for the 2005-2007 Mercury Monterey and Ford Freestar. Replacing the old factory air filter is easy. Just remove the dirty filter and drop the K&N 33-2321 air filter into the factory air box. It is designed to increase horsepower and acceleration and offers high airflow with exceptional filtration. It is designed and constructed to last 50,000 miles before cleaning, is compatible with OEM vehicle electronics, and will not void the vehicle warranty.

The air filter features multiple layers of cotton gauze media that lay between two aluminum wire screens. The cotton media is treated with a special grade of filter oil that makes the cotton strands tacky so that they can catch and hold impurities for up to 50,000 miles.

K&N also offers an air filter cleaning kit that is formulated to clean the dirty air filter so that it can be reused again and again. In fact, this air filter could be the last one you will ever buy for this vehicle.

K&N leaves nothing to chance. They test their air filters to ensure that they achieve overall filtration efficiency in the range of 96 percent to 99 percent. Moreover, an independent laboratory has tested the filters under standards set by the Society of Automotive Engineers as well as procedures required by ISO 5011. K&N offers the test results of the independent lab on knfilters.com.

K&N is so sure that the air filters will perform as advertised that it offers a Million Mile Limited Warranty.

The K&N 33-2321 replacement air filter can be used on the following vehicles:

2007 Mercury Monterey Van 4.2L V6
2007 Ford Freestar 4.2L V6
2007 Ford Freestar 3.9L V6
2006 Mercury Monterey Van 4.2L V6
2006 Ford Freestar 4.2L V6
2006 Ford Freestar 3.9L V6
2005 Mercury Monterey Van 4.2L V6
2005 Ford Freestar 4.2L V6
2005 Ford Freestar 3.9L V6

You can view all the air filters that K&N makes for these vehicles at the Air Filters for the Ford Freestar and Air Filters for the Mercury Monterey Van pages. You can view all the K&N performance products for any vehicle by using the Search by Vehicle tool and you can find a local K&N retailer by plugging your location into the K&N Dealer Search as well.

The K&N 33-5040 replacement air filter features multiple layers of cotton gauze that have been treated with a special grade of oil that captures and holds impurities that can damage a car’s engine.

Introduced in 1989, The Mazda MX-5 is one of the most popular convertibles ever made. In the 21 years of its existence, it has experienced four different generations, several design updates, and engine innovations.

The 2016 edition has a length of 154.1-inches, a width of 68.1-inches, and a height of 48.62-inches. It’s wheelbase totals 91.4-inches.

A SkyActiv, 2.0-liter, 4-cylinder gasoline engine powers the American version and is identical in size and number of cylinders as the SkyActiv engine that powers the Mazda3, Mazda6, and the Mazda CX-5. The engine generates 155-horsepower and 148 lb-ft of torque and is mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission. There is also a SkyActiv-G 1.5-liter direct injection gasoline engine available that delivers 131 PS at 7,000 RPM and 111-lb-ft. of torque at 4,800 RPM. This engine is mated to a 6-speed manual transmission.

The car is available in four trim levels –- the Mazda MX-5 Launch Edition, the MX-5 Miata Sport, the MX-5 Miata Club, and the MX-5 Miata Grand Touring.

The first 1,000 models of the 2016 MX-5 were designated as the Launch Edition. These cars were released with a red exterior and sport tan leather interior. The only option offered with this edition was a choice between the 6-speed manual and automatic transmission.

The MX-5 Miata Sport trim features LED headlights and taillights, Bluetooth phone and audio streaming, cruise control, power door locks, a leather covered shifter and a USB port. Options available for this trim are an automatic transmission and a keyless entry system for the manual-transmission model.

The MX-5 Miata Club features 17-inch alloy wheels, a Mazda Connect infortainment system with a 7-inch touchscreen, Bose audio system, an air-dam beneath the front fascia and a rear spoiler. The suspension includes a front shock tow brace for improved handling, Bilstein shocks and a limited slip differential. A special package was offered that upgraded the car to include Brembo front brakes with painted calipers, 17-inch BBS forged wheels and aerodynamic improvements included on the rocker panels and rear fascia.

The MX-5 Miata Grand Touring trim is considered to be the top of the line. It includes leather seats, automatic climate control, bright 17-inch wheels, rain sensing wipers, adaptive headlights and Mazda’s i-ACTIVSENSE, safety features that include lane departure warning, blind spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert.

The car has won a number of awards and recognitions including the Telegraph Cars 2016 Car of the Year, 2015-2016 Japan’s Car of the Year, the 2016 New York Auto Show World Car of the Year and World Car Design of the Year.

Such an iconic car needs the best protection. K&N offers the 33-5040 replacement air filter for that purpose. Not only will the filter boost horsepower and acceleration of the MX-5, is also provides high airflow with splendid filtration.

The filter will last up to 50,000 miles before cleaning is necessary depending on driving conditions.

To make sure that the filter is properly cleaned and recharged for another 50,000 miles, K&N offers an air filter cleaning kit. Once cleaned, the filter can be used for another 50,000 miles. Given the proper cleaning every 50,000 miles, there is no reason that the filter can’t last forever. That is why K&N backs the air filter with a unique Million Mile Limited Warranty®.

Moreover, the filter is designed to fit into the existing factory air box and will work with OEM vehicle electronics. It will not void the vehicle warranty.

K&N air filters balances high airflow, filtration efficiency, durability and dust capacity to deliver the most effective filter on the market. They have been tested under the most stringent conditions at K&N in-house and independent laboratories using the Society of Automotive Engineers ISO5011 air filtration standards. Tests show that K&N air filters deliver overall filtration efficiency in the range of 96% to 99%.

One K&N customer named Carl Judice of New Iberia, Louisiana, reported that he drove more than one million miles on one single K&N air filter that was installed in his three-quarter ton Chevrolet pickup truck. He claims that he has never had to rebuild the engine or remove the cylinder head from his truck due to the performance of the filter.

The K&N 33-5040 replacement air filter fits the following vehicles:

2016 MAZDA ROADSTER 1.5L L4 F/I - All
2016 MAZDA MX-5 MIATA 2.0L L4 F/I - All
2016 MAZDA MX-5 IV 2.0L L4 F/I - All
2016 MAZDA MX-5 IV 1.5L L4 F/I - All
2015 MAZDA MX-5 IV 2.0L L4 F/I - All
2015 MAZDA MX-5 IV 1.5L L4 F/I – All

To find the proper air filter for your car, truck, or SUV, check out the K&N search by vehicle tool.  K&N is always developing new air filters. If we do not have a filter for your vehicle at this time, please ask us to make one using the online product request form.

Kyle Benjamin won the pole for the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East race at New Hampshire International Speedway. It was his third pole of the season in the K&N Pro Series East.

Corey LaJoie hasn’t won a race in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series in nearly four years, but it didn’t take him long to get up to speed. LaJoie won the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East race at New Hampshire International Speedway, his first since 2012 when he won five races.

Corey LaJoie, driver of the No. 41 Chevrolet, won the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East race at New Hampshire International Speedway. He led 34 laps of the United Site Services 70.

LaJoie led the final 34 laps of the United Site Services 70, taking the lead from Kyle Benjamin on lap 39. Benjamin won the pole and was out front for the first 38 laps of the race. LaJoie started on the front row with Benjamin, who fell back in the waning laps of the race to finish fourth.

LaJoie, a NASCAR Next alumnus, won for the first time in the K&N Pro Series East at New Hampshire. He was the runner-up to Kyle Larson in 2012. LaJoie was in contention for the victory in 2010, but crashed late in the race.

Corey LaJoie won his first NASCAR K&N Pro Series East race since 2012 when he won five races and was the runner-up in the K&N Pro Series East standings.

“Expectations are high when you come here,” LaJoie said. “I’ve lost a couple here at New Hampshire. I lost one to Larson here in 2012. I lost one wrecking with the leader coming for the checkered a couple years before that. I wasn’t going to let this one get away.”

His dad, Randy LaJoie, won a NASCAR race in New Hampshire in 1996. Randy LaJoie was 5-years-old when his dad won that race.

Corey LaJoie won the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East race at New Hampshire International Speedway in his first start of the season.

“It’s really cool just to get into Victory Lane anywhere,” Corey LaJoie said. “Obviously having that picture with Dad holding me in Victory Lane here is obviously pretty cool too. The biggest thing is just so many times I’ve ran good here and not been able to get it done. It just all worked out. When all the restarts started falling, this is about the time I probably give one up. I luckily had enough experience and had a couple good restarts and I am sitting here with this trophy.”

Corey LaJoie, who races in the NASCAR XFINITY Series, was making his first start of the season in the K&N Pro Series East. He was the runner-up in the K&N Pro Series standings in 2012.

A pair of teenagers followed LaJoie across the finish line. Rookie and NASCAR Next driver Todd Gilliland, who started the race in seventh, was second. It was the third top-five finish in five K&N Pro Series East races for Gilliland.

“The first half of the race was pretty uneventful,” Gilliland said. “I think we went almost all green. Right at Lap 35 it was more exciting, more action, a lot more side-by-side racing. At this track restarts are really important. Corey was really good at restarts today. It was tough keeping up with him.

Corey LaJoie, who also races in the NASCAR XFINITY Series, won the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East race at New Hampshire International Speedway.

Corey LaJoie won the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East race at New Hampshire International Speedway. He started on the front row next to pole winner Kyle Benjamin and took the lead in the race on lap 39.

 Justin Haley crossed the finish line in third. It was his eighth top-five finish in nine K&N Pro Series East races.

“We were leading the points coming in here,” Haley said. “We were looking for a solid day in the top five where we’ve been kind of running all year, fortunate to get two wins.  We fell to third there in the early portion of race. … Happy to be leading the points still.”

Haley has won two K&N Pro Series East races and leads the K&N Pro Series East standings by 40 points over Benjamin. Benjamin was fourth in the race at New Hampshire, followed by Austin Theriault in fifth.

The next NASCAR K&N Pro Series race is the Casey’s General Store 150 at Iowa Speedway on July 29. It is a race for the drivers and teams from the K&N Pro Series East and West.