Latest News

IndyCar® Series Racer Dario Franchitti, Team Owner Michael Andretti
and ABC Sports Personality Jack Arute
Make Stop in Riverside at K&N Filters Headquarters
as Part of IndyCar® Series Green Flag Tour

RIVERSIDE, CA (2/24/2005) - As part of a cross country tour in preparation for the start of the 2005 season, the IndyCar® Racing Series Green Flag Tour made a stop Thursday afternoon at the world headquarters for K&N Engineering. Located in Riverside, California, K&N manufactures air filters and intake kits for most vehicles and for the past few years has been the only filter used in the IndyCar® Racing Series. K&N was recently named The Official Air Filter Used by the IndyCar® Series.

"Every IndyCar® Series team relies on K&N Filters to keep dirt and debris from damaging the engines on these impressive racecars. With an engine that costs roughly $125,000 you want the protection of a great filter and K&N provides that … they were an obvious choice for a stop on our tour," noted John Stewart, IndyCar® Series Senior Director of Sales & Business Development.

A bright yellow Chevrolet SSR Pace Truck arrived with K&N CEO Steve Rogers and Chief Administrative Officer, Melody Van Aken at the wheel while a helicopter carrying IndyCar® Series driver, Dario Franchitti, his team owner, Michael Andretti and ABC Sports Announcer, Jack Arute landed across the street at Johnson Machinery. The group made a brief tour of K&N's 280,000 sq. ft. manufacturing facility, and then took time to meet with K&N employees before departing to Los Angeles for the continuation of the Green Flag Tour.

"We were very excited to have the IndyCar® Series Green Flag Tour stop here at K&N. Our employees take great pride in the products we make here and this was an awesome opportunity for them to meet the people who race with K&N filters," commented K&N CEO Steve Rogers.

The IRL IndyCar® Series opens its 10th season of competition with the Toyota Indy 300 at 2 p.m. (EST) on March 6, 2005 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The race will be televised live on ESPN and the IMS Radio Network. The 2005 Menards Infiniti Pro Series season also opens on March 6 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The race will be televised by ESPN2 at 4 p.m. (EST) on March 17.

The Southern California Super Eliminator Association is pleased to announce that K&N Filters will be the series sponsor for the 2005 racing season. The SCSEA will kick off it’s 9th season of heads-up 7.90 racing on March 12th and 13th with the K&N Filters Super E Series at LACR. Saturday’s race sponsor is Engle Cams and Sunday’s sponsor is Charles Johnson Roofing, with K&N Filters sponsoring the entire 9 event series. Each race has a guaranteed purse of $1000 to the winner with a 12 car minimum, and the gates open at 7:30 am each day. Visit the SCSE website (http://www.super-eliminator.com) for more details.

Team Zip-Ty Reports on their two recent victories February 5th was the opening round of the AMA District 37 Big 6 Series. The series always draws a very large field of racers and spectators - this year's race, held in Taft, California was no exception. The Pro Team Race (with a large payback) gated over 40 Teams. Nathan Woods started for the team, and at the end of his 12 minute loop brought the bike in for Ty in 5th place. Ty left the pits and quickly started working his magic on the field. Nathan got back on the bike in a close 4th and once again rode a strong loop. On Ty's second loop he passed 3rd and 2nd places and pitted the bike on the heels of the Kurt Caselli's KTM. Nathan remained close, giving the bike back to Ty and allowing him to move the Team into the lead. At the end of the 90 minute race it was the Zip-Ty Racing Team in front and on top of the podium.

One week later, February 12th and 13th, was Round 2 of the WORCS series, held in Mesquite, Nevada. With close to 1000 entries, it was a great weekend for racing (other than a little rain from Mother Nature). In the Pro Main event on Sunday Ty Davis and Nathan Woods both Gated in the top 10 (Nathan - 4th and TY - 9th). And, by the end of the third lap it was Ty and Nathan leading the way. The two teammates rode strongly together, consistently pulling away from the field. Offroad racing is an exciting sport because the race is never over until it's over; and so it was on this day, that at about the 75 minute mark of the race Ty hit a large branch with his front caliper, rendering his front binders useless. Ty pitted, but it was decided that to repair the problem would take more time than was needed, so he rode the rest of the race with virtually "NO" front brake. At the end of the race it was Zip-Ty Racing's Nathan Woods on top of the podium, and Ty hanging on for a well-deserved 5th overall.

In the near future things don't readily slow down for the Team - in two weeks we are racing the Adalanto Grands Prix in California, and Round 3 of the WORCS series in Texas.

LONGS, SC -- The traditional gift for a five-year anniversary is something made of wood. However, please don't offer K&N Filters such a gift during its fifth consecutive season of involvement in the Hooters Pro Cup Series, because you will not find any pulp in its product.

The unique design of the K&N air filter, featuring multiple layers of oiled cotton fabric which captures airborne dirt particles, extends the life of an air filter nearly tenfold over the traditional disposable paper filters.

In 2005, Hooters Pro Cup drivers will continue to benefit from the cutting-edge filter company's involvement as K&N remains an "Official Contingency Sponsor" of the HPC Series.

"This season will be K&N's 5th Anniversary as a contingency sponsor with the Hooters Pro Cup Series, and we're proud of it," said Jeremy Subriar, K&N corporate race manager. "We know the series is an excellent breeding ground for the future stars of auto racing, and we are very excited to be part of such a competitive series."

As part of its ongoing contingency program, K&N will award the highest finisher using its products a $75 product certificate.

"K&N Filters continued involvement in the Hooters Pro Cup Series over the last five years is a prime example of its dedication to excellence in motorsports," said Tony Cox, USAR director of operations. "Through the years, we have enjoyed a good, mutually-beneficial relationship with K&N, and we see no reason the association will not continue-and grow-for many years to come."

RIVERSIDE, CA, (1/21/2005) - K&N Filters and Ivan Stewart have signed a multi-year agreement that positions K&N as the Official Air Filter and Oil Filter of the Ivan "Ironman" Stewart Protruck® Racing Series.

The agreement officially took effect at the SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge, January 13-16th.

"K&N's earliest products were designed for off-road racing more than 35 years ago and we have worked with Ivan "Ironman" Stewart many times in the past," commented K&N CEO Steve Rogers. "When Ivan came to us and said he wanted K&N to be the Official Air Filter and Oil Filter of his Protruck Racing Series we were excited about the opportunity to work together. Racers provide valuable input on the performance of our products and off-road racing is probably the most demanding proving ground for any product - especially filters. K&N uses feedback and testing from our racing efforts in the development and improvement of our products for street vehicles so we view partnerships like ours with the Protruck Racing Series as a natural extension of our research and development efforts and a vital part of our goal in keeping K&N as The World's Best Air Filter."

Ivan "Ironman" Stewart added, "Everyone knows K&N is the best choice for off-road filters. Their reputation has been top notch for decades and we are proud to have the K&N name associated with the Protruck Racing Series."

Ivan "Ironman" Stewart is the series founder of Protruck Racing Organization (PRO). Protruck is a "spec" racing series with the highest potential purse rewards of any dessert style racing class. The Protruck uses the latest technology in space frame construction to provide a high performance race truck, disguised under a stock appearing body, with body specific V-8 engine combinations. The trucks are designed as durable, cost efficient, dual purpose racing vehicles that work both as a short course and long course, high-speed racers. The popular Protrucks race as a special class at various events including the Best In The Desert, SCORE and the 500 & 1000-mile Mexico races, as well as in stand alone "Protruck Only" events. For information on PROTRUCK RACING ORGANIZATION, INC., please contact them at: 14402 Bond Ct., El Cajon, CA 92021, Phone (619) 390-6252, Fax (619) 390-6470, or online at http://www.protruck.com.