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From Reliant Stadium to Alltel Arena Monster Jam's Black Stallion High Jumps to Success

Jan 23, 2009

The Ultimate Monster Jam Freestyle and Thrill Show wowed the crowd at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas.

Black Stallion goes all out in wheelie competition at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas, photo by Kenny Lau

Alltel Arena in Little Rock, Arkansas will host next Monster Jam, photo by Kenny Lau

The freestyle show featured the craziest obstacles with ramps and jumps so big they are tried out and tested in Texas before they end up in stadiums throughout the country. Eight of the top Monster Trucks in the country performed in front of 160,000 spectators. K&N provides product to 90 percent of the Monster Jam trucks.

Monster Jam's Black Stallion puts air under his truck at Reliant Stadium, photo by Kenny Lau

Opening Ceremonies at Monster Jam Freestyle Competition in Texas, photo by Kenny Lau

Grave Digger piloted by Gary Porter, Black Stallion piloted by Mike Vaters, Safe Auto Minimizer piloted by Marc McDonald, Gun Slinger piloted by Scott Hartsock, Pastrana 199 piloted by Paul Cohen, Monster Mutt piloted by Whit Tarlton, Iron Warrior piloted by Trey Myers and Cowboy piloted by Glen Logan started off with a wheelie competition.

Since this was freestyle, trucks are allowed to go for the best wheelie as many times as they want. In regular competition Monster Jam trucks only have one try to do the best job. In Houston, drivers were making four to five hits each. Since the events of the night are not judged by score cards, pilots make it more exciting for the fans.

Two trucks are sent out at the same time for the Cyclone event. “We are allowed to use our judgment as to where and how many donuts we do,” said Black Stallion owner and pilot Michael Vaters. “As each truck comes off the floor another goes out. As a result there is a constant stream of trucks at all times and the action never slows. It’s fun for the drivers and the crowd and very different from the more structured competition in Monster Jam.”

In the final activity of the show each truck was given two minutes on the clock to pull of the widest moves they could. “Trey Myers and the Iron Warrior blasted out to take on the track with a good run,” said Vaters. “I put some major air under the Black Stallion and showed the crowd the true force behind the truck.”

Vaters uses K&N air and oil filters on his Monster Trucks. “Over my many years in this business I’ve used a lot of products, but K&N is the one that can handle the dirty and dusty environment during Monster Jam competitions,” said Vaters. “We are known nationwide for our wild and crazy driving and the ability to push our engines to the limit. We’re hard on our motors and K&N gives us the protection we need for competition.”

The next Monster Jam event will be in Little Rock, Arkansas in the Alltel 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.

2009 Toyota Camry Debuts at Speedweeks in NASCAR Nationwide Series at Daytona

Jan 22, 2009

The New Year brought a lot of changes for CJM Racing. The team has a new driver, a new crew and a new 2009 Toyota Camry for the 10-month long NASCAR Nationwide Series.

NASCAR Nationwide Series Team CJM Racing Driver Scott Lagasse Jr.

Scott Lagasse Jr. started out in kart racing, then the modified division. He moved on to drive a truck for Bobby Hamilton Racing in 2006 and competed in two Nationwide Series races in 2007. He also stood out after securing a victory in his first ARCA appearance in the 2008 racing season. The move was noticed by NASCAR Nationwide Series Team CJM Racing and together they mapped out a future.

New NASCAR Nationwide Series CJM crew will help pilot Scott Lagasse Jr. contend for NASCAR National and Regional Rookie of the Year award

2009 Toyota Camry is new team car for CJM Racing in the NASCAR Nationwide Series

Over the course of the 2009 season, Lagasse will pilot the No. 11 America’s Incredible Pizza Company Toyota full time and compete for Rookie-of-the-Year (ROTY) honors. NASCAR’s National and Regional Touring Series select’s a ROTY by looking at points and conduct. Past NASCAR Nationwide Series ROTY winners include Carle Edwards and Kyle Busch.

Paul Wolfe is CJM Racing’s America’s Incredible Pizza Company Race Team’s new crew chief. “Paul brings a wealth of knowledge to the table,” said CJM’s Media Relations Manager Shayna Keller. “He has worked with past NASCAR ROTY’s and will lead Scott in the No. 11 car.”

One thing that has remained constant for CJM Racing is its use of K&N products. “K&N provides us with excellent power and filtration,” said Keller. “It also protects our engine on the race track.”

The 2009 NASCAR season opens at Daytona International Speedway on January 24th. The event, known as Speedweeks is considered the Super Bowl of racing and includes, the 24-Hour Rolex race, Gatorade Duels, Bud Shootout, the Nationwide Series, the Camping World Series and the Sprint Cup Series (Daytona 500).

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.

Carey Hart's Hart and Huntington Team Riders Ready for AMA Supercross Series

Jan 21, 2009

The house was packed with with more than 40,000 fans in Anaheim, California for round three of the AMA Supercross Series. Rockstar Energy Hart and Huntington Honda SX team rider Troy Adams made the final twenty man field and raced his way to 15th place.

Hart and Huntington Team Rider Troy Adams

“I felt good all day and the track was really tough,” said Adams. “With the help of my mechanic and the whole team, I felt like I had a good night. We also learned new things.” Adams is now 21st overall in series points. Hart and Huntington team rider Josh Hansen had a few crashes and arm pump problems. He failed to make the final event.

Hart and Huntington Team Rider Josh Hansen in Anaheim, California

Freestyle pioneer and Hart and Huntington Team Owner Carey Hart

The opening round of the Monster Energy Supercross Series also took place in Anaheim, where team riders Troy Adams and Josh Hansen both experienced trouble and failed to qualify for the main event. Adams had a few bad starts and a first turn crash as Hansen’s opening night arm pump did him in.

Although the team has had a few mishaps throughout the season so far, the riders are prepared for top ten finishes throughout the Monster Energy Supercross Series. The team is owned by freestyle pioneer and celebrity Carey Hart.

Adams and Hansen are currently running prototype designs of K&N’s XStream Series Air Filter for the 2009 Honda CRF450. The 2009 Honda CRF450 has a much larger airbox to increase horsepower and torque while providing excellent filtration.

“We need to be better as a team and I think we will be,” said Team Manager Kenny Watson. “I’m happy with Troy’s finish but I know he can do better and Josh will be on it next weekend in Houston, Texas.”

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.

Big Bear Lake, California Snowboarder Excels in Desert Off-Road Racing

Jan 21, 2009

El Gato Racing’s Shawn Walters took first place in the M.O.R. E. (Mojave Off-Road Racing Enthusiast) Series. The team was awarded its second 1st place championship trophy in two years in the 1450 Sportsman Class division.

Mojave Off Road Racing Enthusiast Series Racer wins 1450 Sportsman Class Division

El Gato Racing is based in Big Bear Lake, California

“We are so excited to receive another trophy,” said Shawn Walters. “Our 1985 Chevrolet 1500 truck puts out just over 400 horsepower with its 350 crate motor. My dad Carl can tear engines apart and put them back together. I take care of suspension and fabrication.”

El Gato Racing competes in Barstow, California and the Lucerne Valley in San Bernardino County

1985 Chevrolet 1500 truck puts out just over 400 horsepower

Shawn Walters is from Big Bear Lake, California. He is a snowboarder and wake boarder in this mountain resort community. Walters also wanted to be a desert racer and started out on a pit crew for SCORE and CORR racing trucks.

“The combined experience on the slopes and in the pits gave me the opportunity to fulfill my dream,” he said. “My sense of balance helps me with the controls on a desert racer. We also plan to introduce a new truck into the 1400 class in 2009.” El Gato’s 1989 Ford Ranger will enter the 1400 class in selected B.I.T.D (Best in the Desert) and SCORE Desert Racing Series venues. It is a 302 powered 4 link Ford Ranger which cycles 21 inches in the front and 16 inches in the rear.

El Gato puts K&N products on all of its vehicles. “K&N protects our engines in extreme desert racing,” said Walters. “I have K&N on my chase vehicle, our racing vehicle and my 1998 Ford F150 with a 4.8 liter V8 engine. K&N makes all of our engines breathe, whether we are at high elevation or in the desert.”

Walters’ will next compete in Barstow, California at a M.O.R.E. Series race.

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.

AMA Arenacross Team Babbitt's Kawaski Ready for Round Four in Louisville, Kentucky

Jan 20, 2009

The Nutter Center in Dayton, Ohio hosted the top AMA Arenacross racers in the country. The pros competed in the first once-race weekend of the 2009 season in front of a sold-out house.

AMA Arenacross Round Four at Broadbent Arena in Louisville, Kentucky, photo by Will Pattison

Team Babbitt’s Kawasaki rider Chad Johnson took second place in his heat race and went on to finish 6th in the main. The Rhienlander, Wisconsin resident is the AMA Arenacross defending series champion and two-time title holder. Johnson has been a full time Arenacross competitor since 2001 and has arguably logged more laps on the challenging, technical layouts than any of his competitors.

Team Babbitt's Kawasaki is ready for the world's best AMA Arenacross competitors, photo by Will Pattison

Team Babbitt uses K&N products during competiton. “We dyno tested K&N air filter (KA-2506XD),” said Team Manager Denny Bartz. “The result was one horsepower gain. That is a huge amount in Arenacross racing.”

Team Babbitt’s lites rider Leighton Lilly finished sixth in his heat and eleventh overall, which was a great weekend for him at the Nutter Center.

Bartz is working on replacing the injured Kelly Smith, who is expected to sit out the rest of the season with a broken leg. Smith has raced professional since 1998. He has been a part of both AMA Motocross and AMA Supercross. He was a preseason favorite, but was ultimately unable to start the season he had hoped for. Bartz will soon announce the new rider. He is looking at some of the best talent out there for his bikes.

Team Babbitt’s next race will be Round Four in Louisville, Kentucky. The series will return to its two race weekend format on the Broadbent Arena floor.

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.