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The first attempt to get Jessica Clark, from Westlake Village, California, to set aside time for this story had to be adjusted – she was apologetic, but homework just plain had her swamped. Clearly, this is a young lady with her priorities in perspective – on or off the racetrack. The sixteen-year-old Clark maintains a 4.0 GPA at Westlake High School, and she successfully reassigns every bit of that work ethic and intelligence from the classroom to the racetrack.
Midget Car Racer Jessica Clark on the Track
This year is Clark's fifth year racing overall, she got her start in go-karts, running a couple of southern California tracks, Santa Maria Race Track and Button Willow Raceway. She competed in karts for a year and a half, and then graduated into Jr. Midgets for an additional two and a half years. Clark's first Jr. Midget race took off at Ventura Raceway, Ventura, California.
In her first full season of Jr. Midgets she was awarded the Most Improved Driver and finished second in the points standing. Ever the achiever, the very next season she won the most races and top-five finishes of anyone. In October of the following season Clark applied to Ron Sutton's Winners Circle program and was one of only twelve drivers accepted out of 750 drivers that applied for the 2008-2009 season. This year will be her first full season running in the USAC Ford Focus Midget series.
USAC Ford Focus Midget Racer Jessica Clark
"Ron Sutton's Driver Development Program conducts a national talent search each year for young racers between the ages of 11-19 who have the talent and the desire to go all the way to a professional racing career in NASCAR. A driver selected to be part of the RSWC Driver Development Program will be groomed, coached, tested, trained and molded into what NASCAR Cup teams want in their drivers" says Clark.
Jessica Clark Was Awarded the Most Improved Driver in Her First Full Season of Jr. Midget Racing
750 racers from across the United States, as well as Canada, Puerto Rico, and Sweden applied to the program in 2008. Only 44 drivers with impressive enough winning results were selected to participate in a driver Shoot-Out held at Roseville Speedway in Sacramento, California. The Shoot Out included multiple diverse tests over a 3-day period to evaluate the drivers who have the potential for a professional racing career. All drivers were tested in identical Ford Focus Midgets.
Experienced personnel rated the drivers' on their ability to be coached, their levels of accurate feedback, focus, training retention, motivation, communication skills, personality, aggressiveness, learning rate, confidence and lap times. Out of the 44 drivers at the Shoot-Out, only twelve select drivers demonstrated the potential aptitude to go onto a career in NASCAR.
"Being apart of Ron Sutton's Winners' Circle has been a life changing experience," says Clark. "I have learned more in one year racing with Ron than I have in all the years I have been racing combined. I have learned how to be a positive role model as a driver, on and off the track. I am very grateful to have the privilege of racing with this outstanding team. The USAC Ford Focus Midgets race on a quarter-mile asphalt track – it's a fast and thrilling open-wheel racecar experience."
"We use the K&N air filter, which is awesome, because it lasts forever and provides optimum airflow to the race engine. In any engine that is important, but in a spec-engine like the USAC Ford Focus Midget series, it is really an important advantage. We also use the K&N oil filters, which insure we keep the engine oil clean and protect the engine. Lastly we use the K&N breathers on the crankcase."
Next season Clark will once again be racing with Ron Sutton's Winners' Circle in a Ford Focus Midget. "The support that K&N filters has provided Ron Sutton's Winners' Circle has been extremely helpful to my racing career and I feel honored to be affiliated with such an exceptional company."
Charles Mask Lewis 2009 Suzuki Haybausa outfitted with numerous aftermarket parts including K&N air filter, part number SU-1308
Tribute 2009 Suzuki Hayabusa in honor of TapouT founder Charles Mask Lewis
The 2009 Suzuki Hayabusa auction proceeds will go to the Make-A-Wish Foundation and TPOA Children's Charitable Foundation
Custom 2009 Suzuki Hayabusa on display in the DUB booth at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas, Nevada
Killer Kreations Custom airbrush took more than 300 hours to complete the job on the 2009 Suzuki Hayabusa named Believe
Jason and Meredith Peterson, owners of AKA Custom Cycles have information on the $10 donation for raffle tickets
A sobering tribute to mix martial arts mogul and co-founder of the TapouT brand clothing label was on display in the DUB booth at the SEMA (Specialty Equipment Marketing Association) Show in Las Vegas, Nevada.
TapouT Corporation teamed up with custom bike builder AKA Custom Cycles to construct a tribute bike in memory of Charles “Mask” Lewis Jr.
The finished product is a 2009 Suzuki Hayabusa named Simply Believe. It will be raffled to help underprivileged children and children with life threatening medical conditions.
Lewis died after a Newport Beach, California car accident in March, 2009. The proceeds from the $10.00 a piece raffle tickets will be donated to the Make-A-Wish and TPOA Children’s Charitable Foundations, said Peterson.
Jason and Meredith Peterson, owners of AKA Custom Cycles selected the 2009 Suzuki Hayabusa as their project bike and outfitted it with aftermarket and custom fabricated parts.
“The only person for the paint work was Fred Sicoli of Killer Kreations, Inc.,” said Jason Peterson. “There is over 300 hours alone into the airbrush job. The art looks just like the photographs of Charles.” Lewis was known for his signature war paint and outfits that branded him with the nickname Mask, along with his multi million dollar clothing company,
“Mask’s personal motto, Simply Believe is part of the paint job,” said Meredith Peterson. “That’s only one of the eye catching images on the Busa that separates it from the average bikes you see rolling down the street.”
Other modifications on the 2009 Suzuki Hayabusa:
Air Filter: K&N air filter, part number
SU-1308
Exhaust: VooDoo Exhaust System
Fuel Management: Power Commander V
Metzler Tires
Oil Filter: K&N oil filter (KN-138C)
Clutch: VooDoo
Stator Covers: VooDoo
Handlebars: Ransom
Levers: Gauge
Bezel: Gauge
Grips: STM Grips
Triple Tree: Roland Sands Busa
Top Triple Clamp
Seat: AKA Custom Cycles
Fuel Tank: RIS Designs
Undertail: HotBodies
AirScoops: HotBodies, Oversized
Swingarm: Greggs Customs: Single Sided
Spoke Wheels: Ride Wright Custom
Tires: Metzler, Front 130/70/18
Metzler, Rear 250/40/18
Rotors: STX Braking Front Wave
Brake Lines/Pads: Galfer Brake Lines and Pads
Rear Sets: Vortex Adjustable
Lowering Links: Vortex
Kickstand: Myrtle West
Custom Paint: Killer Kreations Custom Paint
Lewis was posthumously inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame in July, 2009 as its first non-fighter. He had his own reality television show called TapouT where he scouted mixed marital arts fighters across the globe to train and sponsor. Simply Believe will tour other car shows throughout 2010 and will be auctioned in August 2010.
Randy Cabral captures 2008 and 2009 NEMA Championship
Randy Cabral was named 1999 Northeastern Midget Association (NEMA) co-Rookie of the Year during his very first year of racing. His father, Glen Cabral was a veteran racer with more than two-dozen seasons spent in the Midgets. Having literally grown up watching his father race, it's no wonder he was in the pits the minute he was old enough, doing what he could to keep the car in top shape.
Midget driver Randy Cabral wins 2009 NEMA
*"I was selfish in the sense of not bringing my son along in quarter midgets," says Glen. "I loved it so much it was hard for me not to go racing and I would have had to stop to help him. That's why his first ride came in a Midget because that was the first chance he got. It's a tough thing for a father to say, but I wasn't ready to give it up."
It was during the 1999 year, when Glen was a teammate with Chuck Welling that they decided Randy was ready to race. They put Randy in his Dad's car, and he began to show real progress, once coming from dead last to pass his dad, and make it to the front. The following year, he captured NEMA's headline event, the Boston Louie, and in 2001 was the winner of the season's opener and finished third place in driver standings. *
Randy Cabral named 1999 co-Rookie of the Year in Northeastern Midget Association
In his decade of racing, Randy has both the 2008 and 2009 NEMA Championships under his belt, and at only 30 years old is the all time winner at Thompson Speedway and Waterford Speedbowl - where the NEMA series has been running for 53 years. Randy's most memorable career moment was winning at Thompson International Speedway in July of 2009 after his best friend, Shane Hammond, had been killed in a tragic accident there in April of 2009.
Tim Bertrand and Randy Cabral at 2009 NEMA
Randy has been driving for Bertrand Motorsports since 2006 where he finished second in points. In 2007, they finished third in points, and to date have won 19 races together. Owner Tim Bertrand hopes to have his 2008 & 2009 champion running races on the National level in the United States Auto Club (USAC) Midget series by next year.
Several years ago, Bertrand was introduced to K&N and Bob Harris by a mutual friend, Jeremy Frankoski to discuss possible sponsorship opportunities. Bertrand had been using K&N products on his race team vehicles for over 15 years, so it was a natural fit to team together.
Bertrand says, "K&N Oil Filters HP-3002 are absolutely the best racing oil filter on the market. They keep the bearings in our engines in 'like new' condition at all times - and we have never had an oil filter failure with K&N. Our K&N Midget/Sprint Car air box is also an awesome product. Since introducing this product into our program, we have been able to collect 13 wins in two seasons, out of 29 races."
For over a quarter of a century David Andrews, living in Vancouver, Washington, has puttered away and treated himself to a rather expensive hobby - cherrying out his 1938 Ford Street Rod. Then, just under two years ago, while browsing at a local auto specialty shop Andrews met Dustin Hoover - the final piece in his Street Rod puzzle. The conversation that day started over their mutual passion for rebuilding classic cars. Dustin had recently finished rebuilding the Chevy Nova that used to belong to his father before he was tragically killed in a plane accident, and an instant bond was formed.
1938 Ford Street Rod under the hood
"The engine is a 350 Chevrolet with a 671 Weiand blower, and in wanting to keep the entire unit hidden, or under the hood, I discovered I had created a serious problem, there wasn't enough room for an air intake that would properly service the engine," says Andrew.
"Dustin and I spent hours on the Internet trying to find something that would work, but everything we thought might work, just sat too high, meaning I couldn't place the hood into position. After a while we came to a common conclusion, we needed a large plenum box that had to be less than 1.5 inches high, and still be able to deliver the airflow needed for the blower."
1938 Ford Street Rod with Chevrolet 350 engine with a 671 Weiand blower
Mulling it over for a few days, Dustin returned to Andrew's garage one morning with some exhaust piping and sheet metal and preceded to build an air cleaner unit he had envisioned the night before. Prior to the actual build they spent more time at their local parts house (Baxters), studying various K&N filter configurations, which helped them with their final plans. "We had them pulling all kinds of your filters off the shelf so we could measure them until we found the K&N filter with the specific measurements we need," says Andrew.
David Andrews' 1938 Ford Street Rod
From that they were also able to determine the correct suction-piping diameter they would need to allow K&N filters to slide into position. "We ended up utilizing four K&N cartridges that fit perfectly. The engine runs great, I can't wait to get it on the road," adds Andrew.
"The truck started out to be an everyday driver, but now it has become a show vehicle. I get an overwhelming amount of enjoyment and pride from all those who view it and appreciate it."
1938 Ford Street Rod with K&N Air Filters
"Dustin and I are very proud of the finished product (filter), we have had some great reviews already from those who have seen it, and we plan to show the '36 in February 2010 at the Southern Oregon Rod and Custom Show. After that we're off to the big shows in April, at the Portland Convention Center and at the Tacoma Dome after that."
The '36 finally rolled out of the body shop for what Andrews believes is the last time just a few days ago. The two have already started on another project, a custom '47 Ford Tudor that has the top removed and will end up housing a Carson Top design. Dustin is a highly skilled welder and the two of them are building the frame themselves. The power-plant on this one is a 351 Ford racing engine, which Andrew has already purchased.
"At this point Dustin is like an adopted son to me," says Andrew. "He is in part the reason I purchased the '47. I bought it for him and one of my sons who is confined to a wheel chair. We have decided that it will probably have hand controls so that Doug, my real son, will be able to drive it - but I will put the title in both of their names."
Riders hit the dirt during the final round of the 2009 WORCS Pro ATV series in Mesquite, Nevada, where one ATV rider managed to overcome insurmountable odds. Mike Cafro Racing’s Beau Baron delivered the goods with a little help from his team for their first WORCS Pro ATV Championship.
Pro ATV Champion Beau Baron secured the win despite a rough crash in the whoops section at Mesquite, Nevada
ATV Racer Josh Row was pulled out of the race during the last lap, but finished the WORCS Pro ATV Championship Series 5th overall in points
“It was really an incredible day,” said Mike Cafro, MCR Team Manager. “Beau’s original strategy for the final round was to ride smart and consistent. He wanted to finish in the top ten, which was all he needed to take the championship. That strategy was blown out of the water when Beau came down hard in the whoops of the third lap.”
The 2009 MCR Racing Team will be back in 2010 to defend its WORCS Pro ATV Championship Title
Beau Baron overcame the odds in the final round of the 2009 WORCS Series to take his first WORCS Pro ATV Championship
Baron’s bike cut out and would not restart. “I thought it was all over,” said Baron. “I was sitting there on the side of the track and then Mike came and towed me back to the pits so we could fix the bike.”
The team worked hard to get Baron back on the track where he made a charge to 11th place. “We wanted to make sure Beau was secure enough to take the championship, so we pulled rider Josh Row off in the last lap,” said Cafro. “This put Beau in tenth place which gave him a little extra security.”
Baron secured the championship. “After everything that happened out there it was an incredible feeling to win,” said Baron. “The whole team came through for me. I could not have done it without them.”
Even though Row was pulled off in the last lap, he ended his season in fifth place in the series points. “Josh has done a great job and is really an asset to the team,” said Cafro.
MRC Team Rider Julie Russell finished second in the Women’s A Class championship points chase. “She worked hard all year and it showed,” said Cafro. “Her lap times became faster at each race.”
Team MCR uses K&N air and oil filters, part numbers
RU-4740,
KN-116 and
HA-4506-T. “K&N is our biggest defense against dust and dirt,” said Cafro. “K&N is always the one product we don’t have to worry about. K&N performs every time.”
Over the next few weeks the team will take some time off before they begin to prepare for the 2010 season. “We’ll be back
in the New Year ready to defend our championship,” said Cafro.
