Latest News

K&N Awards Jake Johnson with Grand National Championship Title

Oct 27, 2010

At the beginning of 2010, K&N's Johnny Jump and Hall of Fame racer Mike Kidd began discussions. With the help of series sponsor Parts-Unlimited, the creation of the AMA Pro K&N Filters Grand National Championship Series became a reality.

The AMA Pro Grand National Championship is the oldest and most traditional form of motorcycle racing in America, tracing its roots back to the early 1900's. This year, the day after the K&N Filters Grand National Championship came to an end on the Yavapai Downs Mile, AMA Pro Racing hosted the 2010 Awards Ceremony at the Prescott Resort and Convention Center. By all measures, and according to those in attendance, the event was a striking success, filled with a renewed sense of dedication and emotion.

This was the first time since 2006 that a single rider was crowned Grand National Champion. Special Thanks to Zanotti Racing, Dave Zanotti, Ted McDermitt and Mike Hacker.

"I almost have a 40 year relationship with K&N, from racing, promoting and now working as the Director of Flat Track for AMA Pro Racing," explained Hall of Fame racer Mike Kidd.

"Earlier this year I made a call to John Jump (Brand Manager of the Powersports Division) to offer K&N Filters the title position of the series, which would include a $50,000.00 expert Grand National Championship points fund. We named the series AMA Pro K&N Filters Grand National Championship Series, with an awards banquet following the final race in Prescott, Arizona, to honor all our champions."

K&N's Johnny Jump gives Jake Johnson a $10,000 check for winning the K&N Filters AMA Grand National Championship Series presented by Motorcycle-Superstore.com.

What made this year's ceremony particularly exceptional was that it marked the first time since 2006 that the official overall Grand National Champion was crowned. By virtue of his 20 point win over both Joe Kopp and Jared Mees, Jake Johnson came away with the lion's share of hardware and cash.

The class of 1972, three AMA Hall of Famers, Mike Kidd, Kenny Roberts and Gary Scott.

Johnson won $10,000 from K&N Filters, and $5,000 from Harley-Davidson Motor Company, plus another $2,500 for winning the "Twins" Championship. Kopp and Mees collected checks for $8,000 and $6,000 respectively from the K&N points fund.

We asked Kidd to clarify the significance of what it meant to award the Overall Grand National Champion at this year's banquet?

"It gets a bit complicated, but here goes," said Kidd. "The Grand National Series began in 1954 with 18 races consisting of Short Track, TT, Half Mile, Mile and Road Race. In 1986 road race was split off from flat track to run their own Championship Series, so from 1986 through 2005 the series consisted of all aspects of flat track racing, with points accumulated from each round going to crown AMA Pro Grand National Champion. Then, in 2006 AMA Pro Racing split flat track into two series, singles and twins, resulting in a Singles National Champion and Twins National Champion."

Kidd goes on to explain that there were many people who felt splitting the series into singles and twins took away from the magnitude of a Grand National Champion, in which only one rider carried the number one plate. Beginning in 2006, unless a one rider won both the Singles and Twins Championship, Flat Track would have two riders with number one plates, somewhat diluting the meaning of a Grand National Champion.

"In 2010 AMA Pro Racing elected to go back to a combined singles and twins series to crown one Grand National Champion," adds Kidd. "AMA Pro Racing will still recognize the expert Singles National Champion and Twins National Champion to allow marketing benefits to teams, riders and manufacturers who only campaign the singles or twins class, however, only the Grand National Champion will carry the number one plate."

Kidd says there were many heartfelt moments during this year's ceremony, but there was one in particular that sticks out.

"I knew sometime during the awards ceremony that Joe Kopp was going to mention his retirement from competing on a full schedule. I remember when I announced my retirement, it was extremely hard to hold back the emotions from the hard work, dedication and commitment it takes to be competitive. Since that time I have seen my fair share of riders who just cannot hold back their emotions either from winning or announcing their retirement, so I was anxiously waiting to see how Joe would handle his announcement."

"When Joe began speaking of retiring, here came the emotions….and not just from Joe, but everyone in the room. That was a special moment, where he shared his feelings on racing and the commitment to be with his family."

Kidd's initial involvement with K&N reaches back to 1971, when he was riding Yamaha's in the Junior Division. Norm McDonald, the "N" in K&N, approached him to ask if he would be interested in racing for the innovative company, which had only been in existence two years at that point.

"I raced my Junior and Expert rookie season for K&N with some great success. As a rookie expert at the 1972 season opener at the Houston Astrodome we were second to Kenny Roberts in the Short Track National," recalls Kidd. "It was pretty cool, because Kenny Roberts, Gary Scott and I were all three rookies sitting on the pole for the Short Track National. Throughout my entire professional racing career I have never used any other filter than a K&N."

At the conclusion of this year's awards ceremony, Kidd remarked, "It was obvious the riders and teams appreciated the points fund, and the commitment from all our sponsors towards the series."

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.

High-Flow Air Filter for K&N NHRA Pro Stock Composite Hood Scoops

Oct 27, 2010

Air Filter for 100-8506 and 100-8508 K&N NHRA Pro Stock Composite Hood Scoops

K&N continues to stay at the cutting edge of race technology. When it comes to racing, K&N has the most innovative products designed to protect your engine while giving you an edge.

K&N's 28-4210 race filter is now available. It fits inside K&N Composite Hood Scoop parts 100-8506 and 100-8508. These K&N NHRA Pro Stock Hood Scoops are made of ultra strong and light carbon fiber. In addition to NHRA's Pro Stock class, these scoops can also be used in Super Stock, Super Gas, Top Sportsman, and Pro Mod classes.

Before the 28-4210 filter was available racers using one of these hood scoops either used the 28-4165 air filter which mounts over the carburetor, a standard air cleaner, nothing at all, or a K&N Inner Liner 100-8511. K&N has come up with an additional solution for better racing. Racers now have the option to use the 28-4210 race filter. It was designed to flow air optimally through the two hood scoops.

Installation of this filter is easily performed by attaching the included lightweight carbon fiber brace across the top end of the filter, aligning the opening of the filter base into the rounded lip of the opening in the scoop, then mounting the brace to the inside the scoop. The air flows through the opening in the scoop, through the filter's sides and top then into the carburetor.

The 28-4210 race filter adds very little restriction while it adds much needed protection to the carburetor and engine. Many racers are already using this hood scoop air filter with a K&N hood scoop to give them an edge and to help extend the life of their engines.

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.

Roger Norman Starts 2010 Score Baja 1000 First And Plans to Ironman the Event

Oct 26, 2010

Ironman Roger Norman

The term ironman evokes a number of immediate images, a fictional superhero, a punishing trifecta sporting event in Hawaii, a watch. Even used as a verb, as in Roger Norman plans to ironman the entire 1050 mile 2010 Score Baja 1000, the common denominator remains the same - something of herculean proportions is worthy of our immediate attention.

Co-driver Lance Clifford

On November 18, at approximately 11:45am, K&N sponsored Roger Norman and his Crystal Bay Casino number 8 Trophy Truck will be focused on an unobstructed Baja coast as he takes the very first green flag starting the 2010 desert classic. The computerized random selection drew Norman as the first vehicle to leave the line at the 43rd Baja 1000.

"I am so stoked, I can't believe it. It is the coolest thing," exclaimed Norman. "We have never started any better than fifth in the past. At my last race, the Baja 500, we drew 38th starting position and finished fourth. In desert racing we start on the clock and each vehicle starts the race one minute apart. Starting first off the line is a huge advantage in my opinion. No stress struggling your way through the pack, no dust, it couldn't be more perfect."

The El Cajon, California resident's intentions are to drive the entire mind boggling race with co-driver Lance Clifford by his side. Things are aligning rather nicely at this point for the duo to repeat the Norman Motorsports 2008 Baja victory. Norman, being the ultimate off-road professional clearly recognizes this opportunity, and he refuses to leave even the tiniest stone unturned, as it were, during his tireless race preparations.

"I am planning on pre-running more than I have ever pre-run in my life - which is a lot!" laughed Norman. "I started pre-running the race course this Monday. On day one I spent 17 hours in the truck with my co-driver Lance Clifford. While we are pre-running we are making notations and notes on our GPS to remind us of dangerous places on the race course. One of the dangers we came across was a construction zone on the side of a huge cliff. There were no barriers, and we thought the cliff was the only worry, but we soon found a twenty-foot deep excavation site that we barely missed."

Norman explains that he pre-runs the race in a vehicle that is very similar in horsepower and general performance characteristics to the trophy truck he'll be running in the actual race. His pre-runner has 710 ft-lbs torque and 700 horsepower. And it has a full 30 inches of wheel travel.

"We usually run the race course several times during pre-running so we have to taper the speed back in order to make the vehicle last," says Norman. "Over the last two days of pre-running we spent 36 hours in the truck and covered over 1200 miles. We are getting ourselves tuned up for the task at hand. It will be tough to ironman this course, and the pre-running is the only thing that can really get you ready. It's amazing how many things hurt after 36 hours."

"We did one particular section, which was the most difficult 40 miles of the race course, three times. We will do it several more times before the start of the race. After two weeks of pre-running, I will run the course nonstop in a single seat trophy truck to determine if I can run the entire race without the help of a second driver to give me a break, and a chance to stretch out and get some food."

"The reason I am ironmaning the race is that my co-driver went with another team, and I can't just throw anybody in the driver's seat," remarked Norman candidly. "I have somebody in mind if I determine that running solo is not going to be the best program to win this race overall. I have never done the ironman thing before, this will be a first for me. Foremost though, I must see if it's possible."

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.

Sprint Car Series Champion Keith Butler and the KJ Motorsports Team

Oct 26, 2010

Third-generation sprint car racer Keith Butler

The term "racing is in his blood" is thrown around loosely in the racing community, but for one driver, the phrase actually seems appropriate.

Butler's KJ Motorsports Sprint Car

Enter Keith Butler, a third-generation sprint car racer from Tampa, Florida. Since the age of 5, Butler has been competing in open-wheel racing, first in karting, then in quarter-midgets, and finally in sprints, where he has enjoyed one of the most successful careers of any regional racer in the southeast United States.

"It's been a dream," said Butler, the back-to-back, defending Checkered Flag Sprint Series Champion. "This season hasn't quite been what we were looking for. We've had some engine problems, and we've been in the wrong place at the wrong time. But we are still in the points race."

Butler was also the 2003 Tampa Bay Area Racing Association's Owners Champion. In addition to those two series, he also runs in the Top Gun series. Butler currently sits fourth in points in the CFSS with two race weekends remaining in 2010. He has tasted bitterness of defeat and the sweet taste of victory this year.

"This season has had its ups and downs. From winning, to engine problems, to crashes, it's just been a roller coaster."

Butler's KJ Motorsports team, named for himself and his wife Jennifer, found a way to take racing and put it to good use. In 2008, the founded Operation: Race For Freedom. The team collects and distributes items needed by United States Military members throughout the world.

KJ Motorsports has long used K&N products to get them in victory lane, and Butler said the reason is simple. "K&N products are high quality and consistent. They allow us to standardize our maintenance intervals. The people at K&N have also been such a pleasure to work with, and have gone above and beyond to help with giveaways for Operation: Race For Freedom."

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.

2009 through 2012 Ford Flex 3.5L Gets More Power with K&N Air Intake

Oct 25, 2010

K&N Air Intake Installed on 2009 through 2012 Ford Flex 3.5L

Dyno Chart for 77-2578KS Air Intake System

The Ford Flex is a full-sized seven passenger crossover utility vehicle (CUV). Its bold exterior design is accompanied by Ford's signature chrome horizontal three-bar grille. The stylish interior, combined with the second and third row seats that fold flat into the floor, make the Ford Flex a desirable buy. With an abundance of cargo space and family-friendly seating, the Ford Flex can be a very practical and convenient vehicle to own.

K&N Air Intake System for 2009 through 2012 Ford Flex 3.5L

The Ford Flex is said to produce 262 horsepower from its 3.5L V6 engine. There are times, like when passing, extra power is missed. K&N has designed a performance air intake system just for those times. K&N's 77-2578KS air intake fits 2009 through 2012 Ford Flex models with the 3.5L engine. The 77-2578KS is guaranteed to provide more horsepower and increased torque for these models.

K&N's intake system is equipped with a custom tuned intake tube, a K&N high-flow washable air filter (RF-1048) and a heat shield. This intake system virtually eliminates air path restriction and positions the filter toward cooler outside air.

Dyno testing revealed an increase of 9.19 horsepower at 4914 rpm with the use of this simple performance air intake add-on. Testing also showed a powerful boost of 9.82 lbft of torque. More power and towing ability makes the Ford Flex an even better crossover utility vehicle.

Complete with images, K&N's installation instructions will guide you through the installation process in a step by step fashion. Installation of the 77-2578KS is typically done in 90 minutes or less. Adding performance to your 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012 Ford Flex has never been easier.

K&N air intake systems are designed to last the life of your vehicle and come with K&N's Million Mile Limited Warranty.

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.