K&N October 2015 Calendar Model Katie Vernola Is Also An Accomplished UTV Racer

K&N October 2015 calendar model Katie Vernola used her modeling career to save money for a Polaris RZR 900 and begin racing the Lucas Oil Regional Off-Road and Terracross series

Shortly after graduating High School K&N’s October 2015 calendar model Katie Vernola began to work modeling jobs as an easy and fun way to earn money. As a native of California’s high-desert Katie was naturally interested in the area’s highly popular recreational off-road culture. Aspiring to own a side-by-side UTV of her own, Katie continued to use her modeling gigs as an avenue to gather up the funds needed to purchase a Polaris Ranger RZR 900.

Despite a broken front axle, a disintegrated front wheel bearing, and no brakes Katie Vernola earned a 4th place finish in the Lucas Oil Regional Off-Road Series Walker Evans RZR 900 class

Initially, Katie had no intention of racing her new side-by-side. She simply wanted to take her Polaris RZR out to local riding areas, such as the Dumont Dunes Off-Highway Vehicle Area and the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area, more commonly known as Glamis. All that changed after Katie attended a Lucas Oil Regional Off-Road Series race as a spectator. Katie said, “It was love at first site, and I immediately wanted to be able to race the next race in the RZR 900 Production class.”

In the highly competitive Lucas Oil Regional Off-Road Series Production 1000 UTV class K&N’s Katie Vernola was able to move forward through the chaos before crossing the finish line in 14th

From there Katie worked hard to put together a race program from scratch. She was lucky enough to gain the support of several sponsors, like K&N air filters, to chase her new-found racing dream. Katie’s first race was at Round 1 of the 2014 Lucas Oil Regional Off-Road Series. In only her first race, Katie managed a top 10 finish; setting the stage for a newly discovered addiction to racing. Now Katie enjoys going to the track whenever she can for additional seat time and hopes for an opportunity to move up the ranks of short course racing.

In just the month of September 2015 Katie planned to race in both the Lucas Oil Regional Off-Road Series near her home town, followed by two rounds of Terracross in Minnesota, and another Terracross double header in North Carolina. At round 6 of the Lucas Oil Regional Off-Road Series Katie entered the Walker Evans RZR 900 class as well as the Production 1000 UTV class in her Polaris RZR 1000. Both of her RZR side-by-sides received new coil springs and suspension changes prior to round 6. With limited practice and a different setup, Katie was forced to become familiar with her cars during qualifying. Katie would start the Walker Evans RZR 900 and Production 1000 races from near the back of the pack.

K&N Filters’ Katie Vernola made a cross country trek to North Branch, Minnesota for rounds 3 and 4 of the Terracross series where she made it on the podium in with a 3rd place finish

Not to be discouraged, Katie looked at this as an opportunity to focus and battle through the pack. Despite a broken front axle, a disintegrated front wheel bearing, and no brakes; Katie managed to earn an incredible 4th place finish in the Walker Evans RZR 900 class. In the highly competitive Production 1000 UTV class Katie was able to move forward through the chaos before crossing the finish line in 14th. Most recently Katie made a cross country trek to North Branch, Minnesota for rounds 3 and 4 of the Terracross series. Katie made it on the podium in Minnesota with a 3rd place finish in round 3 and a 5th place finish in round 4.

Katie Vernola relies on K&N air filters and K&N oil filters to keep her Polaris RZR side-by-side racing program going strong. Additionally, keep an eye out for Katie Vernola in the upcoming October 2015 page of the K&N calendar. To find K&N performance upgrades for Polaris RZR side-by-sides, or another vehicle, use the Search by Vehicle tool.