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Northern Michigan was the perfect winter venue for the Rally American Season opener. Driver Andrew Comrie-Picard (ACP) had a strong start to the season at the Sno Drift Rally with a podium finish.
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX driven by Andrew Comrie-Picard at Sno Drift Rally in Northern Michigan, photo courtesy of Rally America
ACP and co-driver Marc Goldfarb pulled into third place. They had to beat handling problems with their NOS Energy Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX. A braking problem with the team’s competition vehicle emerged early in the contest and cost them some time. They were able to take the Mitsubishi to the finish with a crew of technicians.
Andrew Comrie Picard will next race at the Rallye Perce-Neige Maniwaki in Quebec, Canada
In the only true winter rally in the Rally America Series, conditions are slick and drivers face a challenge of finding traction at high speeds on the ice and snow.
“In winter rallies there is a constant balance of deciding how hard to push and how to take as few risks as possible,” said Comrie-Picard. “It was a classic snow rally. Fortunately we stayed in and didn’t make any big mistakes.”
Comrie-Picard and the NOS Energy Mitsubishi shared the podium with Travis Pastrana, the winner in his factory Subaru WRX STi, along with second-place winner Tanner Foust in his Hyundai Tiburon. “We work in tough conditions with a motor built right to the edge of the envelope,” said Comrie-Picard. “K&N keeps contaminants out and has been our choice for a decade.”
ACP Rally’s next competition will be at the Rallye Perce-Neige Maniwaki in Quebec, Canada. ACP Rally won the event in 2007 and came in second place there in 2008.
Team Fun Center Suzuki hit great weather in San Francisco, California during the AMA Supercross West Coast Lites Series.
Team Fun Center Suzuki Rider Mike Lapaglia had mechanical issues at AT&T Park in San Francisco, California, photo by TonyScavo.com
AMA Supercross West Coast Lites Series Team riders drive 2009 Suzuki RMX 250s with K&N products, photo by TonyScavo.com
Team riders Cole Seely, Brady Sheren and Michael Lapaglia rode their 2009 Suzuki RMX 250s with K&N air (YA-2506XD) and oil (KN-207) filters at AT&T Park.
Team Fun Center Suzuki Riders Brady Sheren, Cole Seely and Michael Lapaglia will race next at Anaheim Stadium in California, photo by TonyScavo.com
Fun Center Suzuki Team Rider Brady Sheren made his first trip to the main at the AMA Supercross West Coast Lites Series in the Bay Area, photo by TonyScavo.com
In timed practice Seely came in at 22nd and Sheren 24th. Lapaglia suffered a mechanical issue and was only able to make one lap during the second session. That put
him in 40th place.
In heat one Seely got a great start coming around the first turn. He battled the entire six lap race against 2008 defending East Coast Supercross Champion Trey Canard. Seely was edged out of third place at the finish by Canard.
“Cole showed veteran form with the pressure that Trey applied during the heat,” said Team Manager Gregg Lynk. “Our team riders have been working really hard and it shows.”
Sheren and Lapaglia were in heat two. Lapaglia lost power because of a bad ignition system and he was only able to make it half-a-lap. Sheren managed to work his way up to eighth which gave him a trip to his first main event of the season. He went on to finish 18th.
In the main, Seely had another great start in third. He rode the pace of the front runners and stayed in the top five during the first eight laps. On lap nine, he struggled and went on to finish 11th.
Fun Center Suzuki Team will next race at Anaheim Stadium in California. It will be televised on SPEED-TV.
Jessica Maine - Professional Motorcycle Stunt Rider
Professional Motorcycle Stunt Rider Jessica Maine is a self professed motorhead. Early on, she was interested in engines and horsepower. Driving around in her Nissan Maxima, she would pretend it was a rally car until she destroyed its transmission. She went on to blow the motor of a 98 Cobra Mustang. Then, after seeing a bike pass her car on the freeway up on one wheel, Jessica knew that a motorcycle was going to be her next driving adventure. She became one of only a handful of professional female stunt riders, but stopped competing in order to do exhibition and event work, even becoming the spokesperson for Von Dutch Kustom Cycles.
Jessica Maine performing a wheelie for the crowd
Maine has found much success and she is thrilled to be sponsored by K&N. "I remember the first aftermarket part that I bought for my Maxima was a K&N filter and I rigged it myself to make it like a Cold Air induction system. I thought I was the coolest chick driving in my 4 door sedan! Now to actually be supported by K&N blows my mind."
Jessica owns several bikes, all of which are outfitted with K&N filters. Her 2004 Yamaha YZF R6 is her prized possession. "I learned how to wheelie and did my first track days on her," says Maine. "I only use K&N filters on my bikes, and even my trucks and I can really tell the difference. I swap out my stock air filters and immediately feel the increase in horsepower."
When asked about what the future holds, Maine says she has some exciting projects in the works, including making a documentary about the stunt riding lifestyle from a woman's point of view, and some TV appearances. "It's definitely cool being on television, but nothing beats having little kids ask me for an autograph. I was the first female to scrap the bar, park a bike on the 12 bar, and the first to use a hand brake, but there's always something else to accomplish. K&N makes great products and my association with them adds validity to my name and to my sport. K&N keeps me up on one wheel!"
Iron Warrior driven by Trey Myers is part of the Black Stallion Team
Michael Vaters said he always finds time for his fans at Monster Jam Events
Michael Vaters is also known as The Godfather of Thunder Nationals to his fans
Black Stallion took the wins in Monster Jam racing, wheelie and freestyle contests at the Alltel Arena in Little Rock, Arkansas
Michael Vaters is continually designing and improving truck parts for the Monster Jam Circuit
Iron Warrior Driver Trey Myers also made time for fans at the sold out Monster Jam event in Little Rock
The Thunder Nationals Monster Jam featured six monster trucks at the Alltel Arena in Little Rock, Arkansas. Black Stallion, Iron Warrior, Raminator, Rammunition, Predator and Prowler were in the spotlight.
Michael Vaters, owner and driver of Black Stallion showed the fans in Little Rock why he is known as the Godfather of the Thunder Nationals. The K&N sponsored driver took wins in Racing and
Wheelie contest Friday night. Vaters also took wins in Wheelie and freestyle contests Saturday night.
Vaters uses K&N air and oil filters on his Monster Trucks. “Over my many years in this business I’ve used a lot of products, but K&N is the one that can handle the dirty and dusty environment during Monster Jam competitions,” said Vaters. “We are known nationwide for our wild and crazy driving and the ability to push our engines to the limit. We’re hard on our motors and K&N gives us the protection we need for competition.”
The packed crowd was treated to some incredible action as the night began with a huge
Wheelie contest. The drivers were up against a long narrow arena that took a lot of skill to navigate through.
Iron Warrior driven by Trey Myers was the first one out. He slammed the stack and scored a 10 point run. Prowler, driven by Lenny Kuider scored a nine point run.
Geremie Dishman drove Rammunition up to the line and the big hemi powered Dodge flew across the stack line to finish with a 16 point run. When Mark Hall came to the line and scored 18.
It was still not over, Dale Mitchell pulled out Predator and scored a strong 16. “The crowd was in a fever pitch and knew we had a horse in the barn,” said Vaters. “That horse was Black Stallion. I reared up and sky rocked by Ford to the win with a 20 point run.”
Friday
Monster Wheelie results:
1. Black Stallion
2. Raminator
3. (Tie) Rammunition/Predator
4. Iron Warrior
5. Prowler
Monster Donut results:
1. Raminator
2. Predator
3. Black Stallion
4. Iron Warrior
5. Prowler
On Saturday, the stadium was packed to capacity. “When the crowd entered the building it looked like a Monster Jam palace,” said Vaters. “When they left it looked like a Monster Truck junkyard. It was a smashing testimonial to the raw talent of the six men and their monster size chariot’s of destruction.”
The judges wanted big air and held the drivers to task. Each one slammed his truck into the stack and the crowd was going crazy, said Vaters.
In the 2009 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, James Buescher will be the driver of the No. 10 International MaxxForce Diesel Ford F-150 for Circle Bar Racing.
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver James Buescher
Buescher will team with series veteran Rick Crawford, who will drive the No. 14 International Truck and Engine F-150. Buescher is on the hunt for Raybestos Rookie-of-the-Year honors with veteran crew chief James Jones. Jones has more than 25 years of racing experience
and has a proven track record working with young racing talent all the way to victory lane.
Buescher is only 18-years-old, but has an accomplished racing resume. He won national championships Bandoleros, Legend Cars and Late Models. In 2007 he was the youngest winner in ARCA RE/MAX Series history at USA International Speedway in Lakeland, Florida. In 2008, Buescher completed six NASCAR Nationwide Series races.
“As a driver, we are expected to perform on the race track,” said Buescher. “However, we are only as good as the parts and pieces that make up our trucks. At Circle Bar Racing, we only use K&N Filters in our Roush-Yates engines to provide the ultimate on-track performance. Our engine tuners performed off-season dyno testing that proves we receive maximum horsepower and reliability when we use K&N products in our Fords.”
Circle Bar Racing was established in 1978 and has competed in the Indianapolis 500, CART and NASCAR. “Circle Bar Racing has its roots in Ozona, Texas,” said Lisa Mitchell, Chief Operating Officer. “To have James, a true Texan, represent us is special. We’re looking for James to learn from Rick, make a strong bid for Rookie of the Year and add to the rich racing heritage my father established. Tom Mitchell has prided himself on helping drivers establish themselves in the sport and we feel that Circle Bar Racing can do the same for James.”
The 2009 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series commences on February 13 at Daytona International Speedway. It will be televised live on SPEED-TV.
