Latest News | Read Our Blog

Team Babbitt's Tyler Bowers Leads in Points After AMA Arenacross Series Win at DCU Center

Mar 8, 2013

After the inversion, Tyler Bowers found himself in the back row. In spite of his starting position, the rider prevailed and took the checkered flag.

Babbitt's Monster Energy/Amsoil Kawasaki recently rolled into the DCU Center in Worchester, Massachusetts, eager to get the 2013 AMA Arenacross series underway. With this season came change, as a new inversion rule would be in effect and there would be two main events. But change didn't detour Team Babbitt's focus. They were prepared to battle and had no other intentions than walking away victorious.

When asked his thoughts on the new rules, team manager, Denny Bartz explained that he wasn't necessarily a fan of the inversion but suggested it would prove entertaining for the fans. When asked about two main events, he said, "I don't mind it, but it needs to be more laps; fifteen minimum."

Referring to the team's expectations going into the season, Bartz continued, "We always try to win a championship. I think we have a solid program. Good support and products from all of our sponsors helps get the riders where they need to be."

With confidence on his team's side, Tyler Bowers was the "man to beat" coming into the opening round. Taking an early lead in the main event, the rider quickly separated himself from his competitors. Bowers remained in front of the pack during the entire race and when the dust had settled was the clear winner.

After racing in the opening event of the 2013 AMA Arenacross series, Tyler Bowers walked away with the overall points lead.

As a two-time defending champion, Bowers was no stranger to taking the podium. When asked what separates the rider from his competitors, the team manager's answer was short and to the point. "He always wants to win and believes he can."

Entering the second main event, fans and participants had the opportunity to get their first taste of the new inversion rule - the front row flipped giving bowers the last pick on the row.

Although experiencing a reputable start, Bowers was plagued with a mistake, as he stalled his bike on the "whoops" in the initial lap. In turn, he fell deep in the field of riders. Bowers managed to muscle his way back to the fifth spot before the waving of the checkered flag, earning him the third spot overall for the night.

The following and final night of the event brought with it another opportunity for Bowers to quench a burning desire to man a position on the podium. After a heated battle with his teammate in the first main event, Tyler Bowers made a pass with only four laps remaining. The rider never looked back and refused to let up, earning yet another victory.

Tyler Bowers and Team Babbitt's Monster/Energy Amsoil/Kawasaki is anticipating a season.

Prior to the second main event of the night, the new inversion rule reared its ugly head, leaving Bowers in the back row. Adversity was no reason to give up though, and the rider began to pick off his competitors immediately at the dropping of the gate.

Bowers methodically worked his way through the field and toward the front of the pack. He eventually took the lead, a position he managed to hold until crossing the finish line. It turned out to be a good weekend for Bowers and Team Babbitt's, as he took three of four main events and would head into round two of the series the overall points leader.

Although Tyler Bowers practically took all of the marbles on the opening event of the AMA Arenacross series, fans will notice two new faces that will be representing Team Babbitt's in 2013 as well. When asked if the addition of Zach Ames would prove beneficial this season, Bartz said, "Yes. He's always had the speed, but maybe lacked on his confidence and ability to pass. But he's improving in that area."

Referring to new team member, Tyler Villopoto, Bartz continued, "Tyler came into the season injured. I think it had affected his performance still, but he's improving as well."

Touching on the key to success throughout the remainder of the 2013, Bartz was quick to point out that with the points starting over during mid season, nothing more than one bad motto could lend to a position less than the championship.

That in mind, the team understands the importance of keeping their bikes in pristine mechanical condition. With full intentions of keeping the internal components of their engines contaminant free, they depend upon K&N products.

"Maintenance is very important," explained Bartz. "At the level these bikes are ridden, it's important to stay on top of everything. This is our eighth season to use K&N air filters and oil filters," he continued. "And we have shown a one-half to three-quarter horsepower gain on the dyno."

With proper maintenance, proven riding skills and an eagerness for victories, Team Babbitt's is anticipating a stellar 2013 season. When asked what fans can expect throughout the remainder of the season, Denny Bartz concluded, "Good results week after week and hopefully another championship!"

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.

2013 to 2016 Cadillac XTS with 3.6L Engine Gains Performance with K&N Lifetime Air Filter

Mar 8, 2013

K&N 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 Cadillac XTS 3.6L Air Filter

Last year when Cadillac retired the DTS and the STS, two über sedans that were all the rage with retired folks, according to demographics, people began to second guess GM's President Mark Reuss and his minion's judgment. Replacing two large luxury sedans with one hefty 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 Cadillac XTS made no sense. Then Reuss spent months out on the interview circuit claiming his XTS was ready to do battle against the three leading iconic German sport sedans, which further fueled the crazy talk.

Performance Air Intake for 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 Cadillac XTS 3.6L

Performance Air Filter for 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 Cadillac XTS 3.6L

Now it is Reuss and his people that get the last laugh, because they actually pulled off the automotive miracle, being that the XTS with its spacious, high-tech cabin and available all-wheel drive redefines the large Cadillac sedan and the full-size luxury segment in general. The XTS is available only with GM's direct-injected 3.6-liter V6, which churns out 304 horsepower at 6,800 rpm and 264 lb-ft of torque, and it's mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. On the track that translates into a 6.9-second 0-60 mph time and a 15.3-second quarter mile at 92.6 mph.

Performance Air Filter for 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 Cadillac XTS 3.6L with Box

Now, by merely upgrading the factory installed air filter with a K&N 33-2483 replacement air filter, you can experience high flow performance that makes it easier for your 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 Cadillac XTS 3.6 liter engine to breathe. K&N high performance air filter 33-2483 is designed to increase horsepower and torque, while providing outstanding filtration and engine protection. K&N's Cadillac XTS air filter 33-2483 is very easy to install because it fits directly into the existing air box.

K&N 33-2483 performance air filter is a washable and reusable filter that's easy to clean when following the instructions in a K&N Recharger Kit (part no. 99-5050). Depending on your driving circumstances, service intervals can run up to 50,000 miles before cleaning is necessary. With K&N's renowned Million Mile Limited Warranty^®, this will be the last air filter you'll ever purchase for your 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 Cadillac XTS.

K&N replacement air filter 33-2483 will fit the following Cadillac XTS models:

2016 CHEVROLET IMPALA 3.6L V6
2016 CADILLAC XTS 3.6L V6
2015 CHEVROLET IMPALA 3.6L V6
2015 CADILLAC XTS 3.6L V6
2014 CHEVROLET IMPALA 3.6L V6
2014 CADILLAC XTS 3.6L V6
2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 Cadillac XTS 3.6L V6

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.

Cameron Hayley Wins NASCAR K&N Pro Series Race in UNOH Battle of the Beach at Daytona International

Mar 7, 2013

NASCAR K&N Pro Series Cameron Hayley Victorious at UNOH Battle of the Beach

In a race filled with veterans from the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East and West, a pair of teenagers battled for the win in the inaugural UNOH Battle of the Beach at Daytona International Speedway.

Cameron Hayley, a 16-year-old from Calgary, Canada, won the crash-filled race, rubbing fenders with 15-year-old rookie Gray Gaulding from South Carolina on the final lap.

Hayley, making his first start for Gene Price Motorsports, led only one lap in the race. He led for a little more than a quarter mile, taking the lead from Gaulding on the final turn, and won the first NASCAR K&N Pro Series race of his career by 0.158 seconds.

Cameron Hayley, on the inside, beats Gray Gaulding, on the outside, to the K&N Pro Series checkered flag.

"I'm just lost for words," Hayley said. "I spent a whole year last year, I really wanted that win. We weren't able to get it. It was on a rail all night. I was just trying to save my stuff till the end. Save, save, save. Tires, brakes and just stay out of trouble."

He was able to stay out of trouble on a night when almost everyone crashed at one point. There were 10 cautions for 58 laps in the 155-lap race. Hayley's teammate, Greg Pursley, won the pole and led a race-high 127 laps. But he was collected in a late-race incident that knocked him out of the lead and nearly out of the top 10.

Michael Self took over the lead and was out front for 27 laps before a crash on the last lap created a green-white-checkered flag finish.

NASCAR K&N Pro Series inaugural race action at Daytona International Speedway

Gaulding had the lead on the restart, but Hayley worked his way around the South Carolina teenager. The two drivers locked front fenders out of turn 4 with Hayley scraping slightly ahead.

"At the end there, were got shuffled back," Hayley said. "That just shows you never give up. We ended up with the win. It was amazing."

Hayley said growing up in Canada didn't present many opportunities to race. But he started racing go-karts when he was a toddler and it kindled a passion that led him to NASCAR.

"I got into racing at a very young age," Hayley said. "Jeff Gordon became my idle very quickly. When I was 4 years old I got my first go-kart. It was just this tiny little thing. My dad put me in it for the first time and he was scared to death. He didn't know if I knew what the gas and brake was. That's kind of how my racing career began."

Gaulding, who was making his NASCAR K&N Pro Series debut, was second working his way to the front through the crashes during the final laps.

Serious excitement at NASCAR K&N Pro Series UNOH Battle of the Beach

"They were pretty wild for sure," Gaulding said. "I can't thank my team enough. They worked so hard all weekend. We just had an amazing race. It was my first K&N start, so to be able to come out here and battle for the win, almost had it, it's just a great opportunity to be here at Daytona. Being able to race here at 15 and nine days is truly an honor. To be able to almost win the race, it was really, really close."

Brian Ortiz overcame an early crash and finished third.

"It was a pretty interesting one," Ortiz said. "We started in the back and just tried to conserve the car and get into a pace. I really didn't know what was going to happen. We just kept working. We got the lucky dog like three yellows after. I'm really surprised we finished third. It was really crazy at the end. It's a great way to start the season."

Hayley said it was a tough race to win.

"There was tons of wrecks and it was really hard," Hayley said. "We got into trouble with 20 (Gaulding) to go I believe, and we got shuffled back to 15th. We just needed to keep pushing and pushing. I was sitting there on that last restart, all I was thinking is they're going to wreck in front of me. There's going to be something happening in front of me. My crew chief and my spotter were coming over the radio and saying, just be patient, be patient. When you see a hole, go." Ryan Gifford was fourth and Ben Kennedy, the great grandson of NASCAR founder Bill France Sr., was fifth.

The NASCAR K&N Pro Series West season starts at Phoenix International Raceway on March 2.

The NASCAR K&N Pro Series East season begins at Bristol Motor Speedway in Tennessee on March 16.

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.

Modified Scion FR-S Featured by 742 Marketing and C.E.O. Jeff Maldonado at SEMA

Mar 7, 2013

Custom 2013 Scion FR-S in motion after SEMA

According to Jeff Maldonado, C.E.O. at 742 Marketing, the company has been attending SEMA for the past five years. They have also been providing a service for other builders for four years, networking and getting support from various companies, which is an essential for any project vehicle to come to fruition. That said, Maldonado and his crew are no strangers to what it takes to build a car that will awe those attending the event.

Maldonado's car was unlike any other Scion FR-S at SEMA

Our focus as a marketing company is to give companies like K&N the peace of mind of sponsorship and product placement," explained the C.E.O.. "All of our vehicles are hand picked to fulfill their sponsorship's responsibilities."

As SEMA 2012 neared, Maldonado considered a 2013 Scion FR-S as the perfect make and model of his personal build, that would serve as a company demo vehicle. "It takes a lot of work, time, dedication to the industry, and great relationships with manufacturers," he stated in reference to the build.

This 2013 Scion FR-S displayed K&N air intake at SEMA show

"I've always worked on keeping my projects clean and legit," he assured. "But every builder has different ideas, and we have to be able to support that."

With the exact car he wanted in hand, it was time for Maldonado to begin the build, making modifications that would ultimately fulfill his goals and aspirations. With aesthetics and quality in mind, he went with an Extreme Dimensions/Carbon Creations full bodykit and carbon parts.

742 Marketing's Jeff Maldonado brought Scion FR-S to SEMA

Prior to the show, Maldonado referred to this particular modification as the most radical in the build that would likely earn the most attention. "It has to be the bodykit and the carbon parts that are going on it," he explained. "It will definitely be much different than all of the other FR-S's at SEMA this year."

Even though the car's body turned heads at SEMA 2012, there were also several other modifications that lent to the overall look, feel, and performance of the vehicle at the project's end. Complimenting the car's body were a set of Konig Wheels and TOYO Tires, accented with JDM Racing lug nuts and their fender washers. Lurking behind the tires is a crucial component to the car's braking abilities,and the owner was confident in the capabilities of R1 Concept rotors.

Now that SEMA is over Maldonado wants to take the Scion FR-S to the next level

Of course the exterior look was of utmost importance to the builder, but he had full intentions of making the inside of the car equally as impressive. Maldonado opted to go with a Memphis Audio system set-up, and added pizazz to the build with Katzkin interior and NRG accesories.

With aesthetics taken care of, Jeff Maldonado focused on completing the project with a few mechanical changes. Striving for superior handling, he opted to install a Megan Racing Coil System. An Odyssey battery provided ease of mind when it came to dependability. Understanding that the life of the vehicle depended upon proper lubrication, he went with AMSOIL lubricants.

Modified Scion FR-S made an impression at 2012 SEMA

Of course, one's filtering system is essential in keeping one's lubricants running contaminant free, which in turn lends to a clean and well-performing engine. That in mind, the car owner turned to K&N products. "I've had a relationship with K&N for a while now," explained Maldonado. "The first time I used K&N, I bought it from Ebay in 2006. They offer performance, enhancement and a nice, clean look."

"Lucio and I work on a few vehicles every year, and my rides always get K&N over the other brands," he continued, "A lot because of the performance, but also because of the commitment and and history that we have with K&N."

742 Marketing featured this Scion FR-S at SEMA

SEMA 2012 is now behind Jeff Maldonado and his fellow attendees of the event, but that's no indication that they will not continue to receive the fruit of their labors. According to the C.E.O. a feature article and photo shoot has already been confirmed with Pasmag. "I am hoping to get more as I go," he shared."

When asked his future goals, Maldonado said, "To take the FR-S to the next level., and return to SEMA with a fresh, new look." With an acute understanding that it takes the support of a village to build a project car, the owner was quick to thank his supporters. "I want to thank K&N and Lucio for always believing in me and 742 Marketing," he concluded. "And I look forward to many more years to come."

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.

Derek Marlatt Builds Hot Rod Style Modified Chevrolet Silverado Truck aka Pops Project

Mar 6, 2013

Derek Marlatt built this hot rod style Chevy Silverado truck his way

For most of us our passion for cars starts at a young age, when we spend countless hours in the garage helping our pops work on the old family sedan. Just the smell of the warm oil draining while dad is using some goofy wrench to take off the old oil filter, only to hear a few cuss words when pops finally gets the oil filter loose and the residual oil in the filter slowly drips down his arms as he begs for us to hand him a towel to wipe it off before it reaches his armpit.

Marlatt debuted this one-of-a-kind Silverado at SEMA 2007

Derek Marlatt, like most any other car fanatics has probably spent many long hours being pops right hand man in the garage and by the looks of his Project, the long hours paid off. Derek's 2002 Chevrolet Silverado is a tribute to his pops for all the knowledge that he has passed on along the years.

Shortly before Derek's Pop passed away there came a day that his pops handed off the keys of his Silverado to Derek with the only claim was "no cutting it up". With a few chuckles amongst themselves, Derek soon started building what is now called" Pops Project".

This highly custom Chevy Silverado uses K&N air intake becuase "In my humble opinion there is no substitute for K&N"

While the rule was "no Cutting it up" , Derek has chosen to tip toe along the rules and to gently carve away as a skilled surgeon would just so the project would never appear to be cut up. With a team of several close friends and the shops they own or work at, Derek has built his ride to be one of the best that we have seen in a long time.

While wanting to keep his build as a "Hot Rod Style Truck" Derek has chosen to travel a path that not many choose, he wanted to build his truck...His way!.

Derek Marlatt with his modified Chevrolet Silverado known as Pops Project

The vehicle has had a complete color change to House of Kolor LimeTime Green with HOK Orion Silver graphic by Rob Olin of Olin Designs. A complete air-ride suspension built by Kevin Brumfield and crew of Grunion Customs using Air Zenith Compressors, Slam Specialties air bags, ASCO valves and a slew of parts provided by Lowrider Depot. The interior of the truck is completely recovered using tan suede by The Interior Shop with painted accents by Jimmy Red at Airizona Artworx. The stereo was installed by CJ Silvey of Superior Auto Sound using equipment provided by Orion Car Audio products and Kinetik Power Cells. Under the hood you will find more details including painted parts by KH Kustoms, pinstriping by JR Jacka, aluminum parts fabricated by Mouse and Jefe at Mouse's Kustom Fab and of course the Air intake part #77-3021KP provided by K&N.

Chevy Silverado's interior was completely recovered using tan suede by The Interior Shop and painted accents by Jimmy Red at Airizona Artworx.

A majority of this build was done prior to 2007 when it was debuted at SEMA 2007, but the truck has never really been a finished project, but then again... what build is ever really completed?

Derek is no beginner when it comes to building custom vehicles and he has several to brag about including a 1972 Dodge Challenger that he and his pops worked on together, 1950 Ford Victoria Business Coupe, 1953 Mercury Monterey Coupe, 1963 Mercury Comet and a 1990 Mazda Ex Cab P/U and a few Nissan Hardbodies, all have had K&N as part of the build in one shape or another.

Chevy Silverado sporting House of Kolor LimeTime Green and HOK Orion Silver graphic by Rob Olin of Olin Designs

When asked why he has chosen K&N as his preferred choice of intake manufacturers his answer was "In my humble opinion there is no substitute for K&N. K&N offers the best warranty on the market, and in the long run you can't beat a company willing to stand behind their product."

I am sure there is one proud man upstairs looking down on all the work that Derek has done and has a grin from ear to ear. Good Job Derek... That is one great build!

Derek would like to thank all of the previously mentioned people, shops, manufacturers and his club Negative Camber for their dedication, hard work and support during the build of Pops Project. This could not have been done without them!

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.