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Greg Pursley Grabs 2011 NASCAR K&N Pro Series West Championship

18 Oct 2011

2011 NASCAR K&N Pro Series West Champion Greg Pursley

All Greg Pursley had to do was take the green flag at All American Speedway in Roseville, Calif., to win the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West championship on Saturday night.

He made it past the starting line, but didn't complete one lap before he was collected in a crash in turn four. His car and Michael Self's car were turned around. Jessica Brunelli's car was damaged in the crash.

Greg Pursley wins K&N Pro Series West championshiop even though he didn't complete a single lap before he crashed in turn four.

Pursley, who started the race in seventh, had to go to the back of the pack and work his way to the front in the Toyota/NAPA Auto Parts 150 presented by Pick-N-Pull.

"The green flag flew and we got dumped," Pursley said. "We didn't even get into fourth gear. So, we started dead-last and kind of was on a mission after that. We probably had to burn the car down going from last to the top five. We tried to run a little bit and save a little bit. These guys were running hard tonight. We had a good race tonight. We got up to second and battled Eric for the win. I couldn't ask for anything more."

Eric Holmes won the K&N Pro Series West race, his second in a row, taking the lead on lap 140 and surviving a green-white-checkered flag finish.

Pursley worked his way to second place, but never led a lap in the race. He posted his fourth top-five finish in a row and wrapped up the K&N Pro Series West championship with one race to go, the season finale at Phoenix International Raceway on Nov. 12.

"The Gene Price Motorsports team did a great job and gave me a great car," Pursley said. "That's pretty much how it's been all year. It's been a dream season to me, winning six races and five poles and finally winning a championship here. I can't thank them enough." Pursley built a huge lead in the K&N Pro Series West standings, winning six of the first eight races. He has 12 top-fives and finished outside the top five only once. He has 318-point lead over Holmes.

Holmes moved into second place in the K&N Pro Series West standings with the win. He has eight top-five finishes and 10 top-10s in 13 races. He won his fourth K&N Pro Series West race at Roseville in eight starts at the tiny All American Speedway.

"We usually win it or something happens to the car leading it," Holmes said on Saturday night. "Tonight we had a great car. I had to give up the lead there for a little bit. We lost the brakes, had a little bit of a brake issue. Got it dialed in and saved the car for the end."

Holmes started on the front row next to pole winner Jacob Gomes. The 18-year-old rookie won the first pole of his K&N Pro Series West career and led the first 30 laps of the race.

Holmes took the lead on lap 31 and held it for 34 laps before another rookie, Dylan Kwasniewski, made his move. Kwasniewski took the lead from Holmes on lap 68 and battled Derek Thorn for the next 87 laps.

Thorn passed Kwasniewski for the lead on lap 120. Kwasniewski took it back in lap 124. The two made contact on lap 126 and both drivers had to go to the back of the field on the ensuing restart. Kwasniewski was penalized for rough driving. Thorn's car was damaged in the crash.

Cameron Hayley, a 15-year-old rookie, inherited the lead, but Holmes and Pursley right behind him. Holmes passed Hayley on lap 140 and held it for the rest of the race.

"It was an awesome race," Hayley said. "It was a hard race. It worked amazing. My dad, he's always been there for me. I'd like to thank my whole crew and everyone. It's been great."

Jason Fensler crashed in turn 4 on lap 145 and set up a green-white-checkered flag finish. Holmes was out front on the restart and was able to hold off Pursley and Hayley, who finished third.

Kwasniewski led the most laps in the race, 54, but finished ninth. Thorn limped passed the finish line in 11th place.

The Toyota/NAPA Auto Parts 150 presented by Pick-N-Pull will be broadcast on Speed on Oct. 20 at 7 p.m. ET.

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.

Teddy Hodgdon Experiences A Stellar 2011 Kart Series Season

18 Oct 2011

Teddy Hodgdon poses with friend, family and fans following a recent victory.

Most drivers would consider their season as successful upon walking away with one championship, and rightfully so. That said, ten-year-old, Teddy Hodgdon's season exceeded successful, as he earned two championship titles in 2011.

Ten-Year-old, Teddy Hodgdon earned two Cahmpionships during the 2011 season.

Hodgdon and his family recently rolled into Stafford Springs, Connecticut, where he was scheduled to compete in the Ceric Fabrication Kart Series Season Finale, at the Stafford Motor Speedway. Racing in the Tiger Sprint A class, the young driver entered the competition with a twenty-three point lead over the second placed driver. Although Hodgdon had a comfortable lead and had to finish no worse than twelfth to walk away with the championship, he had no intentions of coasting during the race. In fact, after qualifying on the pole with a 17.606 second run, Teddy immediately took the lead when the twenty-five lap feature was deemed underway.

During the early laps, Hodgdon's lead was challenged by fellow drivers, Daniel Wesson and Steven Chapman, but as the race progressed, the distance between Hodgdon and the remainder of the pack did also. Even though the driver had a comfortable lead near the race's end, he continued pushing until taking the checkered flag. "I was very relieved to win the last race and the championship," explained Hodgdon. "It was a great feeling."

With one championship already under his belt, Teddy Hodgdon and his crew then embarked upon a journey to Claremont, New Hampshire, where the young driver had a ten point lead, and aspirations of taking the Twin State Championship as well. Although experiencing a great start, his lead was erased upon a late caution. During turn three of the restart, Hodgdon was bumped by the second place driver and in turn lost the lead and eventually finished the race in the fifth position.

Starting fifth in the feature, Teddy got a good start and had worked his way to the third spot by the end of the first lap. Still working his way toward the very front, Hodgdon experienced a sight mishap while trying to pass the first place driver and in turn lost several positions. Prior to crossing the finish line, the driver managed to work his way back to the third spot, earning more than ample points to take the championship home.

With the 2011 season behind him, the young driver and his team can finally take a moment to look back and savor the success that lent to a stellar season. Throughout 2011 Teddy Hodgdon has earned two track championships, was the New England Challenge winner, and experienced eleven feature wins and one pole position. "My dad and I worked hard on the kart to get the set-up right, and I drove more aggressively this year," Shared Hodgdon.

Referring to Teddy's string of success, his father, Ted, explained, "It will make him more confident as a driver. In his personal life, it showed him that if he sets a goal, he can achieve it with hard work and perseverance." When asked Teddy's strong point as a driver, his father continued, "He is very smooth, has great kart control, and stays out of trouble. He has become more aggressive this season. If he sees an opportunity to make a move, he will."

"I could not be prouder of him," shared Ted. "This has been a wonderful three-year journey. When we started racing, he was just seven, and he followed the karts in front of him. But as the years passed, I could see him learning and growing as a driver and as a person. He is a quick study. He rarely makes the same mistake twice."

Teddy Hodgdon has already put the 2011 season behind him and is gearing up for twenty-twelve. In fact, the driver is preparing to move up next season to the "Junior Outlaw" division, and in turn is in the process of preparing a new kart.

As one might suspect, Teddy Hodgdon and his crew are aware that their success depends a great deal upon properly maintaining their kart. That in mind, Ted explained, "K&N Filters played a very important role in his success. Not only do they provide good, clean air, they give a performance advantage also. The best of both worlds. We would not even think about using any other filter than K&N." "I am lucky to have sponsors and supporters such as K&N," Teddy stated.

"I would never have the opportunity to race if it wasn't for them. Thank you all."

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.

Menzies Motorsports Earns Three Podium Finishes At TORC Bark River Rounds Seven and Eight

18 Oct 2011

Bryce Menzies poses for a shot after winning round seven of the TORC Off-Road Racing Series

After experiencing a successful outing at Charlotte Motor Speedway, in Concord, North Carolina, the Menzies Motorsports Team headed to Bark River Michigan, where they were scheduled to compete in the TORC Off-Road Racing Series, rounds seven and eight at the Bark River International Raceway. As the team had anticipated, they set the pace right off of the bat with some of the fastest lap times in the Pro Light, Pro 2 and Pro 4 classes. In fact, drivers, Bryce Menzies and Ricky Johnson qualified first for the next day's race and teammate, Luke Johnson earned a third position start in his class.

Bryce Menzies recently earned his second win in a row in the TORC Off -Road Racing Series while racing at the Bark River International Raceway.

Lining up in the Pro Light class, Luke Johnson was in the middle of the pack coming out of turn one, but began working his way to the front. After a mandatory yellow, the driver found himself in a fierce battle for third place with 2010 champion, Casey Currie. With only a few laps remaining, Johnson took control of and held the 3rd place position until crossing the finish line, earning a spot on the podium.

On the following day, Johnson and his number 14 Pro Light were working their way to the front, but sustained a flat tire after making a Red Bull jump. Quickly making his way to the hot pits and changing a tire, the driver returned to the field and caught the other drivers in time for the mandatory yellow. Luke charged from the back to the middle, where he crossed the finish line, only to be informed that he was still one lap behind.

Lining up in the Pro 2WD class, Menzies Motorsports team member, Bryce Menzies, started on the pole next to Marty Hart during the first round of the event. Running at speeds in the neighborhood of ninety miles-per-hour, Bryce and Hart were in a close race for the first place position by turn two, a battle that continued until the mandatory yellow. After the restart, Menzies fans cheered him on as Bryce shot in front and held the lead for his second checkered flag in a row. While on the podium, the driver was also honored with his third Oakley Bomb Award of the season for the fastest lap.

Racing in the Pro Light class of the TORC Off-Road Racing Series, Menzies Motorsports team member, Luke Johnson, earned a place on the podium at the Bark Rover International Raceway.

After the invert, Bryce Menzies began round eight in the back. Aware that he had a challenge in front of him, the driver muscled his way to the third position in short order, and had the lead position in his sights. That said, as fate would have it, Menzies #7 truck made contact with first and second place drivers Marty Hart and Chad Hord while they were tangled up in the middle of a turn. Bryce's truck sustained significant damage and in turn was not able to finish the race.

Both of his teammates had managed to earn their positions on the podium in their classes, and Ricky Johnson had full intentions of following suit in the Pro 4X4 division. Starting first in round seven, Johnson eventually found himself in a battle for the lead with Johnny Greave. After the mandatory yellow, Johnson and Greaves continued to fight for the lead, until the Menzies Motorsports team member noticed smoke boiling from the back of his truck after soaring over the Red Bull jump. Johnson managed to continue fighting for the first place position for a few more turns prior to pulling off of the track with a broken shock.

With all needed repairs completed on the following day, Ricky Johnson lined up to race in round eight knowing that he had one more chance to earn his spot on the podium. Once again, the driver had worked his way through a maze of competitors and was setting on the third place position by the end of lap one. As Scott Douglas and Johnny Greaves were the only two obstacles between him and the checkered flag, Johnson continued pressing onward. After the mandatory yellow, when the restart flag dropped, Douglas was in the hot pits, lending to the opportunity for Johnson to move beyond the second place position and challenge Greaves for the lead. During the last turn of the final lap, Greaves ended up facing the wall when he and Johnson went for the same line, putting Ricky Johnson in the front, and earning him the victory and position on the podium.

When asked the key to their success, General Manager of Menzies Motorsports, Cory Beacham, answered, "Full dedication to what is best for the team and sponsors, and trying to put the best and most qualified people in the right spots. We are in TORC to win races and win championships," he continued. "Right now, Bryce has to start and finish the first race in Texas and he will be the Pro-2 Champion. Ricky is only four points behind Greaves for the Pro-4 Championship. Anything less than two championships would be disappointing."

As one might suspect, Menzies Motorsports are strong advocates of properly maintaining their trucks. In fact, the team uses several K&N products including, their air filters, air filter cleaner, filter oil, and air filter wraps. Referring to K&N products, Beacham said, "Menzies Motorsports has been using K&N products since they started racing in 2007. K&N products are superior to anything else out there."

In closing, Beacham explained, "Being with Team Menzies has been the greatest racing experience I have ever had. As a team owner, Steve Menzies has over seventy wins in off-road racing, both short course and desert. Truly an exceptional record, considering he has only been racing for four 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.

K&N's Kathy and Kevin Fisher Prepare for Big Season End Championship Race in Virgina

17 Oct 2011

Fisher'a Fuels/K&N/Ohio Crankshaft/Amalie Boulton dragster

Year-round preparation for the husband and wife team of Kevin and Kathy Fisher, from Lima, Ohio, has brought them to their season end event just outside of Richmond, Virginia, and not just any event but the IHRA Tournament of Champions race at Virginia Motorsports Park. A race that will runoff those who qualified for it, in one way or another throughout the season, to determine the IHRA World Champions in all seven of the sanctioning bodies sportsman classes.

Drag Racers Kevin and Kathy Fisher

Kathy Fisher, who drives the team's 1998 Dragon Racing Fuels/K&N/Ohio Crankshaft/Amalie Boulton dragster in Quick Rod, qualified for the special event by her season end third place points finish in IHRA Division 3. Fisher utilizing only five of her available eight event claims on the IHRA Division schedule to make the special field and a shot at a 2011 Championship.

"We had a very tight schedule this season and did our best to run as many IHRA and NHRA events," explained Kathy. "To be able to finish third in the division with the amount of races that I ran is really great. We had a good showing when we did get to participate in those events and just one first round loss of any of my IHRA events this year, national or divisional."

"I guess, let me get out of first round and I seem to be able to make the most of the race," she added with a smile.

Before the Tournament of Champions race will commence, both Kathy and Kevin will first compete in the IHRA Sportsman Spectacular. A race that not only offers $5,000 and national event contingency to the winner's but the final berth for a driver from each class to move on to the "TOC".

"Kevin still has a shot to make it into the TOC in Top Dragster," she pointed out. "The car has become more consistent as of late and with the Sportsman Spectacular, we don't have to run it hard at all to be in the show, so to speak. One of the goals for the weekend is to have both team cars in for the TOC and we are already halfway there."

For Quick Rod, the 8.90 index class, Fisher is currently joined by twenty-five other qualifiers from all across the county and Canada. More notably, should the roster hold as is, Fisher is the only female to qualify in Quick Rod for the championship deciding race. "I hadn't really put any thought into that until here recently," she confessed. "I looked to see who all made it into the field and then realized that. There are a lot of great female competitors in my class and I guess if I get to be the only one to represent for our gender [laughs], I hope to do us proud."

While Kathy looks to add to her three final round appearances from earlier this year and Kevin is anxious to wrap up his season on a high note. "I have to say that I am looking forward to this weekend more than I have many of the other events from this season," he pointed out. "While the racing will be extremely intense, like every other event, there's just a different mindset going in. The track will be fantastic and we will have absolutely no worries with the weather. We are looking forward to putting a lot of passes on this Dragon Racing Fuels/Ohio Crankshaft Top Dragster before we put her away for the season. Some races you just have a good feeling about, and for me this is one of them."

"We couldn't have accomplished any of this without the folks who work with us," Kathy confessed of making the TOC. "All those rounds that I won, the finals I made it to this year come from using the best products that are available to us. I can't say it enough, consistency wins races. As long as the driver shows up, I have a very consistent, very dialable car, mainly thanks to everyone at K&N. We have always used K&N oil and air filters on all of our vehicles, from our all of our race cars to the vehicles we drive day-to-day. Like so many others, we don't have an unlimited budget and we cannot take any chances with the engines or anything else on our cars. With K&N products, we don't have to worry about them no being protected the best they possibly could."

K&N oil and air filters are not the only products from the company's lineup that the team is proud to take to the winner's circle with them. "We started using the K&N second generation composite dragster scoops at the beginning of last season," said Kevin, who is also crew chief for the team. "The design is simply remarkable and not only do they look great, it's like instant bolt-on horsepower. Kathy's car picked up an average of four mile-per-hour by just changing to the K&N scoop."

While the weekend's events at VMP might be the final 2011 race for Team Dragon Racing Fuels, some things this weekend will be a first. The team will be joined this weekend by their new Assistant Car Chief, Chelsea VanCleave. VanCleave hails from Nashville, Tennessee and is currently studying High Performance Automotive at UNOH in Lima, Ohio. A veteran racer in her own right, VanCleave competed very successfully in the Jr. Dragster ranks from the age of seven and currently holds her NHRA 4A competition license.

"It's cool to have Chelsea come on board with us, we are very excited for her to experience this event with us," Kathy said. "I'm also excited to have our newest race dog in training with us for her first event. Hey, our shelties are a really big part of our team. Losing Mandy back in August after fourteen years was, and still is, rough. Miyah will now be joined by Mekoh, who just turned fifteen weeks."

"I don't know what I'm more excited about, her first golf cart ride at a race or the shot at the championship," laughed Fisher. The IHRA Sportsman Spectacular and Tournament of Champions takes place this weekend, October 14-16.

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 Becoming NHRA Pro Stock Juggernaut in Record Style at Reading National

17 Oct 2011

K&N Horsepower Challenge point leader Jason Line

Rolling through the type of season that dreams are made of, current 2012 K&N Horsepower Challenge point leader, Jason Line took advantage of the cool fall air in his Summit Pontiac to sail to the number one Pro Stock qualifying spot during the 27th annual Auto Parts NHRA Nationals in Reading, Pennsylvania. With the accomplishment, it would make an outstanding fifth consecutive pole sitting race day start for Line, who also sits number one in the NHRA Pro Stock Full Throttle standings.

Jason Line's Summit Pontiac GXP

With a weather forecast that called for cooling temperatures and a good chance of rain throughout the course of the event, Friday's weather, with temps in the low seventy's, was quite comfortable for spectators, but proved to be a little heavy in the humidity department for the naturally aspirated Pro Stock power plants.

Out of the box for the first qualifying session on Friday, it would be K&N's Mike Edwards catapulting his way to the top by laying down a 6.541 at 211.66. Just when you think the performance can't get any tighter in Pro Stock, Jason Line and teammate, Greg Anderson answered Edwards E.T., by also both posting 6.541 runs. After the chips fell, Edwards would hold on to the provisional number one spot based on his faster MPH. Anderson would fall in at number two based on his 211.43 MPH and Line wrapping up the top three with his 211.06 pass.

When the teams came back for second qualifying round action, Mother Nature still had not provided the tuners and crew chiefs with quite the record setting conditions most were looking forward to during this event. Edwards managed to make the quickest run of the session and was the only car to dip into the 6.54 range. Line, this time was second quickest, followed by Anderson and the top three would remain unchanged going into much different conditions the following day.

"It wasn't a great day, but it certainly wasn't a bad day," said Line, shortly following Friday's on track festivities. "We made a decent run with our Summit Racing Pontiac, matching Greg and Mike on E.T., but giving up a little on top speed, putting us third, which is a good starting spot, although we'd be on the same side of the ladder."

Saturday weather was a whole lot different and had every one of the Pro Stock teams looking to make some fantastic runs. With 62 degrees and an adjusted altitude of under sixteen hundred feet, the only thing that may hold the tuners from their wishes would be the still rather high humidity, which was sitting over sixty percent.

As the pairs went down the track, it started to become obvious that the 6.541 time was not going to hold at number one. Line and Anderson teammate, Ronnie Humphrey was the first to drop the number with his 6.525 and it wouldn't be long before Line answered that with a track record setting 6.513, to take the top position for the first time of the weekend.

The air conditions remained much the same for the fourth and final session on Saturday, which professional teams were able to complete just a short while before rain halted the day's schedule of events. Although not improving on his earlier round effort, Line still managed to run a 6.517, which nearly matched his prior run. The pass was also quite notable since it was a full three-hundredths of a second quicker than Edwards, who made the second quickest lap of the session. And in NHRA Pro Stock racing terms, three-hundredths of a second might as well be miles.

With his Maple Grove Raceway track setting E.T. of 6.513, Line secured his fifth consecutive number one qualifier, making it a total of seven during the 2011 season and the twenty-fourth of his career.

"It's pretty exciting for this Summit Racing team to qualify No. 1 five races in a row, and when you include Greg's No. 1 in Seattle, it's actually six," Line admitted Saturday after the final session. "I've never done that before, and am very proud of what everyone on this crew has done. Looking at the time sheets from the last few races you would think we have this car completed sorted out, and we do. It's just a great hot rod, and I'm lucky to be driving it."

"However, you might not think that if you listened to us analyzing the runs afterwards, because we're always picking it apart trying to make it better," he continued. "That's what makes this team so good, we approach things like we're the underdog, always looking to improve because we know that's the only way to stay ahead."

Remaining steady at the top, Line continues to widen the spread in the K&N Horsepower Challenge standings, where he now holds a fifty point lead over Greg Anderson at two, and a one-hundred thirty-five point lead over Mike Edwards. Allen Johnson and Erica Enders wrap up the top five.

After a rain-delayed event that would be finished on Monday, it should also be noted that not only did Jason Line go on to win his second consecutive event, sixth of the season, but just as he noted the week before, set the new NHRA Pro Stock National E.T. Record that he was hoping he could do. In round two, Line laid down a screaming 6.477 that completely smashed the 6.495 that Rodger Brogdon had set earlier this March during the GatorNationals in Florida.

The teams now head out west for the final three events of the 2011 season, starting in Phoenix, then on Las Vegas before heading to the World Finals in Pomona, California next month.

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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