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The win at USA Raceway makes it six for six in ASCS Southwest region. Photo by IBRACN Photos
Johnny P. Herrera fired up his sprint car racing career in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and was named World of Outlaws Rookie of the Year, he also won their Most Improved Driver award. Herrera was once awarded the New Mexico Governor's Award, which is given to the athlete who shines the most publicity and fame on the state. Herrera wins a lot - it's kind of like a default setting for him.
When he isn't winning in his family's number 45x car, Herrera races for Larry Woodward Racing. Photo by IBRACN Photos
Recently, Herrera paid a visit to the ASCS Southwest Region race held at USA Raceway in Tucson, Arizona - he won - unabated. It was his sixth win in six ASCS Southwest starts over the past two seasons.
"I am happy that I have been both lucky and good enough to get the six wins" says Herrera. "It always feels great to win in my parents' car, regardless of what track I win at. My mom and dad enjoy winning as much or more than I do. And, regardless of all the wins they have had with Rickey Hood in the number 45x car, I really believe they enjoy being a part of my wins in the family car just a little more."
"It also feels good to win in the Southwest, where I'm from, so my fans can be a part it. It gives the fans that seldom see me race in the mid-west a chance to interact."
Herrera attributes "seat-time" as the number one reason he flat-out dominates in that region. "I have been fortunate enough to race with the very best in the business over the past 25 years. As far as set-ups, it seem I have this track figured out, it's a track similar to the ones that have always suited my driving style," adds Herrera.
Herrera races for, and with, Larry Woodward, owner of Larry Woodward Racing when he's not racing in his family's car. Along with Troy Renfro, his crew chief, the team managed to win the 2009 410 Track Championship.
"I'd like to thank Larry and Lori Woodward for supporting my career. He is one of the best car owners around racing. I don't just drive for him, I respect him and I'm proud to call him a friend."
Herrera says his ultimate racing goal is to get back to a more extensive World of Outlaws schedule. "But, I would be okay running a true ‘Outlaw' schedule too, which will allow me to do some ASCS 360 Racing, USAC non-winged racing, or maybe go back and defend my 2009 Knoxville Track Championship. As long as I am racing something, somewhere and running well, I am good."
"My relationship with K&N is great; they are one of the best product sponsors I have. I had the pleasure of meeting Bob (Harris) and I respect him. He offered me product assistance no questions asked, and I thank him and K&N for supporting me and the cars I drive. K&N Sprint Car filters, spray oils and cleaners for the filters, plus our K&N apparel and banner, are all products we use," comments Herrera.
Herrera will be running the family 45x car this weekend, April 9 and 10, at the ASCS Lucas Oil Sprint Car Dirt Car Series presented by K&N. "We will continue to run the Herrera 45x until the Woodward Racing Season begins," remarks Herrera.
Equipe Jaronn will run two Alpines and two BMW M3 E30s for the upcoming race season
Randall Lawson was born in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, in 1962. He started racing Go Karts in the early 1980's. "European championships, but I had no talent in those days," laughs Lawson. He then began participating in Touring Car races in 2000 when his talent quickly became evident. Lawson scooped up four Dutch Touring Car Series Championships, the 2009 Youngtimer Division II Championship, finished in the top ten in 99 races out of 108 and took 47 podium finishes.
Equipe Jaronn's 1979 Renault Alpine A310 V6
Lawson is the founder of the successful race team, Equipe Jaronn, which has been tearing up the tracks across Europe since 2000 but didn't start racing under that name until 2006 when the team competed in the Dutch Youngtimer Touring Car Challenge. "This historic race series is for cars from the sixties until late eighties. We made the decision to race with an unusual car, our Renault Alpine A310 V6, which was not intended as a circuit racer, but as a rally car. We took up the challenge and created a circuit winner," says Lawson. Today, the Renault Alpine competes against the likes of BMW M3 E30 series, DeTomaso Panteras, Porsche 911 Carreras and Ford Escort MKIs and still manages to win races and take podium places. "In 2006, 2007, and 2009, our team became champions in the Division II which includes racecars from 1976-1981," says Lawson.
In 2009, Randall Lawson finished in the top ten in 99 races out of 108
Made in 1979, the Renault Alpine is one of only a few that has raced on the tracks in Europe. "As far as we know, there are only a handful of these cars in competition use in the world. Ours is not a car you often see. It is difficult to drive as it was never meant to race on a track, but it is also a lot of fun. With only 220bhp and 1000kg weight, you must drive it smoothly if you want to go fast. That's what people say I'm good at. Racing for me is only for fun, but of course it is nice to be a champion. I find that it's more important that after a race weekend, we can say that we had a lot of laughs. If you never take it too seriously, good results will come to you," says Lawson. His team outfits the Renault exclusively with K&N products. "One thing we absolutely can't do without is the best material on our car. Our team uses only the best stuff and after several tests, K&N provided us with the best air filter. Our V6 engine is in the back of the car and it's a very hot place. Our Weber carburetors need lots of air and K&N made the only filter which worked to our satisfaction," says Lawson. "The engine produced an extra 8bhp and that's a bonus, of course!"
Lawson and his team are preparing for the upcoming season and will run four cars, two Alpines and two BMW M3 E30s. They look like the Renault Alpine team to beat this year, not only in the Netherlands, but in Europe as a whole. "Of course, we are going for podium finishes again this season in races at Assen, Spa Francorchamps, Zolder, Zandvoort, Nurburgring and Le Mans. We are also planning to race a second Alpine that we are currently testing. It will also have K&N air filters," says Lawson. Ron Kluit, famous Dutch Touring Car driver of the European Touring Car Championships in the late seventies will be behind the wheel of the second car. "He's a worthy opponent and I will have to work even harder just to beat my teammate. That is going to be so much fun!" says Lawson.
Carter knows how to win championships - winning in 2001, 2004, 2008, and 2009
In a world that measures racing prowess a quarter-mile at a time, where a single FIA Championship often suffices in defining a winning career, four-time FIA European Top Fuel Champion Andy Carter is indeed - The drag racing king of Europe.
Cater is a fierce and focused competitor and he's gunning for at least two more FIA European Championships
Carter got his start racing in the sportsman ranks, then switched to supercharged, nitro burning racing in his seven second Ford Popular, running it in the Outlaw Anglia Class. In the mid-90's Carter toggled up one more time, to the top-tier of the sport - Top Fuel Drag Racing. Carter's early years in Top Fuel didn't come as easy as his early successes, but his fierce competitiveness and focus refused to be hampered for long.
We caught up with Carter to see what future challenges sizzled within him.
K&N. We see from your schedule that you divide you time racing here in the states and in England, what are there some of the race differences worth noting? Also, do you actually ship your car back and forth?
Carter. The biggest difference in the FIA European Championships and the NHRA Championships is the money and sponsorships involved, but having said that, drag racing in Europe is seeing enormous growth. Although, compared to the USA, companies in Europe still don't seem to understand that you can get a great return for your money in drag racing. Performance wise, we are about 2/10ths behind the top NHRA teams. And I don't actually ship my dragster to the USA, it is more cost effective to hire a USA teams' Top Fuel Dragster and drive that.
K&N. If all goes according plan, what are your ultimate racing goals for the near future, and how did your last race go?
Carter. My ultimate racing goal is to win six FIA European Top Fuel Championships, having won them in 2001, 2004, 2008 and 2009, I know how to win, I've just got to keep doing it. My last race was in the USA at the NHRA Phoenix event, it didn't go great, I qualified 16th and lost in the first round to Tony Schumacher, but it was a great experience.
K&N. How do you see your relationship with K&N going?
Carter. The relationship with K&N is fantastic both here in Europe and the USA. K&N are great supporters of drag racing and I'm lucky enough to have been supported since 2003. And, I've never had one issue with any products we have used on the Top Fuel Dragster. We currently use K&N oil filters and specially made K&N filters on our five disc clutch system. We also use K&N oil and air filters on our support vehicles.
K&N. Any other plans for the coming season that you'd care to discuss, and where do you race next?
Carter. No new plans for 2010, same as normal. I would like to win the FIA Championship and do the best to get exposure for Lucas Oil, K&N and all my associate sponsors. Our next race is the first round of the FIA Championships, at Santa Pod Raceway (Northamptonshire, England), that's in May. I can't wait for that one. But, before that, we still have four static shows to do first.
The entire JJR team celebrates Johnson's victory - (From left) Junior Jenkins, Brad Puryear, Dustin Pope, Bobbi Johnson, Jason Johnson, Tim Courmier, Bob Simmons, and Scott Holder
Dreams, the realistic ones anyway, come true incrementally, a series of goals, little steps one at the time until one day - bam - there it is.
"For the 2010 racing season, my goal was to build my own racing team, Jason Johnson Racing (JJR) along with my wife Bobbi," reflects Jason Johnson, the Greenville, Texas native.
"Now that we have accomplished this goal, we will focus on showcasing all our marketing partners to the fullest potential on the track by winning races, and off the track promotions. Our on the track goals are to win as many races possible, and then capture the 2010 American Sprint Car Series National Championship. Off the track, we would like to promote everyone involved with JJR with great satisfaction."
Johnson has already taken one large step towards seeing the next piece of his racing dreams come to fruition, in only their second event out, Jason Johnson Racing placed first on the podium at Houston Raceway Park in Houston, Texas, competing in the American Sprint Car Series (ASCS) Gulf South Region.
"For us to win in only our second night out was a great accomplishment. JJR would have to attribute our success to all the marketing partners like K&N, for becoming part of this newly formed team, and allowing us to utilize the best products on the market," comments a modest Johnson, deflecting the credit away from himself.
Johnson comes from a racing family, his father Craig raced all throughout his childhood, passing along all the ins-and-outs of the sport as he was growing up. At the young age of four, his mother Debra and his father gave him the green light to start racing go-karts. Johnson continued to move up, one step at a time, into different racing formats and styles of racecars, until in 2000, when Johnson earned his first fulltime ride opportunity driving Sprint Cars.
Johnson says the relationship between K&N and JJR has been a great win-win relationship. "It is definitely an honor for us to be associated with such a great and inspiring company, and to promote the best filtration system on the market," adds Johnson.
"We run K&N HP-3002 oil filters on all of our Don Ott Racing Engines. We also utilize the K&N Sprint Air Box to produce maxim power in the dirty conditions we compete in. With no engine failures during the last four seasons, we have to give credit to K&N for keeping our motors clean."
The next race for JJR is April, 9th, with the American Sprint Car Series National tour in Kilgore, Texas, then again Saturday the 10th in Little Rock, Arkansas. JJR's 2010 race schedule consists of 75 events in 14 states, from March to November.
PA Motorsport driver Darren Burke took his K&N Macon MR8 to a very convincing round one win in the HSCC Historic Formula Ford Championship at Silverstone. The famous Silverstone National Circuit located half in Northamptoshire and half in Buckinghamshire, England, is best known as the home of the British Grand Prix.
Darren Burke piloting his PA Motorsport/K&N Filters Macon MR8 to a dominating first round victory in the HSCC Historic Formula Ford Championship at Silverstone. (Photo by Bear Media)
Burke in fact won the race from the pole position, having qualified with an impressive time of 1.04.824. "I was pleased with the time but it wasn't a perfect lap by any means," commented Burke.
Burke navigated a nearly flawless race around the 3.7 mile track in his 1970 Macon MR8 prepared by the PA Motorsport Team. Burke impressively increased his lead on all but one of the 20 laps (slowed once by backmarkers) to end up 26 seconds ahead of second place.
"It's particularly satisfying taking the pole position by 8 tenths of a second as we have had to add over 12kg (14lbs) of ballast to the car to meet the new car and driver minimum weight limit. We have gone a tenth under our own lap record so far which was set last season before the car and driver weight limit was introduced. It shows that despite the additional weight we have made other improvements to the car," explains team owner Peter Alexander. "It's wonderful to kick off the 2010 Championship campaign in style with a dominant win."
A few years ago, after purchasing, rebuilding and racing his first Macon MR8, Alexander was so impressed with the 1970 car that when the opportunity arose, he bought Macon Race Cars, complete with all of the original drawings, jigs and moulds, making them the Macon Works Team.
During the race Burke also managed to find that elusive perfect lap he felt he'd missed during qualifying - he lowered his own lap record to 1.04.619. However, one of the most satisfying moments for the PA Motorsport team came after the race at the weigh-bridge. Some of the other competitors had been convinced that with such an amazing pace, Burkes K&N Macon must be underweight. All eyes fell to the weigh-bridge as Burkes Macon was wheeled on. Burke then stepped onto the scales with the car and it came to rest at precisely 500Kg. The new minimum car and driver weight is just that - 500kg or 1102.31 pounds.
"To see the look on the other competitor's faces was great," recounts Alexander. "Some of them were convinced we must have been running underweight to enable such lap times, but we have improved various areas of the car over the winter, one of those being the K&N air filter, and every area counts."
Round two of the Championship takes place at Cadwell Park in Lincolnshire on April 11th.
