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Carlsbad, California teen Jacob Pearlman earned a spot on the podium in his sports car racing debut with the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) at Buttonwillow Raceway. Pearlman had a strong 3rd place finish.
Jacob Pearlman far right on the podium at Buttonwillow Raceway Park in California
The K&N sponsored 16-year-old is a championship kart racer. He had to wait a year to make his first car racing start. “We acquired the car last year, but Jacob was not old enough to race it,” said Richard Pearlman, Jacob’s father. “He turned 16 late last year and went to the SCCA licensing school in February.”
Jacob (left), Richard Pearlman (center) and Crew Chief Kyle Eggleton (right) with Pearlman Motor Racing Mazda RX-7
Sports car racing debut for teen Jacob Pearlman with the Sports Car Club of America
Pearlman raced in the regional Pro-7 class in his No. 25 Pearlman Motor Racing Mazda RX-7 with K&N products. Pearlman qualified solidly in the middle of the field on both Saturday and Sunday.
“Jacob faced a steep learning curve and lost several spots on the starts,” said Pearlman. “He was able to work his way back up through the field during the races and finished 4th on Saturday.”
The next day he picked up his pace and moved up to a podium finish despite a very hot and slick race track. “The air temperature was pushing 110 degrees and the track conditions deteriorated from Saturday to Sunday,” said Pearlman. “Most of the racers slowed down from the Saturday race, but Jacob was 2 seconds a lap faster over the 3.1 mile course.”
Pearlman has used K&N products for years. “K&N has been a key to Jacob’s success at the track,” said Richard Pearlman. “We never worry about the reliability of our K&N filters even under the most extreme conditions.”
“I had a blast racing the Mazda,” said Jacob Pearlman. “It is much more difficult to drive and race than a go-kart. I still need more seat time, but I am happy with my first weekend and I’m looking forward to getting back on the track. I need to work on my starts.”
Pearlman will take the month of June off from racing to participate in the North Carolina State University Motorsports Engineering Summer Program. His ultimate goal is to be an engineer or designer for a top-tier race team. Pearlman will be back behind the wheel of his Pro-7 racer in July at the Auto Club Speedway of Southern California.
Duane LaFluer won his first Wally in a NHRA Division 3 points race at the Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio. LaFleur drove his K&N Filters 1968 Chevrolet Camaro roadster built by Race Tech Race Cars of Burlington, North Carolina to a Super Gas win after seven rounds of eliminations.
NHRA Sportsman class racer Duane LaFleur races in Super Gas and Super Comp
“We ran all seven rounds in one day in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series,” said LaFluer. “It was awesome. The weather was great and I had five near perfect runs and got lucky twice. I’ll take several rounds of luck on any given day.”
Duane LaFleur bested Tim McGuire to win a Wally in Super Gas at the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series at Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio
1968 Chevy Camaro Roadster features a 540 cubic inch big block Chevrolet engine built by Larry Sexton to make 900 horsepower
LaFluer, of Lancaster, New York has raced Super Gas and Super Comp for 14 years. He was the victim of a high speed crash at the 2006 K&N Nationals in Englishtown, New Jersey. The engine of his 1967 Jiffy-tite Firebird threw a connecting rod through the block and spewed oil and water all over the track. “I went end over end nine times,” said LaFluer. “I was in a 150 mph roll and stopped against a retaining wall. I was lucky to walk away. That was the end of my Firebird.”
LaFluer has run his Camaro for three years. Its power plant is a 540 cubic inch Chevrolet big block built by Larry Sexton to make 900 horsepower. It is equipped with K&N products. “My K&N filters give me additional horsepower and acceleration,” said LaFluer. “I get excellent filtration and K&N gives me the protection I need on my motors on and off the track.”
In 2008, LaFluer finished 6th overall in his division and 50th in the country. “This year I hope to finish in the top ten nationwide and in the top 5 in my division,” he said. “Unfortunately about four thousand other racers are saying the same thing,” he said.
The LaFleur Racing Team plans to attend at least 12 races in 2009, with the next race in Chicago.
The clock is ticking for a father and daughter race team who are more than ready to take on the 2009 STA-BIL National Lawn Mower Racing Series.
K&N has signed on the father and daughter racing team of Ken and Katie Jones of Mendota, Illinois to become the K&N Sponsored Lawn Mower Racing Team
Cutting blades are removed on the lawn mower racing circuit, there are no cash prizes and racers compete for bragging rights
Ken and Katie Jones of Mendota, Illinois have been part of the lawn mower racing scene for years. Ken Jones is a 15-year USLMRA (U.S. Lawn Mower Racing Association) racing veteran, USLMRA Steering Committee Member, Race Director and President of the Illinois Lawn Mower Racing Association. Katie, 14, races in the Junior Prepared Class and grew up on the lawn mower circuit at her father’s side.
Ken Jones is a 15 year USLMRA U.S. Lawn Mower Racing Association Veteran
Katie Jones races in the Junior Prepared Class of the USLMRA
K&N is proud to announce a partnership with K&N Jones Racing for the 2009 Lawn Mower Racing Series. “It’s an honor to be selected to represent K&N and to team up with my daughter Katie for such a fine company,” said Jones. “Now USLMRA lawn mower racing can take its place among the world-class racing organizations that K&N supports such as the Indy Racing League, American Motorcycle Association and the Snap-On Stars of Karting.”
Racing lawn mowers are highly modified versions of the average lawn mower with the cutting blades removed. They can reach speeds anywhere from 25 to 60 mph. Some racing lawn mowers sound like small block Chevy motors and are clocked at more than 100 mph. There are no cash prizes, racers compete for trophies, glory and bragging rights.
“K&N is proud to be part of Ken Jones Racing,” said Tony Yorkman, K&N Sports Marketing Manager. “They are very competitive and know how to have fun at the track. As a family, Ken and Katie have to rely on each other and they both know they can rely on K&N products. We are happy to include them in our K&N family.”
Lawn mower racers have the option of several classes, the Stock, IMOW, Prepared and Factory Experimental. “We race three mowers side-by-side on the track,” said Jones. “We do have aggressive driving rules but we do everything we can not to bump each other. We run with open wheels and if we bump tires we’re likely to go airborne.”
Katie Jones is in the Junior Prepared Class. “Katie has been racing since she was only 10-years-old,” said Jones. “During the 2008 season she took first place in two races.” Ken Jones races in the AP portion of the IMOW class.
“I use K&N air filters and would not use anything else,” said Jones. “A lot of guys at the track use them on the circuit. Nothing else protects our engines like K&N.”
K&N and Ken Jones Racing will be featured on USLMRA telecasts on Fox Sports Net and the Outdoor Channel this fall. Ken Jones Racing will also have a prominent display at the 2nd Annual Performance Mowersports Expo during the 17th annual STA-BIL Nationals Weekend, September 3-5 in Delaware, Ohio.
Ken and Katie Jones are currently gearing up for the STA-BIL Off-Road Truck and Tractor Nationals in LaPort County, Indiana.
The first half of the 2009 WE ROCK pro National West Series concluded in Cedar City, Utah and K&N sponsored driver Cody Waggoner continues to lead the championship chase in points. The 2008 champion, Jesse Haines is only one point behind and Jason Paule is in third place.
Cody and Jim Waggoner lead the WE ROCK Series in points
Team Waggoner Racing finished in first place on Day 1 and on Day 2. Cody and Jim Waggoner also went into the shoot-out with a slight point lead. “Cody and Jim did great in the shoot-out,” said Lindsay Waggoner. “But when all was said and done they tied for first place.”
Cedar City, Utah hosts second WE ROCK USA event of the season
The courses are tough in Utah, each having its own level of difficulty. “One thing we don’t have to worry about is our K&N products,” said Waggoner. “K&N provides us excellent filtration and protects our engines from the dust and dirt.”
Team Waggoner Racing is ready to take on the next WE ROCK event of the “Biggest Little City in the World,” Reno, Nevada on the weekend of July 19th.
The World Speedway Grand Prix will return to Ullevi Stadium in Gothenburg, Sweden and Australian Jason Crump is prepared.
Australian Double World Speedway Champion celebrates victory in Poland with his two children, photo by Mike Patrick
“My objective is to win and capture as many points as possible to maintain or increase my lead in the series,” said Crump. “Right now my focus is on Sweden and I am not thinking beyond that at this stage. Anything short of a win and I will be bitterly disappointed.”
The two-time World Speedway Champion said consistency is the main key to becoming a World Champion. K&N is part of the Crump’s winning equation. “K&N makes the best filter on the market,” said Crump. “I depend on the additional horsepower and extra filtration at every race. K&N has been on my motorcycles since the beginning of my career and helped me reach the podium every time.”
Crump took third place in Prague in the Czech Republic and a total of 14 points at the season opener then took first place in Leszno, Poland. Crump has 36 points overall in the series.
The 43,000 seat Ullevi Stadium is expected to be packed for the World Speedway Grand Prix on May 30.
