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Bo Butner took the championship in Pro Stock at the Auto Club finals in Pomona
One of the first people to congratulate Bo Butner after winning the NHRA Pro Stock championship at Auto Club Raceway in Pomona was teammate Greg Anderson. Anderson came into the NHRA Auto Club Finals at Pomona with the lead in the Pro Stock standings. Butner was second, 40 points behind Anderson. “Greg was actually one of the first to meet me down there,” Butner said after the races in Pomona. “Greg is the most competitive guy, but he’s like a big brother to me. He gave me a big hug and he actually told me you deserve it this year. He’s an animal and he’s tough to beat.”
Butner beat Anderson in the semifinals at Pomona. Butner went on to beat Tanner Gray in the final race and clinch his first Pro Stock championship. The two teammates at KB Racing were at the top of a very competitive class all season. For Butner, it was quite an accomplishment to win the Pro Stock championship. He came into the 2017 season with no wins in the NHRA Pro Stock class. He won five events, including two of the six Countdown to the Championship playoff races.
Bo Butner holding the Championship Trophy after winning the 2017 NHRA Auto Club finals at Pomona
When he won his first NHRA Pro Stock event in Houston, Butner knew he had a chance to win the championship. “It was a good mindset and when we kept clicking them off,” Butner said. “We actually won what you call the main season by quite a few points and then we had to give them up to make it even. I thought we could do it from day one once we started clicking them off. It just worked our way.”
When the Countdown to the Championship started, Butner, Anderson, and Jason Line, who are all teammates at KB Racing, the contenders. Of the three, Butner was the driver with the least amount of experience and success in Pro Stock. He quickly rose to the top of the standings and put himself in position to win the championship. “We’re supposedly the little team, but actually we’re not,” Butner said. “We are a team of KB. I had the same stuff as them, same cars, same motors, same tuners. To me, it’s not a surprise, just who went the furthest today out of us three. I’d always bet on myself.”
Butner said his team, Anderson’s and Line’s teams were evenly matched all season. The finals in Pomona were no different. “We’ve got a great team,” Butner said. “Greg and Jason both deserve to win also. Either way, it’s a win-win for us. We’re happy it landed in our shoes.”
Winners Circle at the Pomona included Brittany Force, Eddie Krawiec, Bo Butner, and Robert Hight
Butner said he experienced the same path to success racing in the sportsman class. It took him a few years to break through with a win at the national level. He knew it would take some time to break through in the Pro Stock division too. “It’s funny because it’s the same people at the same tracks,” Butner said. “It’s just a different atmosphere. I wasn’t worried about not winning. “It probably hasn’t set in yet. It’s awesome. I'm just very fortunate and blessed.”
Butner compared racing on the final day at Pomona to shooting baskets in his driveway as a kid. He pretended every round was like taking a shot in the final seconds of a game. If he made his shot, he won. If he won a round, he was closer to the championship. He kept making shots, winning rounds, all the way to the final against Gray. “I probably didn’t drive the best today,” Butner said. “When it’s your day, God blessed us. I was blessed today.”
As promised, here’s part two of our coverage of the amazing range of trucks that were on display at the 2017 SEMA Show. These range from a classic Chevy pickup built in a very traditional style by a very young builder to an amazing restoration of an International Harverster commercial vehicle by a company looking to make a point. Let’s go!
Drive Pink 2017 Ford F-150
This black Ford was wrapped in white then hand illustrated with Sharpies for breast cancer awareness
Displayed outside the Convention Center was this Ford F-150 with probably the most personalized exterior any vehicle wore at the show. Built by Flat 12 Gallery of Texas, known for their Car Chasers television program, with parts specified and acquired by AutoNation’s Auto Gear, this pickup would stand out in any parking lot in its OEM Shadow Black paint. Instead the body had been covered entirely by a plain white wrap. Famed Sharpie artist Jada Paxton was brought into the project and in the course of just three weeks hand drew the illustrations that cover the truck. The imagery incorporates themes including the open road, the fight against breast cancer, and Drive Pink’s coast-to-coast footprint. Our prediction is that you’ll see more hand-drawn designs on show vehicles at SEMA 2018.
1973 Chevrolet C10 "Buck the Truck"
Preston Folkestad rebuilt his great-grandather's C10 and entered into SEMA's Battle of the Builders
You may already be aware of SEMA’s Battle of the Builders, where top competitors go head-to-head for the coveted prize. But what you may not know about is that there’s a category called Young Guns, for promising builders under the age of 27. Through a series of regional competitions six were selected and awarded travel, transportation, and a display spot at the SEMA Show. One such competitor is 22-year-old Preston Folkestad, of Marion, Iowa, who rebuilt the 1973 Chevy C10 he inherited from his great-grandfather. The truck was fitted with new suspension all around, lowering the squarebody two inches. Power steering and Wilwood brakes were then added. The engine was rebuilt with an array of performance upgrades, including a K&N air filter. The exterior was sprayed in Kandy Orange over Orion Silver. A full custom interior rounds out the package. The truck is named in honor of his great-grandfather, Buck, a WWII veteran.
1973 International Harvester Loadstar
IH Cab, new frame, and Hellcat engine all combine to become one of the most interesting of the show
Say you’re a company well-known for a product used on pickup trucks but you want to spread the word that your product is equally useful on heavy equipment – how do you get that point across? If you’re Line-X, you build an eye-catching custom commercial that demonstrates your products in use. The company started with a 1973 International Harvester Loadstar 1700 cab, that’s been fully restored. Underneath they slid a more modern 2010 Dodge 5500 chassis that’s been adapted to a Kelderman four-way independent adjustable air ride suspension. For brute power, they turned to a 707 horsepower supercharged 6.2L Dodge Hellcat engine. This build was made even more impactful by the PPG Extreme Black and Copper paint, over which Line-X applied protective coatings throughout the chassis, body, and the custom front and rear bumpers.
Roland Sands Design 2017 Ford F-150
Roland Sands debuted his new line of truck accessories. Look for them at your local parts store soon
You might know Roland Sands as a motorcycle racer. You might know him as a leading-edge designer of motorcycle accessories and custom builds. Or probably you know him as both. If not, Roland started on a motorcycle when most kids are still riding bikes with training wheels. He competed in AMA road racing for nine years, set several track records, and won the AMA 250GP championship in 1998. A spate of injuries (his first broken bone at age five) took him off the bike and into the shop. Since then his designs have been featured in magazines and television shows and have earned him several prestigious awards. Now Roland is turning his design talents to trucks. Currently, there are 21 different product categories soon to launched, ranging from front bumpers, rock sliders, and fender flares to hood scoops, alloy wheels, and more. Look for them to be available soon from your favorite aftermarket performance retailer.
That’s Not All Folks …
We have more trucks that we spotted at the Las Vegas Convention Center and environs to share with you so look for Oh What Wondrous Trucks We Saw At the 2017 SEMA Show – Part 3 to be posted soon.
K&N's title sponsor entry, the 1964 Chevrolet Corvette owned and driven by Jane Thurmond
Every year, the SEMA Show just keeps getting bigger and better from the excitement and anticipation of The Battle of the Builders to The Gran Tourismo Awards to SEMA Ignited. This year, BFGoodrich held an outdoor premier of the second installment of Dust 2 Glory by acclaimed Hollywood Director, Filmmaker, and Documentarian Dana Brown. Show-goers were even treated to a Jay Leno sighting in the main Concourse along with impromptu concerts by country singer/songwriter James Otto.
SEMA fun with K&N team driver Jane Thurmond, SCCA champ Mary Pozzi, and Robert Byrd of Racing Byrds
Located in Central Hall, the K&N Engineering booth was a hotbed of activity throughout SEMA week. Team drivers and sponsored racers were on hand to meet and greet show attendees and share product information when it came to those eager to improve their car’s performance. In fact, our team driver’s rallied their fans that ultimately made it out to Las Vegas Motor Speedway the weekend immediately following SEMA for the 10th running of OPTIMA’s Ultimate Street Car Invitational. OUSCI is a competition featuring five scored segments that culminates in awarding the OUSCI champion. This year the format included the addition of class champions to make the invitational a wee bit more rewarding as well as competitive.
Mike Maier pushing his 2017 Mustang dubbed "New Blue" to the limit on the autocross track at OUSCI
K&N team driver Mike Maier started his year off with an incredible victory in the GT Class in "New Blue", his 2017 Ford Mustang GT at the season opener for USCA at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in March 2017. There he earned his invite to OUSCI. Mike came in second in GT Class at Pikes Peak International Raceway for the fourth installment of the OPTIMA Series. He secured two first positions in the Powerstop Brakes Speed Stop Challenge and Detroit Speed and Engineering Autocross but fell short in the much contended Lingenfelter Design & Engineering segment of the two-day event. Mike’s final qualifying event was the famed Road America where he came away with a well deserved 1st place in GT Class with a solid 15th overall in a field of 115 competitors.
K&N's Mike Maier on the road course in his 2017 Mustang "New Blue" at Las Vegas Motor Speedway
This year marked the 10th Anniversary of OUSCI and the invitational boasted a very diverse field of just over 100 competitors, divided into 6 classes. Mike once again proved to be formidable, a force to be reckoned with finishing in a tie for 2nd place in the GT Class. The head to head Detroit Speed & Engineering Autocross saw competition separating the top fifteen drivers by tenths of a second across the field. A mid-day setback required Maier to do an engine swap after his morning autocross run sessions. Through sheer will and determination, the team had "New Blue" running and ready that same afternoon for the Lucas Oil/MAV TV Road Rally ending in a car meet and tailgate party at the Shelby Museum. The competition at the invitational was so tight separating 1st through 10th position across the field in the Powerstop Brakes Speed Stop Challenge by mere tenths. On Sunday, the driver's would hit the road course for the Falken Tires Hot Lap Challenge. Over 100 racers would do their best to lay down their fastest lap time to see if they could indeed be crowned the winner. Once again, we saw incredibly close competition. Mike Maier would go on to earn a 3rd place finish in the GT Class.
Maier congratulating fellow competitor Cliff Elliott at Pikes Peak International Raceway
Maier introduced his K&N-equipped MMI project car “New Blue” to the competition at the 2016 OUSCI with K&N brand ambassador and wife Brianne behind the wheel for the event. "New Blue" is the test bed for all of MMI's new suspension and chassis products for the Ford Mustang S550. MMI or Mike Maier Inc. is a California-based performance suspension manufacturer dedicated to Mustang performance. 2017 has been the first full year that “New Blue” has been in competition.
Way back in the day, OUSCI racer Mike Maier raced sprint cars for K&N
Maier is a consistent and talented performance driver. Perhaps his many years of experience as a racer in sprint cars have set the foundation that affords him the ability to literally hop into any car and be a frontrunner in any class.
Husband and wife team, Mike and Brianne Maier talk business and strategy at Goodguys Pleasanton
As for the future of “New Blue”, it’s business as usual for the 2018 race season and K&N Engineering is excited to announce that the husband and wife team of Mike and Brianne Maier will once again be part of the team.
Another K&N team driver who continues to up her game year after year is Jane Thurmond, owner and driver of the K&N-equipped USCA title sponsor 1964 Chevrolet Corvette, affectionately known as Scarlett. Thurmond has experienced a couple of setbacks this race season, but has come back more determined to gain ground lost earlier in the season. A new 600hp LS3 motor has allowed her to pick up valuable time on the road course, getting her lap time at Las Vegas Motor Speedway just below 1.59, almost 5 seconds down from her last OUSCI. Additionally, the 560+ lb. ft. torque has proven to put down some beastly power on the autocross and speed stop courses. That coupled with the addition of some serious braking power provided by Baer Brakes, Jane has been able to keep a close watch on her competition in the GTV Class. In fact, she has done more than enough, slayed enough of her competition, to be inducted into #teamarchenemies. A former “boys club” of highly competent racers, fittingly named by USCA Race Director and FM3 Performance Marketing President and CEO, Jimi Day.
Thurmond staging during autocross. Even grid in Vegas is Rock 'n Roll!
As a K&N representative, she continues to reach a surprisingly unexpected demographic - women over forty! Her outgoing personality makes her a welcome face at Goodguys events, OPTIMA Alley at SEMA, and of course OUSCI. Her talent behind the wheel reminds her fans and followers that amazing things are possible at any age!
Jane with Trish Byrd after receiving award for Fastest Lady at NMCA West Hotchkis Cup
Jane came in 11th in the GTV Class at OUSCI in a field of 34 competitors. Finishing in her timed segments within tenths of the fastest drivers. She finished 50th overall which was a little tough but gives her incentive to work even harder in development for a strong comeback next season.
During the off-season, Thurmond will spend her winter as an instructor at the Bridgestone Winter Drive School in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, under the tutelage of School Director, Mark Cox, best known for training Tanner Foust, Travis Pastrana, and Ken Block. Her intent is to come back stronger and faster with a vengeance to see just how far she can go in her Little Red Corvette. She’s even set her eyes on Rally Cross for a potential change of pace.
Heading out to the Vegas Strip for the Saturday Lucas Oil MAV TV Road Rally
K&N Engineering would like to Congratulate all of the drivers who made it to the big show, the OPTIMA Ultimate Street Car Invitational. It is no small feat and we applaud their commitment and talent.
The 2017 SEMA Show was just chock-a-block with modified trucks. There is any number of explanations why trucks seem to have taken over the annual show. These include the truck that as trucks still maintain a full frame, they’re easier to modify, trucks make a big impact when parked inside a booth, or that more than car buyers, new truck buyers spend more on aftermarket components. Or maybe it’s all of the above. Regardless, we saw an amazing range of modified trucks that are just too many to share in just one story. Here’s part one. Look for part two shortly.
Finish Line Speed Shop GMC BC-30 Dually
Finish Line Speed Shop brough their GMC dually to help raise awareness and funds for cancer research
Before we get into the nuts and bolts of each build, let’s take a minute to cover something really important. We’ve written before about Finish Line Speed Shop, most recently about their Dodge Dart build for disabled veterans. For the 2017 SEMA Show, Finish Line Speed Shop and “#ProjectGivingBack” decided to build out a classic GMC C-30 dually. The sale of the truck, renamed BC-30 (for Burnout Cancer), at an upcoming Mecum auction will be directed to cancer research. Proceeds will go to the world-renowned Fred Hutch Center in Seattle. Cancer has hit us or someone close to all of us at some point or another. Owner and founder Lyon McClenahan was not quite eight-years-old when his dad passed away due to complications from brain cancer. His father Tom was just 34 years old. Lyon and his wife Jennifer have heartbreaking stories about friends lost to cancer and currently fighting the terrible disease, as we all probably do. K&N supports this program and asks you to do the same. Just jump in and follow #projectgivingback for more info.
Fuller Moto 1940 Ford Truck
Fuller Moto turned a 1940 Ford barn find into this immaculate street machine powered by a 302 V8
Starting with a 1940 Ford barn find out of Georgia, Bryan Fuller of Fuller Moto has more than saved the girl, he and his team have given it life beyond what Henry Ford could have ever expected. Under the truck is a custom-made Art Morrison chassis that features tubular independent front suspension. Out back, an Art Morrison four-bar kit makes certain the solid rear axle with Tiger magnesium quick change behaves properly. The old Ford has also been updated with Wilwood disk brakes and Flaming River rack and pinion steering. Ridetech supplied the air-ride suspension which is fully adjustable, allowing the frame to be dropped to the ground. The wheels are mounted on aluminum lightweight Sprint Car Wide-5 hubs with period correct bias-ply looking tires that are actually Coker Firestone radials. The motor is a 302ci Ford with a K&N filter feeding a Holley 650 CFM carb atop an Edelbrock manifold and finned aluminum valve covers. The exhaust is 2.5” Magnaflow Hot Rod Exhaust Kit.
Phat Phabz 2017 Ford F-350
Jake McKiddie of Phat Phabz built this rig for the owner of a 1959 Cadillac to tow from show to show
This 2017 Ford F-350 from Jake McKiddie’s Phat Phabz was commissioned by Dave Shulman of Orlando, Florida. Dave contacted Jake about building a dually that could serve as a hauler to move his 1959 Cadillac from show to show across the country, and Dave wanted to look cool doing it. Jake took on the job. The stock 6.7L Ford Powerstroke diesel engine has been upgraded with a PPEI tune, AirDog Fuel System, and a K&N air intake system. The chassis rides on a custom frame built in Jake’s shop that’s bagged at all four corners, with a custom parallel four-link setup on the dually rear axle. Stopping this beast are Wilwood six-piston calipers front and rear clamping onto 16-inch rotors.
And More Trucks...
There are trucks built for go and those built for show. And then a few are built for both.
Don't go far, we'll have more coverage of trucks and more from the 2017 SEMA Show shortly
Courtney has modeled for the K&N calendar twice, including this one featuring a pair of Mustangs
The annual SEMA (Specialty Equipment Market Association) show is packed with some of the best vehicles in the country. Along with these vehicles are some of the most beautiful models signing autographs and bringing people into the various booths. This year, K&N brought their own model to the show and she spent a day showing us around the massive show.
Courtney Day has been a model and spokeswoman for some top brands in the automotive industry including Modified Magazine, Falken, Super Street magazine, and of course K&N. You may remember Courtney from the K&N calendar. This year, however, K&N invited Courtney to Las Vegas for the 2017 SEMA show and a camera followed her around to see what kind of trouble she could get into.
We talked to Courtney a little about her modeling career, her past experience with SEMA, and what we can expect from her in 2018.
K&N: Hey Courtney, so tell us a little about some of the companies you have modelled for in the past.
Courtney: I have worked with a lot of companies over the years including K&N, Falken Tires, Vaughn Gittin Jr Motorsports, Mustang RTR, BOSCH, EA Games/Need for Speed, and Driving Line Magazine
K&N: What is your experience with K&N?
Courtney was also featured along with Olivia Korte and a pair of good looking C10s
CD: I've used K&N products on my cars for a long time, both my project cars and daily drivers. K&N engine and cabin filters are a must, and are always the first mod on all my cars. I've had the pleasure of turning my passion into a work relationship with K&N and have also been honored to be included in, and grace the cover of the K&N calendar.
K&N: How many years have you attended the SEMA show?
CD: Umm... this is my 16th year at SEMA (shhhh). It's crazy to think how much the show has grown over the years, from being confined within the walls of the Las Vegas Convention Center to now overflowing into the parking lots and all open spaces of the convention center and adjoining properties. The bar is raised each year and the builds and experiences continue to blow my mind.
K&N: What was it like hosting your own “show” for K&N this year?
CD: It was a ton of fun! Working directly with the K&N team is always a good time. Interviewing car owners and motorsport personalities alike, and hearing how integral K&N products are to making their cars perform better, in all driving scenarios (daily driving, off road, drifting, on track) just reinforced my love for the brand. Plus, riding along with Vaughn Gittin Jr in his Mustang RTR and Ultimate Fun-Haver F-150 was pretty ridiculous!
K&N: What advice do you have for someone attending the show for the first time?
CD: Plan ahead - have a list of companies you want to visit, cars you want to see, and know what halls they are in. That way you maximize your time and don't feel like you're backtracking. It's a huge show and takes days to see the whole thing. And of course, wear comfortable shoes, your feet will thank you.
Keep up with Courtney Day and all that she has going on by on Instagram @miss_courtney_day
K&N: What was the coolest thing you saw at the show?
CD: Chris Forsberg's Datsun 510 wagon dubbed WagonFors. I love the fact that he combined modern build engineering, tons of custom work, with a unique vintage chassis. It's also sweet that his wife Michelle collaborated on the build and will be using it to get groceries!
K&N: What do you have planned for 2018 and beyond?
CD: I'm looking forward to next year being on the road with Falken Tire again. You can find me at Formula Drift and other events across the country. Follow me on Instagram @miss_courtney_day to see what I'm up to and where I'll head next. And who knows what car builds and projects my future holds, my 240SX has been feeling neglected in the garage...stay tuned.
