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Jammin' Jared Mees is the 2012 AMA Grand National Champion and Lucas Oil No.1

14 Dec 2012

2012 was a career defining season for Jared Mees and the Rogers Racing/Blue Springs Harley Davidson team

This just in - Jared Mees is getting married. Without question Mees clinched one of the most coveted titles in motorcycle racing, the AMA Pro Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship, plus he earned the Lucas Oil No. 1 plate. However, let’s not bury the actual story lead. Sure there’s pressure going shoulder-to-shoulder at speeds of up to 130 mph at Southern California’s historic Pomona Half-Mile, but you don’t truly appreciate thorny times until you have a wedding and a new home looming over your itinerary.

“Well, actually I have had more stress on me after the season,” confirmed Mees. “Because I bought a house in June and have been trying to fix it up and move in before the holidays and the weather turns to ice cold conditions. So I really wish I could go back to Pomona and do it all over again,” he laughs. “But it honestly has sunk in and feels really good, I just wish I could have enjoyed it a little more during the off season. Heck, when I get done with this house I’ll be getting busy with Daytona.”

Going into Pomona, Mees had already locked up the GNC Expert Singles title after Round 12 in Illinois. He was holding a 12 point lead over Sammy Halbert, and 20 points over the defending Grand National Champion Jake Johnson. All he needed to do was finish strong and bring it in ahead of Halbert to insure the title. Mees got a great start in the Main Event, coming out of the first corner in 4th. “I was rolling pretty well, when all of a sudden it felt like somebody hit me with a Mack truck. It was little Sammy Halbert!” said Mees. “He bulldozed his way right into my side. Not sure what he was thinking, but I am very lucky not to have gone down.”

The hard knock clearly got Mees’ attention “I did not want to try and make a pass on him, as frankly, I felt a bit nervous about what he might try to do,” remarked Mees at the time. The concern was short lived though as Halbert’s clutch started to go on the fritz. Once the K&N sponsored rider got around Halbert he settled into riding his own race.

“The last four laps I was running 5th but there was a pack of riders behind me who started racing me. I wanted no part of it. Not that any of them were dirty racers, but the track was rough, and had some bumps, and accidents can happen. I brought it home in 8th, and it was good enough to win the Grand National Championship. Man, did it feel great to get it back for the Team.”

This season the K&N backed racer won five championships plus fiancée Nichole Cheza’s heart

Are there any moments during the season that stand out, or in hindsight now appear pivotal?
“Yeah, winning Hagerstown (AMA 31st Annual Hub City Classic). That has been a place that is very special to me as my family and friends come to support me. To win there in the fashion we did was just indescribable. I would also say the race at Santa Rosa, California was important, as we struggled all day and almost won it at the end coming off the third row was awesome. One other thing that sticks out is proposing to my girlfriend, Nichole Cheza (who also races) during opening ceremonies at the Springfield Mile in front of the crowd.”

Are there any changes or anything new in store for next season?
“Yes, we hired Kenny Tolbert who is Chris Carrs’ long time mechanic for next season, and I am very excited to start working with Kenny and just starting fresh with a new guy. Craig Rogers and I are going to remain together and we hope to keep this number 1 plate.”

“I cannot say enough about my team, Craig Rogers, the owner, Brent Armbruster, the mechanic, and all who helped me all year long. They made it so much easier to have a great year in which I won the I.C.E. Championship, the All Star Singles Championship, the All Star Twins Championship, the GNC Singles Championship and the GNC Combined Grand National Championship. Also, as icing on the cake, Nichole said yes to my marriage proposal!”

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.

Three-Time Ukraine Drift King Aleksandr Grinchuk Continues his Rule in 2012

14 Dec 2012

Exhibition drift shows in Kyiv and Baku, Azerbaijan were greeted by 50,000 fans

It’s good to be King – although the unyielding demands and pressures can at times become a real buzzkill.

“For three years I was the holder of the Ukrainian Drift King title", reminisced Aleksandr Grinchuk. “It was not easy to defend this title in 2010 and 2011. But this season this title became the main goal for every drift pilot in Ukraine. I managed to get four podiums during the year. Unfortunately some technical problems with my transmission in the final round made my fourth time championship impossible.”

Grinchuk was immediately able to highlight the positive aspect of not entering next season as the defending champion. “This is a good experience and a relief. In the beginning of the 2013 racing season the target won’t be on my back this time,” he adds with a smile.

The reason why this coveted drift title sits atop of every Ukrainian driver’s must-have list is because of Aleksandr Grinchuk. Grinchuk is simply the most successful driver in the history of Ukrainian drifting. In fact without him, drifting in this corner of the world would not be what it is today, seeing that he literally put drifting on the Ukrainian motorsports map. He won the Ukrainian title in 2009, 2010, and in 2011 he was awarded the ultimate crown – the “Absolute Drift Champion of Ukraine.” To earn that title requires winning all three of the Ukrainian drift championships, the TuningFest Drift Edition Championship, Vinnitza Grand Prix Championship and the most prestigious, the Ukrainian Drift Championship (UDC).

Aleksandr Grinchuk is the ironman of Ukrainian drifting

Accordingly, that makes Grinchuk the dude, the baddest man around, and when you’re the top-gun everyone is out to take you down and make a name for themselves. Which is what makes Grinchuk’s three titles in a row all the more impressive. Although Grinchuk came up a tad short of notching that fourth title on his holster in 2012, he continued to be the primary figure for advancing the popularity of drifting not only in the Ukraine, but throughout all of Eastern Europe.

"The 2012 Drift Racing season in Ukraine was very interesting and intense,” Grinchuk remarked. “With three different national championships at the start of the season, only one showed consistency in their plans, schedules and rules during the season. That is why my team and I had to change our race plan several times this year.”

However the confusion didn’t deter any of the drivers’ efforts, in fact quite the contrary according to Grinchuk, because the overall level of drifting continued to take several strides forward once again, as illustrated by even better results coming not only from the top drivers, but the results of novice drivers improved significantly as well.

Grinchuk came up a little short this year in claiming his fourth straight drift title

“This season was awesome with some great drift battles all over the Ukraine in the usual places and several new cities like Lviv and Poltava,” commented the K&N sponsored driver. “Also, we took a very good step forward with ‘show-runs’ made by Red Bull. The main event of the year was called ‘Parade of the Champions’ and it gathered more than 50,000 people at the Main Street of the capital of Ukraine, Kyiv. At this event three cars made up the show, the F1 Red Bull Racing car, NASCAR Red Bull car, and my drift car.”

Much to the delight of the passionate fans, Formula 1 driver Daniel Ricciardo not only paraded his F1 car, but he also sped up Main Street in the Red Bull NASCAR racer.

“It was an honor to be part of this show equally with the world’s best race cars,” said Grinchuk. “We made a lot of smoke, speed and some very good drifting on the closed central street of Kyiv for several hours. This show was a large success. Three weeks later we were invited to take part in the same show-run in Baku, Azerbaijan where we doubled our success, this time with F1 legend David Coulthard.”

The K&N supported driver continued to advance the popularity of drifting throughout Eastern Europe in 2012

For the 2013 season Grinchuk and his team have plans to upgrade his car to a lighter chassis and to add some additional power. Results from this season clearly indicated that the lightest cars with hugest amounts of horsepower were having a serious advantage.

“Using the new car I plan to start the chase for more championships,” Grinchuk adds. “This time for the Ukrainian Drift Championship and the East European Drift 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.

Exciting Super Comp Final for K&N's Greg Boutte During NHRA National in Las Vegas

14 Dec 2012

Greg Boutte drives the K&N sponsored NHRA Super Comp dragster

Loma Linda, California’s Greg Boutte had a lot more than lady luck on his side during the 12th annual Big O Tires NHRA Nationals. Boutte used some great skill to whittle his way through a slew of tough Super Comp racers to take his K&N worthy dragster all the way to the championship round, where he just fell short to fellow K&N racer, Luke Bogacki.

Many of the racers that were on hand for the NHRA national event had just competed at the venue two weeks prior, which gave them additional data to be fairly dialed in coming into the Big O event. “My car was very consistent during the race two weeks ago,” said Boutte. “We had some headwind most of the time during that race and that just parlayed into being able to dial for the same type of winds that we were faced with during the time runs for this national event. I was very happy with our two time runs. The car was within one thousandth of a second between the lanes and my lights were there. Going into first round, I’m really feeling like I have a very good car.”

Like many racers, Boutte has a routine that he likes to stick with, especially his thoughts on how to set up for first round reaction time. “I always add one hundredth to the delay box,” he explained. “I had .016 in the box from the last time we raced there and added the ten. So I had .026 in the box, but ended up being forty on the tree, thankfully since they had a .018 light, I was able to outdrive them at the top end.”

After sending Pierce home in round one, Boutte would next face Punch Johnson in round two. “I still had another forty light, but my competition went red. So for round three I decided to take that ten out of the box.”

With a new game plan for the starting line, Boutte lined up his K&N dragster next to Val Torres Jr. Boutte grabbed a huge starting line advantage with his .030 to Torres Jr.’s .068, and held on to push his competitor way under the 9.05 Super Comp index.

Greg Boutte uses K&N products all over his NHRA Super Comp dragster

Boutte was now moving on to run on championship Sunday and after waiting until just after noon to get back on the track, he would now pair up with Mandy Quigley. Again the win light came on for Boutte and with both drivers leaving just a hair too quick, this time it was thanks to the “first or worst” rule. Quigley popped the red bulb on by .007 and even though Boutte’s time slip showed he was .004 early, it would be yet another round win for the K&N racer.

“That moved me on to the quarter-finals and then I knew I would be facing Tommy Phillips,” remarked Boutte. “He’s one of the best racers out there. I knew I was going to need to set up to be pretty honest and just do whatever I could to get ahead of him off the starting line. This was the first time I ever lined up to race him and I know he’s good, you know anybody that can double up at a national event as many times as he has, let alone just win in one of the Super Classes.”

“So, I was back to the .026 in my delay box,” he continued. “I was .033 on the tree to his .034. I ended up losing time in sixty foot, so I only ended up running an eight (9.08) and ironically, he missed the tune-up, too and ran way off, thinking I was breaking out and I got the stripe.”

Phillips was just the first of the giants to fall at the hand of Boutte. After the great quarterfinal round win, Boutte would find another heavy hitter in the other lane, Al Kenny. “He was .020 on the tree to my .017 and he gave the stripe back to me,” noted Boutte. “I thank him for that. [smiles] It was a very close stripe, right around a foot.”

After some tremendous driving and decision making, it was two down and the one final giant to go, Luke Bogacki. Boutte admits that over the course of the rounds leading up to the final, he continued to try to speed the car up, or take time out of the throttle stop, to compensate for the changing track conditions.

“There was just no groove out there for the final round,” he pointed out. “I’ve just never seen the track look like that for a final round, not even that way at all on a Sunday at a national event.”

“Well, I’m .018 on the tree to his .005 and you’re racing Bogacki, who is one of the best racers in the country and he bracket races for a living. At that point, I was pretty well done,” he admitted. “He caught me at about five hundred feet. He just sat over there and did everything but wave at me and ask what I wanted from the grocery store. [laughs] So, his win light comes on, but I still did better than a hundred and eight other racers and the six other racers I ran before him.”

Always keeping it light, Boutte reflects on the moments after the final round when he and the other finalists were filling out their contingency paperwork. “I yelled over at Bogacki and said, ‘Hey you’re a bracket guy. How about a buyback?’ Well, he wasn’t having any of that, but I gave him ten bucks for the weekend as a mulligan,” he joked.

Boutte looks to have some additional success with his 2002 Worthy K&N dragster and its 598ci BBC before the end of the season. “So many companies make what I do possible and it was great getting into my fifth NHRA national event final,” he stated. “Folks like Hughes, Hoosier and of course K&N with the consistent products, parts and pieces are what help me make it happen out there.”

“Last fall during the Seattle race, I made the switch from a K&N wrench-off filter to try one of the new K&N Billet reusable oil filters,” he added. “What I noticed when I made the change was not only a little more oil pressure, but it doesn’t drop like it used to, and that’s just due to being able to take advantage of the additional flow the new filters provide.”

“So many of us race dragsters and it is such an easy thing that you can do and that’s to add a K&N filter and scoop,” he said. “Especially the K&N filter. With so many of these tracks that we run where there are more rocks and particles that can get into your engine without a filter, it’s a very easy way to not only help protect your investment in your motor, but to help keep it running better. I know that the K&N filters all over my dragster have each done their job, from protecting my fuel cell from sucking in dirt to so much more.”

“It’s what helps us keep going out there,” he continued. “Using products from companies like K&N that protect and provide additional confidence, so all we have to worry about is going out there and doing our jobs as drivers.”

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.

Cam Reimers Comeback in 2012 Should Translate to a Successful 2013 Season

14 Dec 2012

AMA ATV rider Cam Reimers has the ability to over come adversity

Cam Reimers is not a quitter. He is a fighter. He perseveres when faced with adversity.

Cam Reimers is a winner.

After breaking both of the bones in his lower right leg at the AMA ATV Motocross Nationals opening round at Aonia Pass in Washington, Ga., Reimers made a remarkable comeback just five months later and found himself on top of the podium, sweeping the Fun Valley Moto X Series’ third and fourth rounds in Montezuma, Iowa.

“I had only been training for a couple weeks at home before the Montezuma race,” Reimers said. “We actually weren’t even planning on racing the event, but we had a lot of rain in (Iowa) that weekend and (Montezuma) was one of the only tracks in the Midwest that was going to be good. I was starting to feel stronger every time I got on the bike so a few days before the event we decided that we would go race and see where we stood.”

Where Reimers stood was on top of the podium. Twice.

The race completed brought full circle the events that could have ended, if not seriously set back, Reimers’ career.

The day started out strong for Reimers, who had the holeshot and won the first Moto. When Moto 2 lined up, Reimers had a poor gate pick. After a nice start, Reimers found himself in 3rd place heading into a fast section of the track.

After a major set back in the beginning of the 2012 AMA ATV race season, Cam Reimers, once again began his steady climb toward the podium

“After I took third, there was a high speed section in the back with some pretty good sized jumps. Some riders got together through that section and it started a chain reaction. I got clipped in the air and had to ditch the bike. I ended up landing down in the flat on the hard Georgia clay.

“I felt something pop when I landed and as soon as I tried to stand up, I knew I had some issues.”

When the paramedics removed Reimers’ boot, the gruesome injury was revealed. Reimers had suffered compound fractures to both his Tibia and Fibula. With the bones sticking through the skin, Reimers slipped into a daze.

“The pain pretty much went away. I saw everything I worked for disappear; it was actually pretty heartbreaking. There was nobody to blame for it, just a racing deal. I was in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

Reimers father, who doubles as his mechanic, was at his side, along with Can-Am race manager Jimmie O’Dell. At the hospital, Reimers was rushed into surgery. The next day he returned home to Iowa, where more surgery was required. Doctors inserted metal plates into his leg to strengthen the bones. After a few days, doctors were optimistic.

“The first week in the hospital back home, I was pretty bummed out. But as soon as I got released, I was ready to start recovery and try to salvage my season. It was a long five months, but that is actually a very quick recovery for this injury. I had a successful few months of physical therapy and was released to ride again in July.”

After his triumphant return at Montezuma, Reimers was feeling good on his Can-Am. Things were coming together and Reimers was focused on finishing the season strong and carrying that momentum into 2013.

Things don’t always go as planned.

Reimers suffered some vision issues after hitting his head in another accident.

“I was feeling good. My speed was coming back and my stamina was getting better. My leg was starting to feel a lot stronger too. I was really starting to have some fun again.”

Cam Reimers will be back and ready for action in 2013 on his Can-Am ATV

The head injury effectively ended Reimers season. He has since been cleared to ride again, but is currently waiting for his 2013 plans to come together. Reimers says he has some exciting things in the works and is looking forward to finalizing everything and getting back to racing in 2013.

“This season was very disappointing, to say the least. I set very high goals at the beginning of the season and was unable to achieve any of them. But whatever 2013 brings, you can bet we will be there in full force.”

Cam Reimers will be back.

Cam Reimers is a winner.

Reimers added this about K&N, his other sponsors, his friends and family:

“K&N has always provided our race team with good products. There is not a better air filter on the market that makes the power that the K&N Filter does. I can’t thank them enough for the support over the years.”

“After this season, I am very thankful for all of the good people I am surrounded by; I cannot thank my family and friends enough. Along with K&N, there are several other companies that make it all possible: Can-Am, Hicklin Powersports, Motoworks, DWT, SSi Decals, Fly Racing, Jett Boots, CheapTearoffs.com, CTO Goggles, Freshletes Clothing, Wiseco, Rath Racing, TiLube, Precision, Fox Racing Shox, BCS Performance, and CR21 Motorsports. See y’all 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.

Jason Line Sneaks in to Grab Final NHRA Pro Stock Pole of 2012 Season

14 Dec 2012

Jason Line is normally a top contender In NHRA Pro Stock

As the race tightens up for a spot to race for the coveted 2013 K&N Horsepower Challenge, the Pro Stock competitors kept the qualifying exciting during the final event of the 2012 NHRA season. The number one spot changed hands several times during the 48th annual Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals before ultimately going to Jason Line, and his Summit Racing Equipment Camaro, thanks to a track record setting lap during session number three.

Where a team ultimately lands on the qualifying sheet, has so many implications including the amount of points earned toward the K&N Horsepower Challenge. During each NHRA national event, the pole sitting team not only adds the maximum 175 points to their K&N HPC tally, but also snatches up a nice $3,000 low qualifier bonus from K&N Engineering. The consummate goal to finish as one of the top seven point earning drivers that will join an eighth to be selected by fan vote. Those elite eight will compete for a $50,000 championship check with $10,000 being awarded to the runner-up, $3,000 each to the two semifinalists, and $2,500 each to the four first-round finishers at a new venue for 2013. The K&N Horsepower Challenge will be contested during the 14th annual SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in early April.

For the most recent NHRA event at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, the opening round of qualifying found Allen Johnson sitting on top with a 6.565 at 210.47-mph. While he certainly enters every event with his eye on starting from the pole, just making the field was the minimal goal for Johnson and his Mopar Dodge Avenger crew. Just qualifying would sew up the 2012 NHRA Pro Stock Championship for Johnson.

"I watched the first few cars and first few runs, and I made the decision if it started to shake, our mindset was that we were going to get one run, and then it was going to rain and they'd set the field and we didn't make it," Johnson said. "I had my mind made up if it started to shake, I was going to start grabbing gears. We were going to get down the track and at least be sixteenth.”

"When I put it in high gear and that Hemi was humming at the finish line, that was a pretty good feeling," he continued. "My guy came on the radio and said, 'I think we can say championship now.' "

Jason Line drives the Summit Racing Chevy Camaro in the NHRA Pro Stock category

Johnson felt that once the track came around and cars started running quicker, even if he were unable to make another full lap in qualifying, his first run would hold him in the top four and the 2012 NHRA Championship was his.

Still with an eye on finishing the season well, Jason Line, Johnson's closest rival in both the championship and the K&N HPC standings, took the early number two spot by laying down 6.569 and the classes fastest mile-per-hour of 211.10 mph. And the battle for the top spot had only just begun.

The second session on Friday proved to provide the much better track conditions, which Johnson and other teams planned on, with many drivers making huge strides over their previous time slips. Early in the session it was Line's teammate and multi-time K&N HPC Champion, Greg Anderson who nailed his run and shot all the way from well outside the field to the top spot with a solid 6.527. Allen Johnson made the second quickest of the round with a 6.537 and Line close behind with a 6.539, putting the three drivers at one, two and three.

If Anderson's run held through the next two sessions, it would be the first time the driver with seventy-five career Pro Stock poles started from the top in 2012. “It's like Christmas for me. It's been a while. I don't want to sound like a whiner, but for me, it's been a while,” Anderson confessed after the run. “I don't know if it will hold after [Saturday]. It's supposed to be nice again, but I'll take it for one night. I've got at least until 11 a.m. [Saturday] to enjoy it.”

While Line has been able to enjoy success with his new Camaro, Anderson has been waiting for the table to turn with his. “We've been working very hard on these new Camaros and we got a little bit lost when we brought them out,” Anderson continued. “The cars are going to be great, we just got a little confused with the chassis' we built.”

Unfortunately for Anderson, it all came to an end in the opening session on Saturday and for the first time in many seasons, he would go a whole year without a number one qualifier falling to the handiwork of his teammate, Jason Line. Line made a spectacular run, resetting both ends of the track record with a 6.517 at 212.56.

“I really thought he was going to get one,” Line said of Anderson. “I felt like both him and I were going to go 6.51 on that last one, but we'll both get it figured out.”

Line's run would hold, even if just by one thousandth of a second over Johnson's 6.518 posted in the final session. The number one qualifier, during the final event of the 2012 NHRA season, would mark number nine for Jason Line for the year, as well as taking the last four in a row.

There is really no ‘off-season' for any of the professional teams, more like two different seasons. While the flurry of preparations continue for the fast approaching 2013 NHRA season opener, right back where things left off in Pomona, and the 53rd annual O'Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals in mid-February the 2013 K&N Horsepower Challenge standings hold with the newly crowned NHRA Pro Stock Champ, Allen Johnson sitting on top. Jason Line holds at number two, a tight twenty points behind is Erica Enders at three, K&N's Mike Edwards at four, Greg Anderson remains number five and Vincent Nobile at six. Fighting to grab the seventh and final spot for the challenge are V Gaines and Ron Krisher who are currently just sixty points apart.

Again for 2013, fans can not only vote for their favorite Pro Stock driver to have a shot at the eighth and final spot for the K&N HPC but also enter to win big in the 2013 K&N Horsepower Challenge Sweepstakes. Enter today for a chance to win a trip for two to Las Vegas for the 14th Annual SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals plus have a shot at taking home the 2013 K&N Horsepower Challenge Edition Toyota Tacoma.

Deadline for entry is 6:00 p.m. ET on March 8, 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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