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Four-Time AMSOIL Western States Sprint Car Series Champion Tony Hunt

Tony Hunt plans to race in the USAC Western Classic Racing Series in 2011
Tony Hunt plans to race in the USAC Western Classic Racing Series in 2011
Some people are just born for the driver's seat. That's one way you could describe Tony Hunt.
United States Auto Club Sprint Car Racer Tony Hunt
United States Auto Club Sprint Car Racer Tony Hunt


The Southern California native is gearing up for another exciting season of United States Auto Club Sprint Car racing. Hunt is coming off an unprecedented 4th Championship in the AMSOIL Western States Sprint Car Series, and this season, he plans on competing in the newly founded USAC Western Classic Racing Series, which will test his skills on both asphalt and dirt in a grueling 16 race season.

"We have a desire to defend our Western States championship, but we want to challenge ourselves in 2011," said the Hollywood stunt driver. "That's why we are running the Western Classic Series this year."

Hunt is coming off a whirlwind season, in which he added to his career totals in wins (52) and poles (63) in USAC sanctioned events. His fourth championship was the culmination of a three year engine development program that left the team frustrated at times.
AMSOIL Western States Sprint Car Series Champion Tony Hunt
AMSOIL Western States Sprint Car Series Champion Tony Hunt


"It was going to be hard to duplicate our success from 2006, when we scored a record number of series victories and captured our third championship. In 2007 we decided to engage in a engine development program with two different manufacturers. It was a period of research and development time, and a huge learning experience. Fortunately our efforts finally paid off with another great season in 2010," said Hunt after returning from a business trip.

Hunt began racing at the age of five when he competed at the Pomona Valley quarter midget track east of Los Angeles. His father, Tommy, was a renowned racer at the world famous (and now defunct) Ascot Park in Southern California. Hunt's grandfather, Joe, owned a slew of Indy Cars for over 30 years. His drivers included Indy legends Tony and Gary Bettenhausen, Johnny Parsons, and Al and Bobby Unser.

Tony wasted no time making a name for himself. In 1992, Hunt finished second in the USAC Russell Pro Series. The next season, he won the championship. In 1998, Hunt captured Rookie of the Year honors in the Western States Sprint Cars. 2001 saw Tony win his first Western State Sprint Car Championship, with a second title coming in 2004. Now he is on a drive for five.

"There's really no specific reason for our success. Many key elements play a factor. I've always had a strong work ethic and stay very involved in the shop. I was always interested in the mechanical development of the cars I've driven. My team owner and crew all work on the same principals and adhere to a routine approach that allows us to maintain a winning consistency."

Did I mention Hunt is well spoken? Hunt's relationship with K&N Filters began nearly two decades ago in 1993. Hunt was a competitor in the K&N Grand National West Series, and the two have been together ever since. K&N is proud to have been on board with Hunt for all four of his USAC AMSOIL Western States Sprint Car Championships.

"Since 1993, K&N and I have enjoyed many years of racing accomplishments that have grown into a mutually rewarding, long-term relationship. K&N offers our team a high quality product line. Whether they are providing maximum filtered intake flow or premium oil filtration, our team can always rely on K&N's proven performance."

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Adam and Allyx Camp Gear Up for 2011 AMA Dirt Track Season

Ice, ice, baby - Allyx needs to train and little frozen precipitation isn't going to stop her.
Ice, ice, baby - Allyx needs to train and little frozen precipitation isn't going to stop her.
When the world outside is frozen solid with ice you could cozy up with your Wii, go vroom and pretend you're riding a motorcycle, or you could bundle up and churn some ice on a real bike.

"We have been riding on the ice this past winter to train, and we're looking forward to the start of the 2011 season," remarked Adam and Allyx Camp's dad, Stan. "And we are very happy to have K&N onboard again this year."
Adam churning up the muck in a race at Galesburg, Illinois last year.
Adam churning up the muck in a race at Galesburg, Illinois last year.


Stan is the Dirt Track Director for AMA District 17, a position he understands all too well. Stan raced for a couple of decades himself, as a junior in the AMA professional ranks, until moving into stock cars for a few years. Stan also understands that the family that races together, well, they spend a good deal of time together, and that's just as he and his wife Holly planned it. They have three kids, the oldest son Adam is 17, their daughter Austyn is pushing 16 and the youngest girl Allyx is 13. All three started racing early. Adam for example already has ten years of racing experience and Allyx is right behind with nine years. Austyn doesn't race anymore, but between her and her mom, they handle all the logistics that allow Adam and Allyx to stay focused on the track, or the ice, as is the case currently around their Farmington, Illinois home.
Same form and technique, but different surface, Allyx racing in the 250 class last year at Walnut, Illinois race last season.
Same form and technique, but different surface, Allyx racing in the 250 class last year at Walnut, Illinois race last season.


"Last year was a learning year for both Adam and Allyx," says Stan. "Allyx's highlight was probably second place finish in the state championship TT race in the 250cc class. And Adam finished top three at a couple of the local races in the pro class. Our first race hopefully will be March 19th at DeQoin, Illinois. That will be a warm up for The April 19th National."

Allyx's goal for this year is a top three overall finish in the 250cc class, which would be a significant accomplishment, being how very competitive the group of 250cc riders will be this year.

Adam's goal is to make a GNC Pro Class program. "We were very close last year," adds Stan. "With hard work and a little luck I feel both goals are reachable."

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Peter Biondo Doubles Up During NHRA Division 2 Event Held at Gainesville Raceway

After a combined total of 13 rounds in two classes, Biondo proudly shows off his latest Wally's in Super Stock and Super Gas in Gainesville Winner's Circle.
After a combined total of 13 rounds in two classes, Biondo proudly shows off his latest Wally's in Super Stock and Super Gas in Gainesville Winner's Circle.
If you feel you just read this story or that maybe it's just déjà vu, never fear this is the latest news on the extraordinary 2011 season start that belongs to K&N sportsman racer Peter Biondo.
K&N's Peter Biondo has already won back-to-back NHRA Super Gas Events in this 1963 Corvette Roadster.
K&N's Peter Biondo has already won back-to-back NHRA Super Gas Events in this 1963 Corvette Roadster.


Before the elation of his victory in Super Gas and his semi-final finish in Super Stock, that Biondo had just bagged a few days earlier in Bradenton during the NHRA Division 2 season opener, could hardly begin to fade, he was back at it again for the next scheduled Division 2 event in Gainesville, Florida.

Biondo once again entered both Super Stock and Super Gas and like all other drivers at the event he couldn't say he didn't have a chance to get both himself and his cars dialed in with the five time runs for most of the classes.

"It was the 'Time Trial Nationals'," he laughed. "We all got plenty of time runs, really more than anyone even needed. I guess they have their reasons, but I don't understand why they just didn't try to get in first and maybe even second round in on Saturday."
Let the celebration begin for Peter Biondo shown here with the Super Stock Camaro and the Super Gas Corvette Roadster after his two holeshot final round victories.
Let the celebration begin for Peter Biondo shown here with the Super Stock Camaro and the Super Gas Corvette Roadster after his two holeshot final round victories.


"It ended up being the same exact scenario as Bradenton, where we were really rushed in the later rounds on Sunday night to hot-lap so they could get everything done," he added.

There is always a very good chance that giving someone like Peter Biondo all those extra time runs and opportunities to study the track and weather curves, especially after having so many laps in both cars the previous weekend, will not bode well for the rest of the competition.

"It was just one of those weekends where everything just fell into place," he reflected. "It all started with first round of Super Gas when the guy went red against me by two-thousandths. I was set up to run an eighty-seven and luckily I picked my spot and dropped and it went a 9.900. So that qualified me number one on the ladder and so then you get the first bye-run."

Biondo's placement on the Super Gas ladder faired very well for him. Since there were thirty-three cars going into round two, which meant there would be not one bye but a shot at a second bye in rounds to come, on his side of the ladder.

"Getting a shot at two bye runs very rarely happens," he pointed out. "I just felt like I did my job every round and maybe felt like I got away with squeaking the finish line a little too tight once when I was running Caruso. I went down there and was whomping him and got there by a thousandth. I didn't mean to make it that tight but everything was just clicking."

It wasn't the only class things were "clicking" in for Biondo during the Gainesville event. He was also slashing his way through the rounds all the way to the final in Super Stock.

"Both cars were just so 'dial-able', so predictable and so consistent," he reflected. "It was just a matter of A, I screwed up or left the window open for someone or B, somebody just put down a really good run. Fortunately for me, neither one of those things happened in either class."

"I had a lot of momentum going into the Gainesville event after winning at Bradenton," he said. "I had a lot of confidence and that's probably the biggest thing that carried over from the prior weekend."

Biondo first found himself with a Wally in Super Stock after giving himself a huge holeshot advantage and plenty of room to reel in the victory over division three racer Jerry Silveus.

The celebration would have to wait just a few minutes longer while he literally raced back up to the lanes to finish his other final round in Super Gas. After seven tough rounds, he pulled out another holeshot win and defeated Carl Freeman when the numbers on the boards both came up 9.918 and the margin of victory for Biondo was his .006 advantage at the tree.

Making it to a final at this level is not an easy thing to do and chances that a driver will do so in two classes, let alone double up, are extremely rare. Biondo is not your ordinary racer and with his latest accomplishment of doubling up at the Gainesville NHRA Division 2 event, that makes it three times in his astonishing career that he has achieved this level of success.

"In the mid-nineties I won Super Comp and Super Stock and in the late nineties I won Comp and Super Stock," he said. "Getting a shot to double up like this, well your chances are few and far between. It's a very special occasion for sure."

"It's really hard to finish twice like that, to do it all in one day and I've been very close a lot of times," he continued. "For those drivers who haven't been there, those last couple of rounds are so hot-lapped, it really is tough to keep focused on the task at hand. Your adrenaline is going two to three times more than it has been pumping the rest of the race, because you are literally physically running around. That part is really challenging."

Biondo and both of his entries loaded up with nothing but the finest products including K&N air and oil filters, proved that they were certainly up for the challenge, after the 'dress rehearsal', so to speak with his first near double in Bradenton and finishing the job at Gainesville.

In only the two events in the books and back to back weekends for Biondo in 2011, he already has 3 NHRA Division wins and a semi-final; one would think he wouldn't want to take a break from the on-track action now.

"Well there are two sides to that," he confessed. "It was hot lap city down there [Florida events] and I feel like I really need a weekend off and of course the other side of that is strike while the irons hot. Part of me wants to keep going and part of me wants to rest."

"After one weekend off, I'll be fired up and ready to go again," he added.

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NASCAR K&N Pro Series West Driver Greg Pursley Wins at Phoenix International Raceway

Greg Pursley is starting the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West where he left off at the end of the 2010 season. Pursley won the K&N Pro Series West 2011 season opener at Phoenix International Raceway on Thursday night. It was his second win in a row at the 1-mile oval in Arizona. He won the 2010 K&N Pro Series West season finale at Phoenix in November. It was also his third win in the past four K&N Pro Series West races.
NASCAR K&N Pro Series West Driver Greg Pursley
NASCAR K&N Pro Series West Driver Greg Pursley
Pursley led the final 30 laps of the 3 Amigos Organic Blanco 100 and finished ahead of Jonathon Gomez in second and Derek Thorn in third.

"Gene Price Motorsports gave me a great car," said Purlsey, driver of the No. 26 Ford for Gene Price Motorsports. "Same car we won with here in November. Brought it here and started practice and knew we were going to be in a day race, so we kind of worked on the car for day runs. Kind of put it away a little early so we didn't overadjust ourselves on the track conditions."

Pursley had to maintain his lead after a late caution flag in the race. With 10 laps to go, Spencer Gallagher crashed in turn 1. The track was cleaned up with seven laps remaining. Pursley had the lead on the restart, followed by Thorn and Gomez.
Pursley Wins K&N Pro Series West Race at Phoenix International Raceway
Pursley Wins K&N Pro Series West Race at Phoenix International Raceway


"Our strategy was to come in really early and try and save our stuff," Pursley said. "While everybody had different strategies, we came in put on two tires and fuel and went out with the mindset to save our tires and wait everybody out and try to keep the fenders on it and it worked."

Pursley maintained his lead over the final seven laps of the race. Gomez was able to pass Thorn on the restart. Thorn missed a shift left the door open for Gomez to get around him.

"We had a good race, just really had to fight for position there at the end with the car being as hard to get off the corner as it was," Gomez said. "We probably had the fourth-place car. On that last restart, the 26 (Pursley) took off good and the 44 (Thorn) missed a shift and that got me into second. Only had to hold it for about seven laps, so we're thankful. Probably should have finished fourth."

Brennan Newberry won the pole and led the first 20 laps of the race. Purlsey started alongside Newberry on the front row.

Newberry was caught up in a crash on lap 65 and fell out of contention. He finished the race in 33rd place.

Pursley took over the lead on lap 21 and held it for five laps. Ty Dillon and David Mayhew swapped the lead spot from lap 30 to lap 69 when Purlsey finally passed them both for good.

Dillon finished in fourth, behind Thorn. Brett Thompson came in fifth to round out the top five.

"We're only running a partial West schedule, so to be here is a miracle in itself," Thorn said. "The car was really good to fire off with. We qualified decent. This place, it's the first time I've been here, kind of a learning experience being here in the day in practice. We struggled to find an overall baseline of where I'd be comfortable. The track changed a bunch."

Pursley led a total of 37 laps, the most of any driver in the race. The next race on the K&N West Series schedule is at All-American Speedway in Roseville, Calif., on April 16.

"I wish we weren't off for another month. We'll do some testing and hopefully we can keep the momentum going into Roseville," Pursley said. "This K&N West Series has a lot of talented guys in it right now. It's a reall, really good proving ground for these kids. K&N came in and sponsored the series and has helped the series out tremendously. Getting to run here at Phoenix in front of the top three series, I mean you can't get any better than this."

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K&N Sponsored Jordon Mallett New Team Driver for GF1/Ti22 Performance Chassis

Being selected to as a team driver for GF1/Ti22 Performance Chassis can only further improve his track performance according to Jordon.
Being selected to as a team driver for GF1/Ti22 Performance Chassis can only further improve his track performance according to Jordon.
Jordon "The Jet" Mallett started off 2011 with some great news, he has been selected to drive for GF1 Chassis, which are produced by Ti22 Performance. This is no small achievement as 234 entries for over 27 states and four countries entered the competition, and only 28 final teams were picked, Mallet Motorsports being one.
One of his other goals is to win an ASCS Regional Series Tour event this season.
One of his other goals is to win an ASCS Regional Series Tour event this season.


I believe this chassis switch will be a key component to another great and successful year for the number 14 Mallett Motorsports team," remarked Jordon.

"The switch was very important to me, I am very thankful for the opportunity to become part of the Ti22 Team USA - they are designing and producing excellent cars and components. I like it very much so far, and I think the new cars are going to work very well for me for several reasons, but the main reason is the car's new design is going to help it adapt to the changing track conditions better than any other cars on the market. The new GF1 chassis seem to be more naturally 'tight' which is the way I have always preferred a car to be, and I believe that it will further improve my performance on the track."
Jordon says one of his goals for 2011 is to win his first ever feature events.
Jordon says one of his goals for 2011 is to win his first ever feature events.


Jordon is 18-years-old and lives in Greenbrier, Arkansas, where he's a senior at Greenbrier High School and a member of Friendship Baptist Church. "My life is made up mostly of school, church, working and racing," says Jordon.

He has been around racing as far as memory serves him, and actually started his own racing career at the age of six, that's when his dad put him into a racing go-cart.

"My dad is just a hero to me for all that he has done, I admire him for his racing skills and unbelievable talent behind the wheel and also just every aspect that he was ever involved in with racing," says Jordon glowingly.

"My dad had a unique characteristic in racing that allowed him to adapt instantaneously, not only to changing track conditions, but on a larger scale he was able to adapt to any kind of vehicle that you wanted to put him into. He was able to be competitive in anything that he was put in, and he could adapt to it within moments after learning the controls inside the vehicle."

Last year was Jordon's rookie season behind the wheel of a full-size sprint car and things went exceedingly well, as the he was extremely competitive, earning fourth place in the points championship at I-30 Speedway in Little Rock, Arkansas.

"Not only that, but I was also able to tag onto some ASCS (American Sprint Car Series) and USCS (United Sprint Car Series) National Touring Series races," adds Jordon. And I made it into the feature event for many of those prestigious shows. This season I have several goals, and very high hopes on where this season will take us. I plan to capture my first feature event win very early in the season, and then concentrate on winning an ASCS Regional Series Tour this year."

The K&N sponsored driver says his racing has been unfolding more and more with each race he enters and he will follow it wherever it leads.

"I just cannot thank my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ enough for how he has blessed me so greatly in my racing career, without him I would be nowhere compared to where I am today. I would love to see my race career continue to grow at the same rapid rate as it has been over the past couple of years. My ultimate goal is to race fulltime professionally."

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