Latest News

K&N sponsored driver, Kyle LeDuc's Pro4 race truck getting the once over after qualifying. Kyle jumped in to fix a little wiring.

Racing is a passion that can consume you. It requires more than just a dream, it requires dedication. Whether you are the occasional amateur racer or a member of the professional elite, the commitment is the same. And to excel in this sport takes a very special individual with a very special support system. Kyle LeDuc seems to be a very special individual. You might say Kyle's been racing all his life. Whether it was RC cars or bicycles behind dad, Curt LeDuc's Race Shop, he and his brother, Todd, were quite possibly born to be fast! While dad was in the shop building race trucks, Kyle and Todd, were building jumps in back for their RC cars, and riding bikes together almost every day. The boys need for speed eventually led them to winning championships racing downhill mountain bikes. Clearly they were natural's. As the boys got a little older Todd stayed the course of downhill racing, while Kyle chose to follow in his father's footsteps.

LeDuc, #99, getting major air over the tabletop jump at the end of the back stretch.

Kyle spent many a weekend out at the track with his dad as his spotter. He told K&N that he tried to encourage his dad to try different lines, angles that he'd seen the other drivers taking on the track that gave those drivers an edge. After a while Kyle told his dad he wanted to race. He wanted to see if his "sideline driving" from the spotter's station was enough to compete and win. His dad's response went something like, "Well you better build yourself a truck." It seems the rule in the Leduc family is "if you want to race it, you have to build it".

And so it began.

Mike Hamrick of Wilwood Disc Brakes stopped by the pits after the race to congratulate Kyle.

Anyone who has attended a short course race in the last decade or so is familiar with the Leduc name and Kyle's accomplishments on the track. LeDuc is a threat to win anytime gets behind the wheel on the track. Kyle entered his first off road race in 2002 at the tender age of 20 where he spent that year testing and tuning, learning the mud and the line and what he needed to know to become the best driver he could be. In 2003, Kyle took the title of Prolite World Champion at Crandon International Raceway. This would be the first of many more wins to come. Back then "The Kid" was the youngest driver at these tracks pulling times just as aggressive as some of the off road legends. In 2004, Kyle's second full year of racing, he earned the title of Prolite Champion. The hard work and dedication to his passion was beginning to pay off.

As with most competitive racers, there comes a time when you want more. For Kyle that was in 2008 when he made the switch to Pro4 category. It didn't take him long to adjust from a 2-wheel drive race truck to a 4-wheel drive as evidenced by earning his first win in that first year! In Pro4 LeDuc was a force to be reckoned with earning countless podiums and wins. However, 2012 proved to be a most memorable year. Something Kyle had been working toward tirelessly became a reality. Kyle earned the title as Pro4 Champion. It was at that moment he recognized that his hard work, dedication and commitment, ten years in the making, paid off and he was crowned Off Road Pro4 Champion.

Kyle LeDuc in his Monster Energy Ford trailing Carl Renezeder in the Lucas Oil Pro4 race truck by a couple of truck lengths, but not for long!

Not only is Kyle one of the off road world's most influential and successful competitors, he is a hardworking, dedicated family man. He is kind, generous with his time and LOVES this sport. It isn't a hobby for him, it's his career. And for that he is incredibly proud. Growing up around his father's fabrication shop taught him what was needed to build a competitive truck. He works on his own race truck telling us in doing so he knows what will work for him. He has the mind of an engineer and knows how to use his hands and how things work. The connection of man and machine gives him an edge. It's clear that he appreciates the other driver's and teams that he competes with as well. They drive him to up his game always, in all ways. Kyle's not just the Pro4 Race Truck driver, he's the mechanic, the set-up guy, the office staff, the janitor. He kind of does it all. Yes, he has a crew and people that he relies upon for help. But for him it's important to stay connected. And at the end of the day, he's not taking a private jet home, not sitting in a luxury bus with the A/C on while everyone else caters to his every whim. He's the guy.

White flag lap, turn 3, Kyle drops down on the inside of Carl to take the lead!

The 2016 Lucas Oil Off Road Series season started off a little rough for our #99. While practice and qualifying was always stellar it seemed Kyle was plagued by mechanical issues that would prevent him from not just winning a race, but in some instances rendering him unable to complete or even start the race. In Round 1 & 2 at Wild Horse Pass he had a power steering burst that caused a fire during Saturday's main event and mechanical failure with the 4-wheel drive prevented him from making it through turn one on Sunday. At Lake Elsinore for Round 3 & 4, more of the same. Great practice and qualifying times with more mechanical issues in the main events. Kyle's luck would begin to improve in Round 5 & 6 at Utah Motorsports Campus. He would finish 4th on Saturday and sweep the competition on Sunday earning his first win of the season.

With all the mechanical issues behind him, LeDuc would go on to Ensenada, Baja California, MX, to compete on the beach sand of the Estero Beach Resort for Round 7 & 8, where he would once again be back on the podium earning a third place finish on Saturday and a first place finish on Sunday. Once again LeDuc was proving that yes he was a force to be reckoned with and that more over - he was back!

Pro driver and family man - Kyle LeDuc shares the podium with his number 1 fan!

The Lucas Oil Off Road Series returned to the US for Round 9 & 10 that took place at Glen Helen Raceway, CA on July 23rd and 24th. Southern California was literally a blaze with the massive Sand Fire which would go on to burn more than 60 square miles in the Santa Clarita area. The temperatures were well in to the triple digits, but that didn't stop our racers or fans from taking part in the excitement. Opening ceremonies on Saturday at Glen Helen included a bittersweet remembrance to the "14" victims killed in last December's terror attack in San Bernardino. Bob Patison, president of the Corona Based Lucas Oil said, "We wanted to do something for the survivors to honor the victims of this terrible event." And Lucas Oil Off Road Series along with 14 drivers did just that. The names of the 14 people who perished were displayed on fourteen driver's vehicles. As well, a number of the "First Responders" to the scene were on hand to participate in the ceremony. After a moment of silence and prayer, the fan's gave San Bernardino's finest a standing ovation for their commitment and courage. You could feel a deep sense of gratitude from everyone in the stands as the crowd cheered. But now it was time to do a little racing.

Congrats to Kyle LeDuc on his 1st place finish on Saturday and Sunday at Round 9 & 10 of the Lucas Oil Off Road Series at Glen Helen Raceway.

The weekend was riddled with distractions but our #99 didn't miss a beat. He was most assuredly back on his game, relaxed and ready, with the mechanical issues that had proved problematic early on in the season, now by the wayside. Kyle was consistently laying down fast lap times during practice. He was seriously in the zone. In qualifying we saw the same thing. LeDuc was eating up the competition, qualifying second on Saturday and first on Sunday. His mark? Carl Renezeder. Those two would put on the best show of the season thus far in Saturday's Pro4 Main Event. With an early caution bunching up the field, LeDuc could stay right on Renezeder's rear end, lap after lap. Multiple yellow flags would continue to wreak havoc on the field, not to mention the track itself. Just when Renezeder would increase the gap between him and LeDuc, the off road Gods seemed to say, "Not today Carl, not today!" and Kyle would be right back on his tail!

As the white flag dropped with Kyle still trailing by a half a truck length, this race turned in to a real nail biter. Everyone in the stands was on their feet. Anywhere it seemed Kyle could pass, Carl shut him down. The crowd was literally going wild. And then it happened in turn 3. Kyle LeDuc snuck passed Carl Renezeder and started to pull away. With just a few whoops, a few jumps and a few turns to go, LeDuc had everyone's attention. But no matter how hard Carl charged, Kyle charged harder ultimately winning Round 9 on the last lap. Carl would come in a close second with Doug Fontin coming in third. After the excitement of Saturday's main, we are proud to report that Sunday went even better! The competitors saw fewer caution flags and a second or two quicker lap times. LeDuc won the main event having led the entire 16 laps, with Renezeder a close second and Menzies rounding out the podium with third.

Lucas Off Road Racing Series will descend upon Wild Horse Motorsports Park in Spark, NV for more intense wheel to wheel racing on August 13th & 14th. K&N wants to congratulate K&N Race Team Driver Kyle LeDuc for his incredible success at Glen Helen Raceway this last weekend and look forward to seeing LeDuc wheel his Monster Energy Ford Pro4 Race Truck to another epic victory next month.

K&N filters are both computer-designed as well as hand-tested on sample BMWs to make certain the purchasers get an OEM level of fit.

If you were to select one type of product produced by the Bayerische Motor Werke (BMW) to hold up as an example of their engineering prowess, it would have to be their inline six cylinder engines.

While much of the rest of the automotive worlds has abandoned the inline six for the more compact (especially for front-wheel drive applications) for some version of a V6, BMW has held tight to its commitment to the smoother-running straight six that requires no balance shafts or unusual timing needed to calm the otherwise rough-running V6 configuration. In fact, BMW has been experimenting with V6 designs for a number of year but are never able to get one to meet corporate noise and harshness standards.

While over the course of nine years, BMW has developed and replaced its six-cylinder designs, they have relied upon the same basic air box configuration, into which the K&N 33-2292 air filter is the perfect fit.

The first applications for the K&N 33-2292 began in 2003 with the BMW 520i, 525i, and 530i, which were fitted with BMW's M54 is a straight-six DOHC engine. The M54 uses an aluminum block with cast iron liners and an aluminum cylinder head with cast iron cylinder liners. Further, the M54 features variable valve timing to both camshafts (dual VANOS in BMW speak) and a dual length intake manifold, which was named DISA by BMW.

Underhood there's no sign that you've made a performance upgrade to your BMW six-cylinder engine.

The final application for this long-lived air filter design was the 2010 and 2011 BMW 630i. Despite the passing of eight years, the filter configuration, available as K&N 33-2292, remained the same even though the N52 engine was quite different.

Like the BMW M54, the BMW N52 is a straight-six DOHC engine. Compared with its M54 predecessor, the N52 features variable valve lift (ingeniously named Valvetronic by BMW), a lighter magnesium engine block and an electric water pump and a variable speed oil pump. Like the M54, the N52 uses an electronic throttle control, the VANOS variable valve timing to both camshafts and the dual length DISA intake manifold.

These are just the bookends of the applications for this filter. In between are cars as diverse as the Z4 and models of the 3, 5, and 7 Series.

Regardless of whether your BMW is powered by a 2.0 L, 2.5 L or 3.0 L engine, installing a K&N filter provides an increase of up to 50% incremental air flow to the engine. By increasing the flow of air, it can result in a more responsive throttle and improved torque at all points of your BMW's operating range.

K&N air filters are assembled from several layers of oiled cotton filter media, which accounts for their long service life. Also the oiled cotton medium allows for increased air flow as well as offers excellent filtration characteristics. Often OEM and less-expensive filters are made from more restrictive paper media which can actually limit the output potential of the engine. The performance of each filter design is verified through K&N's in-house efficiency testing, which follows strict ISO 5011 standards, and confirms that K&N filters provide a high volume of intake airflow without sacrificing engine longevity.

And once you've installed your K&N 33-2292 air filter you've eliminated the need to purchase and replace paper filters for the life of your six-cylinder BMW 3, 5, 6, 7, and Z4 series. The only maintenance necessary is one you can do yourself in just a short time. At intervals of 50,000 miles or about 80,000 kilometers (depending on your driving conditions) simply use a K&N air filter cleaning kit to easily clean and re-oil your air filter -- returning it to like-new performance levels. Your one K&N air filter is designed to last the lifetime of your vehicle, which K&N guarantees will perform for up to 10 years or 1,000,000 miles without requiring replacement. For full details visit the K&N Million Mile Limited Warranty.

You can order the filter simply by using the part number 33-2292 and while you're at it, grab an air filter cleaning kit, part number 99-5000.

Vehicles that the 33-2292 fits:
2011 BMW 630I 3.0L L6
2010 BMW 630I 3.0L L6
2010 BMW 530I 3.0L L6
2010 BMW 528I XDRIVE 3.0L L6 - US
2010 BMW 528I XDRIVE 3.0L L6 - Non-US, E60, E61
2010 BMW 528I 3.0L L6 - US
2010 BMW 528I 3.0L L6 - Non-US, E60, E61
2010 BMW 525I 3.0L L6
2010 BMW 523I 2.5L L6 - E60, E61
2009 BMW Z4 3.2L L6
2009 BMW 630I 3.0L L6
2009 BMW 530I 3.0L L6
2009 BMW 528XI 3.0L L6
2009 BMW 528I XDRIVE 3.0L L6
2009 BMW 528I 3.0L L6
2009 BMW 525I 3.0L L6
2009 BMW 523I 2.5L L6
2008 BMW Z4 3.2L L6
2008 BMW 630I 3.0L L6
2008 BMW 530XI 3.0L L6
2008 BMW 530I 3.0L L6
2008 BMW 528XI 3.0L L6
2008 BMW 528I 3.0L L6
2008 BMW 525XI 3.0L L6
2008 BMW 525I 3.0L L6
2008 BMW 525I 2.5L L6
2008 BMW 523I 2.5L L6
2007 BMW Z4 3.2L L6
2007 BMW 630I 3.0L L6
2007 BMW 530XI 3.0L L6
2007 BMW 530I 3.0L L6
2007 BMW 525XI 3.0L L6
2007 BMW 525I 3.0L L6
2007 BMW 525I 2.5L L6
2007 BMW 523I 2.5L L6
2006 BMW Z4 3.2L L6 - Non-US
2006 BMW 630I 3.0L L6
2006 BMW 530XI 3.0L L6
2006 BMW 530I 3.0L L6
2006 BMW 525XI 3.0L L6
2006 BMW 525I 3.0L L6
2006 BMW 525I 2.5L L6
2006 BMW 523I 2.5L L6
2005 BMW 630I 3.0L L6
2005 BMW 530XI 3.0L L6
2005 BMW 530I 3.0L L6
2005 BMW 525XI 3.0L L6
2005 BMW 525I 2.5L L6
2005 BMW 523I 2.5L L6
2005 BMW 520I 2.2L L6
2004 BMW 630I 3.0L L6
2004 BMW 530I 3.0L L6 - US
2004 BMW 530I 3.0L L6 - E60, E61
2004 BMW 525I 2.5L L6 - US
2004 BMW 525I 2.5L L6 - E60, E61
2004 BMW 520I 2.2L L6 - E60, E61
2003 BMW 530I 3.0L L6 - E60
2003 BMW 525I 2.5L L6 - E60, E61
2003 BMW 520I 2.2L L6 - E60, E61
2003 BMW 520I 2.0L L6 - E60, E61

To find additional K&N upgrades for cars, trucks, scooters, motorcycles, motorhomes, or almost anything with an engine, use Search by Vehicle tool and you can find a local K&N retailer by plugging your location into the K&N Dealer Search as well.

Nearly 80 percent of today's new passenger cars have cabin air filters, including Honda's 2009-2016 Insight, Fit and CR-Z, all of which can use the K&N VF2033.

Google "air pollution" and several sites inform us that the leading cause of air pollution in the United States is motor vehicles, which release gaseous and microscopic particles as the engines run. That when we are out on the road we're at ground zero for inhaling harmful air should be obvious, but we don't even think about it.

But the air is everywhere. When we step out of the car, we're back in it. Why the paranoia? Because in spite of awareness programs, state, national and international regulations and efforts by industries worldwide, air quality is still an issue. The effects of inhaling vehicular, industrial, and residential contaminants are a silent pandemic of asthma, stroke, heart and lung disease, and premature births.

If we have a/c in home, office, public buildings, we have cleaner, filtered air. Now car makers equip our new vehicles with automotive a/c, or cabin, air filters. Every little bit helps everyone, not only asthma and allergy sufferers, and the very young and the elderly. Cabin air filters also help keep our car's ventilation and air conditioning system working properly by providing a clean, unrestricted flow of air.

Most cabin air filters are rectangular or nearly square and are mounted behind the glove box, such as the VF2000 which is shared by many models of Toyota Avalon, Prius and Scion.

Does your car have a cabin filter?

More than 80 percent of new cars built today will have an air conditioning filter. Your owner's manual will tell you if your car has one. Lacking a manual, you can visit the manufacturer's website, or ask your dealer or mechanic if your car has a cabin air filter.

Car cabin air filter location will vary by vehicle year, make, and model but is generally installed in one of three places. Most often a cabin filter can be found behind the glove box, as in the 2007-2016 Hyundai Elantra. It can be under the hood near the windshield, as in the 2000-2013 Chevy Impala, or underneath the dashboard as in the 2010-2012 Mazda3.

As with your home vacuum cleaner, the filters need to be emptied after use and periodically replaced. Most cabin air filters can be replaced without special equipment, but some require basic hand tools to open the cabin air filter compartment.

Discarding and installing a new cabin filter is easy, but they just choke the landfills. In 2014, K&N came up with a thrifty approach to this routine maintenance procedure by inventing a washable, reusable replacement car cabin air filter. Examples are the K&N VF2033 for 2009-2016 Honda Insight, Fit, CR-Z, and HR-V, and the K&N VF3008 for the 2000-2005 Jaguar S-Type, Lincoln LS, and Thunderbird. So what can we learn about cabin filters?

K&N car cabin air filters, exemplified by the VF3008 for the Lincoln LS, Thunderbird and Jaguar S-Type, provide greater filter surface area and sturdiness with their fan-folded synthetic material, wire mesh support and molded polyurethane frame.

What are cabin and a/c filters, and what do they do?

Air pollution became a focus of an international environmental movement in the 1960s, and car cabin air filters were first developed in the late 1980s in Europe and Japan, out of concern for protecting sensitive drivers and passengers from inhaling pollen and dust. This concern quickly expanded to the need for protecting us all against air contaminated with diesel soot and gaseous substances in metropolitan areas with lots of car traffic (plus unburnt industrial smogs) that release hydrocarbons, sulphur dioxide, nitrous oxides, hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, and benzene, to name just the headliners of the pollutant short list.

International Organization for Standardization (ISO) testing and manufacturing standards were drafted in 1994 and updated in 2001 for particulate and odor-reducing functions of cabin filters. K&N's a/c filters trap particles and help to reduce odors inside the cabin. Examples are the K&N VF2027 for the 2011-2016 Dodge Charger, Challenger, and Chrysler 300, and the VF2000 for the 2005-2016 Toyota Avalon, Prius and Scion.

Manufacturer's stock cabin air filters are usually folded paper or some combination of paper and fibers. They are often rectangular or nearly square in shape and are simply a physical barrier to trap dust, pollen, leaves and other debris, reducing the flow of chemically contaminated air that makes it into the ventilation and air conditioning system. The particles accumulate on the surface of the filter and eventually cake up, forming their own layer, restricting the flow of incoming air. To keep the air clean in the cabin, these filters are intended to be discarded at least annually.

K&N car cabin air filters are a fan-folded, single layer of thermally bonded nonwoven synthetic material held in a molded urethane frame with wire screening. The filter material itself has been electrostatically charged to attract and hold dirt. As air flows through the K&N cabin air filter, dirt, and allergen particles become trapped in the synthetic fibers, and the electrostatic charge helps hold them in place. This design allows for increased airflow, even as the filter gets dirty. The construction of the K&N cabin filter is intended to allow it to be removed, washed, recharged, and reused.

Watch the K&N washable cabin air filters overview video for an excellent introduction to cabin air filters and what they do.

In 2014 K&N introduced the washable, reusable cabin air filter, and is designing new ones every day.

Why do car cabin filters need maintenance?

There is truth to the old saying, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it.", but following a preventive routine keeps a/c parts from wearing or breaking, and keeps the car on the road longer. Furthermore, as the saying goes, "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure," which is another truism that applies as much to vehicle health and safety as to personal wellness. Just as you change the oil and refresh the fluids in the engine, the rest of the car's systems need regular check-ups and cleanings.

A clogged car cabin air filter can, besides creating an uncomfortable environment for occupants by no longer trapping dust, fungus, spores and bacteria, also allow moldy odors and mildew to invade the cabin. The cumulative effects also put a strain on the heating and air conditioning systems. This is a great reason to perhaps coordinate cabin filter changes with your annual or semi-annual A/C service.

Your dealer or mechanic can do this for you, or you can do it yourself. Removing, discarding, and replacing the OEM cabin filter with the same stock version is easy. But so is investing in a K&N car cabin air filter that is washable, reusable, and guaranteed with a 10-Year/Million Mile Limited Warranty.

Cleaning your K&N washable cabin air filter works best if you use the 99-6000 K&N refresher kit and follow these simple steps:

1. Remove the filter from your vehicle
2. Spray the cabin filter cleaner onto the filter
3. Rinse the filter with water to remove all dirt
4. Air dry naturally for 20-30 minutes
5. Apply K&N cabin air filter refresher to the filter media
6. Re-install the filter back into your vehicle

The keys to a successful service are thoroughly rinsing the cabin filter, letting it dry completely and using K&N's refresher spray. The spray brings back the electrostatic charge so the filter can continue to help capture many types of dust, mold, mildew, spores, fungus, bacteria, and germs while helping to control odors.

K&N has a washable, reusable car cabin air filter for your car

When you're ready to try a K&N cabin filter in your car, visit the K&N website and use the Search by Vehicle tool and you can find a local K&N retailer by plugging your location into the K&N Dealer Search as well. K&N is developing new cabin air filters all the time and if they do not currently offer a filter for your vehicle, you can personally request that K&N makes one using the online product request.

K&N car cabin air filters are designed to last for years of use and are guaranteed by the K&N 10-Year/Million Mile Limited Warranty. It's a win-win-win scenario, for owners, for the vehicles, and the environment.

The Brickyard 400 is one of the biggest NASCAR races of the summer. The annual event, sponsored by Crown Royal, will be held on July 24th. Consisting of several events, fan activities, and 650 miles of racing (the Lilly Diabetes 250 and the Crown Royal 400), the weekend is guaranteed to be one you won't want to miss if you are within driving distance.

If you are attending the NASCAR Crown Royal 400 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway this weekend, be sure to stop by the K&N booth, located right next to Gate 1.

This gorgeous Lucas Oil vintage funny car is one of the vehicles displayed in the K&N booth at the NASCAR 400 at the Brickyard.

Located right next to gate 1 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the K&N booth will be the place to be this weekend.

For this event, K&N is teaming up with NASCAR to offer a one of a kind fan experience. A pair of K&N haulers are located next to Gate 1 and will be the hub for all K&N activities. For those unfamiliar with the area, gate 1 is on the corner of Crawfordsville Road and 1802 Georgetown Road next to the roundabout at Crawfordsville Road/Speedway Drive and Georgetown/Main. If you are looking for an intake for your daily driver, project car, or any other vehicle, our product experts will be on hand to help you with not only K&N product, but also Spectre and AIRAID as well. While you're getting insight to help your engine breathe a little better, your spouse can be spinning our prize wheel for a chance to win free merchandise, product, trips, or other great prizes. We didn't forget about the kiddos either. They can enter our coloring contest for a chance to win more free prizes.

We also have new apparel designs available for purchase as well as our latest and greatest product installed on several vehicles in the K&N 'Korral'. If you are in Indianapolis, swing on by. We are outside of the gates, so you don't even need a pass to get to us. Check back for all the info on events that K&N will be attending, or sign up for our newsletter so you stay in the know at all times.

The Jarrett Andretti sprint car uses K&N products and can be checked out this weekend at the Crown Royal 400 at the Brickyard.

K&N will have new apparel designs available for purchase throughout the weekend at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Gate 1.

This 5th gen Camaro has Spectre Performance's newest product on it, the under hood caps and covers set. These parts are available for purchase on the Spectre Performance website.

Johnny Lewis joined the Lloyd brothers' team for the 2016 AMA Pro Flat Track season.

Lloyd Brothers Motorsport and Johnny Lewis Team Up Again for 2016
A short season won’t stop the Lloyd brothers from competing at the top level in this year’s series.

Johnny Lewis will ride for Lloyd Brothers Motorsport in select rounds of the AMA Pro Racing Flat Track Championship and the Second Annual Harley-Davidson Flat Track X Games. Lewis will be riding the newest version of the LBM Flat Tracker with title sponsorship from Dillard Family Racing.

Lloyd Brothers Motorsport races exclusively in the AMA Pro Racing Grand National Dirt Track Circuit as well as the Flat Track X Games.

“We didn’t have the funding for the full series this year, but we are excited to continue with our rider from last year, Johnny Lewis. Johnny would not have been able to compete in a full season anyway because he and his wife are expecting a baby girl in the coming weeks. So we are skipping three rounds and will pick it up at the X-Games,” said David Lloyd, co-owner with his brother Michael of Lloyd Brothers Motorsport (LBM).

“Our Focus is to make sure that the team has every possible advantage to compete well at each race that we attend while at the same time gaining valuable experience together to move forward in the future,” stated team co-owner Michael Lloyd. “We had several top-five finishes last year running a partial season with Johnny. In addition to removing over 13 pounds from the motorcycle, we have made chassis and power plant changes that should move us forward,” added David Lloyd.

According to David, Michael and David have owned a team for 12 or 13 years. “We helped to develop the LBM Flat Tracker, which we have been having pretty good success with. We also participated in the Moto ST Series and won that championship two years in a row, back in 2007 and 2008.”

David and Michael’s primary business is building homes in the Columbus, Ohio area.

David started racing 30 years ago when he was 14 years old. “I grew up riding motorcycles. I did the pro series for a couple of years and we’ve been influential in getting new brands involved in the sport,” he said.

He first started getting interested in motorcycle racing when he was about 13. He noted that no one in his family was involved in the sport. It was a personal appeal that stemmed from the popularity of motorcycle racing in the rural area in which he grew up.

“We lived out in the country and I heard of people riding motorcycles,” said David. “The first time I rode one I was hooked. I got involved locally and a shop owner saw how well I was riding and he helped support me and got me into racing by the time I was 16.”

David turned pro when he was 16. “I turned to the then Pro-Am class at 16 and then moved up to the Junior pro ranks when I was 17 and I got my expert license when I was 18,” he said.

Johnny's featured bike this year is 13-pound lighter Ducati Scrambler with improvements made to the chassis and powerplant.

As a co-owner of a team David focuses on recruiting riders and collecting sponsors. “Finding riders for dirt track is just looking at the talent pool and seeing who is available each year,” he explained. “We are very excited to have Johnny Lewis moving forward. His talent, work ethic and personality are unmatched in the paddock.”

Building a program that attracts high visibility and provides a quick return on investment has allowed the team to lure sponsors.  They have attracted a lot of attention by using different types of branded motorcycles that have not been seen in Flat Track racing before. For example, Lloyd Brothers Motorsport has competed on motorcycles from Ducati and Aprilia as well as Harley-Davidson and Kawasaki.

David pointed out that the team’s biggest race victory occurred in 2010 in Prescott, Arizona. In their first race with Joe Kopp, who won the national championship twice, Lloyd Brothers Motorsport’s Ducati was the first to beat a Harley-Davidson motorcycle in 19 years. To say it was close would be an understatement. Kopp won by 17-thousandths of a second.

“Prior to that race Harley-Davidson and Honda had both developed motors for Flat Track racing that won every race for 28 years. The win got us in every motorcycle magazine around the world. It was pretty cool,” he said.

The racing team concentrates on Flat Track racing because it gives them the opportunity to develop new things for their motorcycles. “I like to develop new things so everything we do on dirt track is hand made,” said David. “For example, we design our own chassis. Every time we race we have a chance to test them and then improve them. It is a constant evolution process to make them better. That’s why Flat Track racing is so cool.

“Dirt track seems pretty simple,” continued David. “You just keep going left all the time. But the motorcycles and the riders have to be very much on point. We’re always in one gear, there are no front brakes and there are only four corners. Things have to work very, very well opposed to road racing when you have 15 corners, six-speeds and a front brake. You have to be sure that your motorcycle is set up and designed correctly so it can work on different types of tracks.”

This isn't the first time Johnny is running with the Lloyd brothers. However, this season will be a short one for the team.

David noted that tracks vary widely in Flat Track racing. Some tracks are hard and sticky, some are hard and slippery and some are deep cushioned.  “Racing Flat Track is like a moving target. You have to make sure everything fits right. It’s very challenging,” he said.

Members of Lloyd Brothers Motorsport include Lewis, who also runs a dirt track school, Daniel Kalal, and Richard Lambracht. “We’ve all been together for quite awhile. We have a good group of people. It truly takes a village to be successful,” said David.

David noted that K&N Filters has been sponsoring Lloyd Brothers Motorsport for 13 years. “They’ve been fantastic. We have built a personal relationship with them,” he said.

“You know, some cushion tracks are incredibility dirty and violent environments where motorcycles get hit with 100-mile an hour rooster tails. For us, K&N is our only choice as far as air filters are concerned. They take a beating and still come through,” he concluded.

Lloyd Brothers Motorsport will compete next in the X-Games on June 2.