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Grave Digger and Black Stallion Battle it Out in Monster Truck Competition

Feb 27, 2009

Michael Vaters and the K&N Ford Powered Black Stallion Team took on the Monster Truck competition in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.

Monster Truck Black Stallion flies the K&N Flag in the Wachovia Arena

Monster Trucks Black Stallion and Grave Digger battle it out in front of a sold out crowd

Six of the top trucks on tour battled it out on the Monster Jam Tour with Michael Vaters in the Stallion, and Vaters won several of the events throughout the four show weekend.

Iron Warrior propels through the air at Wachovia Arena in Pennsylvania

Michael Vaters pilots the K&N Ford Powered Black Stallion as top Monster Trucks battle for the points win

“The tone of the weekend competition at Wachovia Arena was determined by the results of the wheelie contest,” said Vaters. “There was a four way tie until a silent judge determined that the winner was hometown favorite Andy Slifko in Eradicator. This sparked a fire in me and I was determined to show the fans Black Stallion ruled the arena regardless of the scores.”

In round one of racing, Monster Mutt defeated Backdraft, Black Stallion defeated Grave digger and Eradicator defeated Iron Warrior. In the semi-finals, Eradicator defeated Grave Digger and Black Stallion defeated Monster Mutt. In the finals, Michael Vaters and the K&N Ford Powered Black Stallion rocked the house with an upset win over Grave Digger.

Vaters and the team worked frantically to replace the starter and solenoid just as Black Stallion was about to begin the freestyle run. The officials called off their run with only seconds to go and Grave Digger was declared the winner.

On Saturday afternoon, the competition was fierce in the freestyle competition. Iron Warrior began with a good run but Vaters was determined to take the win in freestyle. That did not happen because the judges found him just short of the win.

On Saturday night, Michael Vaters and the K&N Ford Powered Black Stallion took the win in the Wheelie competition in front of a sold out crowd. “When it was time for racing, I was on a mission,” said Vaters. “I marched through the rest of the field to take on Grave Digger in the finals. We roared to take off as the starting light turned green and I drove the K&N Ford Powered Black Stallion to the win. Gary Porter lost a transmission in the Digger as he tried to catch the Stallion.”

Vaters was on a roll. The freestyle had all the drivers pushing their Monster Trucks to the limit. Vaters launched over the cars and van stack landing at the far end of the arena. Next, he launched the Black Stallion backwards over the van stack in reverse. Finally, Vaters cross- threaded off the cars and landed on the van stack in his last jump.

“I use K&N Engineering’s injector and oil filters,” said Vaters. “Over the years I’ve used a lot of products and K&N can handle the Monster Truck scene. We are known across the country for a wild and crazy driving style and the ability to push the limits at indoor and outdoor events. We’re hard on our motors and K&N protects our engines.”

On Sunday afternoon, Vaters and the K&N Ford Powered Black Stallion took the win with the highest score of the weekend. “I kept the truck dialed in on win,” he said. “Everyone knew we ruled the Wachovia Arena all weekend.”

Michael Vaters and the K&N Ford Powered Black Stallion will be in their hometown Monster Jam this weekend at Baltimore’s First Mariner Arena.

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.

Bubba the Love Sponge Son Tyler Clem Stays Focused on the Race Track

Feb 26, 2009

Tyler Clem has a famous father, but at the age of 6 he has already made a name for himself on the race track. Tyler’s father is Bubba the Love Sponge Clem, a radio personality and owner of the Clem Racing Inc. Team.

Tyler Clem races in Quarter Midgets of American Series at Tampa, Florida

Michael Atwell is in the Legends Car Series for Clem Racing Inc.

The youngest Clem ran his first race under the USAC flag in the Quarter Midgets of America Series in Tampa, Florida. He is also first in points. “We want him to do well in school and have fun,” said Bubba the Love Sponge. “Of course we would love him to be a professional racer. Right now he is one of the best six year olds in the country.”

9 year old Michael Atwell drives a Bandolero car for Clem Racing Inc.

Tyler Clem is K&N's youngest sponsored driver

Tyler Clem is also K&N’s youngest sponsored driver. “K&N was one of the first corporate sponsors to believe in us,” said Bubba the Love Sponge. “The products work on and off the track. I’ve always been a K&N fan and used the product long before we were sponsored.”

Michael Atwell is a new addition to Clem Racing Inc. “Michael has a natural racing ability,” said Bubba the Love Sponge. “He is driving a Bandolero in the Legends Series.” The Bandolero car is designed for entry level racers as young as 10 and cranks out 30 horses. Bandolero cars are manufactured by 600 Racing, Inc.

Tyler is too young to get in the Bandolero, but is already practicing. He turns 7 in June.

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.

Bama Bash Title Owned by Ray Cook at Green Valley Speedway

Feb 26, 2009

Driver Ray Cook captured his third victory of the 2009 season by winning the annual “Bama Bash” at the Green Valley Speedway in Glencoe, Alabama.

Ray Cook Captured Bama Bash Title in Glencoe, Alabama, photo by mikesportimages.com

The Brasstown, North Carolina native set the fast time during qualifying and won the competitive heat race. Cook also earned the pole position for the 75 lap main event.

Cook drove his D&R Motorsports No. 53 MasterSbilt House Car with K&N products. He led all seventy-five laps around the one groove oval on route to the $7500 purse. “Our K&N filters protect our engines in this type of dirt racing,” said Cook. “We can count on great filtration and additional horsepower with K&N.”

Cook also competed in the $3000 to win Crate Late Model portion of the “Bama Bash” and took sixth place in the final rundown.

“We’re going to ride this wave as long as we can,” said Cook. “The car was great all weekend long. We probably won the race by setting the fast time and taking the heat race. That gave us the preferred starting position. I just had to make sure I stayed in the rubber and took care of my tires.”

The No. 53 team will next compete at Boyd’s Speedway in Ringgold, Georgia. The Chattanooga area venue will host he “Cabin Fever 250” weekend series February 28. Cook has visited victory lane at Boyd’s already this year where he claimed a $5,000 top prize.

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.

Rally America National Championship Series Resumes with 100 Acre Wood Rally in Michigan

Feb 26, 2009

Andrew Comrie-Picard and the ACP Rally team want to secure another podium when they take on Rally America’s second round, the 100 Acre Wood Rally in south-central Missouri.

NOS Energy Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX Ready for 100 Acre Wood Rally in Rally America's second round, photo by Scott Rains

“This race is about putting your foot down and keeping it there,” said Comrie-Picard. “The course is high-speed and it’s a battle of the brave to the finish.”

Rally Driver Andrew Comrie-Picard has secured an invitation to return to the 2009 X-Games

After a strong start in the NOS Energy Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX, the team is third in Rally America’s overall points standings and optimistic about this next round. Comrie-Picard finished on the podium at this event in 2007 and wound up a narrow fourth last year while nursing an ailing transmission during a fierce podium battle.

The early-spring event takes teams through Missouri’s scenic Ozark foothills. The course roads are consistently fast and flowing, but the big question mark is the weather. In previous years, conditions have run the gamut from balmy and sunny to below freezing, with pelting ice and snow.

“Bring it on,” said Comrie-Picard. “We’ve got the car for whatever Mother Nature can throw at us.” Rally car racing is considered the extreme sport of automobile racing and is often described simply as “real cars, real roads, real fast.” This all-season motorsport sees drivers and their co-drivers take modified road cars to the limit as they achieve blistering speeds over courses that cover hundreds of miles of gravel, dirt or snow-covered roads.

Team ACP Rally uses K&N Engineering products on their vehicles. “I’ve used K&N since I began Rally racing more than a decade ago,” said Comrie-Picard. “We compete under tough conditions, with dust, mud and water splashes. We do the most extreme things we can do in a car and K&N is the perfect formula for our turbo charged motors. There is no compromise with K&N.”

The sport is also featured in the annual X Games, the premier action sports event on the globe, featuring athletes competing for medals and prize money in sports including BMX Freestyle, Moto X, Skateboard, and Rally. Comrie-Picard has been among the dozen invited drivers every year since the rally discipline was introduced to the contest, and he has already secured an early invitation to return in 2009.

The Rally America national championship includes nine events in a cross-continent season that extends from January to late October. Canadian Rally Championship has six events from coast to coast. ACP Rally will contest a busy season, with championship events on both sides of the Canada-U.S. border, and the X Games.

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.

Damen Jefferies Debuts New Trophy Truck in SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge

Feb 26, 2009

The 14th annual SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge is the first of five SCORE off road races. It mixes desert racing with a spectator friendly man made short course.

Laughlin Desert Challenge is the first of five SCORE off road races

SCORE Off-Road Series Racer Damen Jefferies

K&N sponsored racer Damen Jefferies was ready for two days of racing on the rugged terrain. Racers start drag race style which is two vehicles wide. They also must face a notorious man made jump named the Laughlin Leap in the harsh Nevada desert.

Jefferies Racing No. 22 Trophy Truck in SCORE off road race

Damen Jefferies will compete for the first time at King of the Hammers in the California desert

The new Jefferies Racing No. 22 Trophy Truck made its debut at the SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge. It placed 10th in qualifying and as a result, started in the fifth row. Jefferies truck ran most of the first day trouble free. “We lost second gear towards the end of the race on Saturday,” said Jefferies. “I could only shift from first to third. That left us down on power and made the tight turns in the infield hard to maneuver. The next day we battled additional transmission problems, but managed end with a respectable 8th place finish.”

The K&N Trophy Truck uses a K&N designed air induction system and a K&N performance oil filter. This provides Jefferies with the power and protection he requires for racing. “The K&N filters continue to attest that they can withstand any environment,” he said. “The desert is hard on our motors and K&N filters protect them time and time again.”

Next on the agenda for Jefferies was the Best in the Desert Parker 425. He raced there as a substitute driver in the 1500 class. The 1500 class is the same as class 1 in the SCORE Series. Jefferies also was able to race one of the class 1 cars he built. As a result he was very comfortable with the car. He piloted the vehicle from the 49th starting position to a 4th place finish.

The next SCORE race for the Jefferies Racing No. 22 Trophy Truck is the 23rd annual San Felipe 250 on March 13-15. Jefferies drew a first place starting position, and the team is very excited. “We have put in a couple hundred miles of testing since Laughlin,” said Jefferies. “Our truck is ready for San Felipe.”

In the meantime the Jefferies Racing Team is headed for the King of the Hammers Extreme Desert Race and Rock Crawl at the Means Dry Lake area in the California Desert. He will compete against other K&N sponsored racers at the second annual event.

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.