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Andy Gregg Wins Wing 360 Sprint Car Race at Placerville Speedway in Northern California

18 May 2013

Andy Gregg and his Wing 360 Sprint Car

Andy Gregg won his first Wing 360 Sprint Car race of the season at Placerville Speedway in Northern California, completing the final seven laps of the race with a broken shock. Gregg passed Mason Moore for the lead on lap six and was able to extend his lead on the dirt track, but ran into some trouble in the closing laps of the race.

“Something happened and the bolt pulled out of the shock,” Gregg said. “I was able to make adjustments to my line and my driving to accommodate for it. We actually were still able to inch away a little bit from second place to keep our comfortable lead even with the shock not being there.”

Andy Gregg now third in Wing 360 Sprint standings after Placerville Speedway win

Gregg said his left front shock was knocked out of place on lap 18 of the 25-lap main event.

“The track was pretty hooked up and the car wanted to wheely up a little bit sometimes coming out of turn 2,” Gregg said. “One of the times when I wheelied up, when the front end came back down, it was just the right angle and the right pressure on the shock and it just popped it off. I think it was just kind of a fluke thing. I’ve never seen anything like that before.”

It was Gregg’s first win in eight starts at Placerville. He has four top-five finishes at the track. He qualified second for the race, but had to pass two cars to take the lead. “Once I got the lead, I could pick and choose my line,” Gregg said. “We started to stretch out a little bit of a lead.”

He was fifth in the heat race, but Gregg said he wanted to take it easy early in the night and try to avoid the last-chance qualifier to make the main event.

“Sometimes it’s better just to settle in and take that transfer spot than to not make a direct transfer in to the main event,” Gregg said. “Heat races don’t pay any money. That fifth-place finish doesn’t necessarily reflect how good the car was. The car was handling great. We had a lot of momentum. The heat race is more strategy than anything.”

Gregg, who lives in Placerville, was third in the Wing 360 Sprint standings at the track after winning his first race. Even though Placerville Speedway is his home track, he doesn’t race there as much as he would like to.

“It’s actually my hometown track, but I don’t get to race there that often because we are constantly chasing the bigger races,” Gregg said. “We venture up into Oregon and Washington, Nevada and Arizona, too. It’s a lot of racing to do.”

He does not plan on racing for the track championship at Placerville. There are races in Oregon that he plans to enter during the summer.

“We’re not committed to the championship there,” Gregg said. “At the moment we’re third in points. We might venture out to some bigger, more prestigious races.” He credits the K&N air and oil filters for allowing to his team to compete at such a high level.

“Every little bit helps,” Gregg said. “They’re air filters are bar-none the best when it comes to dirt. It’s really strong and can really handle the abuse. That’s why their stuff is far superior than the other Sprint car air filters out there. Their oil filters are my favorite. On the bottom of them they have the nut, where you can use. There are times when things get really greasy and dirty and it’s hard to get the oil filter off. The K&N brand has the quick remove.”

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.

Related K&N News Articles about Andy Gregg and Sprint Car racing: Andy Gregg Kicks Off 2013 with a Strong Showing at Marysville Raceway Park; New Golden State Challenge Sprint Car Track Record Broken with Fastest Time at Ocean Speedway

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ASCS Lucas Oil National Series Sprint Car Win for Jason Johnson at I-30 Speedway

18 May 2013

Jason Johnson gains third win of the season at ASCS Lucas Oil National Series at I-30 Speedway

It was a night of near perfection for Jason Johnson in the ASCS Lucas Oil National Series at I-30 Speedway in Little Rock, Arkansas. The three-time and defending series champion started on the front row, waited patiently for an opening and attacked when the time was right to win Round 8 of the sprint car series and take a commanding lead in the points standings. It was Johnson’s third win of the season.

“Anytime you can win an ASCS National tour event, it is a big night,” Johnson said. “We always look forward to coming to I-30, and the management changed the surface up this time, so we had some work to do. The team did a great job dialing in the Maxim Chassis to perfection.”

Johnson used the cushion to make the pass for the lead and then took advantage of lapped traffic to hold off Johnny Herrera in the final laps. Johnson currently leads Herrera by 43 points heading in to the April 27th event at Riverside International Speedway in West Memphis, Arkansas.

Johnson’s Stenhouse Jr. racing team is on a tear lately. The team dominated the weekend at Cocopah Speedway in Yuma, Arizona., in early March.

“The team put together a picture perfect weekend by sweeping both events,” Johnson said. “Cocopah Speedway has promised a bonus if any driver can sweep the four ASCS events at the track, so we are definitely looking forward to that challenge.”

The only hiccup in Johnson’s season came the night before his win at I-30. The ASCS National Tour race at Golden Triangle Speedway in Beaumont, Texas, was set to be a good race, but Johnson spun himself out in turn one on the first lap. After restarting in 24th, he managed to work his way back to fourth before the checkered flag flew.

“No doubt, if it was not for our first lap incident, I feel we had a car good enough to add to our victories,” Johnson said.

Johnson said continuity is the biggest reason his team has carried over its success from last season.

“Philip Dietz, Tim Courmier and Jamie Martin have been working together for a few years now, and they work well together,” Johnson said. “That continued relationship plus the relationship with all of our marketing partners and product partners give us confidence to represent all of those brands well both on and off the track.”

Of course, it’s never too early to start looking ahead to the most prestigious event in dirt track racing, the Knoxville Nationals.

“We’ve won championships and races at Knoxville, but it’s always our goal to win the 360 Nationals and have a strong showing in the 410 Nationals,” Johnson said. “We are confident that our Roush Yates Racing Engines will give us that opportunity come Knoxville time.”

One constant in those engines is the protection provided by K&N Filters.

“K&N Filters have become an important ingredient in the success of our team year in and year out,” Johnson said. “K&N has kept our Roush Yates engines at peak performance while filtering out all the dirty environments we race in. From air filtration to oil filtration, we have had no engine troubles related to our K&N Filters.

“K&N Filters give us the opportunity to compete for championship.”

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.

Related K&N News Articles about Jason Johnson: Jason Johnson Rolls Into I-30 Speedway With Points Lead; ASCS Championship Driver Jason Johnson Leads After a Sizzlin' 2012 Speedweek Performance; Jason Johnson and Stenhouse Jr. Racing Have Successful First ASCS 305 Outing; Jason Johnson and JJR Puts I-30 Behind Them and Focuses on Remainder of the Season;

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Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series Pro-4 Driver Carl Renezeder Wins at Firebird International Raceway

18 May 2013

In spite of mechanical issues, Carl Renezeder took a win during his first Pro-4 class race of the 2013 season.

Carl Renezeder and his crew pulled into Chandler, Arizona with an eagerness to get the 2013 season underway. A veteran in the LOORS series, the driver had an idea of what it would take to pull off a win at the Firebird International Raceway. In fact, his expectations were high.

“We had a lot of confidence going into the first event of the season, after a positive end to last year - winning five of the seven races, including the Challenge Cup race from a 22nd starting position,” he recalled. “ We built on that during the off season, testing and fine-tuning our trucks throughout the winter.

Carl Renezeder started the 2013 LOORS season off with a bang at the Firebird International Raceway at Chandler, Arizona.

“I’m surrounded by a great team, he continued, “my crew, sponsors, family and fans, and I continue to be a student of this sport. Staying ahead of the innovation curve and being diligent about the small things both contribute to this team’s success as well.”

Getting in two practice sessions on the day prior to the race, it quickly became clear that the truck was fast right off of the trailer. With a little fine tuning as the track conditions changed throughout the event, Renezeder and his team would likely see their share of success.

After qualifying second quickest in the Pro-4 class, the driver didn’t waste any time when the waving of the green flag deemed the race underway. However, debris took out a rear brake line early in the event. But that was no indication that Renezeder had any intentions of doing anything but winning. In spite of the mechanical malfunction, he took the lead with three laps to go, starting the season off with a victory.

With a stellar start to the 2013 season, Carl Renezeder is looking forward to continuing his winning streak.

Qualifying fourth in the qualifying round of the Pro-2 class, Renezeder’s start of the race was not as hoped for, as he slid back into the sixth spot during the opening lap. But again, let up was not in the driver’s vocabulary. By lap 12, he had managed to muscle his way back to behind the lead driver, a position he managed to hold until crossing the finish line.

Returning the next and final day of the event, Carl Renezeder was eager to continue his winning streak. With a few minor modifications here and there and a functional breaking system, the driver was on the road to another win in the Pro-4 division.

Lining up for the Pro-2 race, Renezeder embarked upon a battle unsurpassed. Starting in the fourth position, he began working his way toward the lead driver. Anticipation filled the stands as he had reached the second place position by lap seven and was closing in on the leader.

The fans were getting their money’s worth, as the two drivers were making flawless decisions for the next several laps. An opportunity finally reared its head in lap sixteen, providing a chance for Carl Renezeder to take the lead. The driver managed to hold the position, earning him the checkered flag, and his third win of the weekend.

When asked if starting the season off with a victory would have a bearing on the remainder of the year, the driver was quick to answer. “Absolutely,” he ensured. “We started last season off with one of the worst weekends we’d ever had, and spent the rest of the year trying to make it up. We kicked off this year as the points leader in both divisions, and more importantly, proving to ourselves that we can battle for a win every single round.

“More than anything, I was proud of my team,” shared Renezeder. “They proved that their dedication, optimism and hard work during the off-season were worthwhile.”

With a great start to the 2013 season under his belt, Carl Renezeder is looking forward to what lie in store. As a veteran of the sport, he is perfectly aware that keeping his rigs in tip-top condition will prove of greatest importance. That in mind, Renezeder will strive to keep the internal components of his engines contaminant free.

“Without maintenance, you’re setting yourself up for failure,” ensured the driver. Referring to his filtering needs, he continued, “We use K&N air and oil filters on our race trucks and all of our support vehicles."

“I’ve always been a fan of companies that test and prove their products in the harsh conditions of racing and K&N has always been a leader in that way. They’ve been in my equipment for over ten years of my career. I’m proud to get to use K&N products. They are a leader of their industry.”

Looking back at the first race of the 2013 season, Carl Renezeder said, “There’s nothing like the experience of a great battle on the track. But I think my favorite memory of the event was after it was all over - standing around with my family and crew, talking about all the great moments of the weekend. We’ve learned over the years to really appreciate the journey.”

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.

Related K&N News Articles about Carl Renezeder: Carl Renezeder Reclaims 2012 Lucas Oil Challenge Cup at Firebird Season Finale; Carl Renezeder Shatters the 100-Win Milestone at LOORRS Event in Las Vegas; Carl Renezeder's Pro-4 Lucas Oil Off Road Series Race at Miller Motorsports Park Marks 98th Win; Just A Bump In The Road For Pro-4 and Pro-2 Racer Carl Renezeder During Opening Weekend;

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Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series Pro 4 Truck Racer Jerry Daugherty Looks Ahead

17 May 2013

Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series Pro 4 truck racer Jerry Daugherty

What started as a difficult and frustrating opening weekend for Jerry Daugherty and the Live Fast Play Dirty Motorsports team ended with smiles all around and some positive momentum heading in to the third and fourth rounds of the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series.

Daugherty’s Pro 4 team had issues with the front end in practice and came out of the gate slow, but after working hard to fix the problems, rebounded for an eight and fifth place finish in the two events at Firebird International Raceway in Chandler, Ariz.

Jerry Daugherty and the Live Fast Play Dirty Motorsports Team

“During round one of qualifying, my E3 Spark Plugs truck lost the front differential,” Daugherty said. “This is an issue in a Pro 4 because the trucks have a tendency to lose forward bite and want to spin. In round two of qualifying, we broke a front axle. This caused us to start in the back on race day, but I am thankful that we had those issues in qualifying and not during the race.

“It’s always frustrating to have mechanical issues, but we are thankful they happened when they did. It just forces me to work harder.”

Daugherty’s team managed to turn the negative in to a positive by using the first race as an open test session. The race went caution free, allowing Daugherty to work on the long run setup of his truck.

“I hadn’t been in the truck since the season finale last year,” Daugherty said. “The qualifying troubles allowed me to use the first round as a major test and tune for both the truck and myself. We were able to test some new parts thanks to some new partners, and those new parts plus my drive to perform well seemed to work to our benefit on Sunday.”

Daugherty believes the information obtained during the first weekend sets him up for a strong performance during the next event in Las Vegas, April 26-28.

“I loved some of the new parts that we added to the truck,” Daugherty said. “I feel that now that I have some comfort in using the parts, we can gain more speed on corner exit in Vegas.

“The entire Live Fast Play Dirty Motorsports team is dedicated to a great season and getting podium finishes.”

Daugherty said the help his team has received from K&N Filters is one of many reasons why he thinks 2013 can be his most successful year yet.

“K&N Filters continue to play a vital role in the performance of our race truck,” Daugherty said. “In order for these trucks to perform and run efficiently, the engines require a lot of air flow. K&N Filters allow for the engines to gain the maximum airflow, while keeping dirt and debris out. We are proud to have had a long lasting partnership with K&N Filters, and look forward to many more years.”

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.

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Related K&N News Articles about Pro 4 race team Live Fast Play Dirty Motorsports: Live Fast Play Dirty Motorsports Eagerly Gets 2012 Underway at LOORRS Race; K&N Welcomes Team "Live Fast Play Dirty Motorsports" Onboard for the 2011 LOORS

Sprint Car Racer Shane Stewart Battles at Scott Darley Challenge at Sydney Speedway

17 May 2013

Spending his off-season “Down-Under” sprint car driver, Shane Stewart recently rolled into the Sydney Speedway, at Parramatta, Australia, eager to compete in the Scott Darley Challenge with confidence on his side. The driver and his team were coming off of a couple of wins, and were the defending champions of the event ahead of them.

410 class Sprint Car racer Shane Stewart at Sydney Speedway in Parramatta, Australia

But this season, the Scott Darley Challenge would lend to a different set of circumstances for Stewart. In fact, by the event’s end, the word “challenge” would likely stand out in his mind.

Racing in the 410 class, Stewart started in the fourth position in his heat. at the waving of the green flag, the driver immediately began working his way to the front of the field. But going into the first corner, Stewart got a little close to another driver and ran over his right-rear tire. In turn, damage to his car demanded it be pitted, hampering his finish to ninth place and diminishing his overall points.

Although the miscalculation lent to a fairly significant wreck, Stewart’s car sustained little damage. In fact, the crew was able to work their magic and had the rig ready for the next race in less than one-half hour.

Lining up in the third spot in the C-Main, Shane Stewart went to work immediately when the race was deemed underway. Eager to improve his points standings he took the win and in turn, earned a 16th starting position in the B main.

Again, Stewart wasted no time moving forward in the field, and by the race’s end had managed to make it to third place, cinching a 23rd starting spot in the feature.

Still focused on salvaging his points standing, the driver proved he was one of the fastest at the track. Utilizing a few red flags here and there, he managed to continue forward as the race progressed, and eventually finished in the top five.

“We had to run the alphabet soup, he recalled. “We won the C-Main, ran second in the B-Main and ended up running third in the main event that night. It was a testament to my team. They worked hard to get the car fixed for me.”

Returning to the venue on the following night, Stewart and his crew had high expectations that bad luck was in their rear-view mirror. Taking a second place in his heat, Stewart was locked into the feature event.

Starting in the eighth spot, Shane Stewart’s hopes once again were sidetracked when he experienced contact with another car. Once again, the driver’s car sustained damage, as the drag link was bent into his left-side header. In turn his steering was bound and consequentially caused the car to spin and ended their night.

Although not happy with the outcome, as an experienced driver and a holder of many titles throughout his sprint car racing career, Shane Stewart was more than aware of how to handle an outing that proved less than hoped for.

“You have to not dwell on a bad night,” he explained. “All you can do is keep your head up, keep working hard and hope for the best. Sprint car racing is a tough sport and can beat you up.”

Experience has also taught Stewart that one’s overall success also depends a great deal upon keeping their car maintained. Not only does he and his team strive to ensure everything is in working order, but they are strong advocates of keeping the internal components of their engines contaminant free.

That in mind, they turn to K&N products for their filtering needs. “I have used K&N products for over 10 years,” he explained. “I could not be happier with how well their air filters and oil filters work. Keeping your engine clean is very vital in finishing all races that we run. Our engine builders always praise us when they tear down our motors on how clean they are inside

With the Scott Darley Challenge behind him, one can rest assured that Shane Stewart will be back on track, and will be awing race fans in the weeks to come. In fact, the driver is scheduled to be back in the states by April’s end and is looking forward to experiencing yet another successful season in 2013.

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.

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Related K&N News Articles about Shane Stewart: In Spite Of A Busy Schedule, Sprint Car Racer Shane Stewart Finds Time To Give Back; Shane Stewart Picks Up Third Win with 3G Motorsports; Shane Stewart Takes Two out of Three at East Bay Raceway Parkl; Shane Stewart Two-Time ASCS National Championship Opens 2012 Australian Tour on Fire