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Kyle currently sits in third place in the LOORS series, with Todd behind him in fourth and Curt holding on to the number eight spot.
During their last visit to Speedworld in Wittmann, Arizona, K&N sponsored team LeDuc Racing was literally and figuratively on fire. Kyle LeDuc won both rounds 11 and 12 of the 2011 Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series (LOORS), Todd eked out a hard fought third place, and patriarch Curt's truck caught flames. With only two laps to go, Curt's Ford caught fire in front of the grandstands, ending his day. The fire brought out the red flag which allowed Todd to be the benefactor of the bunched up field. Todd managed to pick off all but the top two trucks in the final laps to land himself on the podium next to his younger brother, racking up even more hardware for the ROCKSTAR Energy Drink / Makita Tools team. Kyle's back-to-back victories give him a huge bump in the overall points standing as he makes a push towards the series championship with three races remaining.
Kyle LeDuc endured triple-digit heat on his way to winning both round 11 and 12 in the 2011 Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series at Speedworld.
"Not many teams run multiple trucks; much less have two on the podium in the same race. It was great to get both Rockstar Energy Drink/Makita Tools Fords up there, the only thing left for us to do this year is to sweep the podium with all three LeDucs," Curt LeDuc told K&N News "Few things make you prouder as a father than to share the podium with your sons, but seeing my two boys up there together, and knowing how much time and preparation it took them at the shop before the race to claim those trophies, are memories and accomplishments that will never be replaced."
Curt wasn't injured as it was only grease from a hub that caught fire when the brakes got hot. "The fire did bring out the red flag though, and that helped Todd catch up to the field and get on to the podium, so there was a silver lining," added Curt.
"With only three rounds of racing left there a lot of concerns, but getting clean air isn't one of them thanks to our K&N air filters," commented Kyle.
A dark shadow hangs over team LeDuc and the entire field of competitors in the 2011 Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series, as they lost two of its brightest stars, brothers Rick and Jeff Huseman, in a tragic plane crash on October 16.
"We definitely feel a void on the course since we lost our Pro-4 friend and racer, Rick, and his brother Jeff," commented Kyle, "It was always Rick and me going at it, and battling it out on the track, but once we were out of our trucks and in the pits, we would do anything for each other." Curt echoed the sentiments of his son, "The entire LeDuc family has a heavy heart over this loss, I hope we can go out and claim the victory and make him proud in Vegas. We will be dedicating our race to his memory."
Heading into the Vegas race, Kyle is third in championship points behind series leader, Carl Renezeder, and Rick Huseman holds the number two spot. "I really wish I had the opportunity to see how the rest of this year would have played out. Unfortunately, Rick and his brother were taken from us too early and we will never know how the season would have finished," remarked Kyle. Todd is currently positioned right behind his younger brother and Curt is sitting in eighth place. With three racing remaining, there isn't much time left to lock up the championship, but the LeDucs have illustrated in the past that they do their best work under pressure. Kyle won the Rockstar Energy Lucas Oil Off Road Challenge Cup at the end of 2010, taking home the $30,000 paycheck, and he's clearly motivated on repeating in Phoenix on December 11th.
The win in Tucson marked the 16-year-old racers third career ASCS Regional win. Pictured next to Hodges is Troy Brubaker; he occasionally helps out when the team races in Tucson.
An uncharacteristically hard dessert downpour held up racing action for twenty-minutes or more at USA Raceway in Tucson, Arizona. When it was over as fast as it began, the 3/8-mile track had a good top and bottom groove, with a slick black streak through the middle, which lent to some good hard racing.
The rain washed USA Raceway track suited Josh Hodges just fine, as he worked from his sixth place start to victory.
No one was feeling it any better that night than 16-year-old Tijeras, New Mexico driver Josh Hodges. The K&N sponsored driver was able to work his way up from sixth place to ink his first American Sprint Car Series (ASCS) feature win of the year by topping Saturday night's 25-lap Sunoco Fuel ASCS Southwest feature event. This marks the young racers third career ASCS Regional win, driving the Wesmar-powered Hodges Automotive/Napa Auto Parts/Benic Enterprises No. 74x Maxim.
"It was great to get the win in Tucson! USA Raceway is definitely the track that I have the most experience at and I'm really comfortable there, probably more than anywhere else," Hodges told K&N News. "We finally got back to the basics a little bit after trying some new things at the end of last year, and the beginning of this year, and it really showed on the track. I had a lot more confidence, and the car was really good. I have to thank Brad Benic at Momentum Racing Suspensions and Wayne Priddy for helping get our wing program turned around here lately."
Overall Hodges now has four race wins for the 2011 season, the other three wins all coming in his non-wing car competing with the New Mexico Motor Racing Association (NMMRA). Two wins were at Aztec Speedway and the other at the Sandia Dirt Track in Albuquerque.
"Both times in Aztec we had a pretty good car but I could have been better," said Hodges "and the one at Sandia ended up being a survival sort of race. All of them were on slick, dusty tracks, and we honestly could have been better in any one of them, but luck was on our side in all of them. This past win in Tucson was definitely our strongest and most dominant win of the year."
Hodges says that although the season has had its ups and downs, he and the entire Hodges Motorsport team agree they are on an upswing, and getting back to basics has been the key. "I feel we've been more consistent, and at times better, in the non-wing car this year, but we've also showed some strength in the wing car at times. I think the biggest thing for these last couple of weekends will be putting everything together, and focusing on my driving more than anything. Our cars are good and have speed, but now I need to work on myself behind the wheel a bit."
The only sprint car races remaining on the schedule this year for Hodges Motorsport are the ASCS National shows in Las Cruces, New Mexico (wing, Nov. 11-12) and Tucson, Arizona (Western World, wing and non-wing, Nov. 17-19). "I am really excited for Western World, because we can really test ourselves at our best in Tucson in both the wing and non-wing car," adds Hodges. "I will also be driving for Mike and Kenny Brewer in this year's Tulsa Shootout on New Year's weekend in a wing and non-wing mini sprint. I am also really excited for that, and I appreciate the Brewers giving me an opportunity to drive one of their cars."
Jason Johnson is looking forward to competing in his last four schedued races of the 2011 season. (photo By Corbet Deary)
Jason Johnson and the Jason Johnson Racing (JJR) Team recently rolled into Little Rock, Arkansas to compete in the Lucas Oil ASCS Short Track Nationals. After a rain delay midway into the first night, Johnson and his crew returned the next day prepared to compete with 100 of the best drivers in the country for one of the twenty spots in the championship race.
Jason Johnson Recently finished in twelfth place in the USCS Lucas Oil Short Track Nationals at I-30Sppedway in Little Rock, Arkansas.(photo by Corbet Deary)
Starting second in his heat, Johnson held his own and finished behind the first place driver. Lining up third in the qualifier round, Jason ended the run in fourth, and was still not guaranteed a spot in the finale.
Starting on the outside of the first row in the "B" Main, Johnson took the checkered flag and was advanced into the "A" Main. Beginning the race toward the back of the pack, the driver worked his way forward throughout the twenty-five lap event and was in seventh place upon crossing the finish line, finally earning a guaranteed spot in the Short Track Championship.
Lining up nineteenth in the 40-lap event, Jason Johnson began strategically working his way around the one-quarter-mile dirt oval track.
Although passing on the track was not an easy task, Johnson began overtaking one driver at a time, and by the race's end had managed to move forward seven spots, placing twelfth.
When asked what would have been the key to success on the final night of the event, Jason Johnson said, "position is everything. We didn't leave a very good road last night, and it made for a long night tonight. We're lucky we came from ninth to seventh in the "B", because there wasn't very much passing going on," he continued. "In the "A" we actually did pretty good, until we broke a shock mount and limped to the checkered."
Referring to I-30 Speedway, the driver said, "I like the place. I've been here before and had a lot of success and have also had some chokes here. All in all, it's generally a pretty good racy track. They had 100 cars here tonight, and I think they did a great job."
When asked about the remainder of the season Johnson said, "we have four national races left, two out in Las Cruces, New Mexico, and the final two in Tucson, Arizona. JJR is leading the car owner's side of the points race, and we hope to cap it off with an owner's championship."
When asked the key to success throughout the remainder of the season, Johnson said, "I think consistency. We need to have some good draws and get through the heat races and get ourselves in the right position and capitalize on it. We've previously raced well at Las Cruces and Tucson and are excited to get out there."
When asked about the importance of his crew, Johnson said, "They're very important, it's good to have good communication, and guys who believe in you, keep you motivated and enjoy being part of the organization. I'm surrounded by a great group of guys right now, and we're having a lot of fun. That's the key to success."
Jason Johnson and the Jason Johnson Racing team are strong advocates of proper maintenance and the driver has been depending upon K&N products throughout his career. Anytime you can get the most elite product to be a part of your organization, it's always an honor. It's a privilege to have great products keeping our motors clean and keeping us up front."
Referring to his fans, Jason Johnson said, "We appreciate all of the fan support across the country. We travel from one side to the other, and even down in Australia. We have great support, and with the social networking of today it keeps us in touch. It's amazing how much support we
have."
Teammates Melissa Wright (far) and Brett Olson (near) faced off in the final round at Redding. Wright was victorious.
The most successful season in Final Round Racing's history was capped off earlier this month with a dominating performance last month in California's Governor's Cup at Sacramento Raceway. Melissa Wright battled her way through the D Gas bracket, culminating in an epic final round performance.
Melissa Wright earned her second career Wally in 2011.
Wright, returning to the seat of her small block powered 1973 Chevy Nova, got the win light by .001 seconds.
"That was the best moment of the year," Wright said, reminiscing on the teams season. "After having not raced the Nova for a few months, it was great to get back in the car. The car was running the number, and I was fortunate to be cutting good lights. The final round was very close and I feel luck just went my way."
Luck continued to be on Wright's side. After the win, Wright and teammate Brett Olson slept for two hours, and then departed for Redding for the National Open, a National Dragster Challenge race for NHRA. Wright's Nova continued to run well, Olson's 1967 Pontiac Firebird came to life. The two ended up on opposite sides of the ladder and dominated the day on the way to a final round showdown.
It was Wright taking the win again, earning her second Wally, the iconic trophy awarded at NHRA National and Divisional events. It was Wrights second career Wally, to go with three that Olson has won in his racing career. The weekend was vindication for Wright, who had to sit on the sidelines most of the season and watch Olson go to final-after-final at both Sacramento Raceway and Infineon Raceway in Sonoma.
In 2010, Olson was the runner-up in the NHRA Division 7 ET Finals in the Sportsman category. The momentum from that performance carried over into 2011, a season the Wright said was "good so far." The team, together since 2004, still has a few events left in 2011, but now Wright says the focus is on next season, and getting more variety of races in.
"We hope to do more travelling to other racetracks, and race as much as we possibly can."
With both cars running strong, Final Round Racing should have plenty more opportunities for Wally's next year. The team was quick to credit K&N Filters for helping extend the life of their cars, as well as improving performance.
"We use K&N Filters on all of our race cars, on our tow vehicle, and on our daily drivers. K&N products give us the performance and reliability needed to run a busy race schedule."
Faul is looking forward to the opportunity at earning a few more National Event victories before 2011 ends.
Just two events remain in 2011 for Mark Faul, but the longtime NHRA Division 6 competitor isn't mailing it in yet. Faul recently traveled across the country to race in the IHRA Sportsman Spectacular World Finals in Richmond, Virginia. Now, Faul is back on the west coast, ready for the final two NHRA National Events in 2011, starting this weekend in Las Vegas.
NHRA Division 6 competitor Mark Faul
"This has been a really good season," said Faul, the back-to-back JEG's All-Star race winner. "I've been driving well, and the breaks seem to be going my way."
Faul had a decent showing in Richmond. Despite breaking a rocker arm in Stock, he went to the 4th round. Faul also advanced to the semi-finals in Super Stock. The Tournament of Champions on Sunday didn't turn out the way Faul had hoped either, with two early losses, but he still finished 8th nationally in the Super Stock IHRA Division.
While Faul was a bit unlucky in the way the points shook out in both Stock and Super Stock in NHRA's Division 6 (He won the National Event at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma in July, but had already used all of his points-paying races), he has finished strong. Faul picked up a divisional win at the Les Schwab Challenge at Woodburn Dragstrip in Oregon last month, and sits second in Super Stock and fourth in Stock points in Division 6, the NHRA's Northwest Division.
A perennial championship contender, Faul recognizes what went wrong. "It's a little disappointing (not claiming a championship), but it all came down to having some poor showings early in the season at the D6 races. And winning the Sonoma National Event after using all of my points claiming races was too bad. But I'm still happy."
Faul is looking forward to the opportunity at earning a few more National Event victories before 2011 ends, but without looking too far into the future, is also excited about the things that lay ahead in 2012.
"Winning the All-Star race was definitely the highlight of this season. I'm really looking forward to going back again and trying to 'three-peat'. That would be cool!"
Despite a busy and grueling season, Faul finds peace knowing his engines are always running to their optimum potential.
"Having K&N products on my car, knowing that my engine is protected by them, takes the worry away. It lets me focus on racing."
