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K&N Sponsored Modified Racer Elliott Despain Earns Rookie of the Year Honors

Jan 13, 2011

The number 75 had its best finish of the series by posting an eighth place at Ponderosa Speedway in Junction City, Kentucky.

2010 was the inaugural year for the new American Modified Series. The series, which is sanctioned by the United Midwestern Promoters (UMP) Modified dirt track racing division, ran all its races in four states, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky and Ohio. After the first complete running of the AMS season it was K&N sponsored Elliot Despain that drove away with Rookie of the Year Honors and a very respectable fourth overall in the season ending series points chase.

Elliot Despain finished the inaugural year of the new American Modified Series with Rookie of the Year honors and fourth overall in the point standings.

"We had a really good first season with the AMS," said Despain. "Just getting out traveling and racing at new places was great. We raced against some of the toughest modified drivers in the country and proved we can run with those guys."

In total four of the events took the Despain Motorsports team to racing venues for the very first time.

"When we made the decision to chase the American Modified Series presented by Force Fuels and Engine Conditioners, we looked at it as a chance for us to gain additional racing experience by competing against the best Modified drivers in the Midwest", said the 21-year-old Campbellsville, Kentucky racer. "And, not only did we gain that experience, but we were also able to give our sponsors and product sponsors more recognition and exposure in areas of the country that we had never raced before".

Despain scored two top-ten finishes in the inaugural series and a tenth place finish at Fayette County Speedway in Brownstown, Illinois. He followed that up with his best finish of the series by posting an eighth place finish at Ponderosa Speedway in Junction City, Kentucky.

"We had some bad luck this year and we know that we could have had a higher finish in the series", remarked Despain. "But, we will take these results and work hard over the winter to be better prepared for an even higher finish next year."

Over the winter Despain says he will be getting a new 2011 Bandit racecar and he will focus on making certain his engines are finely tuned for the upcoming season.

"We also plan on going down to Florida for the winter national at Eastbay, so I'm looking forward to getting back out on the road. Last season being out on the road should carry over to this year, seeing a lot of different tracks and different surfaces can only make me better. Anything I can do to continue improving as racer. I'm really looking forward to getting the 2011 season started right and started early."

"Winning the ROY was great for us and finishing in the top-five in overall series points was another goal for us. A low point of the season however was losing my grandpa to cancer. He was very special to me and hardly ever missed a race. He was always there for us and helped out in so many ways. He will be greatly missed!"

The American Modified Series officials are currently in the process of putting together the 2011 racing schedule that they hope will include 18 to 20 racing events.

"It is sponsors like K&N Filters that help give us the opportunity to compete in such a prestigious racing series and without their support and dedication, none of this would be possible", commented Despain. "And for that, on behalf of Despain Motorsports, we would like to say thank you, and we look forward to representing K&N Filters in 2011."

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TUF Racing Kicks Off 2011 AMA Arenacross Season With a Victory in Tulsa

Jan 13, 2011

Gibson exploded with the holeshot on his Cernic's Honda in Tulsa and never looked back.

Winning the first AMA Arenacross race on the 2011 schedule has got to be sweet, the season still has that fresh, New Year smell to it, it's totally wide open, a blank page looking to be written on anyway you see fit. TUF Racing's Jeff Gibson knows what that's all about, in front of a starved for racing chomping multitude in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Gibson grabbed the holeshot on his Cernic's Honda and never looked back. It was the Blacklick, Ohio racer's first win since the 2009 season.

Due to a severe injury before the start of 2010, the season opening win in Tulsa was Gibson's first since 2009.

"I was a little disappointed with how last season went," remarked Gibson. "As the defending champion I wanted to have a better year. I have worked very hard to be back in the front and this helps justify all that effort."

TUF Racing's team manager Dave Antolak said this about Gibson's performance - "Most people didn't know that Jeff came in last year injured and that he was a little off his game. I think some people wrote TUF Racing and Jeff off as serious contenders this year. Maybe after tonight we will even get some props in the opening ceremonies video."

The TUF Racing champion said he was happy to have his off season hard work rewarded with the first win 2011.

Last year Gibson ruptured his colon in a crash a little over a month before the season started, and he required surgery to repair it. "We kept his injury a secret from the other teams because Jeff didn't want to use that as an excuse," explained Antolak.

"The first race of the season is always one of the most unpredictable races in the year," adds Antolak. "I say this every year and the team is probably tired of me saying it, but you can't win the championship in the first race, although you can lose it. That being said, coming away with the win just shows what a great group I have. My mechanics, Tracin Seng and Andy Brannon, have been with me for at least six or seven years and I know, as well as the riders, that TUF has the best equipment on the track."

TUF Racing got its start racing Supercross and outdoor venues back in 1985. They made the switch to Arenacross in 1996, and like Gibson's holeshot in Tulsa, they never looked back. TUF Racing has amassed five Arenacross Championships, with three of those coming in the last four seasons.

Asked where the name TUF comes from Antolak says, "We were sitting around trying to think of a clever name for the company, after a while when we couldn't come up with anything someone said, this is TUF to come up with a name, so that's what we went with."

And how did the K&N connection come about? "Actually, we were doing some engine testing on the dyno for another team that was using K&N filters. We couldn't believe the performance gain we had just from installing the air filter. The next day we were on the phone with K&N."

Along with an improved year that more adequately returns the team to its true potential, Antolak has few other plans and irons in the fire for 2011.

"We will be introducing a new line of CNC heads this year," says Antolak. "By doing the heads on the CNC (computer numerical controlled) machine, we can offer the same exact heads we are using for the race teams. The CNC procedure is so precise that each head is within .0001 of each other. Right now we are building the engines for the Rock River Team, Jeff Alessi and a few others that we can't reveal yet, but we will be able to soon."

Up next on the Arenacross schedule for TUF Racing is Kansas City this weekend and Dayton, Ohio the week after.

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K&N's TK Motorsport's Brothers on Winning, Setting Records and Pleasing Fans

Jan 13, 2011

Kody and Tanner are each other's greatest rivals and supporters, it's clearly a winning combination.

"Man that sure started out to be a great night," remarked Kody Swanson. At 22 Kody is the older half of the K&N sponsored TK Motorsports brothers by nearly three years. Tanner is the other half, and together they make a whole significantly larger than the sum of their parts. They are brothers and allies first, and each other's most competitive adversaries a distant second.

The event Kody refers to was the 70th running of the "Turkey Night Grand Prix" at Irwindale's Toyota Speedway. The occasion featured both Kody and Tanner pulling double-duty in the USAC Western Sprint and National Midget divisions, driving their own TK Motorsports Sprint Cars and the Midget teams of Wilke-Pak Motorsports and Don Fike's RFMS Racing.

Kody and Tanner with their entire 6R racing team celebrating in Victory Lane.

And as they had all year long, in the 2010 season ending race the Swanson Brothers once more stole the show and left fans craving for more in 2011.

"I tested our Sprint Cars earlier that month, and knew that we had a great chance to be fast on race night. I really felt bad after my qualifying effort, I got really loose into turn three, and I thought that we qualified badly. So, when I saw that I was on top of the board, I was excited. But, I knew that Tanner still had to go out, and that I left the door wide open for him. He executed a great lap, and knocked me off the top - but I expected that."

In 2010 Tanner also won the historic "Night Before the 500" Midget race at ORP in his very first attempt.

The "loose" lap that Kody ran broke the 16.37 second track record set in 2003 with a lap 16.17 seconds, and Tanner's "great lap" broke that record with a 16.13.

"We did have a little smack talk going on after that, but it was definitely friendly. We both know that we can be each other's biggest competition and greatest supporters. It really is an interesting combination, but it seems to work well for us."

Kody will be driving the Wilke-PAK Motorsports number 11 at the season opening 25th Annual Chili Bowl Midget Nationals.

Next up for the Swanson brothers was the National Midget qualifying lap, Tanner was out first in his Don Fike owned number 3 car.

"Tanner went out in the midgets and tied the track record that had just been set before his run, but lost on a tie-breaker," said Kody. "So when I went out, I knew that if I was going to keep the Toyota Speedway records in the family, I had to get the job done, and did just that. The Wilke-PAK number 11 was great in qualifying, just like our TK Motorsports Sprint Cars were, and I was really excited to end qualifying with two track records in the family. The crowd seemed pretty into it, but honestly, I was so happy for us and our teams that I really wasn't too worried what the crowd thought about it at that moment."

In the USAC Western Sprint feature, Kody won and Tanner ran a close second, pressuring his brother for the lead, until mechanical failure ended his night prematurely. It was TK Motorsports first ever "Turkey Night" feature win.

"Turkey Night is really big event for us, especially since my first Sprint Car race was there," added Kody. "Being the final race of the year, we both know it's our last chance to put one, or even two more in the win column for the year. Tanner and I have always been fast there, and we always give our best effort to focus, and get the job done, no matter what event it is. For whatever reason, it just seemed to work out that night, until both of us were struck with bad luck in the midget feature. I mean, we had great cars in both divisions, and we just tried to capitalize on that opportunity."

The USAC National Midget feature had the Swanson brothers lined up first and third. Kody shot to the lead, with Tanner again running towards the front as well, until his streak of bad luck continued and another engine failure ended his night. Kody continued to battle up front for the first 40 of the 98 lap event until his right rear tire blew, ending his night too.

"Overall, I thought that last season went well. As a driver though you always wish that you had won more races, or did better on off nights, but realistically we had a great year."

"A major highlight was the ‘Great Lakes 150' Silver Crown race in Marne, Michigan. Tanner scored his first career Silver Crown win, and I finished second, making us the first brothers in History to sweep a USAC Silver Crown feature event. In the very next event, the ‘Ted Horn 100' I scored my first career Silver Crown win, and to do it in back-to-back fashion was really special for both Tanner and I."

In 2010 Tanner also won the historic "Night Before the 500" Midget race at O'Reilly Raceway Park in Indianapolis - it was his first try at the event.

"I won my first race at ORP just two months later, and gave the Wilke-PAK Motorsports team their 134th feature win, making them the winningest team in USAC History, and making it a Swanson Brothers sweep of the USAC National Midget events at ORP. All of those were major highlights for us, and I really think that this season has put Tanner and me on the map, even before our strong runs at Turkey Night."

At the time of this interview Kody and Tanner are already at the first event of their 2011 season. They are running at the 25th Annual Chili Bowl Midget Nationals, a weeklong indoor dirt midget event that features over 260 competitors, racing from Tuesday through Saturday to crown the event champion. Tanner will be competing for the TK Motorsports 6R Racing team, and Kody will be driving the Wilke-PAK Motorsports number 11.

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USAC National Midget Race Team Wilke-Pak Motorsports

Jan 11, 2011

Eldora Speedway4 Crown Midget Nationals Winner Wilke-Pak Motorsports

Wilke-PAK Motorsports had a great racing season this last year and captured second place in the USAC National Midget Car Series. The USAC series ran 29 events at 21 tracks in nine states. Kady Swanson became the 30th different driver to win a USAC National event for the Wilke team and won two events in four starts for the Wilke-PAK team including victories at O 'Reilly Raceway Park, and The Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Jerry Coons Jr. captured events at Eldora Raceway, Angell Park Speedway, and Wilmot Speedway.

Driver Kody Swanson with his #11 Wilke Pak Motorsports, Speedway Motors, Toyota, Spike pavement car.

While the name Wilke in racing goes back to the 30s, the Wilke-PAK Motorsports team has had a star studded history of victories on the race track; including, six BMARA Midget championships. Team has won ten Pepsi Nationals victories, with seven different drivers.

The car that the team used to win this latest event at the USAC National Midget Car Series at motor speedway in CA, featured a high output Toyoda Racing Development V-8 small block, balanced on a tubular Spike chassis.

Wilke Pak Motorsports at OReilly Raceway Park Indianapolis, IN

"You're basically just straddling a motor that happens to have wheels." The team has scored USAC victories at 61 different tracks in sixteen states. Needless to say, it's been their focus, ingenuity, and teamwork that keeps them adding to this impressive streak. Next up for the team will be a four-car effort for the Silver anniversary running of the Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals. No doubt they will excel here as well, thanks to their highly educated choices in products and honed skills behind the wheel and in the shop.

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LOORS Pro4 Unlimited Racer Kyle LeDuc Places 2nd in Seasons Final Race

Jan 11, 2011

Kyle LeDuc at Pro4 Unlimited race

Kyle LeDuc fought through the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing (LOORS) competition in his No. 99 Rockstar Energy Drink / Makita Tools Ford F-150, to win second place in the final pro 4 unlimited race of the season. The victory came from days and weeks of testing their Profiler class all aluminum motors. As well as ever changing customized tread patterns for their Toyo tire sets.

Rockstar Makita Team LeDuc gets Ford ready for CORR series racing

Kyle and his family take the sport very seriously; it has been their career for generations. "Part of the reason why we're so good is we have fun racing." Anything from RC cars to go-karts the LeDuc family breaths racing. No surprise that they excel in this and their any other competitions.

The Lucas Oil Off-Road Racing Series features a large dirt track with several high speed sections with spectacular jumps, as well as a table top rhythm section and a dual split line. Each race features about 14 other light pickup trucks sporting about 800 horse power each. Needless to say filtration for these conditions is essential for multiple victories like Leduc's.

Kyle started at the back of the pack in the SoCal Super Trucks / Bully Dog Super Lite truck and methodically picked off the competition as the race progressed, utilizing lines that a less skilled driver would never see on the track. He had the know-how and momentum to take home first in the next race with his No. 8 Rockstar Energy Drink / Makita Tools Ford F-150. Unfortunately catastrophic engine failure took Todd out of the race on the first lap, but it was here that the team really came together. "I am grateful that we have such great sponsors," Todd commented. "Our team was up until one in the morning with our Matika tools in hand changing not only the engine but the transmission, overdrive, and rear ring and pinion as well. Basically I had a whole new drive train for the cup race, and Rockstar Energy Drink kept us going throughout the weekend." Kyle not only won three of his four races, with the help of his Dart Machinery engine he also set the fastest lap time of the entire weekend at a blistering 99 miles per hour!

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