Latest News

Jason Meyers and Elite Racing Strike Gold at 57th Gold Cup Race of Champions

Sep 23, 2010

The K&N sponsored racer crossed the finish line a mere 0.964 ahead of second place.

"Winning the Gold Cup is by far the biggest win in my sprint car career to this point and also the biggest win for our entire Elite Racing team," remarked K&N sponsored sprint car driver Jason Meyers.

Winning 57thGold Cup Race of Champions puts Jason Meyers in elite company, as only three other Californian's before him have accomplished that feat.

Jason Meyers and his Elite Racing team ventured to Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico, California recently for the 57th Gold Cup Race of Champions. Amidst a gathering of the cream-of-crop racers, Meyers pulled off a feat only three other Californian's ever had; in fact the last time that a racer from the golden state had won the Gold Cup Race of Champions was 21 years ago.

"Being from California, the Gold Cup has always been on our top five list of things we wanted to accomplish and it feels great to be able to put a check mark next to it. I had never realized that so few Californians had actually won the Gold Cup and it makes us very proud to be able to add our names to the list."

Winning the Gold Cup is by far the biggest win in his sprint car career to this point says Meyers.

For his historic victory Meyers took home a $50,000 payday, along with the cup, and most importantly add his name to the racing legends who have won the Gold Cup.

In a wicked twist, the Gold Cup is actually crystal, and the Oil City Cup is gold.

Meyers started the race from the pole position. Lined up to his outside was Jason Sides. When the Green Flag was unfurled, Sides attempted to make a move to Meyers inside, but before it could be settled the yellow flag came out. On the restart, Meyers choose the inside line, and when the race resumed Meyers grabbed the lead on the first lap, and he never looked back. "Hot Foot" quickly opened up a two second lead by lap five.

"I felt that I had a pretty good line through turns one and two on the bottom, and then the top in three and four, but because we cannot see behind us, you just never know if the cars behind you are gaining on you or not," explained Meyers.

"My crew did a great job of relaying what was going on behind me on the caution flags and fortunately I was able to get a good start off of turn four on the bottom each time and hold off the challenges from McMahan. I really felt great in the car that night and was able to get into a rhythm right at the start. I simply just shut out everything that was going on around me and concentrated on making good laps."

Meyers and McMahan put on a show at the front of the pack in traffic. There were several breaks in racing action, but on each restart Meyers choose the inside lane, and then once the Green Flag flew the two would pick up where they left off.

The race ended with a green, white, checkered situation, and Meyers was up to the challenge. With a clear race track in front of him Meyers put the pedal to the gold-metal leaving McMahan and Steve Kinser to squabble about who would finish second. Meyers crossed the line with a heart-stopping 0.964 second lead.

Two weeks before winning the at Silver Dollar Speedway, in the oil capitol of Canada, Meyers and his Elite Racing team got busy getting a pre-taste of gold cup victory by winning another cup. Keeping with the goblet theme Meyers won the Oil City Cup at Castrol Raceway in Edmonton, Canada.

"When we rolled into Edmonton, I had a new idea on how we could make our car better, and right out of the gate, it started paying off. We have been very good at Edmonton in the past and we used that knowledge to better ourselves every time we touched the race track. When they dropped the green for the A-main on the first night, we instantly went forward. The win at Edmonton was our first after making some changes within our team just two nights prior, and it felt great to see the progress that we made," said Meyers.

With these two victories Meyers now finds himself only two points out of the lead for the championship. "We are very motivated going into the final nine races of the season to win this championship, just as motivated as we have been all season," commented Meyers. "

"The goal is to race the race tracks as hard as we can and see where the chips fall. We have the car, the talent, and the means necessary to win the championship and all we have to do is execute. We have to properly execute every move we make from now until the end of the season. The World of Outlaws championship is one of the toughest things in the world to win and we are ready to prove that we have what it takes!"

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.

Milton Tolen Thanks Best Friend for Getting Him Interested in World of Drag Boat Racing

Sep 22, 2010

Milton Tolen currently has two points championship wins under his belt, two world records and a number of runner-ups.

Milton Tolen got involved in Drag boat racing originally as a young spectator, then later purchased a Flat bottom, mainly for lake use. His best friend, Randy Reynolds had been actively racing at the time.

Milton Tolen got involved in Drag boat racing originally as a young spectator, then later purchased a Flat bottom, mainly for lake use.

Many years later, he began to wonder what it would be like to compete, and then by the nudge of his buddy Randy, finally purchased all the sanction bodied safety equipment and the "race boat" and went out for his license in 2003. He enjoyed everything the race community had to offer, and has been competing ever since.

Just after acquiring his license, he joined the sanctioning body of IHBA (International Hot Boat Association) and raced with them until this current season, when Lucas Oil stepped in and IHBA stepped out. He currently has two points championship wins under his belt, two world records and a number of runner-ups. “I’m having a great time with this series,” says Tolen. “ My first win was in Gadsden, AL in 2006, and it seemed like it took forever! The 2nd win in Augusta, GA was really tough because I was up against Steve Schmidt, who’s considered one of the best. Beating him was a HUGE accomplishment!”

The K&N connection occurred after meeting Greg Boutte, also a K&N sponsored racer at the PRI show in Orlando, where they exchanged photos and stories, and their common beliefs in K&N. Not long after that, he was introduced to Bob Harris who has been a great help with the race efforts for the last couple of years.

“We have always used K&N products,” continues Tolen. “When you go racing, there is no such thing as saving money or cutting corners… you have invested so much, piece by piece and part by part. Protecting these investments, to extend the life of them is crucial. You simply can’t go without K&N!

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.

Andy Forsberg's Grand Weekend Nets Win Six and Eighth 360 Championship

Sep 22, 2010

Technically Richard and Andy's rudder design was totally legal – other racers only wished they could have come up with something to keep pace it.

From the "could-this-really-happen" file comes this scenario; you discover your racecar is so much faster than everyone else's that it's almost like you're racing a man-car against slot cars. So, as a show of sportsmanship, and because of all the carping, you deliberately start at the back of the field, but you still can't help exploding to the front and lapping pretty much everyone before the race ends. And yeah, it really did happen.

The 92 car wasn't only way faster than everyone else at its debut in Petaluma, it also pulled in some spare change between races.

On Friday, during a scheduled three-day race weekend, K&N sponsored Any Forsberg's number 92 car made its 2010 debut at the Petaluma Non-Wing "Run What You Brung" 360 open competition race. From the moment the team unloaded their radically modified car it was obvious they were in for a long night of pit-row unhappiness.

"This was an open competition race and since Andy comes from a second generation racing family, his father Richard has been around for many types of these races throughout the last 40 years, explains Candace Forsberg, Andy's wife.

Andy made a point to thank his team, K&N, and all his other sponsors for helping to make this such a successful year so far.

"Back in the day, an open comp race basically meant you built a cheater type car and went racing, so that's what they did. Richard mounted a side-board off of a top-wing, to the top of the cage, and it worked as a rudder. While the other cars were pitching it sideways, like a traditional non-wing car does to scrub off speed, Andy was able to drive the car straight into the turns like a winged car, so he never lost his momentum. It was almost like the other non-wing cars were racing against a winged car."

"The fuss came from all the other competitors that couldn't comprehend the fact that they were out smarted and were about to get their butts kicked," adds Candace. "They all had the same opportunity and time to build and fabricate parts that would make their cars faster for the race, but nobody did. Some competitors were claiming that we had a wing on the car, but the definition of a wing is a device that creates lift and or down force and our side panels did neither, so it was legal."

The proverbial straw that broke the camel's back was when Andy pulled the "0" pill and put himself on the pole. That's when the promoter Jim Soares pleaded with Andy to take the body parts off. Instead, they came to an agreement that Andy would start dead last and try to make a go of it. This was a big risk, being as it was a $2500 to win race, but Andy nicknamed "Mr. Excitement" was tired of everyone complaining and was ready to put on a show, according to Candace. Andy went from the back, to first place in just 18 laps, and lapped up to the eighth place car before the checkered waved. Andy was turning laps that were nine-tenths faster than the second fastest car out there. It was Andy's sixth win of the year.

Andy said this was the most fun he had ever had during a race. It was a very special night, having something he and his dad thought about and fabricated, work to such perfection.

On Saturday the Autism Awareness, Coors Light number 47 headed to Placerville, California for the final night of the 360 point season. Andy had a 21 point lead heading into the night and only needed a consistent finish to wrap up his eighth championship. With his fifth place finish he clinched the track championship.

On Sunday in his second non-wing appearance of the weekend at the Louie Vermeil Classic USAC 410 Non-Wing race at the Calistoga half-mile, Andy had another good race, finishing eighth.

Andy thanked K&N and all the people that helped him over the weekend and throughout the season, without their help he says he could not have gotten it done.

Up next for Forsberg Racing are the last two Civil War races in Watsonville, California on Friday September 24th and Placerville on Saturday September 25th.

"The top three are only separated by four points, so it should be another exciting weekend," said Candace. "Hopefully we come out on top and Andy wins his fifth title with the series. After that Andy still has the 360 Fall Nationals in Chico, California, the season finale in Marysville, California, The Cotton Classic in Hanford, where he plans on running a winged 410 and his non-winged 360 in the same night, the Trophy Cup in Tulare, California, and possibly some National ASCS races in Nevada and Arizona."

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.

Preparation & Discipline Pay Dividends for U.S. Nationals Super Comp Finalist Don O'Neal

Sep 22, 2010

Super Comp racer Don O'Neal

Professional and sportsman racers alike all dream of winning drag racing's biggest event of all, The U.S. Nationals, held each year at O'Reilly Raceway Park just outside of Indianapolis, Indiana.

Don O'Neal at O'Reilly Raceway Park

For that dream to come true, first you need to make it to the final, which is much easier said than done during an event that is spread out over many days, in different weather conditions and for a sportsman competitor, more rounds than any other NHRA National event the rest of the season.

Super Comp racer, Don O'Neal had competed in the three previous U.S. National events, and while he had some success during each of those attempts, was never able to make it to the later rounds on Monday.

2010 would be a different kind of year for O'Neal, as the active duty Sargent First Class (SSC) took on one of the most competitive fields of Super Comp racers with discipline and much preparation.

O'Neal posted perfect light in the opening round, a nearly perfect .001 reaction time in round two and continued to slightly better each of his opponents at one end of the track of the other as each round came and went, knocking off class heavy hitters such as Tommy Phillips.

"After we got put on the ladder, I would like to think I had some good preparation for each of my opponents as we went along," reflected O'Neal. "I was certainly lucky in come of the situations that I was in. And I told several other racers that I didn't drive very well. I just drove a little better than the guys beside me. I just made less mistakes than they did."

"Every run I came back and I was like, I messed that up and I messed that up," continued a very humble O'Neal. "I'm very happy about the outcome of the weekend, but not from the stand point that I can sit back and say I drove an awesome weekend. I didn't drive great, but I got by."

Watching his side of the ladder, O'Neal could see his chances of making it to Monday rounds increase. An accomplishment high on his list after the last three attempts.

"To many people, this may sound like the dumbest thing in the world," he paused. "But I have gone out every year on Sunday night and have never been able to make it to Monday. Sunday night when Jeff (Serra) and I had our little staging duel and we had a good time, we know each other real well, but after I won I was so excited in the shutdown area, making it to Monday than I think honestly I was about being in the final."

Like any other racer, O'Neal knew to run each round as it came and not to get ahead of himself, but one could not help to notice that by making it to Monday he was only one round away of earning a single into the final of the U.S. Nationals.

The quarterfinal just might have been O'Neal's lucky round. After uncharacteristically missing the tree, his opponent, Cory Baker, threw away a .006 light when taking well over a tenth at the stripe. When the numbers came up on the board, Baker's huge 8.831 breakout allowed O'Neal to easily to earn the semi-final bye with his 8.917.

Sargent First Class Don O'Neal, in his U.S. Army/K&N clad dragster, became the first active duty solider to ever compete in a final at a NHRA National event and to do so during the "Big Go" makes the accomplishment just that much more notable. When the final round came, O'Neal would find his final round opponent to Troy Coughlin, Jr.

"Honestly for the final, I had spent more time pondering a strategy against TJ," confessed O'Neal. "I'm not taking anything away from the rest of the Coughlin family, but that's Jeggie's nephew and Jeggie can dial a car. I'm sitting there thinking, I don't just have to beat TJ, I have to beat Jeggie and on top of that, Kenny Underwood. You've got people over there with a combined total of over sixty years in racing experience."

"I was banking on the track being fast, as is usually is for an NHRA National event final," he continued. "It went the opposite direction and there went my strategy and at the same time, he was playing with the same deck and just came out better than I did."

"It was awesome. It was Indy," said the first time U.S. Nationals Super Comp Runner-Up. "What else can you say."

With a race that goes on for almost an entire week and eight rounds, Don O'Neal was not only mentally prepared for the quest, but so was his dragster and fully equipped with protection from K&N Engineering for the long haul to the final.

"I use it all," said O'Neal. "From the breather filters, to my K&N oil filter and I love my carbon fiber dragster scoop. Plus I just recently I added a K&N cold air intake to my dually. I picked up some awesome fuel mileage for my truck and more."

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.

Chris Ferguson Rallies to Richest Victory of His Career at Cherokee Speedway

Sep 22, 2010

The difficult decision to go with harder compound tires by crew chief Bryan Conard paid off in the end.

Racing, just as life, continues to happen along its own course while we're busy making other plans. Although we may be paying attention over here, something always seems to go amuck over there. The ability therefore to bob-and-weave in the face of unanticipated circumstances and return the bubble between the lines, or regain balance if you will, is an indispensable success skill in both venues.

Fergy was all smiles after the richest and most emotional win of his young career at Cherokee Speedway.

"It feels great to finally get a big win under our belt. Actually, it felt rather relieving to get one after all the bad luck we have had," reflected Chris Ferguson. "Considering the circumstances, I don't think we could have picked a better time to win a big race. Our car owner passed away just two weeks before, and everybody had heavy hearts, but we pulled through like he would want us to, and we came home with a victory."

Ferguson accepted his $10,000 check, but he donated the trophy to the family of the late Hall of Fame inductee Mike Butler.

The Southern Allstars East Series recently gathered at Cherokee Speedway in Gaffney, South Carolina, for the 4th Annual Hall of Fame 60, the winner of the race walking away with a very sweet $10,000 reward. Ferguson says the Hall of Fame night has always been special for the dirt late model team 22; this time around it carried a good deal of extra significance.

Proudly representing team owner Jack Starrette's tribute paint scheme, the number 22 unloaded very fast at Cherokee, earning a solid fifth place qualifying effort, positioning "Fergy" on the front row of his second heat race. With a powerful winning performance the K&N sponsored driver dominated his heat race.

Clearly, Ferguson set the tone for the A-Main, which had him starting on the front row once again. Ferguson and his team were hoping that some pre-race decisions regarding tires would make the difference. It was only last year that the team lost in the game of tire roulette at Cherokee. Crew chief Bryan Conard made a gutsy call, deciding to go with a harder tire then everyone else.

At the drop of the green flag it was evident that Ferguson was feeling the harder tires, as he settled into a third place spot for first 20 laps. With ten laps to go though Ferguson and his tires started to turn up the heat.

Then, a close call with another driver, ironically experiencing tire failure, nearly ended Ferguson's rally to the front of the field. Nevertheless, as though ordained, the 22 car pulled through the close call to take the lead and bring home the victory. The win marked the richest, and one of the most emotional, victories in young Ferguson's career.

"This win means so much to me and my team right now, we have been through a lot, and have a lot of people to thank and dedicate this win to," remarked Ferguson. "I just tired to remember to be careful with my tires, because we went harder than everyone else. I didn't want to blister them before they actually took to the track. My crew chief made the right call, even if it was different then everyone else's, but it paid off in the end when everyone else used up their tires, and we had plenty of rubber left."

Ferguson collected his $10,000 winning prize, but he donated his trophy to the Butler family. Ferguson was very close with Hall of Fame inductee, the late Mike Butler.

"I knew right when I pulled in victory lane that I wanted to do that," said Ferguson." Mike Butler had been the photographer in victory lane that had taken my pictures many times before, and I knew it would be special to do that for the family. They were down there cheering me on and that's the least I could have done. We really like doing special things like that for people who lose someone special."

The Chris Ferguson Motorsports team will take next weekend off to regroup, and then next on their target is Virginia Motor Speedway, for the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series event.

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.

Previous Page 1 ... 659 660 661 662 663 ... 1081 Next Page