Latest News | Read Our Blog

K&N Filters Hooks up with NASCAR as an Official Sponsor

25 Jan 2011

K&N is now an official NASCAR sponsor

Riverside, CA, January, 25th 2011 - NASCAR and K&N are thrilled to announce a new exclusive relationship making K&N the #1 Filter in NASCAR. In many ways, K&N is the original performance air filter of NASCAR. It was in the 1970's, shortly after the invention of K&N's washable air filters that the NASCAR - K&N story really began. Back when the company was really just a couple of guys with no money and a good idea, their air filter found its way into NASCAR. The reason was because K&N's high-flow air filters were specifically designed to improve engine horsepower and could create a competitive advantage. At first it seemed incredible that this new style cotton air filter could make that much difference.

K&N becomes the #1 Filter in NASCAR

A few measured lap times were all it took to convince race teams that K&N was indeed "the little filter that could." In fact, the last 40 years has proved this again and again as the technology invented by K&N has become the virtual standard for most forms of motorsports and racing.

The fact that K&N is now a large enough company to be an official NASCAR sponsor really brings a smile to the face of Jerry Mall, one of the company's founders. Jerry has clear memories of bringing air filters to the Riverside Raceway just trying to get a few race teams to give him the time of day.

K&N air filters found their way into NASCAR a long time ago

"Back then I was just some guy with a new filter nobody had ever heard of. Just trying to get the teams to test our air filters was a challenge," remembers Jerry. Things are different now and K&N is clearly a force to be reckoned with. Steve Rogers the current President of the company sees the new relationship as a perfect fit. "Some things were just meant to be" Rogers stated, "I always believed it was just a matter of time before NASCAR and K&N reunited, I feel like we have so much in common as family run businesses driven by our passion for motorsports."

K&N brand creation began when it invented a different kind of air filter; a filter made from cotton instead of paper which created two big benefits. The filters could actually increase horsepower because cotton breathes easier than paper, and they could be washed. They proved to be so durable that K&N eventually began offering the world's first Million Mile Limited Warranty. Back in the 70's, few people would have believed that K&N would one day develop into a global filter brand selling millions of products each year. Yet history has been written and today K&N has grown to be the No. 1 performance/Extended Life air filter sold throughout the United States and the World.

K&N is proud to continue the tradition of being a U.S. based manufacturer located in Riverside California, where the company employees over 500 people. By offering products that perform as promised, K&N had developed a reputation for quality and reliability that has stood the test of time. In fact, a K&N consumer is about as loyal and devoted of a fan as you will find at any race track!

K&N offers a complete line of Washable/Reusable High-Flow Air Filters, Wrench-Off Oil filters, and Performance Air Intake Systems that replace the entire factory air delivery system to provide a guaranteed increase in horsepower. K&N makes filtration products for most cars, trucks, and motorcycles. Additionally, K&N has recently released a line of Heavy Duty Air Filters for use on over-the-road diesel trucks, motor homes and other industrial equipment.

In addition to their exclusive NASCAR Performance partnership, K&N will continue to be the title sponsor of the NASCAR K&N Pro-Series as well as a contingency sponsor in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, NASCAR Nationwide Series, NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour and NASCAR Whelen All-American Series. K&N has been a major supporter of all types of motorsports from grass roots racing to the professional categories.

There is a vast amount of information available about K&N products at KNFILTERS.COM where you can even look up the extra estimated horsepower available for your vehicle with a new K&N intake system.

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.

Bell Family Racing & Amber Bell Have Stellar Junior Dragster Race Season at Maple Grove Raceway

21 Jan 2011

The Bell Family Race Team made two appearances at Pep Boys Speed Shop grand openings for K&N.

"Well, the year started out with our racing team making two appearances for K&N at Pep Boys Speed Shop grand openings. We had a great time and really enjoyed being able to represent our sponsors," explained Rick Bell, patriarch of the uniquely special drag racing family from Hershey, Pennsylvania. Rick and his wife Stephanie have three daughters; from oldest to youngest they are Heather, Allison and Amber.

The Bell Family Race Team kicked off 2010 by making two appearances for K&N at Pep Boys Speed Shop grand openings.

Back in 2003 Heather and Allison watched the Disney movie titled "Right on Track" it's a true story about two drag racing sisters, and life has been imitating art ever since. Rick figures the family spends roughly 22 weeks a year on the road living the dream. Over the years the two sisters have collected enough wins and storied racing material to back their own movie, and in 2010 the Bell Family Racing Team plot thickened just a tad.

"This year had a couple of really important events," said Rick "it was Amber's first year of junior drag racing and it was Allison's last year of junior drag racing."

"Heather raced our normal points season, as well as several special events [at Maple Grove Raceway] with the front engine dragster (Geezers at the Grove in two different classes).

With a simple handshake Heather bestows the Junior Dragster to youngest sister and newest team member Amber.

Her most exciting event this year was Super Chevy, where she ran her fastest ET (8.33), her fastest MPH (160), and had her first perfect reaction time in the dragster. It was quite a weekend."

Allison had another amazing year too, as she had several runner-up and semi-final finishes in their regular points season, finishing the season sixth overall. She was able to represent the family's home track (Maple Grove Raceway in Mohnton, Pennsylvania) at the Eastern Conference Finals in Bristol, Tennessee. Allison's efforts helped her team to win their record setting fourth National Championship. This is the second time she was part of that championship team (she and Heather were both part of the 2008 championship team).

In 2010 Amber won her first of many trophies at Maple Grove Raceway.

"She was also closest to her dial-in for her age group in the first round of eliminations and won a special award," adds a justifiably proud dad. "The following weekend she raced the North East Division race and took second place. Her finish there also pushed her team to within three points of a divisional team championship."

In October of last year Allison went on to win her first IHRA Iron Man. She won her age group and the overall championship at Maple Grove Raceway. She wrapped up her Junior Drag Racing career with two NHRA Wally Trophies and an IHRA Iron Man, in addition to all of her regular trophies.

With a future so bright they have to wear shades and rocking their K&N t-shirts is the Bell Family Race Team - Heather, Amber and Allison (left to right).

Her last race of the season took her to the finals once more at a special turkey race. She took second place and came home with a two-foot trophy and a frozen turkey for Thanksgiving.

"Amber's first year of racing hints that she is following in the footsteps of her winning sisters," observed Rick. "It didn't take her long to win a couple of rounds and her first trophy. This is quite an accomplishment at her age, racing against all age groups at our track. By the end of the season she was doing quite well. She went to the finals taking second place at the Pennsylvania State Junior Dragster Championships at Maple Grove Raceway. The last three races of the year, she was top qualifier. She even had a perfect reaction time which earned her a first round bye run."

Another exciting turn of events for the Bell Family team in 2010 came when they were approached by Barcroft Media. Since working with them there have been numerous online articles about the racing family and Amber was just featured in the January 17th issue of "In Touch Weekly Magazine." Barcroft Media also shot a good bit of footage for possible television use. "You may be seeing us a lot in the future," adds Rick. "Our team is definitely evolving."

"We just recently added a 1968 Camaro to our racing line up. Over the next few weeks, we will be freshening motors and getting everything ready for our season which will probably start mid April. We also plan to attend a couple of car shows including Motorama (February 19th and 20th in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania). We are proud to run K&N products on all of our race cars."

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.

Melissa Westerman Finishes 2010 Tied for First in NorCal Top Comp Association

21 Jan 2011

Westerman says she's totally ready to begin her attack on the 2011 race season at Infineon Raceway in only a few weeks.

Life is fast, sweet, and jam-packed for Girl Power Racing's Melissa Westerman. And why not, she lives and works in Sonoma, California's idyllic wine country and drag races both a Super-Pro Class Mustang and a 454 Chevy big block dragster. She could very well be the poster girl for the modern, progressively accomplished woman.

Westerman says she's pumped up the old 454 Chevy big-block with 11-1 compression. A Cola crank, GRP billet alum rods, and Ross custom pistons to complete the rotating assembly.

Make no mistake about either, the girl is a jock, in the purest and most complimentary sense of the word. If she doesn't burn you in a quarter-mile, she can kick your butt in Taekwondo, or any number of other sports you'd care to throw down. Winning is always the goal for her, but coming in an agonizingly close second, still beats the rest.

Examining last season through her rearview mirror Westerman says, "Looking back at 2010, I feel it was an awesome year! We tied for first in points in the NorCal Top Comp Association. The GirlPowerRacing.com dragster remained consistent throughout the season which helped us win races and promote K&N Performance Filters."

The GirlPowerRacing.com dragster remained consistent throughout the season said Westerman, which helped her win races and promote K&N.

The battle for who was going to eventually take home the first place title continued all the way until the final race of the season for Westerman.

"Something I'd rather forget about last year is that we didn't win one more round, because if we had, we would have secured a first place finish," said Westerman. "Due to the NorCal Top Comp Association's tie breaker, we ended up in second place, for the second year in a row."

What sort of preparations has she been doing to ready herself for an assault on 2011?

The Girl Power Racing Mustang had some transmission work done and a new torque converter installed.

"To get ready for the new season we replaced the driver restraints and blower restraints on the dragster, because they need to be changed every two years. We've freshened up the blower, transmission and made a few improvements to speed it up a bit too," says Westerman.

"The Mustang got the transmission repaired and a new torque converter in time to take it to Southern California for Scotty Richardson's Drag Racing School. What a beneficial class that was for me, I learned some new bracket racing tools, and got one-on-one time with Scotty to work on making my reaction times more consistent for the upcoming season."

Westerman's Girl Power Racing kicks off the 2011 season bracket racing her 500-plus horsepower Mustang in the Super Pro class, at the end of January, at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma. The NorCal Top Comp Association season starts in April at Infineon Raceway as well.

"I'm excited to start the season with both cars at my home track," adds the K&N sponsored Westerman.

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 is the Official Air & Oil Filters of Supercross, Arenacross & FIM World Championship

21 Jan 2011

K&N Banners placed in key locations around the track, show support from K&N throughout the 2011 AMA Supercross Series and FIM World Championship Series.

Back in the 1960's, in the defining seventh decade of the 20th century, two motorcycle fanatics, Ken Johnson and Norm McDonald journeyed together racing every desert and off-road venue within range. To support their growing habit they sold motorcycles and handlebars. On the road they had plenty of time to talk about the notoriously brutal off-road racing environment that devastated equipment and was cutting deep into their expenses. If the extreme lunar-like silt didn't choke you and your bike, the blasting 40-grade sand would.

K&N Tuffblocks will line the stadium floor at all events.

By 1969, Ken the "K" in K&N and Norm the "N" were building their own style of air filters at a small building on North Main Street in Riverside. They focused on one thing until it was perfect, and as technology evolved they evolved with it, continually striving for ways to make their filters even more perfect. Their singular obsession, along with their first name initials, has blown-up the family-owned and operated business into one of the most respected and recognizable automotive and motorsports corporations on the planet. Do one thing, and do it better than anyone else can even imagine, and the world becomes your oyster. Or, to paraphrase another analogy - if you build it perfect, they will come.

K&N will be set up at all AMA Supercross races with a display booth and technical support to educate consumers on K&N Products. Select events will have the newly built K&N Truck & Trailer displaying different types of filtration testing equipment and displays.

From Ken and Norm's humblest of beginnings, and following many years in the making, the motorcycle universe and its stars are at last in perfect alignment, following K&N, the inventor of High-Flow Cotton Air Filters latest proclamation.

AMA Supercross Events pack in the spectators to a nearly sell-out crowd at every round of 17 Events across the country!

"Finally, we've stepped up to become the 'Official Air and Oil Filter' of Monster Energy Supercross, the AMA Arenacross series and the FIM World Championship. We're extremely excited," said Nick O'Kane, K&N Powersports Manager. "Supercross, Arenacross and the FIM World Championship provide a great platform and an immense audience for K&N filters in all facets of the marketplace. This will help us build K&N's brand awareness at the highest level. K&N plans to be on site at every round with a display in the pit party area showing the latest High-Flow Air and Oil Filters for Motorcycles, cars, trucks and now big-rigs, semi-trucks and motorhomes!"

Commenting on the declaration from another perspective, Johnny Jump, K&N's Powersports Division Brand Manager said, "Every year we work with a collection of topflight privateer teams to demonstrate our X Stream Series Motocross Filters' performance and indisputable effectiveness. Getting to this level with Supercross, Arenacross and the FIM Championship, being able to talk face-to-face with consumers in the pits, and to be able to show them our diverse collection of performance filtration products, gives us the opportunity to take this to the next level. Our consumers ride and that means they have trucks. The K&N performance intake systems guarantee horsepower gains on your vehicle, and when you're hauling bikes, or a trailer, that's exactly what you need."

In their own press releases Feld Motor Sports, Inc., the world leader in specialized arena and stadium-based motorsports entertainment, confirmed the news that K&N Engineering has indeed inked a one-year deal to be the official and exclusive air and oil filter of the 2011 Monster Energy AMA Supercross, FIM World Championship, and Arenacross season. "The 2011 season marks the first year of this exciting partnership," wrote a spokesperson for the Aurora, Illinois based company.

Feld Motor Sports, Inc. productions include Advance Auto Parts Monster Jam, Monster Energy Supercross, AMA Arenacross Series, Nuclear Cowboyz, and IHRA Nitro Jam. Feld Motor Sports, Inc. is a division of Feld Entertainment, the world's largest producer of live family entertainment, and they clearly understand how to rock their fans world.

"We are excited to add K&N to the lineup of top-level sponsors supporting the championship," said Dave Prater, Director of Supercross. "K&N provides a commanding product line and a solid reputation that compliments their presence in the motor sports industry."

As mentioned earlier, throughout the Monster Energy Supercross races, K&N will have a strong presence on the track and in the wildly popular pit party area. K&N will be showcasing their widely admired product line in a variety of power sports vehicles where fans can get an up-close inspection of the product's real-world abilities in action.

"We are excited for K&N to join the AMA Arenacross Series for the 2011 season," added Jayme Dalsing, Director of Arenacross. "K&N products will be showcased to thousands of dedicated fans throughout the most intimate form of indoor racing around. We look forward to showcasing their highly touted product line throughout the season."

The foray into the AMA Arenacross series community adds further to the list of racing organizations that K&N is already a deeply embedded and integral part of, from stock cars to drag racing. As a staple supporter of the privateer lifestyle in the sport, K&N's new initiative is taking their involvement and cranking it up several notches.

Back in the day when Ken and Norm were blissful being off-road racing gypsies, could they ever have imagined what would become of their pursuit to produce the perfect air filter? Probably not. But you have to believe that somewhere they're grinning like well fed, ginormous Cheshire cats.

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.

Overview of NHRA Drag Racing Driver Brett Brown

21 Jan 2011

Brett Brown's Vegas Heat AA/FA 1932 Bantam

Auto Racing seems to be one of the great American institutions that is enjoyed by multiple generations with-in families. Many of today's top professional drivers are carrying on the tradition started by their fathers and grandfathers. The same is true in the sportsman ranks of NHRA drag racing. Brett Brown has been involved with drag racing his whole life with his father, Gene Brown, who began racing in the early 60's running a '58 Pontiac in Junior Stock. In 1980 when it was Brett's turn to get behind the wheel, he initially competed with a Karman Ghia on the Volkswagen racing circuit and at NHRA events in Modified Eliminator, then Super Stock. With just one season under young Brett's belt he won the SS/BX class at the 1981 Winternationals in Pomona. His next win in the VW didn't come until in 1987 in the Pro Bug category at the 4th Annual VW World Championships.

NHRA Super Stock Drag Racing's Brett Brown

After taking some time off, fast-forward seven years and Brett is returning to drag racing earning his NHRA competition license behind the wheel of a 4 cylinder dragster, running in the F/ED class of Comp Eliminator. Through the late 90's, until 2001, Brett and his brother Tom shared the driver's seat; only confirming that racing truly is a family affair for the Browns. The passion of driving Brett inherited from his family led him to expand the team by purchasing a Jeep powered 1932 Bantam Altered. From 2001-2005, he competed in "The Jeep" in the E/EA class of Comp Eliminator. During this time he was fortunate enough to be Comp Eliminator champ at the 2002 SummitRacing.com Nationals in Las Vegas and was runner-up at the 2002 & 2004 Winternationals in Pomona.

After the 2005 season, Brett decided to sell "The Jeep" and purchase an '85 Camaro that he campaigned in Stock Eliminator from 2005 to 2008. In 2007, Lady Luck was again on his side at the SummitRacing.com Nationals in Las Vegas, winning the K/SA class, as well as winning the J/SA class at the K&N SPORTSnationals in Fontana, CA. As many drivers experience, the itch for a new set of wheels struck again and in August 2008, when he sold the Camaro and purchased a 1964 Chevelle Malibu that he still runs in the NHRA Super Stock category. Brett's racing accomplishments in his current ride, the 1964 Chevelle, include three SS/MA class wins at the 2009SummitRacing.com Nationals in Las Vegas, 2010 Jeg's Pacific SPORTSnationals in Fontana, CA and at the 2010 Las Vegas Nationals. He also was crowned Super Stock champion at the 2010 Auto Club Finals in Pomona. Through all these victories, Brett has had his family by his side. In addition to his father and engine builder Gene, plus his brother Tom, Brett owes a big thanks to his wife, Terry, who is his biggest supporter and fan!

Brett also gets support from great products like Arringdale's Engines, Tri-City Competition, Kilgore Racing Transmissions, Deano's Carburetors, Comp Cams and K&N Air and Oil Filters. His support from K&N also involves his family because Brett's brother Tom Brown works for K&N. He was able to introduce Brett to Steve Williams and Tony Yorkman of K&N eventually allowing Brett onto their racer program. "K&N is well known for their high performance and reliable products. K&N offers products that add horsepower, are reusable & never need replacing. We use their air & oil filters on all of our personal & race vehicles." says Brett.

Brett and his Family will compete at NHRA national and division 7 events, SCEDA and Summit Series events held at the Auto Club Dragway in Fontana, CA. So if you see Brett, Gene, Tom, Terry or any of the Brown family, ask them why they won't race without K&N filters.

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.