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Kody & Tanner Swanson Make History at USAC Silver Crown with a Sweep at Lucas Oil Raceway

Sep 20, 2013

Although racing on opposing teams, Kody and Tanner Swanson are very close and actually enjoy the competition.

Kody and Tanner Swanson recently pulled into Clermont, Indiana with anticipations of what lie in store. The brothers were both geared up and eager to compete in the USAC Silver Crown at the Lucas Oil Raceway.

Having been raised in a racing family, the Swanson brothers share a lot of common interests and have a great relationship. However, the drivers entered the event representing opposing teams. Kody would be manning the #63 car owned by DePalma Motorsports, while his brother would be driving Bowman/Canine Racing's #11 car.

Cody and Tanner Swanson recently set a new record in the world of racing, being the first two brothers to sweep a USAC Silver Crown with first and second places.

In reference to competing against his brother, Kody said, "I don't know that we talk much smack between one another, but we do have fun giving each other a hard time once in a while. It's fun to race with him, because I know he races hard and clean."

Recalling the Lucas Oil Raceway event at Clermont, Kody continued, We had a good battle for the lead for a few laps. But he was just too strong to really challenge much in this one."

Both Kody and Tanner proved their worth during the qualifying round. Hitting the track first, Tanner Swanson logged a 21.169-second lap, deeming him the fourth quickest. The last car to qualify, Kody set the bar with a 21.047-second lap, earning his second consecutive pole position.

Kody Swanson recently finished second in a USAC Silver Crown race behind his brother, Tanner.

When the waving of the green flag deemed the 100-lap race underway, Kody Swanson wasted no time taking the lead. But as could be expected, other drivers would challenge him as the race continued. In fact, 2008 series champion, Jerry Coons Jr. began to pressure Kody, and by lap 10 four cars were battling for the front position.

Tanner Swanson eventually battled his way into the second place spot, while Kody was still managing to hold the lead. This was turning out to be a show that the spectators wouldn't soon forget - two brothers going neck to neck for the top of the podium.

Kody managed to hold Tanner off during his first two attempts to pass. But in lap 15 the younger of the two drivers took one more shot at earning the first position. Driving low in turn three, Tanner managed to maneuver around Kody and never looked back.

Nearly one-half lap in front of the field by lap 50, Tanner continued to pursue the finish line. And after the race's only yellow caution, Kody muscled himself behind his brother for one more go at the lead. However, Tanner wouldn't have it and once again began distancing himself from the field. And at the waving of the checkered flag, the Swanson brothers had managed to secure the first and second place positions, setting a new record. They were the first brothers in history to "Sweep a USAC Silver Crown Race first and second."

When asked what separates the Swanson brothers from their competitors, Kody said, "Tanner and I have really done well in the Silver Crown series. They are the heaviest open-wheeled cars that USAC runs, and they run the longest races. So fuel loads change and tires wear out, making them the hardest to manage and adapt to throughout the course of the race. I think Tanner and I have been really fortunate at grasping what it takes to be competitive at the end of those longer races."

The Swanson Brothers are also acutely aware that there are elements of success, other than good driving skills, as well. In reference to the importance of the team, Kody explained, "You simply can't have success without a team behind you. I've been plenty fast driving for a lot of teams, but you won't have real success by just being fast. If your team's not able to match a commitment to success, all you're left with are DNFs and thoughts of what could have been. This year, I've really been fortunate to have met great new teams to work with, and it's been a great experience. They all want to win as bad as I do, and it shows in the way they've all prepared cars to compete."

Having been around the sport of racing since childhood, Kody and Tanner Swanson are also strong advocates of proper maintenance. That in mind, they wouldn't settle for anything but the best for their filtering needs.

"In my experience, K&N products have been the best at doing what we need them to, and we've been using them for as long as I can remember," shared Kody. "They have been the best in air filtration, and now oil. They've been something that we can rely on to help us protect our valuable investment. They are the kind of products you trust to do their job from the drop of the green flag all the way to victory lane."

As the USAC season nears its end, Kody and Tanner are already looking forward to the future. "Things will be slowing down in the midwest by the end of September, but there are more races out in California and Arizona all through November," explained Kody. "While I don't have finalized plans to race out there yet, I'm looking for a ride and hoping to make the trip."

In reference to Tanner's plans, he continued, "He will be busy on the west coast, continuing to compete in USAC's Western Midget series and the Bay Cities Racing Association Midgets." In closing, Kody said, "Tanner has had a great season out there and looks to finish strong."

Related K&N News Articles about Tanner and Kody Swanson: TK Motorsports' Tanner Swanson WINS in Must See Racing Super Modified (MSRXSS) Debut; Kody Swanson and Brother Tanner Tear Up the Dirt at the Winter Dirt Games in Ocala; The Swanson Brothers Sweep One-Two in the 2011 Turkey Night Sprints Race; Kody Swanson Wins Big at Toledo Speedway Leading Every Lap of the Rollie Beale 150; Kody and Tanner Swanson finish 1st & 3rd in USAC Silver Crown at Lucas Oil Raceway; Kody and Tanner Swanson Sweep "Thursday Night Thunder" at Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis

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RTR Drift Team & Vaughn Gittin Jr Gain Formula Drift Championship Points at Joint Base Lewis-McChord

Sep 19, 2013

Although a transmission failure ended his run in round 5, Vaughn Gittin Jr. still made a big move forward in the overall championship points race.

Only a stone's throw from Seattle, Washington, Evergreen Speedway boasts some of the most ardent Formula Drift fans found anywhere on the circuit. And, for the second year in a row, the Pacific Northwest devotees bought up every ticket and filled every available space to witness Round 5 - "Throwdown."

K&N's Vaughn Gittin Jr. qualified in 4th place out of over 50 drivers at Evergreen Speedway.

The sold-out crowd watched as Vaughn Gittin Jr. and the RTR Drift Team qualified in 4th place out of over 50 drivers, and then cheered him on as he fought his way through Chris Jeanneret in the top 32 and Dennis Mertzanis in the top 16, to meet Formula Drift's 2011 "Rookie of the Year," Aurimas Bakchis in the Great Eight. Unfortunately the random race gods decreed Vaughn's battle would end that day with the top-8, as a broken dog-ring in the transmission refused to allow his car to remain in gear, resulting in more than one uncharacteristic mistake and ultimately costing him the battle.

Over a 1000 fans welcomed Vaughn Gittin Jr. and Ryan Tuerck to Joint Base Lewis-McChord for a much deserved day of fun and festivities.

"This was our first mechanical failure in years and while I am gutted at the result we were forced to deal with, I am very happy with our performance overall," said Gittin Jr. "I feel my team and I were flawless all weekend and we gained some very significant points towards the overall Championship. I am pumped to head to Texas next! We have a huge fan base there and I'm really glad Formula Drift has decided to have an event there. It is a brand new track, so it will be a good fun challenge to adapt to for everyone."

HPI Racing provided R/C car entertainment at Evergreen Speedway.

With his top-8 finish, Gittin Jr. moved up significantly in points, and currently sits only 21 points behind the first place leader. The day after Formula Drift round 5, Gittin Jr. and the RTR Drift Team made their way to Joint Base Lewis-McChord, in order to put smiles on a lot of faces by performing drift demos and giving rides to the troops. Gittin Jr. was drifting his Monster Energy Nitto Tire Ford Mustang RTR, while fellow Formula Drift driver and Drift Alliance friend, Ryan Tuerck drove a Mustang RTR Spec 2. Monster Energy was hanging out as well, giving out beverages, HPI Racing provided R/C car fun, and Ford was onsite giving away t-shirts. A crowd of over 1000 came out to enjoy the festivities, and the event proved to be heartwarming success for everyone there.

"We had a complete blast at JBLM [Joint Base Lewis-McChord]," added Gittin Jr., "We gave a ton of troops rides and put smiles on many faces. It feels good to pump the troops up!"

Next up for Vaughn Gittin Jr. and the RTR Drift Team on the Formula Drift circuit, they head to Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas September 13-14 for Round Six.

Related K&N News Articles about Vaughn Gittin Jr.: Vaughn Gittin Jr. Takes Second in North American Professional Drifting Season Opener in Long Beach; Formula Drift Driver Matt Field Challenges Vaughn Gittin Jr. at Evergreen Speedway; Vaughn Gittin Jr. Leads Formula Drift Championship After Second Win in a Row; Vaughn Gittin Jr. Earns Formula Drift Victory in "The Gauntlet" at Wall Stadium; Vaughn Gittin Jr. and RC Drift Car Spread Viral Automotive Video Fever

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Bradley Morris Wins TORC World Championship Race and Sets Crandon International Raceway Track Record

Sep 19, 2013

Bradley Morris put a beat-down on the field at Crandon International Raceway, sweeping the weekend in Pro Buggy and earning his first World Championship title.

Every Bradley Morris story we've posted lately isn't merely about him winning races, they're about ridiculous displays of utter domination by a 16-year-old. Everybody figured it was kinda cute when the K&N kid first busted onto the scene hot, reasoning that it was simply a case of being too young to realize he shouldn't be going that fast, and that it would soon pass. That's not happening though, in fact Morris continues to make a mockery of the learning curve, and he's leaving veteran champions scratching their noodles looking for answers.

The BME Motorsports team traveled from the LOORRS event in Reno straight to the World Championship in Crandon, Wisconsin.

"It's basically just me really trying to focus in on racing, and setting everything else aside to try to win races, and do the best I can at what I love," is how Morris explains his extraordinary 2013 season. "I give every race all I have and all my focus is on being the best I can be."

Every fall the Traxxas TORC Series convenes at Crandon International Raceway for their World Championship weekend. To be clear, the World Championship race is separate from the season-long TORC series championship chase, Luke Johnson won the 2013 TORC Championship, but the World Championship race was flat-out subjugated by Morris. In the Pro Buggy World Championship contest Morris battled with Johnson for the first few laps on Saturday, but once Morris got a feel for the track, he pulled away and continued to extend his lead every lap until the checkered.

Bradley Morris remarked that winning the TORC World Championship race at Crandon International Raceway was beyond description.

"It's great to see all the hard work we have put into the buggy pay off, and show everyone how fast we are and how precise we have been on the set-up of the buggy this whole year," remarked Morris. "And it's my first World Championship, so it means more to me than words can describe."

The persuasive victory earned Morris his World Championship race title and his first championship ring. Then, riding the enormous wave of momentum into Sunday's race, Morris once again pulled away from everyone else in the latter laps, winning that race as well and sweeping the weekend.

And mind you Morris isn't even a TORC series regular, his series of choice is the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series, where he's currently in second place overall in Pro Buggy. Morris also left the Crandon International Raceway regulars with a little something to think about after he's gone by setting a new track record in Pro Lite.

Bradley Morris also set a new Crandon International Raceway Pro Lite track record.

"Breaking the Pro Lite track record at Crandon [Crandon International Raceway] is a huge accomplishment for me," added Morris. "Knowing that I beat so many people I look up to that have held the record before like, Jeff Kinkaid and Chad Hord that were so dominating in Pro Lite is a huge confidence boast."

In Saturday's Pro Lite race Morris managed to finish 5th after getting banged around and pushed off the track. Then on Sunday Morris had a great start coming out of turn one in second place. He clashed with the leader for a few laps and finally took the lead, until he lost his transmission with only a few turns remaining in the race, resulting in him battling for 3rd.

team had traveled to Wisconsin for the World Championship straight from Reno, Nevada after completing Rounds 11 and 12 of LOORRS. To go along with his 2nd place in that Championship Pro Buggy points chase, Morris has also now moved up to 4th overall in Pro Lite based on his showing there.

"Everyone around me helps me keep humble," answers Morris as to how he remains grounded. "I know I'll never be too good to stop working on my own racecars, because when you don't know what's going on, you don't know what effect any changes will have on them, so I just try to learn as much as I can from everyone around me."

Class is back in session for Bradley Morris and the BME Motorsports team September 20th when LOORRS visits Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Related K&N News Articles about Bradley Morris and Glen Helen Raceway: K&N's Bradley Morris Caps Off a Rocky Weekend with Two Sunday Podiums at Lake Elsinore; K&N's Bradley Morris Dominates LOORRS at Glen Helen Raceway for Second Year in a Row; Bradley Morris Finishes 2012 3rd in Pro Lite & Modified Kart, 2nd in Limited Buggy; Bradley Morris Rules LOORRS Prolite Class in Rounds 9 & 10 at Glen Helen Raceway; K&N Filters Bradley Morris Becomes a Fixture on The Podium During LOORS Events

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Kevin Fisher Charges to Final for First Top Dragster Victory at Grand Bend Motorplex

Sep 19, 2013

Kevin Fisher gets his first IHRA Ironman at IHRA Mopar Nitro Jam Nationals at Grand Bend Motorplex. Photo by: BME Photography.

Perseverance prevailed for Performance by Fisher Racing's Kevin Fisher during the team's recent trip north of the border for the IHRA Mopar Nitro Jam Nationals. During the first race of the weekend, the Lima, Ohio based driver wheeled the K&N/Ohio Crankshaft/Armor Coat Top Dragster to not only his first final in the ultra-quick sportsman class, but put a period on the day's race by taking the win light in the final for his career first IHRA Ironman.

K&N/Ohio Crankshaft/Armor Coat Top Dragster takes Kevin Fisher to Victory at IHRA Mopar Nitro Jam Nationals. Photo by: BME Photography.

"This has been such a long time coming," admitted an elated Fisher. "I cannot begin to express the feeling of getting rid of that monkey and putting this Ohio Crankshaft/K&N ride where she belongs. We certainly have a race car now and have finally been able to get a better grasp of the combo that we started running last season. The work and support from all involved has ultimately provided the results we have been striving for."

Although the IHRA event at Grand Bend Motorplex was an all-run for the Top Dragster class, or a non-qualified field, Fisher's entry proved to be the quickest sportsman car on the grounds. The 547ci BBC and it's F2 Pro Charger combination opened time runs for Top Dragster with a 6.45 and would stay in the 40's throughout the event.

"There were a couple of time runs for all sportsman classes Friday evening," Fisher pointed out. "We knew that the weather conditions on Saturday were going to be so much different. It was really hot and humid Friday with temps in the mid-nineties and water grains around 125, we elected to hold off until Saturday to make any laps. It turned out to be a good decision, since we still were able to make two before eliminations and both were in the 6.40's."

Top Dragster driver Kevin Fisher grabs victory in his first final racing sportsman class at Grand Bend Motorplex. Photo by: BME Photography.

Fisher's opening round of Top Dragster would find him paired with Chris Cadle and he took his slight starting line advantage on to the stripe for 6.481 on his 6.46 dial and the first win of the day. Next he would face Kevin Knight and with a .009 to Knight's .044 at the tree, Fisher was well on his way to a second round victory even before Knight's car broke shortly past the eighth mile mark.

"As we went through the day, the track was really starting to pick up some heat," he noted. "By the time we got into the third round, the temp was up to 133 and even though the starting line was still good, it was down track where she was searching and wanting to use up more than 1320 feet. This was a run where I knew I had scrubbed some off going down track, just by the way she was moving around on me. I knew I was safe and just kept my foot in it."

Again Fisher left the starting line with a slight advantage over his competitor, Tom Orr and with a 6.495 on a 6.48 to Orr's 6.872 on a 6.89 breakout, Fisher was headed to the Top Dragster semi-finals.

"There was a small moment of excitement in the staging lanes prior to that run," he added. "I was already strapped in and ready to go when I hear some commotion from behind me. They said the coil mount had broken and it was only partially attached. I surprised we didn't see that earlier, but they threw a quick zip tie on it and it was just enough to barely make it through that pass. We were able to get what we needed to fix it thanks to Dave Elrod and be ready for the semi's."

Continuing his streak of better reaction times, Fisher launched to a nice .014 advantage over Melanie Simmons-Salemi, catching her well before the stripe for that exact margin of victory. Fisher was now headed to his first Top Dragster final where he would face Ron Biondo.

"They called all of the finalists up to the lanes, since we were supposed to run right after Top Fuel," he explained. "Well, a fuel altered or something completely oiled the track and we were all up there hanging around for quite some time. The sun was starting to go down behind the tower and the track temp was really coming down. Shortly before they started back up again, we checked and it was down to 94. I knew it should really pick my sixty foot back up again and just hoped I was putting the right number on the car. We already had runner-up and that wasn't what we were there for. It was time to go for it and get the job done."

Now 9:30pm and three hours after the Top Dragster semi-final round, Fisher lined his Ohio Crankshaft/K&N ride up for his first true shot at the Ironman. Dialing down to a 6.45 for the final, he kept up his string of better reaction times after Biondo left with a .036 light to his .028. He easily tracked Biondo down and dumped to a 6.508 for his first ever IHRA Pro-Am victory.

"I told Ron before the final, when we were all hanging in the staging lanes during the clean-up, that I owed him one after Pittsburgh," Fisher said jokingly. "I had run him in both races there earlier this year, one where I messed up and the other the car just couldn't get there. Needless to say, I felt like the odds should at least be in my favor."

"I am so thrilled to have accomplished this for all who have been involved and behind this car," said Fisher. "It has really been quite a joint effort and making the switch from trying to run the nitrous alcohol and gas set up to the Pro Charger was a fantastic move for this car. Sure, we know we still have a few items that we are working on to iron out, but for all the fantastic people, companies and their top-notch products, this was for them. First, it's such a great privilege to have been able to work on this project with Stan & Scott Ray and the entire crew at Ohio Crankshaft."

"The custom K&N filter that Jere Wall deigned and fabricated just for our combination is nothing short of fantastic and really helped us get this thing dialed in compared to last season," Fisher stressed. "That filter is in addition to many of the small breather type K&N filters on various tanks on the car and the K&N billet reusable oil filter. We are still huge fans of the Wrench-off K&N Oil Filters that we used on both cars for many years, but this new reusable filter is nothing short of awesome when it comes to quick changes and the conveniences it offers."

"I can't begin convey how happy I am to be able to get this win for everyone involved," he added. "What a great team of people and companies we are privileged to work with."

Fisher's road to his first Top Dragster victory at Grand Bend Motorplex will be featured on an upcoming episode of the team's online reality show, "Married With Dragsters", now in its third season.

"Canada races have always been good to our team for some reason," Fisher added. "We don't get a chance to race up here every season, but this was our team's fourth final up here and three of those coming right here at Grand Bend Motorplex. The Canadian fans are just something else and we really appreciate them coming out and supporting this event each year. It's always a great time and to get my first win here will always be memorable."

Related K&N News Articles about Kevin Fisher and Fisher Racing: Right to the Top for Kevin Fisher's Top Dragster with Special Engineered K&N Filter; National TV Host Kathy Fisher Puts K&N Dragster Into Final During IHRA Event in Michigan; Flashy Debut for Kathy Fisher's New K&N Engineering Dragster - Fans Join Celebration at Norwalk; K&N Engineering Expands Partnership with NHRA/IHRA Racer and TV Personality Kathy Fisher

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K&N’s Steve Williams Earns Back-to-Back NHRA Super Comp National Wins

Sep 19, 2013

Steve Williams earns Wally at the NHRA Sonoma Nationals

Steve Williams has been quickly adding to his NHRA National Event Wally collection during the 2013 racing season and after his stops in Sonoma, California for the NHRA Sonoma Nationals and the following weekend in Seattle, Washington for the O'Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Northwest Nationals, the V.P. at K&N Engineering racked up two more victories in his Super Comp dragster. The wins brought his Super Comp total to five, and with his Super Gas win at Topeka earlier in the season, a career tally of seven overall.

K&N V.P. Steve Williams at the NHRA Sonoma Nationals

The Beaumont, California resident was again doing double duty in two NHRA categories, both Super Gas and Super Comp, but it was his TNT dragster and its 622ci power plant that would carry him to his first Super Comp win of the season at Sonoma.

"Sometimes you drive really well and you don't have any results to show for it," explained Williams of the rounds at Somona. "The next thing you know you get all kinds of crazy luck and I would describe Sonoma that way. Although I drive pretty well in some rounds, there was just crazy stuff going like in the second round, Autostart didn't work. The starter had to override it and on the Racepak it showed we were on the transbrake for three and a half seconds."

Steve Williams and Family in Victory Lane at the NHRA Sonoma Nationals

"I was running Justin Davis and he actually lifted off the throttle and I'm in the middle of lifting and turning my head and by then the tree comes on," he continued. "So, it was just one of those crazy rounds. In that situation, since I've raced long enough, experience just takes over and you know since you have lifted off the throttle, you know you are not going to be fast enough and I just hit the override and made sure I took the winlight."

Steve Williams earns Wally at the O'Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Northwest Nationals

Williams went on to send both Cody Perkins and Michael Winston home early in Super Comp and was still on a roll in his '63 K&N Corvette roadster in the 9.90 Super Gas category.

"I think the hardest thing for me was we ran late Saturday night and at that point I was still in with both cars," he reflected. "At both Sonoma and Seattle, they have a track that faces directly into the sun as it sets. In hindsight, I probably should have told Mark that I couldn't see the tree because the only thing I could see was the white line between the stage bulb and I just never saw the tree come on," he admitted of his round in Super Gas. "I actually left after Rick [Beckstrom] left the line. You know, he had won coin toss and he put me in right lane, which is the one that makes you look right into the sun, and which you should do."

K&N V.P. Steve Williams at the O'Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Northwest Nationals

"Come Sunday, I'm still kind of stinging from all that because I have done pretty well in the Corvette and that was my last claiming national event," he said. "But somehow on Sunday, I sucked it up and in the fifth round the guy went red."

Williams had been dealing with an odd gremlin over the last few rounds in his K&N dragster, but where the car wasn't performing at its peak, his top end driving was.

"It was so strange, the dragster was dialed but on the starting line I kept having a bog in the throttle, which I never have a problem like that with my cars," he said. "So I missed the tree in the semis, but we had picked up about a 25mph tailwind and my guy was breaking out and I was able to get back on the good side of the number."

Steve Williams and Family in Victory Lane at the O'Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Northwest Nationals

But that's where it got really interesting for Williams.

"So before the final, we took the scoop off and we are scrambling to find out what was going on," he pointed out. "Well what had happened was the bracket for the return spring had come loose and had moved over and was keeping the front squirter from working. We tested it and it worked perfect."

Now Williams would face Ken Mostowich in the Super Comp final, and surprisingly, he was quite relaxed.

"With all the crazy things that had taken place, I was pretty laid back and I hit the tree pretty good," he noted. "For whatever reason, Ken was a little slow. I knew what his 1000 foot time was and by the time we got to that point I was already driving by him. I just squeezed the brake pedal down and the win light came on."

With barely a few days to enjoy his NHRA Sonoma Nationals Super Comp win, Williams was off to his next event and the O'Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Northwest Nationals, just outside of Seattle.

"Probably the only mistake I made at Seattle was being a little too conservative with the delay box," he confessed. "I had been struggling with the dragster and it started about Houston or so where I had been working with Gary Stinnett, trying to figure this out. Gary has been great trying to help get this car so it has a good combination where it is repeating and reliable on the starting line, but even at Seattle, I was still stuck on the sting of all the red lights during the first part of the year."

"First round was a killer one in Super Comp," explained Williams. "I raced one of the local guys up there and I was .013 and he was I think .021. He's 8.904 and I'm 8.907."

Williams also made it past first round of Super Gas in his Corvette, before bowing out in a tough lap against Val Torres in round two. Over in Super Comp, he had what he felt like was a lucky round when Tory Lea turned it .011 red. "I was a little late on the tree or I may not have got past that one," he said.

"After that, I was driving really well," he continued. "The weather didn't change much, maybe got just a little warmer. The car was just really good. The last couple of rounds, my guys were a little bit slow and for me that's perfect coming from behind."

Williams outdrove Brian Preszler, Thomas Bayer and Al Hampton on his way to meet up with Andy Morris in his second Super Comp final in as many weekends.

"The Morris family are really great people," he noted of his final round competition. "I've raced with Andy's dad for years and they are all good racers. I didn't want to give it away and I was still too conservative with the delay box and I probably should have taken ten [.010] out."

Williams grabbed a huge starting line advantage with his .029 to Morris' .072 light and easily parlayed that into the Super Comp win with an 8.945 to 8.929 holeshot lap.

"I knew I had at least two to three hundredths when we went past the tree," said Williams. "When you know where he should be at certain points on the track and I was quite a bit in front of him than I should have been, so I was bound and determined to take the win light. [laughs] I have to say, it was unexpected to win."

The O'Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Northwest Nationals Super Comp win made it three wins in a row for Williams in as many outings. "You just never know when the luck is going to change," he said of the feat. "But somehow it certainly makes up for all those redlights and 8.899 breakouts at the beginning of the season."

"Lots of things happened over the two weeks that were really great, like the new owners of K&N got to come to the winner's circle and see what NHRA championship racing is all about when I won at Sonoma," he noted. "My wife and daughter made the trip to both events, so they got to be there for the wins and when your family is there to share those moments with you, it just makes them extra special."

Williams knows that drag racing at this level takes quite a team of individuals and he is quite grateful for those who have played a part in all his successes over the years.

"Travis Hodges drives the K&N truck and trailer, and we build all our motors in-house here at K&N and John Reedy does a great job. Without those guys helping me, I could not race," he stated. "Without K&N supporting me and being so involved in racing [paused] I'm a very lucky man."

In addition to the long list of K&N products on both of Williams' NHRA national event winning rides, he adds thanks to several manufacturers he feels are all key components to his tremendous success.

"It's important to give these guys credit," he stressed. "Companies like Brodix, MBE, Sunset Racecraft, Hoosier Tires and Moroso. These are manufacturers that not only support me but all of us out there racing with their support of the sport and the outstanding products they manufacture. If they all didn't do the excellent job that they do, I wouldn't be able to win one race let alone put together a streak of wins."

Related K&N News Articles about Steve Williams: NHRA Kansas Nationals Super Gas Win at Heartland Park in Topeka, Kansas for K&N's Steve Williams; K&N's Steve Williams Rolls to Another NHRA Super Gas National Final in Las Vegas; K&N's Steve Williams Tunes Up for Indy With Super Comp Final in Seattle; K&N's Steve Williams Battles His Way to NHRA Super Comp Victory During Arizona Nationals

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