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Vincent Noble Wins 2012 K&N Horsepower Challenge at Summit Racing Equipment Nationals

Jul 19, 2012

NHRA Pro Stock Racer Vincent Noble wins 2012 K&N Horsepower Challenge at Summit Racing Equipment Nationals

As one of the most coveted events in NHRA Pro Stock for fans and teams alike with its $50,000 check to the winner, the 2012 running of the K&N Horsepower Challenge was filled with tremendous excitement from start to finish with several upsets along the way to crowning this year's champion, first time Challenge Qualifier, Vincent Nobile.

The 2012 K&N Horsepower Challenge field featured three former winners along with five drivers who were looking for their first victory in the special event. The winners included four-time and defending champ Greg Anderson, third place qualifier and 2008 winner Allen Johnson as well as the Fan Vote winner and three-time K&N HPC victor, Jeg Coughlin. Sitting among the five who were looking for their first win were K&N's Mike Edwards had reached the final four previous times and Jason Line who had just missed the championship crown twice.

2012 K&N Horsepower Challenge Champion Vincent Noble

While many eyes were on this year's number one qualifier Jason Line, who along with Allen Johnson, had racked up the majority of the number one qualifying positions as of late, most would admit that Vincent Nobile may not have been their pick to come out on top when the race-within-a-race bonus event was held during the Summit Racing Equipment Nationals in Norwalk, Ohio.

"Last season, because it was my first full year racing and with the way the points start in the middle of one season to the middle of the next for the K&N Challenge, I couldn't get enough races in and qualifying points to make the 2011 event," said the driver of the MountainView Tire 2012 Dodge Avenger . "I came very close to getting in the fan voted eighth spot last year and was beat out by Erica Enders by something like just sixteen votes. We ended up winning the race at Norwalk last year and I really wanted to get into the K&N Horsepower Challenge this year, because Norwalk has always been so good to us."

"You know I pretty much grew up at Norwalk with all the racing my dad did there over the years," he explained.

Drivers earn points for the K&N Horsepower Challenge based on how they qualify for each NHRA National Event, with the number one qualifier earning the maximum 175 points. Although Nobile has run very well over the past year in qualifying, he has yet to reach the pole in his young career.

"I've never qualified number one in my career," he admitted. "My best qualifying position is three and we have a bunch of those. What helped us get our position for the Challenge this year was some of the other guys in the show. Some guys kind of fell off a little bit when we were doing really well, so we were able to really gain a lot of points on everybody and that's kind of how we worked our way in."

Nobile came into the three round race qualified in the sixth position and would have to face 2009 K&N Horsepower Challenge Champion, Allen Johnson in round one. "We're pretty much team cars," he said of his first round opponent. "I get my motors from Allen and we share a lot of information. Having to run him, kinda stunk a little bit and he's been running really great, so it was a little intimidating. But we just went out there and ran our race."

The young driver, who hails from Dix Hills, New York, used a better .048 reaction time paired with a 6.714 to Johnson's .059 and 6.731 to move out of round one and on to the semifinals where he would face another giant in the NHRA Pro Stock class, K&N's Mike Edwards.

"I go to every lap telling myself I am going to win," he said of the next round match up with Edwards. "Me and my team, we were just really confident in ourselves. My team has been supplying me with a really great car and they told me just don't worry about it and go up there and do your deal and that we should get this round win. The round with Mike was probably the closest round all weekend. When I was coming up on the finish line, I wasn't really sure who was winning until my win light came on."

Nobile took his .006 starting line advantage and held on to it all the way through the stripe for just that amount as the margin of victory and a holeshot round win as a pair of 6.733 times came up on the boards for both he and Edwards.

Not only were each of Nobile's matchups throughout the K&N Horsepower Challenge race brutal, so was the heat and humidity at the north central Ohio facility. Air temperatures soared to near 100 during the rounds and water grains hung at unbearable levels of upper 140's and lower 150's. "Having to wear that fire suit all day was really rough," he pointed out. "But when you are winning rounds in an event like this, it just makes everything that much better and you really don't even pay much attention to how hot you really are."

After a year of extremely competitive qualifying, it was now down to the final pair and in a matter of moments the 2012 K&N Horsepower Challenge Champion would emerge. Nobile would face Jason Line, who on his way to the final stopped Jeg Coughlin in round one and teammate Greg Anderson in the semifinals.

"Going into the final against Jason was definitely a little intimidating," admitted Nobile. "Just because he's a World Champion and he's been in the final several times before. He kind of knows what to expect and all that, but I just did my normal deal and blocked all that information out of my head. When I went up there, I staged as shallow as possible, because I did not want to red-light."

Nobile went on to deny Jason Line his first K&N HOC win by becoming the youngest driver to ever be crowned champion with his second holeshot win of the event. With a blistering track temperature of 145 degrees, Nobile put a whopping .029 starting line advantage on Line and shut down Line's quicker 6.732 by a 0.0112 margin or nearly three feet even though he only managed to post a 6.750.

"When I got down there and my win light came on, I was just in shock," he confessed. "And while that was great to win the best part about it was winning that truck for Peggy."

As part of the annual festivities for the K&N Horsepower Challenge, Joplin, Missouri's Peggy Coleman was one of eight lucky finalists who entered online for the K&N Horsepower Challenge Sweepstakes. Coleman was paired with Nobile before the start of the race and if Nobile won, so did she.

"On Friday the eight sweepstakes contestants got paired with a driver and actually, I was the last person picked or paired," he laughed. "So when I got to meet Peggy I told her that they always save the best for last. We agreed that we were going to win together."

"I actually didn't know her whole story until before first round," he continued. "My mother actually came over to me with tears after she just learned Peggy's whole story about her house being destroyed and all her belongings. She told me she just had this feeling that I was going to win and it was just meant to be."

"Considering that she lost her house and all her belongings and all that was destroyed in the Joplin tornado, just being able to give back was truly awesome," he pointed out.

In addition to becoming the youngest driver to win the race-within-a-race, very few drivers have won the K&N Horsepower Challenge in their very first appearance and Nobile not only added his name to an elite group, but he also went on to double up on Sunday when he once again found himself lined up to take on Jason Line and again denied him the win light. The feat netted Nobile and his team a weekend they won't soon forget by acquiring the $50,000 championship check, ring and ultra-cool K&N Horsepower Challenge trophy, the $25,000 double up bonus along with the $25,000 for winning the main NHRA Pro Stock event.

"I have been dreaming of just making it into the K&N Horsepower Challenge for as long as I can remember," said Nobile who got his drag racing start in the Jr. ranks. "To make it in, to win is just amazing. I watched my idols growing up taking that trophy home and the K&N trophy is probably the coolest one out there. What K&N does for us, for Pro Stock and for the fans who get to participate in the event with us is unparalleled. K&N is a total class act and we are very grateful to everyone there who make this event possible for us to shoot for every year. They continue to make it bigger, better and more exciting for all of us."

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.

2011 Knoxville Raceway Champion Carson McCarl's American Sprint Car Series 360 Race at I-80 Speedway

Jul 19, 2012

Carson McCarl has move up to the 360 class this season, and is enjoying the stiffer competition and faster speeds.

Last season, Carson McCarl earned the honor of being the youngest champion in Knoxville Raceway history in the 305 class. With that title under his belt, the young driver recently embarked upon a new venture in his racing career. Recently arriving at the I-80 Speedway, near Greenwood, Nebraska, Mcarl was geared up and ready to begin the 2012 season manning a 360 sprint car. Carson is thrilled to be competing in the 360 sprint class, and working with Gary Dean, owner of the #97 360 sprint car, he is confident that things will simply run a little smoother.

Carson McCarl had the honors of being the youngest driver to ever win a championship at Knoxville Raceway in 2011.

Arriving at the big-banked, 4/10 mile oval at I-80 Speedway, McCarl's confidence level was high, and he had no intentions of being timid. The driver had actually experienced a little action in the 360 class in January while racing at the "Tulsa Shootout". Although plagued with troubles early, the driver worked out all of the bugs and got everything going in his direction prior to the event's end. In fact, from the back of the B-Main, the driver missed out on the transfer to the A-Main by mere inches.

The young gun knew that a checkered flag was a long-shot, but fans could rest assured that there would be no "lollygagging " going on. He was at I-80 Speedway to race in the ASCS-Midwest series and he would give it his all.

Finishing second in his heat on the opening night, Carson McCarl crossed the finish line at I-80 Speedway seventeenth in the field. With the first race behind him, he returned the following night with anticipation of experiencing another bout of fierce racing. Finishing his heat in fifth position, the driver then crossed the finish line during the main in sixteenth place, one spot higher than he had earned the night before.

During the season opener, I was decent, shared the driver. "There were a lot of good cars there, and I was able to put in the show. I was also able to put a sweet slide job on Brian Brown in my heat race, so that was pretty cool."

Referring to his thoughts on racing in the 360 sprint class, McCarl said, "It's awesome! The competition is much tougher, and I love the higher speed." When asked if the experience he acquired in January will prove advantageous in 2012, he continued, "It was good to get a feel for it before going to Knoxville."

Compared to his fellow competitors, Carson McCarl is very young in the sport. Realizing the important role experience plays in one's overall success, McCarl plans to give it all he's got and improve his proficiency with every race. McCarl, being a second generation driver, has been around the racing scene his entire life, and the added experience is sure to prove beneficial. "I just try to absorb what they say, since they have more experience than me," explained Carson. "It will be very important to experience success early this season. It's important to use the momentum and have success all season."

Carson McCarl also understands the importance of his team if he plans to experience a successful 2012. "I have a great team, and they give a great car," he explained. "To be successful, we are going to have to have a good car, race hard and race smart."

As one might suspect, as a member of a racing family, McCarl learned early on how important maintenance can be. He and his crew are strong advocates of using K&N products for their filtering needs. "Maintenance is extremely important. You have to do maintenance after every race. I have been using K&N air and oil filters since I first started racing," recalled the driver. "K&N products are the best there is."

Anticipating an action packed season this year, Carson McCarl has high expectations for himself. When asked what his fans can expect, the driver's answer was short and to the point, "Exciting racing, and hopefully some wins!"

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.

United States Modified Touring Series (USMTS) Racer Jason Gross Wins at Rice Lake Speedway

Jul 19, 2012

There is a fine line between traction and breaking loose in Dirt Modified racing

Halfway through the 2012 season, Wisconsin's Jason Gross and his GR Motorsports team are feeling good. The dirt modified racer has already found victory lane and has run up front consistently this year, and the best has yet to come, as the team prepares to take ownership of a new car.

Jason Gross holds the checkered flag at Rice Lake Speedway in the Dirt Modified class

"The season has been real good for us so far," team representative Justin Gross said. "We picked up a win at our home track, Rice Lake Speedway, and we've managed to run well with the USMTS guys when we run with them. We are picking up a new car from David Reutimann soon and we are real excited about that too.

"We met with them earlier this year in Florida, and we are looking forward to getting some of that NASCAR engineering on the front end. That will help our program a lot."

Gross said the win at Rice Lake Speedway was the best moment of the season so far, noting that Jason had to drive through the field from the 8th starting position on a fast, dry track. Those tricky track conditions have also hurt the team, and several others in Wisconsin and Minnesota as unpredictable weather has constantly changed the tracks.

"Last Saturday, for instance, it was a real nice day. The car was good in the heat race, really fast. So we made our changes for the feature and in the middle of the race before us, it just started pouring rain. The track took an hour to dry, got real tacky and we ended up finishing in eighth after starting tenth. You pretty much finish where you start.

"Staying on top of (the mechanical aspect) is one thing, but dealing with the weather up here is a big thing. The track also gets really rough because the clay can't hold the moisture, so you're left with a choice of trying to go fast and tearing your car up, or just riding around."

Gross and his team are looking forward to taking the new car to the next USMTS race in August at Rice Lake. After running around in a car that was down on power and still almost grabbing a top-5 finish, Gross said they are excited for a chance to "see how we match up."

Gross said GR Motorsports is thankful for the help K&N provides the team, giving them a chance to be competitive every weekend.

"We've been with K&N for almost a decade. Our engine builder praises my dad every year when it comes time to get the motor refreshed. He tells him 'I don't know what you're doing but this is the cleanest motor I've seen,' and I am one hundred percent sure it is because of the K&N Filters.

"In the past, you could wipe your finger in the carburetor and there was dust in it. With the K&N Filter, we have never had dirt in the carburetor. Having dirt in your motor can be catastrophic. A lost of people overlook the oil filter as well, it plays just as big a part in keeping our motors clean."

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.

2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 Ford Mustang GT Gets Simple-to-Install Horsepower with K&N Air Intake

Jul 13, 2012

K&N Air Intake Installed on a 2011 Ford Mustang GT 5.0L

Dyno Chart for the 69-3527TP air intake system

It is said among the automotive community that the older a car is the harder it is to re-create it without losing the things that made it great. The Mustang is one of the greatest classics among the motoring world and in one of the most acclaimed moves in history, Ford decided to revive the 5.0 liter Coyote engine.

K&N Air Intake System for the 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 Ford Mustang GT 5.0L V8

2011 Ford Mustang GT 5.0L V8

This engine is a completely new design. It shares essentially no parts with the old 4.6 liter modular engine and it was designed with high horsepower performance in mind. These attributes all add up to an excellently performing machine and a worthy powerplant for the name "Mustang." But if you want just a little bit more you can always count on K&N to deliver with a Typhoon performance air intake system.

K&N's 69-3527TP air intake produced an estimated 19.5 horsepower and 20.8 lb-ft of torque at 5100 rpm when tested on the K&N dynamometer. The 69-3527TP accomplishes this additional horsepower through the use of an optimized air intake tube, high-flow filter and an enclosed air box that uses a snorkel to feed cooler outside air from around the sides of the radiator. These components work in perfect harmony to help minimize intake restriction and deliver cooler air to the motor in an easier manner. Not only will this air intake add performance but it provides outstanding engine protection and it looks great under the hood with its carbon fiber lid and chrome like tube finish. Additionally, this Ford Mustang air intake system is very easy to install and requires only basic hand tools.

This cold air intake system has been thoroughly tested and is designed specifically for the new 5.0L Mustang. It is guaranteed to deliver horsepower and does not require any additional modifications be made to the vehicle. The 69-3527TP intake system is a beneficiary of K&N's 40-plus years of engineering experience and performance-based construction. And of course, the entire air intake system is covered by K&N's Million Mile Limited Warranty.

Part number 69-3527TP was designed to fit the following Ford Mustang models:

2014 Ford Mustang GT 5.0L V8
2013 Ford Mustang GT 5.0L V8
2012 Ford Mustang GT 5.0L V8
2011 Ford Mustang GT 5.0L V8

See K&N's full list of Ford Mustang Air Intakes on KNFilters.com. 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.

Stronghold Motorsports Brushes Off Adversary and Remains Focused on LOORRS Championships

Jul 13, 2012

Pressed into last minute double duty, Stronghold Motorsports off road racing prodigy, RJ Anderson made his impressive Pro2 debut at Miller Motorsports Park.

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. Surely Charles Dickens wasn't writing about the paradox of short course racing, yet those 12 words succinctly capture Stronghold Motorsports Round 5 and 6 performance at Surprise, Arizona's Speedworld Off Road Park.

Two frames after this picture was taken Jeremy and his Pro2 lay in a heap on the track as stunned fans feared for his safety.

The best in this case was 19-year-old off road racing prodigy, RJ Anderson's absolute dusting of the competition. The weekend sweep of both rounds gave Anderson four victories on the season and helped him extend his lead in the chase for the championship in the ProLite division. The worst was clearly not good, and in the split-seconds that it was going down in front of stunned, slack-jawed fans; it appeared as though it might be a truly wicked crash. The star of this YouTube, "This is short course" racing moment, was none other than seven-time Supercross Champion, Jeremy McGrath.

With only a few laps remaining, and a three-way skirmish for second place underway, McGrath entered a blind turn just before the largest tabletop jump on the track. Forced to hold his position, McGrath could only watch as the No.17 and 10 vehicles directly in front of him collided, slowing traffic dramatically. For an instant it appeared McGrath was about to pull-off a spectacular move, flying through the air over the tabletop and over the collision. This being short course racing though, where anything can happen and usually does, the No.17 zigged when it should have zagged, accelerating into the blind side of the landing. McGrath's 4,000 pound truck had nowhere to go but smack-dab on top of the No.17 truck under full momentum. McGrath's Pro2 launched off the roof of No.17 and into a stunning crash that resulted in cataclysmic damage to his truck.

Anderson left Miller Motorsports Park having extended his lead in the ProLite title chase at the halfway point of the season.

"There is always an enormous amount of contact in short course off road racing. Jeremy had been fighting hard throughout the race for position, and with Carl Renezeder and Greg Adler battling in front of him, and taking their past history into consideration, it was almost inevitable that there was going to be some contact between those two," reported Patrick Wagenbrenner, Marketing Director for Stronghold Motorsports.

"Jeremy was racing a smart race and he was looking for his opening, so when Adler and Renezeder got together for that moment, things were looking very good. Then when Carl rolled back over the tabletop as Jeremy was flying over, there was an immediate moment of 'Oh No!' as Jeremy literally flew over the jump on top of Carl and slid across the top of his roof."

"My very next thought was wondering if Jeremy was safe. It was a relief to know that he walked away from an incident like that uninjured. As a team, our thoughts then shifted to the truck itself and knowing that the crew had their work cut out for them in getting the truck ready for the next day. This is intense racing and with back to back rounds on an event weekend, you have to be on your game each day. There was an incredible amount of damage but, as we knew they would, our team did everything necessary to put the truck back on the track for the next round."

After a marathon night of repairs on McGrath's truck he was back to full-throttle for Round 6 the following day.

Undaunted by the severity of the destruction, McGrath's mechanics, joined by the entire Stronghold Motorsports crew, were up to the task of completely restoring his Pro2 truck in time for Round 6 the following day. On Sunday McGrath immediately restored order by returning to the same impressive form he displayed in Round 5, working his way into second place and pushing for the lead. But, with just two laps to go and still in second position, McGrath's truck drifted wide in a long sweeping turn and he relinquished two spots. McGrath was forced to settle for a hard fought fourth place finish.

Next up for the K&N sponsored team was Round 7 and 8 at Miller Motorsports Park in the heart of Utah's picturesque Tooele Valley. Leading the charge for Stronghold Motorsports once again was RJ Anderson, who along with his normal duties of piloting his 425 horse powered ProLite truck, was tapped to fill in for McGrath in the series marquis Pro2 division. Stepping up to the plate Anderson made an inspiring debut with a pair of top ten finishes including an impressive 6th place result in Round 7.

While his focus in the Pro2 class was to gain valuable seat time and to complete each race with a solid result, Anderson's single-minded objective was to continue along his path to the ProLite title. To that end Anderson finished 9th in Round 7 despite an incident with another driver that left him shuffled back in the pack. In Round 8, recovering from yet another incident as he was fighting for the lead, Anderson displayed his resilience and perseverance to the standing room only crowd, as he continued to brawl until the checkered flag for a third place result. In taking home his sixth Lucas Oil Off Road racing trophy, including the four wins in 2012 ProLite competition, Anderson demonstrated that he is indeed the class of the field. Also celebrating a podium result with Anderson was 2010 ProBuggy champion and Round 4 winner, Cameron Steele who finished second.

Although Anderson took some serious abuse in his welcome to Pro2 action, he remained poised enough to collect a 9th and 6th place finish.

"RJ left Miller Motorsports Park having extended his lead in the ProLite title chase at the halfway point of the season," commented Wagenbrenner. "He may be only 19, but he has been very poised and keeps his composure despite taking some hard licks on the track. Winning a short course off road championship isn't easy, especially with 25 other guys on the track that want to put themselves in the position to win at all costs."

"As for Cameron, he has always been a buggy guy and he's shown that he's extremely comfortable behind the wheel of the ProBuggy. On a tight, technical course, he fought hard for his podium at Miller. Overall RJ has been strong all season and Cameron has had some success at Glen Helen Raceway, where we are headed for Rounds 9 and 10. Jeremy has had some great races so far this season while Jeremy "Twitch" Stenberg has been making tremendous strides adapting to the big horsepower of the Pro2. We anticipate having a strong showing at Glen Helen. Glen Helen is important to our team. Being in such close proximity to our Riverside, California headquarters, we will have a large number of our friends, family and sponsors in attendance. It is important to us as a team to give them something to celebrate."

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.

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