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K&N is a major sponsor of the RSD Super Hooligan racing series

This year’s Sturgis Rally featured RSD Super Hooligan, American Flat Track, AMA Supermoto, street drags, and vintage racing. Rally crowds enthusiastically celebrated the heightened focus on speed and competition. The estimated 376,000 rally attendees were treated to some form of high-octane racing on virtually every day of the rally.

RSD Super Hooligan Racing

Roland Sands, the driving force behind Super Hooligan racing, with his Indian Scout build

The racing action did not disappoint the enthusiastic fans that lined the challenging TT-style dirt track. In the end, the elder statesmen of the Super Hooligan series, Joe Kopp and Brad Spencer, finished first and second in the Main.

The competition was made even more exciting with the fact that two custom built Indian Scout Sixty motorcycles were given away after the racing action. One of the Indians was built by good friend of K&N and series organizer, Roland Sands, and the other by Carey Hart of RCH Racing.

American Flat Track

Sammy Halbert showed incredible determination in the American Flat Track TT in Sturgis

K&N-sponsored rider Brad Baker was excited about the race as he looked over the track before the event.

“This is going to be a challenging track – no doubt about it,” Baker told K&N. “It’ll be tough to pass, so a good start will be especially important.”

Pointing to the track’s hairpin, Baker said, “That turn...that’s going to make for some excitement.” He was prophetic as the ultra-tight turn was the scene of several spectacular crashes and lots of traded paint.

The flat trackers caught air on the TT course's jump

In the end, Briar Bauman raced his Ninja 650 to the win, with Indian’s Jared Mees finishing second. The podium was rounded out with Harley-Davidson’s Jake Johnson who finished third. Making the most of his Herculean qualifying effort, Halbert fought through the field from his last position start to finish an impressive 4th.

Buffalo Chip Street Drags

The street drag action at the Buffalo Chip kept the large crowd entertained

Wheelies, fishtails, and burning rubber delighted the fans that lined the strip and crowded the elevated viewing areas. Harley baggers, vintage Japanese standards, and other street bikes in a rainbow of styles fought for rally bragging rights.

AMA Supermoto

The hybrid form of motorcycle racing that combines dirt and street racing rounded out the entertaining Moto Stampede at the Buffalo Chip. It was impressive how the grounds crew at the Chip carried out the metamorphosis of the amphitheater to accommodate the various track configurations.

Patrick Simmons of the Doobie Brothers sings the National Anthem at the Spirit of Sturgis Races

Spirit of Sturgis Vintage Races

With a noble mission to keep the history of Black Hills racing alive, the Spirit of Sturgis Vintage Motorcycle Festival graced the historic downtown Sturgis park. The Sturgis Half Mile paid homage to the antique board track racers from the 1920s, hand shift racers from the 1930s - 1950s, and the vintage big twins from the '60s and '70s.

The uber-enthusiastic event organizer and vintage racer, Brittney Olsen, is the driving force in keeping the event alive and thriving.

The vintage race bikes at the Spirit of Sturgis races ready for the start

The main event of the Spirit of Sturgis was kicked off with a few fast and fun laps by a vintage board track racer, followed by Patrick Simmons of the Doobie Brothers delivering a rousing rendition of the National Anthem. The final event gave the gathered race fans a rumbling, shaking, and thoroughly entertaining glimpse into what racing looked like in the early years of the Sturgis Rally.

K&N is proud to be a vital part of the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally and the resurgence of the vibrant Black Hills race scene.

The Buffalo Chip staff kept busy modifying the race track for various events

Brittney Olsen (left) is on a mission to preserve vintage racing in Sturgis

Hank Robinson of Hanro Studios engraves his latest show truck for the 2017 SEMA Show

Over a 10 year span, Hank Robinson was deployed in the war zones of Afghanistan and Iraq. When he retired in 2011, he found that transitioning back into civilian life wasn't as simple as most people would think. One day you're fighting insurgents on a rooftop. And the next, you're fighting for a parking spot outside a Wendy's. Turning off Survival Mode isn't easy for many veterans unless they can figure out a way to channel their focus into the present and future. This is why Hank decided to use the G.I. Bill to attend welding school, where he wound up trying his hand at metal engraving. He enjoyed it so much that he began engraving one-of-a-kind gifts for family and friends, and eventually started Hanro Studios out of his garage.

The Hanro Freedom Blues Ford F-150 on display at the 2016 SEMA Show

“Lots of vets came to see it at shows. The overall vibe that I got was nothing less than positive. Even on all the social media channels, I got like one hater. Which is pretty unique in this day and age.” Hank went on to explain, “A lot of veterans have said, 'Hey man I need to find a different outlet, maybe not engraving, but something to help transition back.' It's pretty cool that the art would give them the motivation to do something other than what they're doing.”

Freedom Blues featured a K&N 77-2591KP intake engraved with an American flag

Robinson was doing an engraving demonstration at a show in Atlanta when Inside West Coast Customs did the reveal at Kid Rock’s home in Tennessee. “Ah that sucks,” Robinson said when he found out that he couldn't make the reveal. But he went on to say, “It was awesome. Everybody at West Coast showed nothing but respect. I had an amazing time.”

The Hanro Aluminati show truck is based on a 2017 Ford F-250 Super Duty

The Aluminati show truck will need approx 1,100 hours of engraving (Leap of Faith Photography)

Among its many modifications, the Hanro Aluminati will have an engraved lift kit from McGaughys Suspension, engraved rims from American Force Wheels, and they’ll be wrapped in equally imposing rubber from Interco Tires. Of course, the bumpers and grille will be completely engraved, and the LED exterior lighting will probably be visible from the International Space Station. Under the hood, the new 6.7L Powerstroke Diesel engine will get a K&N 63-2597 intake, which will naturally receive his artistic touch. Hank said, “There’s no doubt K&N is going on this truck, and I’m excited to see what they can do for the new Super Duty.”

The Hanro Aluminati show truck will be on display at the 2017 SEMA Show in Las Vegas

When he’s not traveling to give live engraving demonstrations or working on other projects, Hank has been working sunup to sundown to complete this build on time. “My wife, Christine, is my best support structure. She works full-time, she’s a part-time real estate agent, she takes care of our three kids full-time, and she still finds time to bring me breakfast, lunch, and dinner at the shop. Without her, I couldn't do any of this.”

We at K&N would like to thank Mrs. Robinson for helping her husband’s vision become reality. If you would like to check out the result of all their hard work, stop by the Truck Hero booth (# 61040) at the 2017 SEMA Show in Las Vegas.

Hank Robinson will show off his metal engraving skills on his latest 2017 SEMA Show truck

Annelise is a mix of model and vlogger, she has modeled for the K&N calendar and other clients

Annelise has always been a little ball of energy. When she was younger, her parents kept her really busy; she played a bunch of sports. In her youth, she spiked volleyballs and dribbled basketballs, but her specialty was swinging a racquet. Born in Loveland, Colorado she attended Loveland High.

Annelise began modeling after she was discovered by an agent. From there she took the scene by storm

Taking stunning still frames is one of Annelise's many talents, but she did not approach any agencies. She was scouted. Annelise tells us, “An agent came up to me and my then boyfriend at the time. She was interested in both of us, but I pursued it. Now, I’m living the dream in L.A.” An accidental California girl, Annelise brings a sense of fun to photo shoots. When working with K&N, she says, “They were great on set. It was in the high 90s when we shot, so I did a lot of hiding in the shade. Luckily we got the shots we needed quickly!”

Follow Annelise on YouTube and Instagram to keep up with her latest adventures.

Follow her page and catch her on Instagram. Annelise Jr. is definitely a bubbly beauty to keep your eye out for!

IG Handle: @annelisejr

Caitlin O'Connor appeared in the 2015 star-studded movie Southpaw before working with K&N

This experience was exciting, but nothing new for Caitlin. She has worked as a TV host for Maxim, Arsenic TV, and the Chive. She has also modeled for Target and Macy’s. Life in front of the camera is familiar and comfortable for this Pennsylvania native. She also works on social media brand partnerships. Perhaps the most exciting tidbit, Caitlin tells us, “I am producing four feature films.” This girl is on her way to superstardom.

Caitlin O'Connor has modeled for Maxim, Macy's, Target, and K&N among others

She attended Uniontown Area High School where she cheered. She also took dance classes. Caitlin comments, “I hated going to class and graduated high school six months early to start attending UCLA.” Here, at university, she was a member of Pi Beta Phi and Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society. An English major, she spent her days reading and writing, but another path was waiting just ahead.

Caitlin broke into the world of modeling through an opportunity at UCLA. She was a Bruins Bear Wear model. For this first gig, she was only 18 years old. Bruins Bear Wear gave way to bigger things, and Caitlin soon found herself with a bevy of clients. Again, her resume is packed with big-name brands—Maxim, The Chive, Target, Macy’s, K&N, and many others.

Now in Los Angeles, California, Caitlin is constantly working. Always on the job, she lists her hobbies as, “sleeping, working, sleeping.” She is committed to her career, but not afraid to treat herself. She admits, “The day I got my first big paycheck, I bought a classic car—a 1971 Lincoln Continental.” A spitfire with a solid work ethic and bright future, Caitlin O'Connor will continue to be successful in sunny L.A. and the world over.

IG Handle: @caitlin_oconnor

To see what Caitlin O'Connor is up to, follow her on Instagram at @caitlin_oconnor

Denny Hamlin and the trophy for winning the Overton's 301 with his backup car

"Yeah, it’s just a great feeling," Hamlin said. "I know we’ve been getting better and better as the year goes on, but definitely needed a win for the organization and for myself and just kind of get some momentum going with the playoffs coming up—so we’ve got to get going. Really this is awesome.”

Hamlin broke a 20 race drought with this win, stemming all the way back to last season’s playoff event at Texas Motor Speedway. This was his third win at New Hampshire Motor Speedway and the 30th win of his career. Hamlin passed teammate Matt Kenseth and had a 2.5-second advantage on Lap-268. Hamlin led twice for 54 laps and received 5 playoff points and 51 points for the win.

“I feel like I have been a good teammate to all my teammates, I like the dynamic that we have now and that we will have later,” Hamlin said when asked about his Joe Gibbs Racing team and what it takes to lead in this sport. “We have some young talent coming in and they will be the future. You just have to lead by example and show the work ethic that it takes to be a winner on a weekly basis and that infectious atmosphere blends in.”

Kyle Larson finished in second place, a remarkable finish considering he started the race from the rear of the field due to an illegal rear decklid fin and his qualifying time wiped out. Larson, who was faster than any car during the race, could not close the gap close enough to really attack Hamlin and finished in second for the seventh time this season.

“Finished second, but another hard-fought race,” Larson said. “You know, this is the third time we've had to start last and drove up to second. I wish we could have been a spot better again, but really proud of my team and proud of the cars that they're bringing for me to drive each and every week.”

“It seems like we have a target on our back,” Larson said. “But that's a good thing, too. It means everybody is paying attention to us. This is my fourth year, and I've never been in the position to where NASCAR and other teams are paying so much attention to our race car. That's a compliment to everybody at our race shop.”

Denny Hamlin celebrating his win at the Overton's 301 with the backup car after a crash in practice

Martin Truex Jr currently sits in first place of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Standings with 758 points and 29 playoff points. Kyle Larson is in second place, 38 points behind Truex with 720 points and 13 playoff points. Kyle Busch is in third place, with 650 points and 5 playoff points.

The next race in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series will be the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.