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Team K&N Students Competing for $650,000 in Scholarships at the 2011 SEMA Show

Aug 23, 2011

Teams compete to disassemble identically prepared high performance engines, and then reassemble them to ready-to-run condition.

In the Hot Rodders of Tomorrow Engine Challenge, students battle against the clock and each other, to tear down a complete engine and rebuild it to ready-to-run condition.

For an automotive enthusiast, gaining admission to the SEMA Show is a rite of passage. The annual trade show of the Specialty Equipment Market Association is not open to the public. To catch a glimpse of the new products being released, new styling trends, and ultra-tricked out customized show cars, you must be associated with one of SEMA's member companies. Unless of course, you happen to be one of the industry's invited guests. These special guests can be many different types of people: executives from the major vehicle manufacturers, members of the media, members of state and local government who support the automotive enthusiast and the car hobby, high school students...

Team K&N was one of the best teams, tearing down and correctly reassembling their engine in just 31 minutes and 31 seconds!

High school students? Yes, that's right! The SEMA Show serves as the host for the Hot Rodders of Tomorrow Engine Challenge National Finals. Teams of 5 high school students compete against the clock, and against each other, to disassemble identically prepared high performance engines, and then reassemble them to ready-to-run condition. Not only must the students understand how an internal combustion engine operates, but they must also demonstrate teamwork, cooperation, problem solving skills, the ability to perform under stress/pressure, and many other valuable skills which seem to be inherent with the automotive enthusiast hobby. These skills, along with a creative and supportive teacher, can set these students on a path to success. K&N is a proud supporter of the Hot Rodders of Tomorrow and other programs designed to keep youth interested and involved as automotive enthusiasts.

Five students from North Orange County ROP (Regional Occupational Program) make up Team K&N. Julia Chou handles the engine's "middle components" like the timing chain/gears, water pump, harmonic balancer, intake manifold and distributor, and making sure the rotating components are timed correctly. Nathalie Lopez and Erick Peredes tears down and assembles the side components: pistons and connecting rods, cylinder heads, and valvetrain. Damiana Marquez and Heather Saravia handle the bottom end components such as mating the connecting rods to the crankshaft, lubrication components like the oil pump and filter, and removal/installation of the oil pan. The advisors to Team K&N, Russ Bacarella and Dave Endo, provide leadership and direction inside the classroom, and emotional support during competition. Earlier this year in the divisional elimination rounds, Team K&N was one of the best teams, tearing down and correctly reassembling their engine in just 31 minutes and 31 seconds! This fast time locked Team K&N in for a spot in the National Finals at the SEMA Show, November 1-4, in Las Vegas, Nevada. The winning team from the National Finals at SEMA will win scholarship money to pursue/continue their education in the automotive industry.

K&N is proud to be represented by the outstanding students from North Orange County ROP, and we will be there to cheer you on during the competition! Good luck!

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.

NASCAR K&N Pro Series West Racer Luis Martinez Jr.

Aug 22, 2011

NASCAR K&N Pro Series West Racer Luis Martinez Jr.

Luis Martinez Jr. didn't exactly get off to the start he wanted in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West. After winning the Sunoco Rookie of the Year in 2010, Martinez was poised to challenge for the K&N Pro Series West championship when the season started.

Instead, his team sputtered off the starting grid. Martinez said his team had to examine the direction it was going midway through the season.

Luis Martinez Jr. at Portland International Raceway

After the K&N Pro Series West race at Toyota Speedway at Irwindale, Martinez's home track, the team made some significant changes to the car.

"We took a car to Irwindale. Took that same car to Monroe. It was just not working out," Martinez said. "At that point we decided it's not worth trying to keep fixing stuff and trying to make it better. We had something great to start with last year. Now we're running a lot better."

Martinez broke through with the first K&N Pro Series West win of his career at Portland International Raceway in July, three weeks after a 13th place finish at Irwindale. The 21-year-old driver from Long Beach has turned his season around and is showing why he is one of the Next 9 developmental drivers as chosen by NASCAR.

"That was a great win for us," Martinez said. "The season started out real slow. After Irwindale, our home track, we didn't really run great. We decided to go back and start at square one. Go back to the basics. That's where our season started taking a turn for the best."

Luis Martinez Jr. in his #6 King Taco Ford Fusion

Winning at Portland is no easy task. It's one of three road courses on the K&N Pro Series West schedule and one of the more challenging tracks for stock car drivers.

But Martinez raced Formula cars and won races at Portland when he was younger. Even though he has only raced twice in Portland with the K&N Pro Series West, he said he is very familiar with the track.

"I've had a lot of experience at Portland. That's where I got my first Formula car win. I have good history on the that track. Winning there was really special for me," Martinez said. "For me, I like it. I don't find it really difficult. Some people don't like short tracks, some people don't like big tracks. I like road courses. It's just driver preference."

Experience paid off for Martinez at Portland. He was actually running second behind David Mayhew during a green-white-checkered finish. Mayhew overdrove one of the final corners of the course and slid off the track. Martinez passed Mayhew and crossed the finish line in first place.

While Martinez was happy to win his first race, he said he had one regret. Greg Pursley, the leader in the K&N Pro Series West standings, fell out of contention early in the Portland race. Martinez said he would have liked to race Pursley for the win at Portland.

"We knew some of the guys weren't going to make it the whole time," Martinez said. "It wasn't my plan to have him not be there - because that's the one guy that I did want to race. It's unfortunate, but a win's a win. The team has definitely been looking forward to that for a long time. So have I."

There are three races left on the K&N Pro Series West schedule. Martinez said he is looking forward to returning to All-Amerian Speedway in Roseville for some unfinished business. He finished a disappointing seventh in the second race of the season.

"I think we have a good chance when we go to Roseville," Martinez said. "The last time we went there, we ran really strong. We made some changes to that car and I know for a fact we are going to be really good when we go there."

Before the Roseville race, the K&N Pro Series West visits Spokane County Raceway in Washington over Labor Day weekend. Martinez will also be racing in the NASCAR Nationwide Series at Richmond International Raceway in Virginia before the end of the year.

Despite the slow start to the season, Martinez is in third place in the K&N Pro Series West standings after 11 races. He has two top fives and seven top 10s in those 11 races. While it might be a bit of a lost season for Martinez, he can look back on a couple positive notes.

"Our expectations were big. We wanted to go out there and be one of the top contenders for the championship and definitely win a couple of races," Martinez said. "We won a race. We gotta get another one by the end of this year. Honestly, we wanted to be in championship contention. Now, that's hard to do. There's always runner-up. That's good for press, good for the team."

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.

360 Sprint Car Racer Brian Brown Gets Checkered Flag at I-80 Speedway Near Greenwood, Nebraska

Aug 19, 2011

Sprint Car Racer Brian Brown

Brian Brown recently rolled into the I-80 Speedway, near Greenwood, Nebraska, with confidence, as he was no stranger to winning at this track. In fact, the driver had already logged two wins this season and took the checkered flag at I-80 Speedway nine times throughout his career. After his most recent visit to the speedway, Brown had managed to earn yet another victory. "We're always confident anywhere we go," explained Brown, "but especially at I-80 Speedway, because we've have a lot of success there."

FVP #21 Sprint Car Driver Brian Brown

Starting third in his heat, the driver had his work cut out for him, as he shared the front row with high caliber drivers such as Jack Dover and Wayne Johnson. Although Brown fell back a little during the beginning of the race, he continued fighting and eventually took the lead and ultimately the win at I-80 Speedway.

Lining up in the ASCS Midwest Region Race feature on the outside, front row, Brown was prepared for a twenty five lap battle. Again, at the race's end, Brian Brown had managed to take the checkered flag. "It felt good to get the win," shared Brown. "Anytime you get a win, it's not only good for your team, but also for the marketing partners. Everybody is there for the same reason, so when you leave with the money, it's always a good feeling."

When asked the key to earning a victory on that particular night, the driver continued, "The key every night is to make sure you have the fastest car. We were able to do that, and when you do have the fastest car, you have to take advantage of it.

Although as the driver of the FVP #21 Car, Brian Brown is the one in the spotlight upon gaining a victory at I-80 Speedway, he credits his team as well. "Our team is very important. I'm one of the few that's an owner and a driver. It's not just my team. It's everyone involved, from the guys working on the car to every single one of our marketing partners. Without any of them, there would be no Brian Brown Racing. It's something that we enjoy, and we really appreciate every single person who sticks with us and helps us out."

Brian Brown and his team are acutely aware of the importance of keeping their car in optimal running condition. "Our car has been running really good," explained Brown. "I think we have won seven races up to this point. We've had some ups and downs, but I feel like we're on pace to have a really strong year. We're going to keep plugging away and keep working our tails off. I've got the crew and the partners and everybody that works with us. We've just got to keep plugging away and not taking no for an answer."

That said, the well-being of their engine depends a great deal upon keeping her internal parts well-lubed and dust-free. "I think that's a major part," explained Brown, referring to filters. "You can get an engine to run well for a little while without the proper filter, but if you want to make sure your motor runs well for the long haul, you've got to have a good filter."

"That's why we use K&N," he continued. "They have the best filter that will use the most air, but also keeps the engine clean. You've got to take care of the internal parts if you want to go long term. We use K&N air filters and oil filters. We also use their filter spray and filter oil."

According to the driver, they not only depend upon K&N products to keep their race car running at its optimal performance, but they also use them on their personal vehicles as well.

"We've been running K&N filters since 2001," shared Brown. "They make the best product and it shows." Referring to race cars he continued, "Pull the hoods off of 99.9 percent of the cars out there and they're going to have a K&N filter on them.

In closing Brian Brown said, "We really appreciate all of the support that we get from our sponsors and fans. They do a lot for us, and without them we wouldn't be able to do what we do. Hopefully, we'll be able to pay them back with some more wins real soon."

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.

Sprint Car Racer Tony Hunt Sets His Sights On Two USAC Titles

Aug 19, 2011

Western Sprint Car and Western Classic Racing Series Driver Tony Hunt

Racing in the Western Sprint Car and Western Classic Racing Series, Tony Hunt is performing well this season on both pavement and dirt. In fact, if everything goes as the six-time champion and his team hopes for, Hunt could win two series championships in the 2011 season.

2010 USAC Western Sprint Car Series Champion Tony Hunt

At the end of 2010, Hunt walked away as the USAC Western Sprint Car Series Champion. That said, he came into the 2011 season with confidence, and intentions of continuing his success. Rolling into Fresno, California in early April, the driver hit the track with fire in his eyes. After taking the checkered flag at the Madera Speedway, Tony Hunt and the Tony Hunt Motorsports Team then went to the All American Speedway, in Roseville, California, where they earned a second place finish.

After missing the Rocky Mountain Raceways event due to rain, Hunt quickly began making up points in the series when he rolled back into Madera in June and took the victory. The following month, the driver crossed the finish line in the fifth spot at the Rocky Mountain Speedway, located in Salt Lake City, Utah.

During a recent weekend at Meridian, Idaho, Tony Hunt claimed a victory on the first night, and earned a fourth place finish on the following night, which officially gave him the points lead for the season thus far.

Taking a short rest from the USAC Western Sprint Car Series, until his scheduled race at Irwindale Speedway, in late August, Hunt and his team are taking advantage of the opportunity to focus solely on the USAC Western Classic Racing Series. The new racing series encompasses eight California pavement races, of which are part of the USAC Western Sprint Car Series, while also including eight dirt races as well.

Although engine problems demanded that Hunt not finish the season opener at Chico, California, he came back with a vengeance on the following race at the Ocean Speedway, located at Watsonville, California, and earned a strong second. The driver then earned a fifth place finish at Santa Maria, giving him an impressive 65 point lead in the series.

Thus far in his career, Tony Hunt has raced predominantly on pavement, but his limited experience on dirt has not seemed to detour his confidence and ambitions. When asked the key to success in the USAC Western Classic Racing Series, he explained, "Making sure we're there at the end, and no getting impatient. I've ran the Western Sprint Series for over ten years, strictly on pavement. This is my first year in a dirt non-wing sprint car and my first year back on dirt since the late nineties," he continued, "so the dirt portion of the Western Classic Series has been a welcomed challenge."

When asked the key to continued success throughout the remainder of the season in both series, Hunt expressed that he and his team must stay focused on results and continue having strong performances. As a veteran race car driver, Hunt is quick to admit that his team plays a large role in his overall performance and success. "We have been together for over ten years, and our ability to perform under pressure is the key to our success," shared Hunt.

As one might suspect, he also is a firm believer in the importance of keeping the internal mechanisms of the engine clean and well-lubed. Referring to maintaining his racecar engine properly, he said, "It is very important. We strive on maintaining a clean environment inside and out of our car's equipment. Dusty dirt tracks are challenging on every component," Hunt ensured. "The performance that K&N products give us in maintaining a clean engine is an important part of the durability and longevity of our motors."

Having depended upon K&N air and oil filters for an excess of fifteen years, the driver shared, "They're always exceeding the leading edge on high performance filtration products."

In closing, Tony Hunt said, "We have a great relationship with many industry manufacturers, and their support has been a valuable asset to our success."

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.

Walsh Race Craft's Jeremy Lawson Finishes 3rd in 2011 AMA/ATVA Motocross Series

Aug 19, 2011

Walsh Race Craft and Lawson finished the 2011 AMA/ATVA Motocross season in a very respectable third overall.

Mechanical uncertainties and the strategic interaction between man and machine is what creates the addictive unpredictability of racing. Or, from a different perspective - if it ain't one thing, it's another. For K&N backed Walsh Race Craft and Jeremy Lawson their 2011 AMA/ATVA motocross season was often as up-and-down as the tracks they competed on.

Jeremy Lawson thanked K&N for helping to keep his Suzuki LT-R450 running at peak performance.

Although Lawson was time and again the fastest rider on the track the unpredictability of racing too often prevented him from running away with the series. At times just when it appeared as though Lawson was ready to pounce to victory, a rider would run up his backside, or an undiagnosed physical issue produced a mediocre moto, and Lawson would then need to utilize all his skill just to salvage a good finish. In the final tally it came down to Lawson's repeated improvisational cleverness that saved the season with a third overall in the 2011AMA/ATVA Motocross Series.

Lawson has been Walsh Race Craft's "in-house" rider for the last two seasons, "This means that we manage the entire racing effort and own the ATV's, Jeremy is responsible for getting to the track (but may ride with us in our truck) and he keeps 100% of all winnings and sponsor bonuses," explained owner Mike Walsh. "We do most of the maintenance on the ATV's but Jeremy also works on them some."

Lawson and Hetrick battled for the hole-shot in Round 10 of the series.

"As for the rest of our sponsored riders, we supply parts at a negotiated rate (sometimes free) such as A-arms, steering stems, swing-arms, etc. You will not see Walsh Race Craft in magazines much because the rider support stuff is how we have always promoted Walsh Race Craft brand products."

In 2004 Walsh Race Craft moved from the non-descript house located in the Connecticut countryside that was their origin, to a 12,000 plus square-foot building in Live Oak, Florida. "Now have more machinery, a dyno, a serdi valve machine, and we are slowly, but surely becoming a Pro Circuit or Yoshimura style company," says Walsh.

Owner Mike Walsh says with all his new machinery they are becoming a Pro Circuit or Yoshimura style company.

"We have also started servicing shocks and do maintenance on many makes of ATV's, dirt bikes and street bikes. We have eight employees, and look to keep it that way for a little while, the way things have been for the past two years in the ATV MX industry, we are trying to save and be more economical and grow wisely."

Commenting on how the 2011 season ended Walsh says, "Jeremy was definitely happy to move up in the points standings, and being in third after Unadilla actually left the door open for us to win the championship, of course we would have needed perfect races, and Natalie and Upperman would have had to have some poor races, but the door was opened."

"However, a collision with Joel Hetrick at Round 10 in Red Bud, Michigan, left us holding on to third place. Jeremy was the fastest qualifier at Red Bud and he was passing Hetrick for second when they crashed. Anyway, to answer the question fully, Jeremy was not doing so well after Round 10, but he got back together for the last round and finished the season respectably."

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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