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K&N's Javelin Broderick Wins 2011 B Superbike WERA West Championship

Nov 14, 2011

Lining up for his "B" Superstock race Javelin knew he would need to come up large to pull out a championship.

If there were a poster-model search for racing perseverance, self-belief, and relentless drive, 15-year-old Ojai, California roadracer Javelin Broderick would be on the short list. Javelin and his dad, Bernie, went into the last weekend of the Western Eastern Roadracing Association (WERA) competition at Las Vegas Motor Speedway with a shot at winning a championship. They weren't leading in any class, but they were close, and if things aligned just so, they might very well head home with a number-plate.

Going into the last race of the 2011 WERA season Javelin Broderick still had a chance of winning two titles, however uncalled-for side-by-side elbowing in the "C" Superstock class prevented him from getting it done according to his dad.

With only three years of roadracing experience under his helmet, the K&N sponsored rider did indeed win the WERA West 750 Superbike Expert title. After a demanding season, Javelin clinched the championship by the slimmest margin with his thrilling victory on the final day of competition. To clarify, the "B" Superstock and Superbike class is essentially the same; however you can move up to 750cc machines. Meaning you are allowed to race up a class in WERA, so Javelin won his championship in a 750cc class, racing on a 600cc motorcycle.

"He didn't start on a bike until he was nine-years-old which is old compared to a lot of the kids he was racing against," explained Bernie to K&N News. "His learning curve was much steeper than most and he had to adapt quickly to both the motocross and roadracing disciplines. He pulled back on the motocross effort after two years and decided to focus his attention to roadracing, starting on a Honda RS125 with an 85cc engine. Those were rough days, as just about everyone on the track was able to run circles around him, but he was very determined and never gave up a fight."

Javelin won the 750 Superbike Expert title riding his new Yamaha R6 and set the fast lap with a 1:18.6. (Photos by Eric Anderson and Alberto Gonzalez)

Javelin was 12 when he first started racing as a novice with WERA, riding a Suzuki SV650 Superstock. "First race of the year he came in dead last, yet by the end of the season he won both the Lightweight Twin Superstock and Superbike novice classes. Exciting for our first year," says Bernie.

"Second year we went expert, still racing the SV650 in Superstock, but added a Suzuki GSXR600 in "C" Superstock (600cc stock class). That year went amazingly well and he clinched the LWT Superstock "Expert" class at the final race in Vegas, and also set the lap record for a Superstock SV650 at that track. We didn't win a championship on the 600, but we were okay with that - it was a learning year. Finally, we went all 600cc this year, racing a pair of Suzuki GSXR600's in both C and B Superstock, and Superbike."

The year started off a little rough for team Broderick, as their Superbike wasn't ready in time, and they had to miss the first Superbike even of the season. But things steadily improved and by mid-season, Javelin hit his stride. "We continued to make up points and actually went into the final event at Las Vegas with a chance to win two championships," said Bernie. "We only ended up taking one away, but that was more than enough for us, as he set his personal best laps around the track, and we learned a huge amount from the year."

For Javelin and Bernie there wasn't any one moment during the 2011 season where they felt comfortable that this might be a benchmark year for them, it was a year where they just kept grinding, and moving forward.

"I don't think either of us thought we were getting a championship this year, as the competition was very high. On top of the riders in WERA, we would regularly have to compete against AMA Pro riders that use WERA events for practice," added Bernie. "Not that WERA riders can't hold their own against them, but it made it very challenging. We learned a lot from these guys though and love having them there. I wish they would white flag their own races though and not take the finish. It screws up the points for racers who are in it all season. If there was any real turning point, I would have to say the R6 was probably it (three-quarters through the season the Superstock was replaced with a Yamaha R6). At that moment, he was pretty determined to put that thing on the box. In 2012 we will be competing on Yamaha R6's in AMA Supersport."

Sixteen is the minimum age for AMA Pro Racing and Javelin turns 16 this November the 8th. "So we are legit to start racing the national AMA circuit next year starting in Daytona. We have formed a brand new team for the effort with Title Sponsor "Dynojet Research out of Las Vegas, and also "Diablo Racing from North Carolina. We are still in the infancy stages of getting the team together for next year, but we know it's going to be a strong effort," continues Bernie.

"I'd like to add that we are very grateful for the help that K&N filters provided for us in 2011. Johnny Jump was instrumental in putting our deal together and he has been great. The products are the unsung soldiers on a sportbike, because you can't really see them. We are working to create ideas for K&N in our 2012 AMA effort to change that!"

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.

K&N Supported Team LeDuc Racing Scorches Speedworld in LOORS

Nov 14, 2011

Kyle currently sits in third place in the LOORS series, with Todd behind him in fourth and Curt holding on to the number eight spot.

During their last visit to Speedworld in Wittmann, Arizona, K&N sponsored team LeDuc Racing was literally and figuratively on fire. Kyle LeDuc won both rounds 11 and 12 of the 2011 Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series (LOORS), Todd eked out a hard fought third place, and patriarch Curt's truck caught flames. With only two laps to go, Curt's Ford caught fire in front of the grandstands, ending his day. The fire brought out the red flag which allowed Todd to be the benefactor of the bunched up field. Todd managed to pick off all but the top two trucks in the final laps to land himself on the podium next to his younger brother, racking up even more hardware for the ROCKSTAR Energy Drink / Makita Tools team. Kyle's back-to-back victories give him a huge bump in the overall points standing as he makes a push towards the series championship with three races remaining.

Kyle LeDuc endured triple-digit heat on his way to winning both round 11 and 12 in the 2011 Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series at Speedworld.

"Not many teams run multiple trucks; much less have two on the podium in the same race. It was great to get both Rockstar Energy Drink/Makita Tools Fords up there, the only thing left for us to do this year is to sweep the podium with all three LeDucs," Curt LeDuc told K&N News "Few things make you prouder as a father than to share the podium with your sons, but seeing my two boys up there together, and knowing how much time and preparation it took them at the shop before the race to claim those trophies, are memories and accomplishments that will never be replaced."

Curt wasn't injured as it was only grease from a hub that caught fire when the brakes got hot. "The fire did bring out the red flag though, and that helped Todd catch up to the field and get on to the podium, so there was a silver lining," added Curt.

"With only three rounds of racing left there a lot of concerns, but getting clean air isn't one of them thanks to our K&N air filters," commented Kyle.

A dark shadow hangs over team LeDuc and the entire field of competitors in the 2011 Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series, as they lost two of its brightest stars, brothers Rick and Jeff Huseman, in a tragic plane crash on October 16.

"We definitely feel a void on the course since we lost our Pro-4 friend and racer, Rick, and his brother Jeff," commented Kyle, "It was always Rick and me going at it, and battling it out on the track, but once we were out of our trucks and in the pits, we would do anything for each other." Curt echoed the sentiments of his son, "The entire LeDuc family has a heavy heart over this loss, I hope we can go out and claim the victory and make him proud in Vegas. We will be dedicating our race to his memory."

Heading into the Vegas race, Kyle is third in championship points behind series leader, Carl Renezeder, and Rick Huseman holds the number two spot. "I really wish I had the opportunity to see how the rest of this year would have played out. Unfortunately, Rick and his brother were taken from us too early and we will never know how the season would have finished," remarked Kyle. Todd is currently positioned right behind his younger brother and Curt is sitting in eighth place. With three racing remaining, there isn't much time left to lock up the championship, but the LeDucs have illustrated in the past that they do their best work under pressure. Kyle won the Rockstar Energy Lucas Oil Off Road Challenge Cup at the end of 2010, taking home the $30,000 paycheck, and he's clearly motivated on repeating in Phoenix on December 11th.

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.

Josh Hodges Scores Big ASCS Southwest Series Victory at USA Raceway

Nov 14, 2011

The win in Tucson marked the 16-year-old racers third career ASCS Regional win. Pictured next to Hodges is Troy Brubaker; he occasionally helps out when the team races in Tucson.

An uncharacteristically hard dessert downpour held up racing action for twenty-minutes or more at USA Raceway in Tucson, Arizona. When it was over as fast as it began, the 3/8-mile track had a good top and bottom groove, with a slick black streak through the middle, which lent to some good hard racing.

The rain washed USA Raceway track suited Josh Hodges just fine, as he worked from his sixth place start to victory.

No one was feeling it any better that night than 16-year-old Tijeras, New Mexico driver Josh Hodges. The K&N sponsored driver was able to work his way up from sixth place to ink his first American Sprint Car Series (ASCS) feature win of the year by topping Saturday night's 25-lap Sunoco Fuel ASCS Southwest feature event. This marks the young racers third career ASCS Regional win, driving the Wesmar-powered Hodges Automotive/Napa Auto Parts/Benic Enterprises No. 74x Maxim.

"It was great to get the win in Tucson! USA Raceway is definitely the track that I have the most experience at and I'm really comfortable there, probably more than anywhere else," Hodges told K&N News. "We finally got back to the basics a little bit after trying some new things at the end of last year, and the beginning of this year, and it really showed on the track. I had a lot more confidence, and the car was really good. I have to thank Brad Benic at Momentum Racing Suspensions and Wayne Priddy for helping get our wing program turned around here lately."

Overall Hodges now has four race wins for the 2011 season, the other three wins all coming in his non-wing car competing with the New Mexico Motor Racing Association (NMMRA). Two wins were at Aztec Speedway and the other at the Sandia Dirt Track in Albuquerque.

"Both times in Aztec we had a pretty good car but I could have been better," said Hodges "and the one at Sandia ended up being a survival sort of race. All of them were on slick, dusty tracks, and we honestly could have been better in any one of them, but luck was on our side in all of them. This past win in Tucson was definitely our strongest and most dominant win of the year."

Hodges says that although the season has had its ups and downs, he and the entire Hodges Motorsport team agree they are on an upswing, and getting back to basics has been the key. "I feel we've been more consistent, and at times better, in the non-wing car this year, but we've also showed some strength in the wing car at times. I think the biggest thing for these last couple of weekends will be putting everything together, and focusing on my driving more than anything. Our cars are good and have speed, but now I need to work on myself behind the wheel a bit."

The only sprint car races remaining on the schedule this year for Hodges Motorsport are the ASCS National shows in Las Cruces, New Mexico (wing, Nov. 11-12) and Tucson, Arizona (Western World, wing and non-wing, Nov. 17-19). "I am really excited for Western World, because we can really test ourselves at our best in Tucson in both the wing and non-wing car," adds Hodges. "I will also be driving for Mike and Kenny Brewer in this year's Tulsa Shootout on New Year's weekend in a wing and non-wing mini sprint. I am also really excited for that, and I appreciate the Brewers giving me an opportunity to drive one of their cars."

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Jason Johnson and JJR Puts I-30 Behind Them and Focuses on Remainder of the Season

Nov 14, 2011

Jason Johnson is looking forward to competing in his last four schedued races of the 2011 season. (photo By Corbet Deary)

Jason Johnson and the Jason Johnson Racing (JJR) Team recently rolled into Little Rock, Arkansas to compete in the Lucas Oil ASCS Short Track Nationals. After a rain delay midway into the first night, Johnson and his crew returned the next day prepared to compete with 100 of the best drivers in the country for one of the twenty spots in the championship race.

Jason Johnson Recently finished in twelfth place in the USCS Lucas Oil Short Track Nationals at I-30Sppedway in Little Rock, Arkansas.(photo by Corbet Deary)

Starting second in his heat, Johnson held his own and finished behind the first place driver. Lining up third in the qualifier round, Jason ended the run in fourth, and was still not guaranteed a spot in the finale.

Starting on the outside of the first row in the "B" Main, Johnson took the checkered flag and was advanced into the "A" Main. Beginning the race toward the back of the pack, the driver worked his way forward throughout the twenty-five lap event and was in seventh place upon crossing the finish line, finally earning a guaranteed spot in the Short Track Championship.

Lining up nineteenth in the 40-lap event, Jason Johnson began strategically working his way around the one-quarter-mile dirt oval track. Although passing on the track was not an easy task, Johnson began overtaking one driver at a time, and by the race's end had managed to move forward seven spots, placing twelfth.

When asked what would have been the key to success on the final night of the event, Jason Johnson said, "position is everything. We didn't leave a very good road last night, and it made for a long night tonight. We're lucky we came from ninth to seventh in the "B", because there wasn't very much passing going on," he continued. "In the "A" we actually did pretty good, until we broke a shock mount and limped to the checkered."

Referring to I-30 Speedway, the driver said, "I like the place. I've been here before and had a lot of success and have also had some chokes here. All in all, it's generally a pretty good racy track. They had 100 cars here tonight, and I think they did a great job."

When asked about the remainder of the season Johnson said, "we have four national races left, two out in Las Cruces, New Mexico, and the final two in Tucson, Arizona. JJR is leading the car owner's side of the points race, and we hope to cap it off with an owner's championship."

When asked the key to success throughout the remainder of the season, Johnson said, "I think consistency. We need to have some good draws and get through the heat races and get ourselves in the right position and capitalize on it. We've previously raced well at Las Cruces and Tucson and are excited to get out there."

When asked about the importance of his crew, Johnson said, "They're very important, it's good to have good communication, and guys who believe in you, keep you motivated and enjoy being part of the organization. I'm surrounded by a great group of guys right now, and we're having a lot of fun. That's the key to success."

Jason Johnson and the Jason Johnson Racing team are strong advocates of proper maintenance and the driver has been depending upon K&N products throughout his career. Anytime you can get the most elite product to be a part of your organization, it's always an honor. It's a privilege to have great products keeping our motors clean and keeping us up front."

Referring to his fans, Jason Johnson said, "We appreciate all of the fan support across the country. We travel from one side to the other, and even down in Australia. We have great support, and with the social networking of today it keeps us in touch. It's amazing how much support we have."

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.

Final Round Racing's Melissa Wright Earned Second Career Wally at Sacramento Raceway

Nov 14, 2011

Teammates Melissa Wright (far) and Brett Olson (near) faced off in the final round at Redding. Wright was victorious.

The most successful season in Final Round Racing's history was capped off earlier this month with a dominating performance last month in California's Governor's Cup at Sacramento Raceway. Melissa Wright battled her way through the D Gas bracket, culminating in an epic final round performance.

Melissa Wright earned her second career Wally in 2011.

Wright, returning to the seat of her small block powered 1973 Chevy Nova, got the win light by .001 seconds.

"That was the best moment of the year," Wright said, reminiscing on the teams season. "After having not raced the Nova for a few months, it was great to get back in the car. The car was running the number, and I was fortunate to be cutting good lights. The final round was very close and I feel luck just went my way."

Luck continued to be on Wright's side. After the win, Wright and teammate Brett Olson slept for two hours, and then departed for Redding for the National Open, a National Dragster Challenge race for NHRA. Wright's Nova continued to run well, Olson's 1967 Pontiac Firebird came to life. The two ended up on opposite sides of the ladder and dominated the day on the way to a final round showdown.

It was Wright taking the win again, earning her second Wally, the iconic trophy awarded at NHRA National and Divisional events. It was Wrights second career Wally, to go with three that Olson has won in his racing career. The weekend was vindication for Wright, who had to sit on the sidelines most of the season and watch Olson go to final-after-final at both Sacramento Raceway and Infineon Raceway in Sonoma.

In 2010, Olson was the runner-up in the NHRA Division 7 ET Finals in the Sportsman category. The momentum from that performance carried over into 2011, a season the Wright said was "good so far." The team, together since 2004, still has a few events left in 2011, but now Wright says the focus is on next season, and getting more variety of races in.

"We hope to do more travelling to other racetracks, and race as much as we possibly can."

With both cars running strong, Final Round Racing should have plenty more opportunities for Wally's next year. The team was quick to credit K&N Filters for helping extend the life of their cars, as well as improving performance.

"We use K&N Filters on all of our race cars, on our tow vehicle, and on our daily drivers. K&N products give us the performance and reliability needed to run a busy race schedule."

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.