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Marsh Racing Takes Their First GT Division Grand Am Victory

Sep 14, 2011

Marsh Racing is in their second season in the Grand Am series.

Grand Am is a road race series held at various locations throughout the United States, as well as making one stop in Montreal, Canada. A division of NASCAR, the series sports two classes, Daytona Prototypes and GT. Interestingly, both divisions are on the track at the same time, but are considered two separate races.

Competing in their second season of the GT division of Grand AM, the Marsh Racing team recently rolled into Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin to drive in the Road America race, a historic road course on Wisconsin highway 67, that has seen very little change since 1955 .

The Marsh Racing Team recently won their first victory in the Grand Am series.

Although they had grown accustomed to competing in this division during the past two years, one might suspect that they had their reservations about this particular race, and rightfully so.

Grand Am actually requires two drivers, and one member of the driver team, Boris Said, would be absent, as he was scheduled to compete in the Sprint Cup race, in Sonoma, California. Although Said, would be out of pocket, John Heinricy, stepped in to team up with driver, Eric Curran. Evidently the team worked as a well-oiled machine, as at the race's end, they earned the Marsh Racing team's first trip down victory lane in the GT division.

Along with eleven Daytona Prototypes, the Marsh Racing Team embarked upon a race in the timed event with 15 other GT cars. After a fierce battle, the Marsh Racing car took the lead in their Purpose Built C6 Corvette, powered by a LS-3 engine, in the final turn of the last lap.

Although in the lead, the battle was far from over, as John Edwards and his Mazda challenged them to the very end. In fact, Marsh Racing crossed the finish line with only fifty-five seconds to spare.

Marsh Racing owner, Ted Marsh stressed that the victory was of importance. Not only did the team experience their first Grand Am win, but their accomplishment also lent to great exposure for their sponsor, Whelen Engineering.

Of course with change comes a learning curve. That said though, with the team amongst their second year of racing in the Grand Am, they have grown more comfortable and familiar with the series. When asked his sentiments about racing in the Grand Am Series, Marsh stated, "Since it is part of NASCAR, the rules are consistent, and the playing field is leveled to the best of their ability. We are one of the most popular teams in the series, because of our sponsors and drivers," he continued.

Although the Marsh Racing Team experienced change upon choosing to race in the Grand Am series, each member would be quick to agree that regardless of the type of racing, preventative maintenance is always a definite element of success. That said, the team is acutely aware of the importance of keeping the internal components of one's engine dust-free and well lubed.

That in mind, they depend upon K&N products to keep their car running at optimal performance. In fact, a K&N air filter protects their engine from dust and other debris in the air, and the K&N oil filter they use is designed in a manner that it filters the oil yet allows the high volumes needed to handle the rigors of racing to flow freely.

When asked how long they had been using K&N products, Marsh answered, "Many years; since the early eighties. They are very high quality, and our air filters are washed and reused over and over."

In closing, Ted Marsh said, "The series is great fun, and the events are live on SPEED. It provides great return for all of our sponsors.

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.

Britt Cummings Battles His Way to the Super Comp Final at the U.S. Nationals

Sep 14, 2011

Cummings competed in Super Comp and made it to the final round

Unlike any other event over the course of the season for a drag racer, no matter what level, The U.S. Nationals is the golden jewel of them all and just to compete there is quite an experience. For racers like Britt Cummings, from Hammond, Louisiana, who make it through the nearly weeklong event for a shot at a coveted U.S. Nationals NHRA Wally during the Super Comp final, it's an absolute huge accomplishment.

Britt Cummings' Super Comp Dragster at the U.S. Nationals

"It's long, drawn-out," said the K&N racer of the event. "Every time you go up there, you have to really get up for it, because most times, it's been so long since your previous run. Plus we had really big weather swings from when we started the event until later on. It was like one hundred on Friday and Saturday, during the first three rounds of eliminations. Then by the time we finally got back on the track for round four, it was after ten on Sunday night and low seventies."

The car Cummings competed with in Super Comp was actually the car he normally competes with in Top Dragster. "I just put a throttle stop on it and had three runs with it before we showed up at Indy," he explained. "I unloaded it and went an eighty-three [8.83] and believe it or not, I never changed the timer during the time runs and I went eighty-three every pass. In eliminations, well when we had the big swing in the weather, I wound up putting like six-hundredths in it and I was still going eighty-three."

In a class like Super Comp and particularly those classes who use a throttle stop, where you are adding just one more variable, it is extremely important as a driver that you are able to trust the car and the number you have dialed it for. "It is so critical," admitted Cummings. "If you don't know that your car is going what you think it is, you are going to lose with the way we drive the finish line."

Cummings reflects on one of the memorable rounds that lead him through the weekend. "You know we had to wait more than a whole day to run again after third round on Saturday, it was Sunday night for fourth round and I had to run Tommy Phillips," he said. "We each run division four and we see each other race every weekend, so we know how each other races. I was going eighty-three again and I think he was going either eighty-four or five. I knew that he would hit the brakes harder than I would to kill his. So I rolled up behind him to set up and wait for him to drop. When he dropped, I dropped and I got lucky to get there by two thousands [six inches]. You know, that was the plan going in and it worked."

Until 2011, even with the plethora of racing success that Britt has acquired over his career, making a final during the U.S. Nationals had eluded him, and now he has a new feather in his cap. "Oh definitely," he said of the high importance his new accomplishment. "When Samantha Coughlin went red on me in the semi's and I just saw Brian Folk win, it was already like winning it right there. The Folk's were pitted right next to us and our families have been close for years and to be great friends and both in the final together at Indy, the biggest race of the year, it was just awesome."

"Getting ready for the final was hectic," he explained. "They had all the sportsman lined up in the staging lanes, then a stocker blew it up on the line and oiled the track down. So they [NHRA] went ahead and ran the pros in front of the rest of us, because of TV time. I was all suited up, ready to go and everything. So we had to wait about thirty minutes longer than we had planned to run the final and up until that point, I hadn't looked up at the bleachers or anything and then I just happened to notice how many people were there. There was just a lot going on, and I'll admit, I just kinda lost my focus during that time."

"I was set up for a twenty on the tree and I went a forty-eight, so I missed the tree," he confessed about his reaction time in the final against fellow K&N competitor, Brian Folk. "Brian was just more ready for it than I was."

"It was a super experience making it to a final like that at the U.S. Nationals, through all the days and the weather changes," he continued. "That's a lot of rounds and it says a lot about all the parts we use on our cars. We know we can trust what we use like our K&N Oil filters and the K&N Air Filter products."

"Besides K&N, I want to thank the whole crew and especially Jimmy, my crew chief, without him [paused] you know all I have to do is sit in the car and drive it and he does everything else."

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.

Vinny Barone Racing's Sal Biondo Tops Comp Eliminators at New England Dragway

Sep 13, 2011

Barone continues to find success in both racing and real estate investing.

When it comes to drag racing, or life, you'd be hard-pressed to find a more "old school" approach to either than Vinny Barone's. The Dix Hills, New York resident lives in the immediate present. What is, is, what was, isn't any more, so why sweat it? Barone says he's not a regretful man. Yeah sure, being a high school dropout gnawed on him for a while, but Barone chooses to be keenly grateful for the life he has been able to build for himself, wife Camille, daughters Elizabeth, Nicole and Heather, along with granddaughter Sophia Grace.

Vinny Barone Racing campaigns four cars, the car directly behind Barone is driven by Sal Biondo.

"I often regret not completing school," said the 59-year K&N sponsored team owner and driver, "and I wonder sometimes how it would have changed my life from what I have now. But I have a great family and we're happy to have the things we now enjoy."

It's fair to speculate that in Barone's case, the nagging insecurities brought on by not finishing high school acted as a positive catalyst, because life has brought Barone a considerable amount of business and racing success.

"We are leading the World Championship points in competition eliminator, and we are also leading the Division 1 Competition Eliminator Championship, and we are also in the number one spot in the Jegs Allstar points," Barone told K&N Race News.

Barone hasn't raced since earlier this year, opting instead to put all his focus into running his team.

Barone started racing at age 15, his buddy with a drivers license towed him to the track that day, "And I drove it, went 16.72 in L/S, and I won my first trophy the first time I raced," adds Barone. That was 44 years ago and he still lights'em up every chance he gets. However, a few months back Barone redirected all his focus on winning championships, so he put down his helmet for a spell and replaced it with his team owner hat.

Barone Racing campaigns with four race cars driven by several of the sport's top drivers, K&N sponsored Sal Biondo heads that list. In round 5 eliminations in Competition Eliminator at the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, Northeast Division, event at New England Dragway in Epping, New Hampshire, Biondo took the victory with an 8.731ET at 123.62 mph. Biondo currently has a 75 point lead in the championship with two races remaining.

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.

Jason Line Sneaks in at Last Minute to Grab Pro Stock Pole at NHRA U.S. Nationals

Sep 13, 2011

NHRA Pro Stock Driver Jason Line

Not only is the U.S. Nationals the most prestigious event each year on the NHRA schedule, it's also the longest and provides more professional qualifying sessions of any event over the course of the season with five instead of the usual four. NHRA Pro Stock driver, Jason Line was more than thankful for the extra session which he used to jump up and secure the number one spot in Pro Stock, along with all the bonuses that go with it, including the maximum K&N Horsepower Challenge points and $3,000 K&N bonus check.

Summit Racing Equipment Pontiac GXP

Qualifying sessions started with just one scheduled for Friday and it was Line landing in the number two spot behind his teammate and 2011 K&N Horsepower Challenge Champion, Greg Anderson, during session number one. With very hot conditions and one hundred twenty four degree track temperatures, both drivers posted identical 6.650 ET's to open qualifying for the event. Anderson just edged Line for the provisional pole with an ever-so-slightly faster MPH.

Weather and track temperatures were only slightly worse than the day before come Saturday afternoon for session number two, another ninety-six degrees and nearly one hundred thirty degrees on the track. Anderson had pointed out that he felt he had left some on the line during Friday's session after a little too much tire spin. While Anderson improved to a 6.647, Line still managed to post the second quickest run of the session with his 6.668 and remained in the number two spot.

By the time Saturday evening rolled around it was still rather hot for Indy but at least the track temp was starting to become a little more favorable at one hundred four degrees during Pro Stock session number three. Once again it was the 'Greg and Jason Show' with both drivers this time improving on all their previous attempts and remaining in their respective number one and two spots. Anderson made a very nice jump to 6.629 and Line found a whole additional hundredth with his 6.640.

"The conditions have continued to change throughout qualifying, but this Summit Racing team just keeps hitting the mark time after time, keeping both Jason and myself on top of this field," Anderson commented shortly after the end of Saturday's runs. "With every session, the teams are naturally starting to get a handle on this racetrack, making it tougher and tougher to stay ahead, but we've been making some good decisions, putting us in this position."

"However, this is Indy, and we have one more day to set the field," he continued. "If that wasn't enough, we're supposed to get some weather coming in tonight that will create a completely different set of tuning conditions, which could scramble the field from top to bottom. Still, we're going to the hotel with smiles on our faces and ready to handle whatever gets thrown at us tomorrow. So far, so good."

The weather conditions on Sunday were like night and day from earlier in the weekend and whatever the teams had learned from Friday and Saturday, they might as well be starting from scratch. With more than twenty degrees less in temperature, nearly double the humidity and more than one thousand feet less in adjusted attitude, teams took to the track late Sunday morning. Nearing the end of the session and just a couple of pair before Anderson and Line, K&N's Mike Edwards made a huge move after his 6.624 pass and for a mere moment, snagged the pole from Anderson. Before Edwards was even able to get towed back to his pit, Anderson continued his qualifying domination by improving another six thousandths of a second [6.623] and right back to the top by one tiny thousandth of a second. Line again improved to match Edwards' 6.624 ET at 208.26, but lost out one the number two slot, when he just wasn't able to get past Edwards' faster mile-per-hour. [208.59]

During any other NHRA event, after four sessions were completed qualifying would be in the books, but this was Indy, this was the U.S. Nationals and there was a fifth on the schedule. While all eyes now seemed to be on Anderson and Edwards to battle it out for the number one spot, Jason Line had something to say about all that.

When the Pro Stock pack returned for their final session late Sunday afternoon, they were able to bring with them all the info they learned from earlier in the day, as weather and track conditions remained nearly the same. It proved to be the most exciting session of the weekend with lots teams of bumping up and bumping others out for race day. In the second to last pair, Edwards again laid down the gauntlet with his 6.613 and right back to number one. All eyes were now on the final pair, Anderson and Line.

Based on earlier rounds, it came as no surprise when Anderson sailed past Edwards by three thousandths as he put a 6.610 on the board, but that would only be good enough for number two. This time, it was Jason Line who saved the best for last and his outstanding 6.603 at 209.01, both the quickest and fastest Pro Stock run of the weekend for the number one qualifier at the U.S. Nationals.

The feat would mark Line's fourth number one of the 2011 season and the twenty-first of his career.

Line and Anderson are now tied for the number one spot [1,090 points] for the 2012 K&N Horsepower Challenge and its $50,000 championship check, sixty points back is Mike Edwards and next in line are Erica Enders and Allen Johnson who are tied with 1,015 points each.

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.

Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in Colorado Springs with K&N's Justin Rastegar

Sep 13, 2011

K&N employee Justin Rastegar pits before his run up Pike's.

Throughout my life, Motorcycle riding has taken me to some pretty cool places. When I decided to go to Pikes Peak International hill climb, I really did not know what to expect. All I really knew is that Pike is an iconic race, the second oldest in America. The road to the peak is now mostly paved, but there is still a high level of danger with sudden turns and huge drop offs. I knew a few facts about the mountain, but that's all I was going off of when I left my home in southern California.

When all of Colorado Springs comes out to support the race it looks like a Fan Fest.

At K&N Engineering, I work as a product specialist, doing tech support, working at shows and helping with marketing and sales. While I love my job, it doesn't exactly prepare you for a race at 14,000 feet. Sitting at a desk at sea level doesn't get you into the best shape of your life. I typically ride motorcycles at sea level and while I consider myself a competent rider, I had never rode on asphalt or at high altitude. To prepare for this, I rode at a local go cart track in the weeks prior to get used to sliding on the asphalt and prepare for the 114 plus twists to come.

My plan was to head out of California over a week early to visit some of K&N dealers on the way. That would give me time to get used to Colorado's high altitude and try and adjust to the environment; so I thought. The moment I got to the Rockies, I got a headache and felt sick. I started off my week at tech inspection with a total rejection. My tires were wrong, my brake pads were too worn and my helmet was not up to their standards. My dreams, a flawless race to the clouds, was fading fast at this point, when I spent most of my budgeted money just to pass tech. Our riders' meetings was just as demotivating with talk of deaths on the mountain and other lethal mistakes that rookies like myself had made in the past. Three days of practice, prior to the race, were allocated to help prepare riders on their journey up the summit. On the first day of practice, I ended up going down hard on the asphalt because my front tire washed out. This stunned me and also brought me back down to reality that this race was for real!

K&N sponsored rider Destin Cantrell also did some altitude climbing of his own at Fan Fest.

The next few days of practice I took it a little slower, getting used to how far I could push a bike on the road. Sliding the backend of the bike out with 100% traction was a new feeling for me. I made it a point to try and learn the course as best as possible and make sure that when race day came I could push it without being caught off guard. As I got closer to the top of the mountain, my 2010 450 with 55 hp felt like it had the power of a moped. Although this loss in power annoyed me, it also helped keep my speed down where the biggest cliffs and drop offs were. There are a few turns on the course, such as engineer's corner, where you come from a high speed straight into a hairpin with little to no warning. It is turns like engineers that you really need to learn, or you will go off the mountain like many other people did during the course of the week. The Friday before the race, the strip in downtown Colorado Springs shuts down to celebrate the race in the annual fan fest. This event really calmed my nerves and made me realize how laid back and cool this race actually was.

To reach the top of Pikes Peak you must first overcome some brutal twists and turns.

When race day Sunday rolled around, the nerves were back as I waited from 4 am until 2 pm, until my class was starting to line up. As cars began to rocket up the peak, the radio blasted news of massive crashes, oil on the track and vehicles on fire. The cars all go up before the bikes to smooth out the course with rocks, oil and other pieces of metal the big boxes leave behind. Right before my class was about to go out, they shut down the course to clear a fatal injury off the track. This gave me a good hour to think about all the possibilities of crashing that could happen to me. I had to eventually shake myself out of that negative state of mind as the bikes began to fire up again. I had qualified near the back of the pack, so I made it a personal goal to get the best time out of my grid.

When the flag dropped, I held it on and still got beat into the first turn. The Kawasaki that I now closely followed wasn't pulling away from me, so I knew I could make a move. Around the same turn I crashed on in practice, I hit the paint strip and before I knew it, it felt like my rear tire was in ahead of the front. I brought it back and reminded myself to run a smart race. I passed the leader soon after and almost forgot about engineer's corner. I went off the course, but lucky for me number 2 followed me in my mistake. Once I hit the last bit of dirt left on the course, I took off and lead my grid all the way to the top.

The feeling of crossing that finish line was one of the best feelings I have ever felt. Maybe it was just the altitude, but looking down at the great plains and fellow rocky mountain peaks and knowing I had just ridden as hard as I could to this point was an out-of-body feeling. I would recommend this race to anyone on two or four wheels that had ever driven up a mountain road and enjoyed it. It was truly a one-of-a-kind race experience.

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.

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