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On his way to another victory, Chad Wienen gets down and dirty on his K&N Filters equipped ATV.

For Chad Wienen, 31-year-old resident of Galena, Illinois, riding ATVs started as fun as he rode with his cousins on his grandparents' farm when he was 10 years old. Later, it turned more into a hobby as he rode trails with friends, and it is now his profession as he races ATVs throughout the United States.

His first ATV was a Kawasaki. However, through the years he has owned as many as 25 ATVs including a Honda, Suzuki, Kawasaki, Can Am, and Yamaha.

He started racing when he was 16 years old in 2001 on an impulse. "There were motocross races being run locally, so I thought I'd give it a go," said Wienen. "I won the first moto and crashed in the second, but I was hooked and have been racing ever since."

He started racing pro as a privateer on a Honda in 2006 and signed on to the Rockstar Makita Suzuki team in 2007 and finished third in his class. He suffered a shoulder injury midseason in 2008 and had to drop out of competition, but still finished in sixth place in his class. He was again forced out of competition when he sustained a back injury while practicing in the second half of the racing season in 2011.

He has raced for a number of teams including Monster Energy Kawasaki, where he was instrumental in getting its very first overall win, and Motoworks Can-Am before starting his own team, Wienen Motorsports, in 2012.

Chad Wienen negotiates through the twist and turns of another ATV racetrack.

His team includes racer Manuel Andujar, mechanic Nathan Hibbs, and truck driver Gabriel Watkins. His older brother Matt, who used to race ATVs, also serves on the crew periodically as does his father, grandparents, wife, and his wife's parents. "They all like to travel to events. It's a family-oriented sport," he said.

Wienen volunteered that his wife also does the marketing and bookkeeping for the team. She, along with some of Wienen's friends, make videos of races as well as his training sessions for publication on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. According to Wienen, he contributes one to two reports a day about the team and also promotes upcoming races on Twitter and Facebook.

Since its creation, Wienen Motorsports has won four consecutive AMA ATV national championships, has 46 consecutive podium finishes and 24 wins. So far this year, he has won two and finished on the podium five out of five races and leads his class with 28 points. "We haven't had this kind of point lead this early in a year ever," he said.

His race season starts in March at the Daytona Bike Week at the Daytona Speedway in Florida and ends in August. He races in nine states around the country including Florida, Texas, Tennessee, Alabama, Illinois, Minnesota, New York, Michigan, and Pennsylvania.

K&N Engineering has been sponsoring Wienen off and on during his career and has been sponsoring the team since its inception. "They make the best parts," he claimed. "They give us a budget to work with every year and we've done some R&D work for them. We've done R&D on some racing air filters concerning size, material, and weight. We're always trying to help them get things lighter."

Going airborne is another one of Chad's talents.

His other sponsors include Walsh, 7240, SSi Decals, Maxxis, Yamaha, Fly Racing, FMF, Shoei, Acerbis, Fox, Hinson, Scott, Maxima Racing Oils, Malaska Motorsports, Renthal Roth, EVS, Vortex Ignitions, CP Carrillo, UFL Customs, Antigravity Batteries, VP Racing, RPM Dominator, Tireballs, Quad Tech, GYTR, Trek, WPC Metal Surface Treatment, TM Design Works, GPS, NGK Spark Plugs, Streamline Performance Braking, Evans, CWI, Works Connection, Alpinestars, Lonestar Racing, WebCam, Stratus, Precision Racing Products, D.I.D., FourWerx, and Eringer.

Chad's Wienen's accomplishments include:

• 2015 AMA ATV MX National Championship
• 2014 AMA ATV MX National Championship
• 2013 AMA ATV MX National Championship
• 2012 AMA ATV MX National Championship
• 2012 Montreal Supercross Championship
• 2012 New Zealand ATV MX Pro Championship
• 2010 DWT World Motocross Championship
• 2009 Montreal Supercross Championship
• 2008 AMA Pro Invitational Championship

K&N 69-8008TTK air intake system for the 2014 and 2015 Subaru Impreza

Even Japanese manufacturer Subaru admits that the 2014 Subaru Impreza is not the most beautiful car in the world, but it is reliable and affordable. Powered by a 2.0-liter boxer 4-cylinder engine that generates 148-horsepower and 145 lb-ft of torque, the car was available in two styles – sedan and hatchback. Both of which can benefit from the K&N 69-8008TTK cold air intake.

A standard five-speed manual transmission or an optional CVT offers all-wheel-drive and the manual equipped hatchback raced from 0 to 60 mph in 8-seconds while the CVT-equipped sedan achieved 60 mph in 9.4 seconds.

There are also two variants –- the WRX and the STI.

The WRX features a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder boxer engine generates 265-horsepower and 244 lb-ft of torque and comes with a five-speed manual transmission. The STI is powered by the same engine that produces 305-horsepower and 290 lb-ft of torque, which is mated to a standard six-speed manual transmission.

The 2015 model has the new Subaru Eyesight Driver Assist Technology, which includes adaptive cruise control, pre-collision braking and vehicle lane departure warning. It is also equipped with a standard rear vision camera, a new infotainment system, and improved mileage of 28 mpg city and 37 mpg highway or 31 mpg combined.

The styling of the 2015 Impreza has been enhanced from the 2014 model to include a new front bumper, grille, and headlights, which makes it somewhat similar to the 2015 Subaru Legacy. Aerodynamics has been improved with a better exterior mirror and a low-profile trunk spoiler on the four-door models. In addition, the center high-mounted stoplight includes LED lights.

Liquid (hydraulic) engine mounts have also been included on models that feature the CVT transmission that helps dampen vibration. Double-wishbone rear suspension with pillow ball bushings provides a more stable ride.

The K&N 69-8008TTK air intake system is a proven replacement when it comes time to upgrade the factory air intake system. The K&N system includes a free-flow aluminum tube that assists in boosting horsepower and throttle response. The K&N system is designed to totally replace the factory system to dramatically improve the airflow so that the engine can breathe in more air than the factory air intake system provided.

The K&N 69-8008TTK system includes a black rubber topped K&N high-flow air filter and heat shield and it installs in the original air box space of the car in about 90 minutes with basic hand tools. The intake tube that is part of the system accommodates the factory mass air sensor and crankcase vent hose and is finished in a stylish black powder coating.

The air filter will last up to 100,000 miles before service is required. The K&N 99-5000 recharger kit can then be used to clean and restore the filter to its original capabilities. After cleaning the K&N air filter using the K&N filter care service kit, the air filter can be used again for another 100,000 miles.

The K&N 69-8008TTK air intake system can be used in the following vehicles:

2015 Subaru Impreza 2.0L H4
2014 Subaru Impreza 2.0L H4

You can view all the air intakes that K&N makes for the Subaru Impreza at the Air Intake Systems for the Subaru Impreza page and all the air filters that K&N makes for the Subaru Impreza at the Air Filters for the Subaru Impreza page. You can view all the K&N performance products for any vehicle by using 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.

Jake after winning in Stockton, California.

What were you doing when you were 5 years old? You probably were drinking warm milk, eating graham crackers, napping, and clinging to your mom. When Jake Andreotti was 5 years old he was winning championships in a quarter midget car. Now 13, he is winning championships racing a micro sprint car.

Jake acknowledges the crowd after winning in Lemoore, California.

A resident of Castro Valley, California, Jake first became interested in racing when his dad took him to nearby racetracks. Jared Andreotti, Jake’s father, had done some drag racing back in the day. He also built hotrods and is currently building starters, alternators, and electric motors for Buchanan Auto Electric in Oakland, California.

He doesn’t have much time to build hotrods or drag race these days because he is Jake’s crew chief. Others involved in the crew include Jenni Andreotti, Jake’s mom; Hank Andreotti and John Smith, Jake’s grandfathers; Jenelle and Juliana Andreotti, Jake’s sisters.

Jared bought the first quarter midget car for Jake when the boy was 4 years old in 2007. By the time he was 5 he was competitively racing it.

In his first year racing quarter midgets, he won 14 main events. He won his first non-competitive class race in 2008 and he won championships in the Bay-Valley Series.

Jake family and friends celebrate Jake’s win at Lemoore.

At the end of 2008, Jared bought Jake’s second quarter midget, another NC Chassis, so he could race two different competitive classes beginning in 2009.

During the 2009 race season when he was 6, Jake won 19 main events. He won his first Jr. Honda main event at a Capitol Dirt Track event at Roy Hayer Memorial Track in Rio Linda, California. That’s the track that famed racer Jeff Gordon raced quarter midgets. He won the Junior Stock Championship for the Tri-Valley Quarter Midget Club of Livermore, California and the Junior Stock Championship for Region 10.

From there, the wins and championships piled up year after year. He raced a total of three different quarter midgets in various different classes from 2010 through 2013 and then graduated to the micro sprint car in 2014. He raced in the three-quarter class at Plaza Park Raceway in Visalia, California; Lemoore Raceway in Lemoore California; and Delta Speedway in Stockton, California.

In 2014, his rookie year, he had to gain comfort and confidence in his new micro sprint car. During the 2014 season he won nine main events and set fast times 18 times during the season. He won the King of California Title, Plaza Park Championship, Rookie of the Year at both, Plaza Park and Lemoore Raceways; Super 600 Championship in the restricted class, Bud Cup Championship, and the Turkey Bowl Championship.

In 2015 Jake got permission from track promoters to graduate to the Super 600 class. He needed permission because the minimum age for racers in that class was 13 and Jake was 12.

At the tender age of 13 he has already experienced pressures and emotions that have been felt by racers in their 40s. For example, the last night of the inaugural California Speed week in 2015 he won the feature race after overtaking the leader in the last lap.

Racing a new car for the first time in a 2015 CS9 competition, Jake set the fastest time and finished 4th in the main event.

In the Tulsa Shootout this year, Jake earned the Hard Charger Award in the Outlaw class for passing the most racers in the event. He started 20th and finished 6th.

So far this year Jake has won three events. Many scheduled races have been canceled due to rain, but will most likely be rescheduled. Jake noted that he plans on participating in more than 49 races this year, mostly in California, but also the prestigious Tulsa Shootout in Tulsa, Oklahoma in December.

K&N Engineering has been sponsoring Jake Andreotti for three years and has supplied him with oil, air, and crankcase filters (part numbers KN-303, E2990, 62-1010 and 62-1015).

“K&N has helped a lot,” said Jake. “They have given me new air and oil filters every weekend and my car has the K&N logo painted on the exterior. K&N has helped to promote me and we’ve done what we can to promote K&N.” For example, Jake has appeared in some of the company’s advertising.

He has appeared in Sprint Car Magazine, has a website, Instagram and Twitter accounts, and has his own YouTube channel. He has even begun selling Andreotti T-shirts and hoodies on his website.

He is considering a jump to sprint car racing next year. “You have to be at least 14 years old to race sprint cars,” he said. “It’s a bigger car with a lot more horsepower than the micro sprint and the tracks are bigger.”

He is considering a jump to sprint car racing next year. “You have to be at least 14 years old to race sprint cars,” he said. “It’s a bigger car with a lot more horsepower than the micro sprint and the tracks are bigger.”

In 2010, Jake won:

• 16 main events in the Junior Honda and Junior Stock classes
• Region 10 Junior Stock Championship
• Tri-Valley Quarter Midgets Junior Stock Championship
• 29th Annual Scott Key Memorial Junior Honda Championship
• 29th Annual Scott Key Memorial Junior Honda Trophy Dash
• California Monza Junior Honda Championship
• California Monza Junior Stock Championship

In 2011, he won:

• 21 main events in the Junior Stock, Light 160, and Junior Animal classes
• Western Grand National Championship – Junior Animal Class *First in QMA history
• Tri-Valley Quarter Midgets Light 160 Championship
• Tri-Valley Quarter Midgets Junior Stock Championship
• California Monza Junior Stock Championship
• California Monza Light 160 Championship

In 2012, he won:

• 27 main events in the Light 160, Light World Formula, and Senior Animal class
• Western Grand National Championship – Senior Animal Championship *First in QMA history
• Dirt Grand National Championship – Senior Animal Championship *First in QMA history
• Tri-Valley Quarter Midgets Light 160 Championship
• Tri-Valley Quarter Midgets Light World Formula Championship
• California Monza Light 160 Championship
• California Monza Light World Formula Championship
• Region 10 Light 160 Championship
• Region 10 Light World Formula Championship
• Winter Nationals Senior Animal Championship

In 2013 he won:

• 10 main events in the Light 160, Light World Formula and Senior Animal classes
• Tri-Valley Quarter Midgets Light 160 Championship
• Tri-Valley Quarter Midgets Light World Formula Championship
• West Grand National Senior Animal Championship

In 2014 he set fast times in 18 events and won:

• 9 main events
• King of California in three-quarter restricted class
• Plaza Park Championship
• Rookie of the Year at the Plaza Park Raceway
• Rookie of the Year at the Lemoore Raceway
• Super 600 National Championship in the three-quarter restricted class
• Bud Cup Championship in the three-quarter restricted class
• Turkey Bowl Championship in the three-quarter restricted class at the Delta Speedway, Stockton, California

In 2015 he won:

• King of California in Super 600 class
• Lemoore Championship in Super 600 Class
• Budweiser Grand Prix championship in Super 600 Class

He was the first racer to repeat The King of California championships in two different classes.

Chris Eggleston does a burnout after winning the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West race at Orange Show Speedway in San Bernardino, California.

It took four NASCAR K&N Pro Series West races but Chris Eggleston found the checkered flag. The reigning NASCAR K&N Pro Series West champion won his first race of the season, taking the lead before a green-white-checkered finish at the Orange Show Speedway in San Bernardino, California. He passed Ryan Partridge for the lead on lap 142 of the Sunrise Ford 150 and held the lead for the last nine laps of the race. The green-white-checkered flag finish extended the length of the race to 151 laps.

Chris Eggleston, the reigning NASCAR K&N Pro Series West champion, won the race at Orange Show Speedway in San Bernardino, California. It was his first win of the season.

“It was a battle all night,” Eggleston said. “This quarter mile Orange Show Speedway is a tricky little place.”

Rookie Todd Gilliland, one of the drivers selected to the NASCAR Next class, won the first two NASCAR K&N Pro Series West races of the season. He won four K&N Pro Series races in row, including the season finale in 2015 at Phoenix International Raceway and the K&N Pro Series East opener in Florida. Ryan Partridge snapped Gilliland’s winning streak by taking the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West race at Tucson Speedway in Arizona.

It looked like Partridge had the car to beat again at the Orange Show. He won the pole and led the first 105 laps of the race. But Partridge spun out trying to pass lapped cars in traffic. Eggleston and Partridge fought for the lead until lap 141. Partridge and Rich DeLong tangled on lap 143. Eggleston finally passed Partridge and held on until the end.

“I feel it is as sweet as the first one last year and the year before,” Eggleston said. “Any time you can get in victory lane in the K&N Pro Series is really special, near and dear to my heart. It’s really cool to get our first win of the season and hopefully we can gain some momentum, keep clicking them off.”

Chris Eggleston celebrates after winning the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West race at Orange Show Speedway in San Bernardino, California. He led for 11 laps including the last nine laps of the race.

Gracin Raz was the runner-up at the Orange Show. It was his first top-five finish in four races.

“It came down to who wanted it more,” Raz said. “It was a really, really rough race. Restarting on the outside was definitely where we were most of the night.”

Noah Gragson, another driver in the NASCAR Next class, was third and posted his second top-five finish in four K&N Pro Series West races. The drivers in the NASCAR Next class are considered to be the rising stars of stock car racing. Industry executives, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Drivers Council, and media select who becomes part of each NASCAR Next class.

“We definitely have speed,” Gragson said. “We came up a little bit short. Definitely have speed to work with. Hopefully we’ll get more checkered flags here in the future.”

Gilliland was fourth and maintained his lead in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West standings. He has a four-point lead over Partridge. Partridge recovered after spinning out late in the race and crossed the finish line in sixth place.

Rookie Julia Landauer, who was also selected as a driver in the NASCAR Next class, was fifth, her second top-five finish in four K&N Pro Series West races.

The next race for the K&N Pro Series West drivers is the Toyota/NAPA Auto Parts 150 at Colorado National Speedway on June 11.

Kyle Benjamin won the first NASCAR K&N Pro Series East race of his career at Bristol Motor Speedway in Tennessee in 2015.

NASCAR K&N Pro Series East driver Kyle Benjamin and his team are considering changing their course after the first five races. Benjamin leads the K&N Pro Series East standings after a fourth-place finish at Virginia International Raceway on April 30. When the season started, the race at Virginia was not on Benjamin’s schedule. His team, Ranier Racing with MDM, scheduled seven K&N Pro Series East and seven ARCA Series races for Benjamin.

Kyle Benjamin won the pole and was the runner-up at the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East race at Greenville Pickens Speedway in March.

Even though Benjamin has yet to win a race, he is the leader for the K&N Pro Series East championship. He has four top-five and two runner-up finishes. His latest race on the road course in Virginia proved that he can post impressive results off the ovals. Now his team has a tough decision to make: Keep racing toward the K&N Pro Series East championship or focus on winning races in the ARCA Series.

“He’s a phenomenal little driver,” said Lorin Ranier, the team owner. “He’s very experienced. He’s been racing at a high level in late models since he was about 14 and winning races. At 18 now, he’s a very experienced young driver with a couple of ARCA wins. He’s got one K&N win and obviously a lot of good finishes. It’s a real good race team, a championship group.”

Benjamin won his first K&N Pro Series East race in 2015 at Bristol Motor Speedway in Tennessee. When Benjamin returned to Bristol in April, he was the runner-up to Chad Finchum. More importantly, Benjamin had the lead in the K&N Pro Series East standings by three points over Justin Haley.

Kyle Benjamin, in front row second from left, is one of 11 drivers recently selected to the NASCAR Next class.

“We had a real fast car. We were beat all day by Chad Finchum. He had a really strong car. He just had us beat,” said Benjamin, one of 11 drivers recently selected to the NASCAR Next class. “It is one of the coolest tracks on the schedule. It’s just a really big deal to win that race. I really wanted to get that win again. If you can win twice at Bristol it means a lot.”

Kyle Benjamin won the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East race at Bristol Motor Speedway in 2015. He started eighth and took the lead on lap 45 in the PittLite 125.

The drivers in the NASCAR Next class are considered to be the future stars of NASCAR and stock car racing. They are selected by industry executives, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Drivers Council, and media.

After Bristol, the team was preparing for its next ARCA series race. The plan was to skip the K&N Pro Series East race at Virginia. Two days before the race, the team changed its mind. Ranier leased a car and took it to Virginia International Raceway. With no practice and little track time, Benjamin qualified seventh, finished fourth, and fell into a tie with Haley for the lead in the K&N Pro Series East standings.

“You have an opportunity to go for it,” Ranier said. “That’s kind of where we are. Don’t want to give up the ARCA schedule. We have to weigh our options.”

Winning a K&N Pro Series East race would make Ranier’s decision a little easier. His team’s budget only afforded 14 races split between the K&N Pro Series East and the ARCA Series. Winning a race would increase the team’s budget. Benjamin said his team’s confidence is high, but winning that first race has been elusive.

Kyle Benjamin raises the trophy after winning the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East race at Bristol Motor Speedway in Tennessee in 2015. He led 81 laps, the most of any driver in the race.

Winning a K&N Pro Series East race would make Ranier’s decision a little easier. His team’s budget only afforded 14 races split between the K&N Pro Series East and the ARCA Series. Winning a race would increase the team’s budget. Benjamin said his team’s confidence is high, but winning that first race has been elusive.

The next race in the K&N Pro Series East at Dominion Raceway in Virginia later this month will be pivotal in Benjamin’s future. If he wins, the chances of Benjamin continuing his pursuit of the championship will improve greatly. If he still has the lead in the standings, his team might add some more K&N Pro Series East races to his schedule. Regardless, racing in the K&N Pro Series East is preparing Benjamin for the next level in NASCAR.

“I’m really glad to pick the K&N series to race in,” Benjamin said. “It’s really stout. The competition is stout. There are a lot of good drivers, a lot of good teams. The field has a lot of depth. It’s really difficult to win. Each race it takes a lot. It’s such a strong effort. I know how strong the K&N series is.”