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Final Round Racing's Melissa Wright Earned Second Career Wally at Sacramento Raceway

14 Nov 2011

Teammates Melissa Wright (far) and Brett Olson (near) faced off in the final round at Redding. Wright was victorious.

The most successful season in Final Round Racing's history was capped off earlier this month with a dominating performance last month in California's Governor's Cup at Sacramento Raceway. Melissa Wright battled her way through the D Gas bracket, culminating in an epic final round performance.

Melissa Wright earned her second career Wally in 2011.

Wright, returning to the seat of her small block powered 1973 Chevy Nova, got the win light by .001 seconds.

"That was the best moment of the year," Wright said, reminiscing on the teams season. "After having not raced the Nova for a few months, it was great to get back in the car. The car was running the number, and I was fortunate to be cutting good lights. The final round was very close and I feel luck just went my way."

Luck continued to be on Wright's side. After the win, Wright and teammate Brett Olson slept for two hours, and then departed for Redding for the National Open, a National Dragster Challenge race for NHRA. Wright's Nova continued to run well, Olson's 1967 Pontiac Firebird came to life. The two ended up on opposite sides of the ladder and dominated the day on the way to a final round showdown.

It was Wright taking the win again, earning her second Wally, the iconic trophy awarded at NHRA National and Divisional events. It was Wrights second career Wally, to go with three that Olson has won in his racing career. The weekend was vindication for Wright, who had to sit on the sidelines most of the season and watch Olson go to final-after-final at both Sacramento Raceway and Infineon Raceway in Sonoma.

In 2010, Olson was the runner-up in the NHRA Division 7 ET Finals in the Sportsman category. The momentum from that performance carried over into 2011, a season the Wright said was "good so far." The team, together since 2004, still has a few events left in 2011, but now Wright says the focus is on next season, and getting more variety of races in.

"We hope to do more travelling to other racetracks, and race as much as we possibly can."

With both cars running strong, Final Round Racing should have plenty more opportunities for Wally's next year. The team was quick to credit K&N Filters for helping extend the life of their cars, as well as improving performance.

"We use K&N Filters on all of our race cars, on our tow vehicle, and on our daily drivers. K&N products give us the performance and reliability needed to run a busy race schedule."

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.

NHRA Division 6 Competitor Mark Faul is Back on the West Coast

11 Nov 2011

Faul is looking forward to the opportunity at earning a few more National Event victories before 2011 ends.

Just two events remain in 2011 for Mark Faul, but the longtime NHRA Division 6 competitor isn't mailing it in yet. Faul recently traveled across the country to race in the IHRA Sportsman Spectacular World Finals in Richmond, Virginia. Now, Faul is back on the west coast, ready for the final two NHRA National Events in 2011, starting this weekend in Las Vegas.

NHRA Division 6 competitor Mark Faul

"This has been a really good season," said Faul, the back-to-back JEG's All-Star race winner. "I've been driving well, and the breaks seem to be going my way."

Faul had a decent showing in Richmond. Despite breaking a rocker arm in Stock, he went to the 4th round. Faul also advanced to the semi-finals in Super Stock. The Tournament of Champions on Sunday didn't turn out the way Faul had hoped either, with two early losses, but he still finished 8th nationally in the Super Stock IHRA Division.

While Faul was a bit unlucky in the way the points shook out in both Stock and Super Stock in NHRA's Division 6 (He won the National Event at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma in July, but had already used all of his points-paying races), he has finished strong. Faul picked up a divisional win at the Les Schwab Challenge at Woodburn Dragstrip in Oregon last month, and sits second in Super Stock and fourth in Stock points in Division 6, the NHRA's Northwest Division.

A perennial championship contender, Faul recognizes what went wrong. "It's a little disappointing (not claiming a championship), but it all came down to having some poor showings early in the season at the D6 races. And winning the Sonoma National Event after using all of my points claiming races was too bad. But I'm still happy."

Faul is looking forward to the opportunity at earning a few more National Event victories before 2011 ends, but without looking too far into the future, is also excited about the things that lay ahead in 2012.

"Winning the All-Star race was definitely the highlight of this season. I'm really looking forward to going back again and trying to 'three-peat'. That would be cool!"

Despite a busy and grueling season, Faul finds peace knowing his engines are always running to their optimum potential.

"Having K&N products on my car, knowing that my engine is protected by them, takes the worry away. It lets me focus on racing."

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.

Josh McGuire Takes Checkered Flag in the Down And Dirty 30 at Beckley Motorsports Park

11 Nov 2011

Shortly after winning at Beckley Motorcports park, Josh McGuire and his crew earned another checkered flag at the K-C Raceway, at Chillicothe, Ohio.

Josh McGuire and the Josh McGuire Racing (JMR) team recently earned their fourth victory of the 2011 season, during a race held at Beckley Motorsports Park, in Beckley West Virginia.

Josh McGuire and the Josh McGuire Racing ream rcently earned their fourth victory of the season at the Beckley Motorspoets Par, in Beckley, West Virginia.

Competing in the Dirt Late Model class, McGuire qualified with the fourth fastest lap of the day prior to finishing second in the dash. Lining up on the outside, in the front row of the feature, Down and Dirty 30, the driver took the lead in the first lap of the event. Once owning the first place position, McGuire was in a heated battle early on with a fellow driver, but managed to hold his spot and eventually pulled away to take the checkered flag.

"We were challenged early in the race by Tom Dohm," recalled McGuire. "He was all over us for ten to fifteen laps, but then we were able to pull away and start lapping cars deeper into the field. We don't travel to this speedway very often," continued the driver, "usually once or twice a year."

Referring to the key to success at this particular event, McGuire explained, "Getting the lead early. The track was going to be fast and very hard to pass on, so whoever got the lead first was probably going to win."

According to Josh McGuire his #41 car "has really performed well throughout 2011 season, and at times has been exceptional. "However, our finishes don't show how fast we have been," explained McGuire. "It's very easy for the team to get down when we run so well, and don't have the finishes to show for it. But the team has stuck together, and it will make us stronger when we are able to get back on top again. I don't know if you can ever use the lows to your benefit," shared McGuire. "You just have to ride out the bad times by thinking about how much you really like the good times. The work ethic pretty much stays the same when you're on the top or the bottom. It's just part of this sport we love that is known as racing."

Although the JMR team has experienced their share of highs as well as lows throughout 2011, as the season winds down, McGuire and his crew are prepared to and anticipating finishing the season on a positive note. When asked the key to experiencing success through the remainder of the year, McGuire explained, "You have to stay sharp, even though the season is winding down. It's easy to start the vacation early and get lazy. But the better you finish out the season, the easier the winter can be when the bills start piling up." Even though a well-performing car does not always lead to taking the checkered flag, Josh McGuire has an acute understanding that the odds of success increases drastically if mechanical issues are not added to the equation. That said, the JMR team are strong advocates of maintaining their racecar, and depend on K&N products to keep the internal components of their engine free of contaminants and well lubed.

"We've been using K&N product exclusively since 2007," stated the driver. Their oil filters are the easiest to use with the wrench-off option, and they provide the best in filtration, which keeps our engines running longer between rebuilds. The air filters work in perfect tandem with the oil filters by keeping all the dirt and debris we encounter out of the engine. K&N air filters are also able to breathe when they are in very dirty and dusty environments. They can keep out all that dirt and still breathe better afterwards. They are amazing," he continued. "Other than running fast on the track, maintenance is the most important aspect of racing."

Since taking the checkered flag at Beckley Motorsports Park, Josh McGuire and the JMR racing team have seen their share of success. McGuire was runner-up in the "Harvest 50" at the Skyline Speedway, in Stewart Ohio, and finished second at the Annual "Fall 50" at the Florence Speedway, in Union, Kentucky. The driver also earned his fifth victory of the season at the K-C Raceway, in Chillicothe, Ohio.

Referring to his followers of racing, Josh McGuire said, Fans make the sport. Sponsors give us the ability to race for the fans. We are all one big team, and must work together to make sure racing stays a viable sport in the future.

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.

Terry McCarl Takes 257th Career Win and His 87th at Huset's Speedway

11 Nov 2011

Terry McCArl recently earned his 87th career win at Huset's Speedeway.

After an all-night scramble to get the race car in working order after Terry McCarl's son, Austin got into the fence at the Huset's Speedway, at Brandon, South Dakota, McCarl and his crew wrapped up the project with very little time to spare. In fact, they didn't even hot lap before his heat.

Terry McCarl is gearing up for the final race of the 2011 season at the Charlotte Motor Speedway.

During the heat, McCarl struggled, as the car obviously had other problems, but still managed to finish second quick. During intermission a cracked bell housing was discovered. Eager to compete in the feature, McCarl and his crew went back to work, and managed to pull the rear end, replace the defective part and put the car back together with ample time to race.

"When asked if he thought the car would be ready for the feature, Terry said, "Actually, no. At Huset's you have to unload and don't have your trailer right there. We really didn't have all of the parts and tools that we needed. My crew really went to work. They had to basically take the whole rear end out, or at least pull it back where they had room to take the entire drive line out to replace the bell housing. I really thought we were crunched for time, and we got lucky when they had to re-do the race track after the heat races, so we were fortunate there. If I would have had to bet, I would have bet we weren't going to be finished in time for sure, but in the end, it worked out for us. McCarl said, "Experience is extremely important when something like this happens. This is when an experienced crew comes into play. They don't panic and stay focused. You can't get into too big of a hurry or you'll miss something or forget to tighten up the bolts. I'd say an experienced crew definitely earns their money in a situation like this."

Starting the feature inside row two, it didn't take long to figure out that the problem had been alleviated; as the car ran to perfection from the word go. In fact, Terry passed Donovan Peterson in lap ten and wasn't challenged throughout the remainder of the race, and earned his eighty-seventh win at Huset's Speedway, at Brandon, South Dakota, and his 257th overall.

"Wins like this are a little more special, especially to the crew," explained McCarl. "It shows when they work hard and stay focused, that good things can happen. You know, when you work that hard and win the feature, it makes everything worth while. Those types of wins are a little more gratifying."

When asked the key to success throughout his career, Terry said, "You know, there's a lot of variables there. They call it motorsports for a reason, and the guys with good motors are going to have more fun in this sport. You have to have good equipment, a good crew, a good driver, and a little bit of luck on your side too. That's what makes it exciting, especially dirt track racing. The track changes so much as the night progresses, and it takes a lot of experience to stay up on it. I have been fortunate enough to have good people around me and good equipment for the past few years, and it's really paid off for us."

Referring to K&N product's role in his success, McCarl continued, "Again, it goes back to motorsports. If you don't have a great running motor, then it's going to be difficult. The guy with the best running motor has a little bit of an advantage. These motors are so expensive these days that you've really got to take care of them. I try to tell all of the young mechanics that I meet that you have to keep the dirt out of the engines. In dirt track racing, the more you keep the dirt out of the motors the longer life they'll have. We've been with K&N forever," explained McCarl, "and I wouldn't change for anything. You always know it's going to be a high quality product, and they're great people to work with."

Terry McCarl and his team will wrap up the 2011 season on Saturday, November 5, at the World Finals held at the Charlotte Motor Speedway, in Charlotte, North Carolina.

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.

Shane Stewart Earns Podium Spot at I-30 Speedway in Little Rock, Arkansas

11 Nov 2011

Shane Stewart is leading in the 2011 points race with just a few races left on the schedule.

Shane Stewart and his crew recently came to Little Rock Arkansas, with anticipation of racing in the Lucas Oil ASCS 24th Annual Short Track Nationals. One-hundred of the best drivers in the country were scheduled to compete on the quarter-mile dirt oval track.

Shane Stewart's #57 Paul Sylvia's Wesmar-Powered Rockstar Energy Drink-Makita A.R.T.

On the first evening of the three night event, Stewart finished first in his heat race. As the night progressed, the driver crossed the finish line ahead of the #99 car of Brady Bacon, in the ten-lap qualifying race, earning his second victory of the night. Although the rain eventually began to fall, Stewart managed to run in the "A" feature before the event was delayed until the following day. Once again, Shane found himself in a heated battle with Bacon, and although he crossed the finish line in second place, Shane Stewart and his #57 Paul Sylvia's Wesmar-Powered Rockstar Energy Drink-Makita A.R.T. had earned a guaranteed spot in the finale where $15,000.00 awaited the driver who earned the checkered flag.

Although plagued with rain on the first night of the event, the precipitation was short lived and the following two evenings were optimal for racing. After cinching a spot in the championship race on the first night, Stewart watched on as the remaining drivers fought for one of the twenty positions in the finale. Once the spots had been filled it was finally time to get out there and run against the drivers who had proved to be the best at this particular event.

After finishing second in the dash, Stewart lined up beside Danny Lasoski in the championship race. At the waving of the green flag, Shane took the lead position early, but was eventually challenged by Sammy Swindell, as they experienced four cautions in the first eight laps.

After the fourth lap Stewart and Swindell continued to battle for the lead. Shane held tight to the inside in each turn as Swindell remained just above him. The battle was fierce and Shane managed to hold on to the lead until lap 13 when Swindell finally managed to muscle his way around him and eventually took a commanding lead.

As the race continued, Shane Stewart once again found himself in a battle with Brady Bacon, the driver he had battled for the first place positions in his qualifying and "A" feature races just two nights before. Both drivers had managed to out-do the other on the first night of the event, but this was a different night, and no one knew what the outcome might be. When both drivers had crossed the finish line and the dust had settled, they had each earned a spot on the podium, as Brady finished second and Shane Stewart took third.

"The car just seemed to change a little bit and got loose on me," explained Stewart. Referring to Swindell, Stewart said, "He was definitely a dominant car. Once he got around me, he was going to be hard to catch. The track was good. I wish the top had been a little better. The bottom part of the race track was the better part. It just wasn't my race to win, I guess."

As the 2011 season winds down, Shane Stewart is leading in points with just a few races left on the schedule. When asked the key to success throughout the remainder of the season, the driver said, "Just run up front. That's what we have to keep doing. That's the main thing in our sport, just trying to win races for our sponsors. If you can do that, the points kind of take care of themselves."

Throughout the season, Shane Stewart and his #57 car have been a force to reckon with. That said, Stewart and his team are acutely aware that their success depends a great deal on keeping their engine properly maintained. Stewart has been using K&N products for the past twelve years. The driver depends on K&N air and oil filters as well as air filter cleaner and oil. When asked his take on K&N products, the driver said, "K&N products are superior to anything else out there on the market."

Shane Stewart is also aware of the importance of his sponsors and fans. In closing he said, I'd like to thank Rockstar, Makita, K&N and all of the guys who help us," Referring to the fans, he continued, "We'd like to thank everybody for coming out tonight. It was a great crowd."

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.