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Payne brought home the bacon for his family, earing the first place check in the Pro Stock 4WD class.
Back in the day, when horses still pulled farming machines, farmers bragged about the strength of their horses, challenging other farmers to beat the fully loaded hay carts or wagons their horse could pull. And so, truck and tractor pulling competitions, also known as power pulling, was born. In these competitions juiced up tractors and trucks pull a heavy sled (sledge) along a track. The sled creates progressively greater resistance as it pulled. A typical "full pull" is generally only around 300 feet, but the shattering power of engines and the churning of tires searching for traction makes this a very popular affair in many rural areas.
Jonathan Payne's 2005 Ford Ranger with a 485 cubic inch big block won The Battle of the Bluegrass Pulling Series event with a 291.56 foot pull
There are various classes that compete, from factory tractors, to custom built vehicles with multiple engines. Jonathan Payne from Georgetown, Indiana, and his Major Payne Pulling team compete in the Pro Stock 4WD truck class. Payne and his 2005 Ford Ranger with a 485 cubic inch big block, has been creating major pain for his challengers. In the last five events the team has competed in, they have one third place, two seconds, and two wins. Their last victory came at The Battle of the Bluegrass Pulling Series (BOB) in Louisville, Kentucky.
"I probably go to 25-30 events per season and the truck and driver both need to be consistent to be competitive. Being consistent is what worries my competitors. I have been going to Lanesville, Heritage Weekend in Indiana for 30 years watching Truck and Tractors pull. I like to hear the engines push their limits, make new friends, and when everything comes together down the track, I make a full pull and feel a great sense of accomplishment," remarked Payne after his win.
The proper gear selection for each pull is determined by which sled is at the pull, the amount of weights in the sled, and the length and condition of the track.
"I will probably hook to as many as eight to ten different sleds and they all pull somewhat differently, and they all have their own way of trying to stop the trucks," explained Payne. "The trucks have solid suspension so we can only change tire pressure to match track conditions."
Any additional impetus to win events comes from his sponsors says Payne. "K&N provides me with the latest technology in their high flow filters. My engine requires a lot of air and K&N high flow filter and extreme top flow, provide even more than I need."
For the rest of the season Payne says his focus is to stay competitive. "I pull with four different sanctioned organizations, Lucas Oil Pro Pulling League, Indiana Truck Pullers Association, Kentuckiana Truck Pullers Association, and the Battle of the Bluegrass. My first priority is to make all Lucas Oil Pulls for the points race."
With his win at Knoxville Raceway Brian now has seven victories for the year.
"This is probably my most special win ever, we felt very honored to run his number and put it in victory lane," commented Brian Brown.
Running the number 77 in honor of his late competitor, Jesse Hockett, the Grain Valley, Missouri driver battled for a win at Knoxville Raceway much to the delight of the massive crowd. Brian and Jesse came about their rivalry organically - they met at the same tracks and races after all - but there was always a mutual respect for each other’s skills.
Brown normally runs the number 21 on his sprint car. Currently he's focused on running with The World of Outlaws.
"We weren't the best of friends, but we weren't enemies either," says Brian. "There were times we were friends, and times when things weren't good between us. The last year or so, we had gotten along really well though. We called each other, or talked about setting the car up for certain tracks whenever we could."
Brian, five years older, witnessed Jesse transform from a weekend racer, to a gritty and polished professional.
Brain Brown proudly sported the number 77 for late competitor Jesse Hockett - commenting that this win will forever stand alone for him.
"It's extremely unfortunate to lose him at such a young age," he says. "He resembles what sprint car racing is all about. He was a small town kid who made it big, but never forgot where he came from. I was honored that the family gave me the blessing to carry his number last weekend. I was just worried I wasn't going to do it justice. We definitely wanted to run well with Jesse's number on the car. He was a great driver and we wanted to make sure and try our hardest to win it for him and his family."
Immediately after the checkered flag Brian says memories of Jesse and his family, and all the recollections they had amassed racing together, continued to race through his mind. "He really did symbolize what sprint car racing is all about," reiterates Brian. "This win will forever be viewed differently from any other."
This win gives the 31 year old driver a total of seven checkered flags so far for 2010. Currently Brian is readjusting his focus to run with the World of Outlaws coming to town.
"Realistically, you need to be qualifying well for when the Outlaws come. If you aren't on, they will eat you alive."
Brian says his relationship with K&N continues to be awesome. "I have been with them since my racing career started and I plan to continue using their products until the day I stop racing. I use the Carbon fiber air box, the wrench off oil filters and the filter oil and cleaner."
Team Motoworks' Josh Frederick wins at Cahuilla Creek in round 6 of the 2010 WORCS series.
WORCS (WORLD OFF-ROAD RACING CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES) Racing kicked off in 2001 like no other series in history, with an ultimate goal to once and for all crown the off road rider who is truly the best in the nation, if not the world. Professional and amateur riders alike race to one of the most exciting series in off road racing. In just nine years, WORCS has established itself as one of the largest off-road ATV racing series in the United States.
Josh Frederick now has a slight points lead over Beau Baron.
The Pros race for 2 hours, in what starts out to be a national caliber Motocross Track, which then leads the competitors into the off-road sections which are a combination of high-speed, technical, sand, silt or dust, with elevation changes that all works out to be about an 8-10 mile loop. This combination of racing makes out to be extremely exciting for the spectators as the riders make numerous loops through the pit areas. Pitting necessary for fuel, filter changes, water and goggles, the riders must make the most of timing and strategy to win the overall championship.
Josh Frederick at Cahuilla Creek in round 6 of the 2010 WORCS series.
Team Motoworks added another victory to their list thanks to Josh Frederick at Cahuilla Creek in round 6 of the 2010 WORCS series. The series is down to 3 rounds and the point's race is very close. Josh Frederick has a slight lead over tough competitor Beau Baron, but anything can still happen. Frederick knows Beau will not go down without a fight.
The rough conditions at Cahuilla Creek is no match for Team Motoworks.
Cahuilla Creek is a very tough track, and that's exactly what the team expected going into the race. The track is known to be rough, and because of the warm spring temperatures, they expected it to get very dry also. These conditions are nothing new for Team Motoworks', so they prepared accordingly. "A few other riders had some overheating issues, but our bikes ran great with no problems" says Ty Zimmerman of Team Motoworks'.
Other riders with Team Motoworks' also had a successful weekend at Cahuilla. Dillon Zimmerman had a great race hovering around the top five for the whole race. "Dillon is adapting well to the pro class with his consistency, but has his work cut out for him to run with the top guys" says Ty Zimmerman.
Another up and coming top rider for the team, Jeremie Warnia, took the hole shot off of the line with a fantastic start to the race, but had bit a bad luck and fell towards the back of the pack. "Warnia (Frenchie) plans to regroup and focus on the upcoming races. He definitely has the speed to win races" says Ty.
K&N has played a huge role for the team in all the different types of harsh racing conditions they experience. K&N racing air filters provide the best combination of air filtration and air flow that is needed to win races. "Trust me our team has raced in every condition all over the country and we have never had any failures or problems with the K&N products" says Ty "…I think everyone on the team uses K&N in their personal cars and trucks too."
Suzuki City is a three year old team of both supercross and outdoor which has been highly successful according to Michael Nasakaitis (manager). With other names passing through their team, their two riders at the moment are Matt Lemoine (250f) and Steven Clark (250f for supercross 450f).
Suzuki City's #31 Matt Lemoine
Even after a season plagued with bad luck and injuries, the two riders managed to get decent standings in the east coast supercross series. Matt placed 11th and team mate Steven followed close behind with 16th. While they have had a similar streak of bad luck in the concurrent outdoor series Nasakaitis is optimistic with 7 remaining races.
A broken wrist in the start of the season and smites from the motocross gods like flat tires broken shifters and levers have contributed to results the team is not happy with. With the moto karma out of the way Suzuki city hopes to pull off a strong outdoor finish.
It's not very often that a privateer team can achieve consistent results like City Suzuki and they are still new. They have great support for a variety of companies since their start, K&N being one of them. While Michael is there to facilitate his riders the best he can, he gives them full credit for keeping themselves where they need to be to race.
"Each rider has their own work out regiment and keeps themselves really fit and fast." With only two riders Suzuki city still stands a contender in both out door and supercross. Suzuki city also has a rider support program for over 14 amateur riders some of which are Loretta qualifiers.
More than anything Michael is even more optimistic about their plans for next year's supercross. There is a chance that the program will switch both riders to 450 classes in which case they would run both west coast and east coast super cross. 450 class holds a little more respect and valor in the eyes of the consumer its where all the big names of the sport race. With supercross being their strong suite Matt and Steven will be sure to put on a show for all in the upcoming season. For now be sure to follow team city Suzuki as the series moves east to Colorado.
Team City Suzuki uses K&N air filter YA-2506XD and K&N oil filter KN-207. 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.
Michael Malmgren and the Malmgren Racing Pontiac Grand Am.
Michael Malmgren says he views himself as a perfectionist, referring to the fact that he works very hard, approaching all things in his life with an exceptional degree of gusto. There's nothing neutral about this K&N sponsored Swede from Arild. As the driver of the Malmgren Racing Pontiac Grand Am, he is also the team manager and President of the European Pro Stock Racers Association – and he is highly regarded for his skills in both arenas.
After having the fastest car all weekend, setting the low ET and top speed, Malmgren missed winning the Santa Pod Main event by a heartbreaking four-thousandths of a second.
Malmgren has been racing since 1980, and he's one of Europe's most experienced drivers. He is funny and easy-going, with the sort of confidence that can only be earned through accomplishments. Career highlights include; two back-to-back FIA Pro-Stock Championships in 2002 and 2003, first non-American to win a national event in USA, first non-American to set a NHRA world record in USA, and his most memorable - the first European to drive a Pro-Stock car into Holley six-second club. When he is not racing Malmgren sells high quality prefab houses for Myresjöhus, the most popular brand of new houses in Sweden, and they're a team sponsor.
Santa Pod Raceway in Bedfordshire, England is the home of European Drag Racing and host to the televised FIA European Drag Racing Championships, Malmgren Racing had yet another successful weekend there, taking home a hard fought for second place. Malmgren had the fastest car all weekend, setting the low ET and top speed, yet they missed winning the event by a hole-shot.
"I had a very good light at 0.041, but my competitor had 0.034 and you have remember that we don't have led lights on our Christmas-tree," explained Malmgren.
"We ran about same ET, so I lost by four-thousandths of a second. I made all my runs this weekend within one-hundredth of a second, but he (Micke Callin) pulled off his personal best ever in the finals (6.78).
In Europe teams don't have fulltime employed crews, they all have day-jobs and race as hobby, so hard work and commitment is a given.
"During the off-season we went over the JBRC Pontiac GTO from top to bottom, and we spent a lot of time also talking to my good friend Jerry Bickel at JBRC regarding car changes. Also, every winter of course I want my car totally refinished, cleaned, so it looks like new. I am known for having the best looking car out there. It doesn't make it any faster, but it makes my sponsors look good," says Malmgren.
"The same goes with my team/crew, with support from Oakley we are all looking good, including me with my new SFI 15 Oakley Factory Pilot driving suit."
Malmgren's reaction times have improved enormously this year, believing first and foremost that it is "all in your head."
"I am not afraid anymore off going out there and risking a red-light. If you are, that's what makes you late at the lights. We have also tested different linkage positions for better reaction. There are so many factors to consider and we have tried to improve them all."
Malmgren's relationship with K&N got its start in 2009 at the Performance Racing Industry Show when he had a chat with Bob Harris.
"We decided to promote K&N's high quality filters in Europe, and also to be the first overseas team to run their new (hood) Scoop. We can already see after the first race that it has helped the engine breathe better. Also, we of course use the K&N oil filters, as they are high flow and very efficient. My street car is a BMW 645 and even that now has a K&N air filter."
A part of Malmgren's normal twelve to fourteen hour work days includes attending Trade Shows for his main sponsor Lahega. Lahega is the largest car wax and industry chemicals manufacturer and supplier in Scandinavia.
"For example we put the whole rig on display inside the yearly Truck Show in Jönköping, Sweden. This is the biggest trade show for Truckers in Scandinavia. We will also attend several others trade shows, so that is good for everybody involved in with Malmgren/Lahega Racing, and all the exposure we get allows us to keep racing."
