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K&N-Sponsored Off-Road Veteran Greg Adler Kicks Off Racing Season in Chandler, AZ

3 May 2018

With more than a decade of racing under his belt, Greg Adler is a short-course veteran.

Greg Adler posing with his son in his Pro4 short course truck

Early last month, Adler kicked off his 2018 off-road racing season at the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series at the Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park in Chandler, Arizona.

“I started racing off-road when I was just out of college,” Adler commented. “It was something I always wanted to do—so in 1989, I started racing the Baja 1000, and did the desert thing for a while. Short course came to the west coast, and once I saw this up close and got a taste of it, I was hooked.”

Adler's Pro4 vehicle is a force to be reckoned with in the Lucas Oil Pro Series

Adler’s first short-course race was in 2004 at the Crandon International Raceway. His career has been characterized by multiple podium finishes, including 1st place in Pro-2 for Round 2 of the Lucas Oil Series in 2012, and podium finishes in Chandler, Arizona and Ensenada, Mexico as part of the 2017 Lucas Oil Series.

K&N products have been a big part of Adler’s racing career, and he continues to use a K&N E-3760 14” round air filter in his 800-horsepower Pro4 short course truck. “When we’ve been racing out here, whether it be in the desert or short course, we always look to partner with the best companies that we can—and K&N has been just a terrific partner in my racing since my early days,” he remarked. “There’s no other product you can buy where you get that bang for your buck with performance. We’re running fifty thousand-dollar motors, so I need to have the best protection for this thing to keep it alive—hopefully all year long. The K&N filters do that for me.”

While contact with another vehicle necessitated an early end to Adler’s race in Chandler, Arizona on April 14, the team is already preparing for the upcoming races on Estero Beach in Ensenada, Mexico.

We can look forward to watching Greg in the Lucas Oil Off-Road Series. His next race will be on May 19 in Ensenada, Mexico, at the 4th Annual Rockstar Energy Battle South of the Border presented by Lucas Oil.

Straight Up Racing Debuts The “Major Payne”: A Modified Tank Featuring K&N Filters

3 May 2018

Bill Payne isn’t afraid to venture into the unconventional—and his newest demonstration of automotive ingenuity comes in the form of a 9,600-pound modified tank.

Bill Payne posing with the "Major Payne"

Payne is the founder of Straight Up Racing—an independent monster truck racing team based in Port Orchard, Washington—and has recently debuted a new vehicle, dubbed the “Major Payne”. Adapted from a WWII tank, it’s far from your average monster truck.

The Major Payne is modified from an M5 Half-Track Personnel Carrier—produced from 1942 to 1943—though the only original elements remaining are the tracks, suspension, and rear drive axle. Twelve thousand pounds of weight was dropped in the build, which took over a year to complete. A custom-built reverser box provides the tank with remarkable agility, allowing it to safely pivot on its back idler—offering the illusion of wheelies without risking spinal damage for the driver.

The Major Payne is a modified WWII personnel carrier

“The adrenaline rush from the Major Payne tank is unlike anything with the monster trucks,” Payne commented at the tank’s first live performance in Roseburg, Oregon. “With the monster trucks, they’re very predictable on how the run’s going to be—we still have no idea what this tank’s all about. We don’t know what its capabilities are going to be—what the limitations are going to be.”

Watching the Major Payne perform, the limitations appear to be few. A big-block Chevrolet engine with JE pistons, AFR cylinder heads, and a Weiand 8-71 blower furnish the Major Payne with a whopping 1,100 horsepower. The tank is also decked out with a high-flow K&N air filter and performance oil filter.

Close-up of the front of the Major Payne

The Major Payne features a K&N air filter and oil filter

“I had no idea this thing was going to get as muddy as it does,” Payne mused. “There’s mud in the cab, in the back—the radiator’s full. Starting with a K&N air filter we know we have protection that’s second to none. By starting this project that way, we know we have an engine that’s going to last a long time.”

You can catch the Straight Up Racing team—and the Major Payne—on May 11 at the Magic Valley Speedway in Twin Falls, Idaho, as part of the Malicious Monster Truck Tour.

Campaign Seeks Awareness for K&N-Supported Foundation “Fallen Patriots"

2 May 2018

Over the course of the next month, a very special American flag will be travelling eight thousand miles as part of PepsiCo’s fourth annual “Rolling Remembrance” campaign—pursuing awareness for the Children of Fallen Patriots Foundation (Fallen Patriots).

Fallen Patriots seeks to provide college funding to the children of military servicemembers killed in the line of duty—relieving a financial burden that often amounts to over thirty thousand dollars per student after federal assistance. Since 2002, the foundation has provided over 21 million dollars in scholarship assistance to military families, allowing the children of our most exceptional and heroic servicemembers to attend university.

The truck that will be completing the first leg of the “Rolling Remembrance” relay

The “Rolling Remembrance” flag, originally flown on a UH-60M Blackhawk helicopter during Operation Enduring Freedom, will traverse fifty different relay points between Seattle and New York before arriving in White Plains, N.Y., on May 24. United States military veteran drivers from both PepsiCo North America Beverages and Frito Lay North America will be carrying the flag.

March Air Force Base Color Guard carrying the American flag and State flag of California

Fallen Patriots was formed in memory of Sergeant William Delaney Gibbs, killed in action during Operation Just Cause and survived by his wife and unborn daughter. The foundation’s CEO, David Kim, has long held the belief that providing higher education to children is one of the most meaningful ways to honor the sacrifice of fallen servicemembers. As an American-based company, K&N has long been a supporter of the Children of Fallen Patriots Foundation, and has donated over $100,000 toward helping the children of our heroes achieve their collegiate dreams.

K&N CEO, President, and Chief Engineering Officer posing with Asher Patton (far right)

One Fallen Patriots recipient, Asher Patton, attended the Florida Institute of Technology to study Mechanical Engineering. Before his graduation commencement in 2017, he accepted a job at K&N as a project engineer, where he continues to be a valued employee. “The feeling of gratitude is indescribable,” he stated. “Fallen Patriots honored my father’s life by helping me.”

K&N President Jesse Spungin added, “It is important to everyone at K&N to give back to the families who sacrificed so much for us. For almost fifty years, K&N has been an American company, and we owe it to these men and women. Helping an organization like Fallen Patriots is one way we can help the legacy of these American Heroes live on in the lives of their children.”

For more information or to donate, please visit https://support.fallenpatriots.org

K&N Returns to Nevada to Sponsor 2018 UTV World Championship and Many Top Racers

9 Apr 2018

The K&N banner at the Riverside Casino for the UTVWC in Laughlin, Nevada

K&N once again sponsored the UTV World Championship in Laughlin, Nevada

Fresh off sponsoring the iconic Mint 400 race in Las Vegas, K&N’s support of UTV racing continued with the company’s major sponsorship of the UTV World Championship (UTVWC) in Laughlin, Nevada. That makes two consecutive Best in the Desert (BITD) races in which K&N was a power player.

UTVWC Contingency

The K&N tent and display was a centerpiece of the lively UTVWC Contingency. The event was again staged on the property of Don Laughlin’s Riverside Resort Hotel and Casino on the banks of the Colorado River.

Vendors displayed the latest UTV performance and safety products in the contingency area as racers went through tech inspections nearby. K&N representatives were on hand to hand out swag and answer question on our newest performance intake, filter, and protection products for UTVs like Polaris, Yamaha, Arctic Cat, and Kawasaki.

Mark Queen jumps his K&N-equipped RZR at the UTVWC jump competition

Mark Queen gets serious air in his K&N-equipped RZR at the UTVWC jump competition

The most exciting new product on display was the all new K&N 63-1141 AirCharger air intake system for the Can-Am X3. The 63-1141 intake replaces the restrictive factory air filter and air intake housing in select CAN-AM models.

K&N UTV Racers

K&N sponsors some of the top talent in virtually every form of racing. The UTV racing world is no exception. K&N stars like 2018 King of the Hammers Champion Mitch Guthrie Jr. and 2017 UTVWC Champion RJ Anderson were back in Laughlin putting the pedal to the metal.

Other K&N stars like Mitch Guthrie, Katie Vernola, Bradley Morris, and Murray Racing also displayed their talent in the Nevada desert. K&N’s roots run deep in the UTV racing world and there is little doubt as to why so many top racers trust K&N to deliver world class performance and protection.

Bradley Morris' UTV on display at the K&N tent

Remaining BITD Schedule

Motion Pro Nevada 200 Trail Ride, April 13-15, Caliente, NV

VT Construction Silver State 300 presented by Polaris, May 3-6, Alamo, NV

General Tire Vegas-to-Reno presented by Fox, August 15-18

Method Race Wheels Laughlin Desert Classic presented by Canidae Tap It, October 11-14, Laughlin, NV

Pahrump Nugget 250 presented by Polaris, November 29-December 2, Pahrump, NV

K&N-sponsored Katie Vernola's pinksupport truck in the UTVWC pits

K&N-sponsored Katie Vernola's very cool support truck in the UTVWC pits

Tech inspections at the UTVWC Contingency in Laughlin, Nevada

Tech inspections were conducted for two days at the UTVWC Contingency

K&N at the UTVWC vendor village in Laughlin, Nevada

The K&N camp was the center of action in the UTVWC vendor village

UTV race machines parked at a pre-race BBQ in the UTVWC pits

Murray Racing semi in the pits of the UTVWC

Murray Racing proudly displays their K&N support on their impressive race hauler

Andrew Madrid's K&N-equipped RZR at tech inspection at UTVWC

Andrew Madrid's K&N-equipped RZR ready for tech inspection

K&N Gears Up for the 34th K&N Horsepower Challenge at Las Vegas Motor Speedway

5 Apr 2018

The 34th running of the K&N Horsepower Challenge will be contested this Saturday, April 7th at the newly renovated Las Vegas Motor Speedway during the DENSO Spark Plugs NHRA Four-Wide Nationals.

The K&N Horsepower Challenge, a race-within-a-race, brings the top 7 Pro Stock drivers together for a three-round shootout offering nothing but glory and a $50,000 paycheck. The drivers have accumulated points since the previous K&N Horsepower Challenge and the top 7 in points lock in a spot to compete, then the 8th driver is voted in by the fans.

The Fans have spoken and they want to see Vincent Nobile, the driver of the Mountain View Tire Chevy Camaro, in the 8th spot.

top 8 K&N Horsepower Challenge drivers on stage in 2017 before the race

The top 8 Pro Stock drivers get ready to face off in the K&N HPC in 2017

Here are the first-round Match-ups and some fast facts about each driver’s history in the K&N Horsepower Challenge:

Vincent Nobile vs. Bo Butner

Vincent was the youngest K&N Horsepower Challenge Champion back in 2012, then he went on to win the main event, as well

Bo Butner is just coming off his best season as the 2017 Pro Stock Champion, which helped him get to the No. 1 Qualifier position in the K&N Horsepower Challenge

Greg Anderson vs. Erica Enders