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David Pulley is Focused on a Successful 2017 Supercross Season

13 mar 2017

David Pulley racing in the Supercross second round in San Diego (photo CycleDump)

Most often (and understandably), our racer profile articles focus on the performers who are at the pinnacle of their success. However, K&N backs talented racers at all stages of their development, as long as they share our dedication to the sport and commitment to excellence. Here is a look at a young up-and-coming contender in the Supercross field who certainly embodies those traits.

David Pulley will be racing in the full season of the Premier 450 Class in the 2017 Monster Energy Supercross season. He will travel in his Mercedes van to the western races and fly when the series heads east. With the first two rounds of the series in the books, Pulley shares some of his insights into his season start.

“These first two rounds have been a bit rough for me, but I can see I have the speed after reviewing segment times and my LitPro data,” Pulley said. LitPro is a tracking and diagnostic system that analyzes things such as the most effective race lines and optimal speeds in the whoop sections and jumps.

Pulley is gearing up (literally) for the 2017 Supercross season

The second round of the Monster Energy Supercross at PetCo Park in San Diego had to be modified due to the weather. While changes in race-day routine are always a concern for top athletes, Pulley knows that the ability to monitor and adjust will be a key to his continued ascent in the sport.

“With all the rain during the week, AMA decided to go with a modified schedule once again removing the free practice from our schedule, leaving us with the two 10 minute timed qualifying sessions,” Pulley said.

The San Diego round proved to be a painful one for Pulley. He suffered a hard crash that could have been attributed to the racer's abbreviated track time and variable dirt conditions. However, Pulley was quick to identify a correctable technique flaw rather than blame the conditions.

“Unfortunately, I had a bit of a get off in the whoops. They were pretty big, and in the last session they got pretty cupped and uneven. I ended up getting kicked and shifting too much weight forward and going down. I am okay, just a bit bruised up,” he said.

A van will be Pulley's transportation for the West Coast races

As is his racing modus operandi, Pulley used the setbacks as both a learning experience and motivation.

“I will be all good and ready to go for A2 (Anaheim race 2) next weekend though. I was running 3rd in my practice before I went down and unfortunately got shuffled back to end up 47th O/A in times. I plan on getting things on track here at A2 this weekend and working on being able to go out there and battle to get into these main events!”

Pulley is fully aware that his racing success is dependent on continued support from his loyal sponsors like K&N. “I can’t thank you all enough for all the support,” he said. K&N is happy to be a part of David Pulley’s progress in the ultra-competitive sport of Supercross.

2017 Supercross Schedule:

January 7, 2017 Angel Stadium Anaheim, CA

January 14, 2017 Petco Park San Diego, CA

January 21, 2017 Angel Stadium Anaheim, CA

January 28, 2017 Univ. of Phx. Stadium Glendale, AZ

February 4, 2017 O.Co Coliseum Oakland, CA

February 11, 2017 AT&T Stadium Arlington, TX

February 18, 2017 U.S. Bank Stadium Minneapolis, MN

February 25, 2017 Georgia Dome Atlanta, GA

March 4, 2017 Rogers Centre Toronto, ON

March 11, 2017 Daytona Int. Speedway Daytona Beach, FL

March 18, 2017 Lucas Oil Stadium Indianapolis, IN

March 25, 2017 Detroit Ford Field Detroit, MI

April 1, 2017 Dome at America's Ctr. St. Louis, MO

April 8, 2017 Century Link Field Seattle, WA

April 22, 2017 Rice-Eccles Stadium Salt Lake City, UT

April 29, 2017 MetLife Stadium E. Rutherford, NJ

May 6, 2017 Sam Boyd Stadium Las Vegas, NV

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K&N-Sponsored Mitch Guthrie Jr. Wins the Mint 400 UTV Pro Turbo Class

8 mar 2017

MItch Guthrie Jr. and his team after the 2017 MInt 400 victory

MItch Guthrie Jr. (by the K&N logo) and his team celebrate a dominating Mint 400 win

The desert north of Primm, Nevada, was Mitch Guthrie Jr’s playground as he dominated the Pro Turbo Class of the famous Mint 400. A win in “The Great American Off-Road Race” is a crown jewel for any desert racer, and Mitch grabbed that jewel with a vengeance in the March staging of the Mint 400.

The UTV classes are becoming one of the most popular segments of modern desert racing. With over 100 UTV entries for the 2017 Mint 400, it is clearly one of the most competitive classes in the field.

Guthrie Jr's Polaris UTV is protected by K&N filter technology

In the shadows of the massive roller coaster of Buffalo Bill's Casino in Primm, Nevada, Guthrie Jr. took the Pro Turbo lead from the pole with a blazing start in his Polaris RZR XP Turbo. He would never relinquish that front-running position. The benefit of a good start in a race like the Mint can't be underestimated.

“The key point for my race was the first lap,” Guthrie said. “I started on the first row and got the holeshot which gave me the chance to get away from the huge pack of cars behind me. I pushed hard the first lap and was able to gain a lot of breathing room for the second and third lap, which was huge.”

Getting that “breathing room” is vital, but the treacherous Mojave Desert can throw race-ending surprises around each turn. That fact was not lost on Guthrie as he led the hard-charging field.

“The Mint 400 course is one of the most brutal courses we race throughout the entire year,” Guthrie said. “It has a little bit of everything from big whoops, huge rocks, sand washes, and plenty of spots that can sneak up on you if you're not careful.” Clearly Mitch found that perfect balance between fast and careful that culminated in his Mint 400 victory.

Mitch Guthrie Jr's Mint 400 winning UTV at the contingency in Las Vegas, Nevada

Guthrie Jr's Mint 400 winning UTV at the pre-race contingency in downtown Las Vegas

Guthrie Jr. says it doesn’t take long for the Mint course to begin to look like a mechanical graveyard. “You can see how harsh it is throughout the race with how many cars are scattered throughout the course even after just the first lap,” he said.

Desert racing is truly a team sport, and Guthrie appreciates everyone involved in his success. “It takes a lot of sponsors and awesome people to put a race like that together,” Guthrie said. “And to have K&N, one of my long-time sponsors, supporting me and helping me get the win was very cool!”

K&N is proud to play a part in Mitch Guthrie Jr’s racing success. We congratulate the entire Guthrie Racing Team on a spectacular Mint 400 victory.

The Mint 400 win in a Polaris RZR XP is especially sweet since K&N just introduced our brand-new K&N 63-1136 Polaris intake. Check K&N's online application tool to get the perfect filter or intake system for your UTV.

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Todd Gilliland Plans to Race in Both K&N Pro Series East and West

8 mar 2017

NASCAR, K&N Pro Series, Bill McAnally Racing, Todd Gilliland

Todd Gilliland plans on racing in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East and West in 2017

Todd Gilliland is embarking on a daunting challenge. He is going to race in both the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East and West and try to win championships in both series. He started his twin tour in the K&N Pro Series East season opener at New Smyrna Speedway in Florida in February. Even though the results were not what he and his team were expecting, there were some high points.

Gilliland, the 2016 K&N Pro Series West champion, led for 20 laps in the East Series race at New Smyrna Speedway. He finished in ninth place, but he earned some valuable points toward the championship.

“We picked up right where we left off last year,” said Gilliland, who drives for Bill McAnally Racing. “We were fast in practice and ultimately in the race. We were leading and we blew a right front tire, actually cut a right front tire, from some debris. To be able to come back and still finish ninth, we controlled everything we were able to control. That’s all that a good team can do. We wish it could have been better, but it could have been a ton worse.”

The first race in the K&N Pro Series West is March 18 at Tucson Speedway in Arizona. It is the start of a four-race stint in eight days in the K&N Pro Series West. But it is not the busiest part of his NASCAR K&N Pro Series schedule.

“This is probably the most races I’ve ever run,” Gilliland said. “It’s definitely going to be a lot of upkeep, a lot of travel. My strategy is hopefully to get better with every race. Hopefully we can learn twice as much as someone that’s just running one of the series.”

From June 3 with the K&N Pro Series East race at Memphis International Raceway in Tennessee to Aug. 26 with the K&N Pro Series West race at Douglas County Speedway in Oregon, Gilliland will race almost every weekend. It amounts to 11 races in 13 weeks.

Todd Gilliland won the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West championship in 2016

“During June, July, and August, it gets super busy,” Gilliland said. “We race every weekend in a row. We definitely have to have a lot of cars ready for that stretch. Hopefully everything goes good to where we don’t have to totally repair one car. We’ll see how it all plays out. It’s definitely going to be really hectic.”

Gilliland and his team have been getting ready for running in the K&N Pro Series East and West since the end of the NASCAR season in Roseville, California, in October. After winning the West Series championship with an eighth-place finish in the race at All American Speedway, Gilliland was busy making plans for the 2017 season.

“Preparation began probably five months ago,” Gilliland said. “Right from Roseville, our last race, to get to this season opener. I’m very excited about how well-prepared our team has become. I think we are going to be ready, Sadly, we didn’t get to test, but we’ve had a lot of practice, so we’ll see how it goes.”

One race he is looking forward to is the K&N Pro Series event at Bristol Motor Speedway in Tennessee. It was a race he did not do particularly well at last year and he wants a chance to redeem himself.

“I am really looking forward to going back to Bristol on the K&N East,” Gilliland said. “That was probably one of our worst runs with just speed. We finished ninth, which isn’t bad.I would say that was where we were off the most. I feel like we’ve gained so much on it since then. I think we’d be better there.”

As for his chances of winning both championships in the K&N Pro Series East and West, Gilliland said he is confident in his team.

“We figured it would be a great opportunity to run both this year,” Gilliland said. “Everyone at Bill McAnally Racing has been super open to the idea. It’s definitely going to be a lot of hard work. Everyone is definitely up for it. That’s what it’s going to take, a lot of hard work.

Todd Gilliland will compete in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West opener at Tucson Speedway in Arizona

“We’ve been in contention to win a lot of the K&N East and West races that we’ve been shown up to. I feel pretty confident in my team and our ability to be fast and unload up front.”

K&N as the title sponsor of the Pro Series West and East provides opportunities for drivers to get noticed. Gilliland said he wants to make the most of this opportunity.

“Anytime a big sponsor like K&N can take the first step and initiate advertising and everything for younger drivers like myself, and everyone in the K&N Pro Series names out there that some people haven’t heard yet, that’s huge for us,” Gilliland said. “It’s a great opportunity to have them on board.”

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Jordan Phillips Off to a Great Start in the 2017 Grand National Cross Country Racing Series

8 mar 2017

Jordan Phillips jumping at the GNCC round 1 in Union, South Carolina

Phillips gets air in the GNCC round 1 (Photo: Ken Hill)

Jordan Phillips opened his 2017 Grand National Cross Country Series (GNCC) campaign with a solid top 10 performance. Phillips is a K&N-sponsored 4x4 Pro ATV rider for the factory Can-Am X-Team. The AMA-sanctioned GNCC staged its opener in Union, South Carolina, the first weekend in March. Phillips’ first-round race aboard his Can-Am ATV was the model of consistency.

One of the unique aspects of GNCC racing is the fact that the course can be a bit of a mystery for the competitors.

“Upon arrival Friday afternoon I began walking the course,” Phillips said. “As most of you know there is no practicing or riding the track prior to race day. The course was fast and mostly dry. [There were] a few hidden stumps and rocks throughout the course that I knew I would have to watch for.”

Jordan Phillips roosting at the GNCC round 1 in Union, South Carolina

The South Carolina track was mostly dry for the early March race

Early season races in the GNCC can involve extremely variable weather and track conditions, and the season opener in South Carolina got off to a brisk start. “Saturday morning before our 10:00 AM race time, the temperatures were chilly, down in the 20s,” said Phillips. “The sun came out quick and that made a difference so it wasn't too bad.”

“When the green flag dropped, I rocketed forward and went into the woods in the top 5 of our class,” Jordan said. “I kept my head down and stayed with the leaders for the first lap. I experienced some arm pump and was trying to fight that off. I never could make any passes, but maintained 5th until the checkered flag. I also placed 9th overall out of 250 racers.”

The solid class and overall finish in South Carolina is an encouraging start for Phillips’ 2017 championship run. “Overall, I am happy with this [result] for the season opener,” said Phillips. “Thanks for everyone's continued prayers and support!”

K&N-backed Phillips ran a solid and consistent race

K&N sees great things on the horizon for this rising star in GNCC racing.

2017 AMSOIL GNCC Racing Schedule

Round 1 March 4-5 Big Buck Union, SC (Micro)

Round 2 March 11-12 Wild Boar Palatka, FL (UTV)

Round 3 March 25-26 Cannonball Sparta, GA (Micro)

Round 4 April 8-9 Steele Creek Morganton, NC (Micro)

Round 5 April 22-23 Camp Coker Bullet Society Hill, SC (UTV)

Round 6 May 6-7 Limestone 100 Springville, IN (Micro)

Round 7 May 27-28 The John Penton Millfield, OH (UTV)

Round 8 June 10-11 Tomahawk Odessa, NY (Micro)

Round 9 June 24-25 Snowshoe Snowshoe, WV

Round 10 September 9-10 Unadilla New Berlin, NY (Micro)

Round 11 September 23-24 Mountaineer Run Masontown, WV (UTV)

Round 12 October 7-8 Powerline Park St. Clairsville, OH (UTV)

Round 13 October 28-29 Ironman Crawfordsville, IN (UTV)

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K&N's Nicole Pitell-Vaughan and Total Chaos Team Take on The Mint 400

8 mar 2017

Photo of the Total Chaos truck staged and launching off the start line at the Mint 400

Total Chaos launching off the line at the 2017 Polaris RZR Mint 400 presented by BFGoodrich

The history of the Mint 400 is replete with excitement, drama and quite a bit of celebrity, just like Vegas itself. Known as the toughest, most sensational off-road race in North America since 1968 when it was first run, the Mint 400 desert race was created by Norm Johnson who not only participated in the event until 1982, but was acting race director until 1974. What began as a public relations event to promote the Mint Hotel’s annual deer hunt quickly turned into a legitimate desert race. To maintain momentum Norm enlisted the help of a few of his friends, famed race car drivers Mel Larson and Parnelli Jones. Throw in a guaranteed prize purse of $30,000, and the participant list grew at an exponential rate.

Photo of Nicole smiling and behind the wheel of her race truck

Ready to rock 'n roll, Nicole is exactly where she wants to be, behind the wheel of her race truck

Competitors in the event came from all over the world, from all racing genres along with the television and film industry. Indianapolis 500 winners Al Unser, Rick Mears; off-road champions Mickey Thompson, Ivan Stewart, Walker Evans; and actors James Garner and Steve McQueen are among the many racing and entertainment notables who competed in the Mint 400.

Photo of Nicole and Tom heading down Fremont Street in Old Town Las Vegas with 1000s of onlookers

Nicole and Tom head down Fremont Street in the old part of Las Vegas with 1000s of onlookers

After the sale of the Mint Hotel in 1988, competitors and enthusiasts said goodbye to an era of racing that would not be forgotten. In fact, this great American off-road race would return to the Mojave Desert with a vengeance in 2008.

For some, life is about dreaming big and setting goals. Pushing to achieve their goals regardless of how big the challenge may seem. Never giving up on their dreams and stretching until those goals are reached. As the co-owner and Director of Operations at Total Chaos Fabrication, Inc., Nicole Pitell-Vaughan, known to some as “CHAOS”, is forward thinking and determined in every aspect within the business, proving that she is anything but chaos!

Lap 1 main pit, everything is as it should be

For more than 18 years now Total Chaos Fabrication, a female owned automotive fabrication business, has been affiliated in the sport of off-road, participating as racers, chasers, spectators, weekend warriors, and customers, manufacturing premium quality Toyota aftermarket suspension equipment and accessories here in the USA. But beyond the desk, she lives her life in the dirt. As a driver, competitor, and big air chaser, K&N-sponsored driver, Nicole Pitell-Vaughan, raced her 2005 Toyota Tacoma, with the Best in the Desert Racing Association in the Polaris RZR Mint 400 presented by BFGoodrich, with co-driver, Tim Schrader. Nicole will tell you that she doesn't chase checkered flags, but when she does she has the most amazing inner circle of friends that are really an extension of family at Total Chaos. Vaughan has competed in off-road (two and four wheel) for 18 years and is known for her aggressive racing style and her love of air. On Saturday, we saw Nicole, laser-focused and driven, having come back from knee surgery to train pretty hard so she could stay behind the wheel for the entire distance of her first Mint 400 race.

Photo of Nicole Pitell-Vaughan behind the wheel, crossed up in her Toyota Tacoma

Nicole Pitell-Vaughan is best known for her aggressive behind the wheel style

The Total Chaos race truck, known as “Lil T”, is a 2005 Toyota Tacoma Regular Cab 2WD. The front suspension features the Total Chaos Long Travel system with 2.5” Fox Coilover shocks, 3.0” Fox Bypass shocks, and 2.0” Fox Hydraulic/Air bumpstops. “Lil T’s” sporting a Total Chaos 4 Link in the rear with 49.5” long control arms. They’ve added a Currie 9” axle housing, Inland Empire Driveline driveshaft, Wilwood disc brakes, 2.5” Fox Coilover shocks, 3” Fox Bypass shocks, 2.0” Hydraulic/Air bumpstops. All the Total Chaos suspension components are equipped with the same uniballs, materials, and construction techniques that you find in Total Chaos bolt-on production suspension systems. Unique to the 7200 class, “Lil T” is not a tube chassis race truck. Under the Tacoma badging, it is a production chassis retaining many original parts including the stock frame, cab, doors, and headlights. The custom built suspension bolts to the factory control arm mounting locations and utilizes modified OE Toyota components to complete the build. Total Chaos performed a 4.0L 6cyl motor swap installing a 4.0L Dual Over Head Cam 1GR-FE V6 VVT-i. They added a K&N intake and filter and installed Doug Thorley Headers with a Dynomax Muffler to create a tough growl. The team modified a 2007+ Tundra steering rack to fit the narrower vehicle and custom fabricated 86-95 Toyota 4WD lift spindles that utilize Land Cruiser hubs. The interior was fitted with a Full 4130 chromoly roll cage, Mastercraft Pro seats, Mastercraft window nets and harnesses plus a Momo steering wheel. To complete the exterior they added Glassworks Unlimited front fiberglass and Hannemann fiberglass bedsides.

Photo of Total Chaos in the Toyota Tacoma killing it on Lap 1

Out on course with the Total Chaos team in the Toyota Tacoma - killing it on Lap 1

The Mint 400 started and finished at Primm Valley Resorts. Each lap, a 116 mile loop, in what is considered the roughest section of the Mojave Desert that Team Total Chaos would run three times. It was windy and overcast and time to put game faces on. While many were focused on the party aspect of what is The Mint 400, this team was keeping their eyes on the prize, knowing that they were indeed the dark horse. However, Pitell-Vaughan was racing with reports of an unforgiving course, she made a plan and stuck to it. First lap would be reconnaissance and she would drive to sort the track and the truck out. In Lap 2, she would up the ante and lay down a solid, hard charged race lap - what she is known for! On her third and final Lap she would put the hammer down and go for it.

Co-Driver Tim Schrader, the ultimate McGyver with the insane ability to stay awake for days

Right off the line all things went according to plan for lap 1. However heading into lap 2 was a bit more like survival of the fittest with trophy trucks that had started an hour earlier blazing through amidst the other competitors. Sadly time was lost. With only 10.5 total hours to complete the race inside the time limit, our K&N driver lucked out. Nicole had clear air and set a blistering pace on lap 3. They passed vehicle after vehicle broken along the track – not surprising given the mini-van sized boulders strewn across the insanely rutted course. The team pumped up by the spectators and teams who cheered them on, as the pump gas, door-banger Toyota on 35” BFGoodrich Mud Terrains, purchased off the shelf at Tire Rack, put the hammer down to get to the finish.

Photo of spectators lined up to watch the unlimited truck class as they fly by!

Spectators lined up to see the wheel spinning, dirt spitting unlimited class trucks

The Total Chaos team couldn’t be more pleased. After starting 11th they finished an unofficial 5th in the 7200 Unlimited Class. There equipment has been designed to enhance ride quality and reinforces the weak links that tend to show up on race day in the OE platforms. And while the bolt-on equipment is used for recreation and vehicle-based adventures, the same bolt on parts are used in racing applications. Durability test for Total Chaos suspension? You bet. The best kind. Inspired by having the cards stacked against her and sometimes being the underdog, Nicole is driven not to prove others wrong, but to prove to herself that anything is possible.

Photo of Team Total Chaos in front of "Lil T" just before the Mint 400 race in Primm, Neva

The Total Chaos team of renegades that know where to find adventure and make a little chaos

When asked about the Total Chaos team, The Mint 400, and what’s important, Nicole Pitell-Vaughan, co-owner of Total Chaos and driver of #7211 “Lil T”, had this to say, "TC’s team of renegades lives life differently. We are fans. We are innovators. We love taking dirt roads to nowhere. We are energized by customers and their adventures. We personally test our equipment – from Death Valley to Baja Mexico pre-running and surf trips, recreational fishing trips to hidden creeks, hunting trips in Canada, racing in Africa, at the Mint 400, and Vegas to Reno, and the notorious last minute 'hey let’s stop here and let’s see where this dirt road goes'. We chase adventures."

Looking forward Nicole Pitell-Vaughan would love to see the automotive programs return the senior high school education level. This industry needs creative, strong, intelligent men and women to keep pushing forward and we believe that she can be a driving force!