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Vaughn Gittin Jr. drives the 2010 Falken Tire Ford Mustang
Even through the obstacles that he faced this season, Vaughn Gittin Jr. fought his way to third place in points
Going into the final round of the 2009 season of Formula Drift, Chris Forsberg, driver of the NOS Energy Drink Nissan 350Z, and Vaughn Gittin Jr., driver of the 2010 Falken Tire Ford Mustang, sit in first and third place, respectively.
Chris and his team choose to equip their winning NOS Energy Drink Nissan 350Z with K&N Filters
Chris Forsberg is at the podium for the third time this season
Chris Forsberg is the only driver to stand atop the podium three times this season. He dominated the competition and took first place at both Round 2 in Atlanta and Round 5 in Seattle, and also placed third at Round 4 in Las Vegas. "The car is the number one key ingredient for our team's success this year," says Chris. "We are running the same car that has taken us to the podium several times in the last couple of seasons."
Chris and his team choose to equip their winning machine with K&N Filters. "We require the best filtration for our engines," says Chris. "An engine's air filter is the only barrier between its delicate internal parts and the smoke, rubber, and debris that we are constantly driving through while drifting."
With more than a 50-point lead in the chase for the Championship, Chris looks to have first place locked down going into the final round at Irwindale Speedway, otherwise known as the "House of Drift." Chris's strategy to maintain first place "will not be very different than that of any other round," he says. "Because there are no seeded drivers this year, we focus all of our efforts on qualifying. Once we have achieved that goal, we can look towards top 32 tandem, and so forth."
Even with the obstacles that he has faced this season, Vaughn Gittin Jr. has fought his way to third place in points, after taking second place at Round 2 in New Jersey and fourth place at Round 5 in Seattle. The 2010 Falken Tire Ford Mustang takes quite a beating from Vaughn's heavy right foot, but keeps going strong with the help of the Falken Tire crew, as well as the reliability of K&N Filters.
"We use K&N Filters because they are the best on the market," says Vaughn. "They offer the best flow for our high horsepower and they have the best filtration out there."
Vaughn has fought his way to the very top of the podium at Irwindale Speedway three times before in his successful career. He made history in 2005 when he won the D1GP USA vs. Japan, and again in 2007 when he won the prestigious D1GP World Championship. Vaughn was also the winner of Formula Drift Round 7 at Irwindale Speedway last season.
"Going into Irwindale, my confidence is extremely high," says Vaughn. "I love the track and the crowd is always insane. I'm going to go out there and drive as hard as I possibly can, and as smart as I possibly can. Hopefully I can move into second place, or at least maintain my third place in the Championship."
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 supports stunt riders like Randy Callicoat who finished 13th in XDL round 3
Bill Dixon accepts first place plaque for Individual Freestyle at Toyota Speedway in Irwindale, California
K&N air and oil filter helps “Krazy” Kyle Rapport finish 8th in Individual Freestyle at XDL round 3
Stunt Rider Bill Dixon wins the Individual Freestyle contest at XDL Round 3
K&N Circle Challenge champion Luke Emmons
Eric Whitcomb said he receives more power when using K&N Air Filters
Started in 2005, the XDL Sportbike Freestyle Championship was created to give sportbike riders a means in which to connect the growing stunt riding culture with mainstream sports fans. Randy Grub, an event promoter, saw potential in stunt riding and created a series. According to Grub, XDL is a “culture first and a sport second. The XDL Freestyle Championship combines urban culture, music and style more akin to skateboarding competition than an AMA Superbike race.”
Grub said “XDL has doubled in size each year.” The number of professional level freestyle athletes is growing and the competition is becoming fierce. Grub would eventually like to see sportbike freestyle competition make it into the X-Games. “I look for strong brand names like K&N; which align with the XDL image,” he said, “Corporate sponsorship is really important to the series.”
XDL competition consists of several events. Most notably is the individual freestyle contest; which decides the national championship. During this event, athletes are given three minutes to piece together a run that covers all the required competitive elements. Other events include the Sickest Trick, Freestyle Burnout, and Circle Challenge competitions. For round three at Toyota Speedway in Irwindale, CA K&N was the title sponsor of the Circle Challenge. The K&N Circle Challenge is a head-to-head event in which riders compete to be the first to finish 10 circle wheelie rotations.
K&N caught up with several of its sponsored sportbike freestyle athletes during qualifying. “Krazy” Kyle Rapport, a 24-year old hailing from Santa Ana, California, qualified well and had a strong finish in the Individual Freestyle event. Kyle finished eighth in round three and currently sits 12th overall in XDL Championship FMF Cup Points standings.
Krazy Kyle rides a 2003 Kawasaki ZX6R 636 with stunt modifications; which include: a rear handbrake, cages to protect the engine, and K&N products. Kyle protects his valuable engine with K&N air filter part number
KA-6003 and wrench-off oil filter part number
KN-204. “My bike runs awesome,” said Rapport “K&N is awesome!”
Also in attendance at XDL round three was K&N sponsored athlete Randy Callicoat. Callicoat drove to Irwindale,
California from Arizona. Randy said he picked K&N high-flow air and oil filters for high-performance bikes because they cover the two biggest maintenance products found on his stunt bike. Callicoat had a strong finish in round three, managing 13th place and is 17th overall in points. Randy said “I would like to thank K&N for supporting stunt riders and for helping to make stunting mainstream.”
Eric Whitcomb, a K&N supported Corona, California athlete, made a strong showing in the Aprilia All-Star Challenge. Whitcomb runs K&N products both in his competition bike and the truck that he uses for traveling to events. “With K&N air and oil filters my stunt bike gets more power in the low end," said Whitcomb. "I can also feel the increased horsepower I received when I installed a K&N air intake system on my truck. You can’t go wrong with K&N.”
Follow Rapport, Callicoat, Whitcomb and the whole XDL Freestyle Championship throughout the season at the K&N news site.
The Ford powered K&N Black Stallion and Ford powered K&N Iron Warrior were part of the Monster Truck Invasion in Winchester, Virginia. Driver Michael Vaters organized the motorsports event and brought in a lot of the Monster Truck heavy hitters.
Trey Myers in the Ford powered K&N Iron Warrior took the racing win in Winchester, Virginia
Ford Powered K&N Black Stallion launched skyward and demonstrated Michael Vaters driving skills
Avenger, driven by Steve Koehler, Chris Bergeron drove Brutus, Jay Snyder was behind the wheel of the Screamin’ Demon, Tim Bee in the Killer Bee and Tim Mente drove Storm Damage played in front of the crowd.
Michael Vaters in the Ford powered K&N Black Stallion took the Freestyle win with his wild and crazy exhibition
The Avenger Monster Truck flips over during Freestyle Action in Winchester, Virginia
Rain and dangerous thunder storms moving through the area cancelled Friday night’s event, but the system passed through and the Saturday event held a full house of Monster Truck fans.
The evening started out with the Wheelie contest. Each driver put big air under the trucks but Michael Vaters in the Ford powered K&N Black Stallion took the wheelie win.
The track was wet from all the rain but the track crew did its best to keep it in shape. Round one racing paired the Ford powered K&N Iron Warrior, driven by Trey Myers against Killer Bee. Myers moved on to the next round. Brutus beat Screamin’ Demon and the Ford powered K&N Black Stallion beat Avenger. In the end it was Black Stallion paired against team mate Trey Myers in Iron Warrior. The wet track worked out well for Myers in the Iron Warrior. His gears allowed the truck’s tires to dig into the dirt and he beat Black Stallion in the finals.
In the freestyle competition Monster Trucks skated across the track and went high in the air. The 700 pound tires slid the trucks in circles for the cyclone donuts. Michael Vaters won the freestyle event in the Ford powered K&N Black Stallion.
Vaters uses K&N products. “We use K&N air and oil filters,” he said. “We’re hard on motors at every race and K&N protects our engines. K&N can handle the Monster Truck scene.”
On Sunday, the wheelie contest was the first event of the day. Each truck launched off the cars and went high into the air. Freestyle action was high and tight as the drivers maneuvered the huge trucks and demonstrated their driving skills. The Avenger flipped over his truck toward the end of his exhibition and Vaters took the second freestyle win of the weekend.
The Black Stallion Team next heads out to the West End Fair in Gilbert, Pennsylvania.
Australian rider Jason Crump increased his lead in the World Championship Grand Prix Series at Vojens Stadium in Denmark. He remains in the points lead despite missing out on the Grand Prix final for the first time in eight rounds.
Australian Jason Crump has a 36 point lead in the World Speedway Grand Prix with only three rounds left in the series
Jason Crump missed out on the Grand Prix final for the first time in eight rounds at Vojens in Denmark after losing to Poland's Sebastian Ulamek
Crump was squeezed out of the semi-finals of the FIM Dansk Metal Nordic SGP after losing out to Poland’s Sebastian Ulamek in Heat 18.
Australian Jason Crump, Sweden's Niels Kristian Iversen and Poland's Grzegorz Walasek at Vojens Stadium in Denmark
Jason Crump and Russian Emil Sayfutdinov in the FIM Dansk Metal Nordic SGP at Vojens
“It was not a good day at the office,” said Crump. “I was too slow letting the clutch out and couldn’t get to the first corner quick enough. I have to work out what I did wrong and make sure I don’t do it again for the next GP.
Crump could only manage eight points from his five rides and thought his lead in the championship would be whittled away. But his main challengers also had problems. Poland’s Tomasz Gollob only picked up seven points and may have fractured two ribs in the race. American Greg Hancock only picked up ten points despite reaching the semi finals. As a result, Crump’s 35 point cushion before the meeting became 36 points after the race.
“The bikes were fine,” said Crump. “It was me that was out of tune. It’s amazing that I increased my lead in the championship so I’m happy about that.”
There are three rounds left in the World Speedway Grand Prix and Crump hopes to become a three time world champion. “In my sport filtration is the most important thing for reliability,” said Crump. “Reliability wins
me races and World Championships and that is why I rely on K&N bike filters. I race on the dirt and keeping the dirt out of the engine is critical along with letting my engines breathe for maximum performance. K&N works every time.”
Round eight of the Speedway Grand Prix World Championship takes place at Krsko in Slovenia on September 12.
“The weekend was one of ups and downs” according to Del Rougeux Jr. of Rougeux Motorsports. The Frenchville, Pennsylvania racer drives his Chevy powered race car in the Big Block Dirt Modified Division. According to Rougeux, “Friday night did not start out the way any driver or crew wants it to.” Rougeux was involved in a first lap wreck during his heat race at Lernerville Speedway. Considerable damage to the front suspension ended his night.
Frenchville, Pennsylvania racer drives Chevy powered race car in the Big Block Dirt Modified Division
Realizing that wrecks are part of racing, Rougeux Motorsports kept their noses to the grindstone and managed to rebuild the car in time for Saturday night’s Bill Emig Memorial Race at Mercer Raceway Park. “Mercer Raceway Park has not been one of the kindest tracks to me,” said Del. However, by the end of his 8-lap heat race the car was handling well and Rougeux took third. By the luck of the draw Del pulled a number one and started the main event in the pole position. Rougeux led the first 5 of 25 laps before
a second place competitor made a successful pass for first. The crew made a few adjustments to the car under caution and with 9 laps remaining Del chased down the leader. “On the restart, I took the lead back,” he said. Hardwork and determination paid off for the Rougeux Motorsports team. At the end of 25 laps Rougeux won his first race at Mercer Raceway Park in Mercer, Pennsylvania.
Dirt Modified racer will hit the road with K&N air filters for his next events in central New York
Del Rougeux Jr. won his first race at Mercer Raceway Park in Mercer, Pennsylvania
“The car handled perfectly everywhere I took it on the track,” said Del, whose car was not the only thing that worked perfectly for him. “We race in very dusty conditions. When I pull my K&N air filter off after a race there is absolutely no dirt in my carburetor. The seal on the K&N air filter lid also does a great job of preventing debris from passing by the air filter element.”
In addition to K&N Air filters, Rougeux uses K&N’s wrench-off oil filter. “The K&N oil filter is great, with all the movement and ruts we deal with on the track, there is never any pressure fluctuation on the gauge,” he said.
Unfortunately, Sunday was another tough night for the Rougeux Motorsports team. During a battle for the lead in his heat race, a broken rear axle forced him to retire from Sunday’s race. Rougeux faced some challenges over the weekend but said the victory Saturday night was one that was much needed.
Another busy weekend of racing is ahead for Rougeux and his team. They’ll be traveling to central New York for two more races in Brewerton and Canandaigua before heading home to the Tri City Speedway for Sunday’s race. Follow the Rougeux Motorsports Team's progress throughout the racing season at the K&N news site.
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