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Morseman's Racing Wins Second Straight Street Stock Track Championship

Sep 15, 2010

Morseman remarks that he's ready to take it to the next level with his racing career now.

"It feels great to have won another Track Championship. It is what we set out to do this year and we did it," said Russ Morseman III, the Addison, New York, Street Stock racer after sewing up the 2010 Woodhull Raceway Track Championship, his second consecutive.

Russ Morseman says his second consecutive Woodhull Raceway Track Championship feels even better than the first.

"This one feels way better then the first one, commented the K&N sponsored driver. "Maybe it's because I had to work extra hard for this one. We actually went into the last point race tied (with Brett Marlatt). We both won our heats and it was a matter of who finished ahead in the feature. I was a bit nervous, but he hadn't beaten me all year long when he started behind me. So when the green flag dropped, I knew I had to go, and not waste anytime getting to the front."

Morseman shot from eleventh to fourth in only two laps, and then he set the next two cars up, and got around them on lap six.

This year's Street Stock Championship came down to the last race, with Morseman taking the title by a mere three points.

"Then I set my sights on the leader but just ran out of time," said Morseman. "It was an amazing feeling coming across the line knowing that I just won the championship. It's one of things when you're a kid you dream about, doesn't matter what class, or car you're driving, you dream of being in a race that if you win, you win the championship."

"Other than the weekend that one of my best friends, Lance Cpl. Mike Plank was shot and killed overseas, this is my most memorable win. I wanted to win for Mike so bad that weekend, and when I did, it was a very emotional win, and one that I will never forget."

Next year Morseman plans on moving into a 358 Modified, the top division in his area. "I plan to run the Dart Dirt ROC Tour, which runs a nine race series. It's something I've wanted to do for a long time. I have one of the cars complete and ready to take to the track, so I can get some seat time for next year."

Morseman says he also intends on running at some of the local tracks around his Woodhull, New York area. "I am very excited to start the next stage in my racing career and expand my knowledge, of not only driving, but setting the cars up as well. My father raced a modified years ago, and he was very successful, so hopefully I can follow in his footsteps."

"I would like to thank all my sponsors and my family, because none of this would be possible without them," added Morseman. And I hope K&N will continue to support me in the future, as I will never even consider running any other brand of filters, as they are the best, proven race after race, victory after victory."

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.

Mike Edwards Grabs NHRA Pro Stock Pole and Heads to Final at Indy's Big Go

Sep 14, 2010

NHRA Pro Stock Champion Mike Edwards

Reigning NHRA Pro Stock Champion Mike Edwards is all too aware of the added pressure when competing at the most prestigious event in all of drag racing, The Mac Tools U.S. Nationals, but he and his team didn't let any of that get in the way of their qualifying goals.

Mike Edwards' Penhall/Interstate Batteries/K&N Pontiac

After a short break in the 2010 NHRA Full Throttle schedule, Edwards and his Penhall/Interstate Batteries/K&N Pontiac were well prepared and ready to take on one of the largest fields of Pro Stock entries you will find throughout the season, thirty-one in all.

With an extended schedule and for the most part, fantastic weather during qualifying, teams were afforded five shots at the historic O'Reilly Raceway Park, just outside of Indianapolis. Edwards shot right out of the gate during session number one on Friday to sit on the top spot when he posted a 6.596. During session number two on Saturday, he didn't fair quite as well and wasn't able to repeat or even better his earlier efforts when they missed the set up causing the car to spin hard in the first fifty feet and make a fairly quick move to the right.

By the third session Saturday evening, Edwards began to work his way back up, bettering his Friday numbers and just slipping into the number two position just behind Jeg Coughlin's time by .005, making his 6.585 pass in some fantastic air with the combined low humidity and comfortable temperatures.

Edwards and his team are not only aiming to hold on to their number one position in the NHRA Pro Stock Countdown, but are feverishly working to gain lost ground in the K&N Horsepower Challenge and get back to the number one spot and they way to do that, is to continue to out qualify the rest of the pack.

"The K&N Horsepower Challenge is just an awesome opportunity for NHRA Pro Stock," Edwards noted. "K&N has given us the platform to race and be seen. Steve Williams and all the employees at K&N have been a tremendous help to our class and every team works extra hard to make the top eight so we can run for the substantial amount of bonus money that K&N has put up for us to shoot for at Norwalk every year."

Usually by Sunday, the fields are set and teams are going into race mode, but during the U.S. Nationals teams are provided with additional qualifying passes with sights set on Monday's eliminations.

Sunday, Edwards came out with his Penhall/Interstate Batteries/K&N Pontiac with the confidence he needed to lay down a track record setting 6.579 at 209.14 miles per hour speed shooting him back to the top.

The final Pro Stock session would find most teams working on their race day set up, as weather conditions were ever changing and more heat coming into the game after several cooler days. Edwards was only able to muster a 6.623, the fifth quickest of the session but with a little luck on his side was able to hang on to the pole with his previous effort, earning an impressive twelfth number one qualifying position of the season and the thirty-fourth of his career.

The presence of dominating horsepower continued to follow Edwards during eliminations on Monday where he easily outran first round opponent, Justin Humphries. But it was in the later rounds where Edwards began to call on his luck to pull out the round wins.

After almost duplicating both ends of his first round time slip, Edwards streaked by Greg Anderson in round two when Anderson's car had major problems just past the sixty foot cone.

That would set him up for a semi-final match with V. Gaines and with luck on his side, Edwards got the win when Gaines went red by a bunch and threw away a quicker much quicker E.T.

Edwards was able to find his missing RT numbers for the final against Greg Stanfield, but it was his reaction time that let him down, posting a .084 to Stanfield's .020 and allowing Stanfield to take the holeshot victory (6.665 to 6.627).

Edwards and the rest of the Pro Stock drivers had a short week off to decompress from all that is "Indy" and the first event in the Countdown to One. This weekend they head to zMax Dragway, just outside Charlotte, North Carolina, where Edwards looks to improve on his fifty-two point lead over Allen Johnson in the Countdown and make more gains in the 2011 K&N Horsepower Challenge during the 3rd annual O'Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Nationals.

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.

Oenes Motorsports Dragster Wins Again in Fast 16 Series at Bandimere Speedway

Sep 14, 2010

Oenes qualified number one with a 6.65 elapsed time at 206 MPH.

Who says good guys finish last? USAF Sergeant David Oenes, the Henderson, Colorado veteran drag racer is clear evidence to the contrary. When Oenes isn't racing and winning and dismissing it as luck on weekends, he's spending his week working in the Colorado Air National Guard.

The win last weekend at Bandimere Speedway was Oenes second in two months.

"We had luck on our side this weekend. It is not very often you can cut a .066 light and still get the win light in your lane," said Oenes, referring to his win last weekend at Bandimere Speedway in Morrison, Colorado. Oenes had another win there in the Fast 16 Series back in July. "This is an awesome series," says Oenes. "It is a field of cars made up of the quickest 16 dragsters. We were fortunate to qualify number one with a 6.65 elapsed time at 206 MPH."

In the final Oenes faced off against K&N's own Steve Johnson. "I lost my focus and cut .050," explained Oenes. "If it was not for his transmission trouble we would not have won."

To win on his father's birthday was amazing said Oenes.

This win had a particularly sweet taste about it though - "It was dad's birthday," said Oenes.

"Not only was this special because it was dads birthday, but our year started off pretty horrible. We were plagued with starter motor issues. We would qualify but then have to load the car because the starter was broke. We changed over to a 48 volt starter this year and it has taken a while to get the kinks worked out, since those types of starters are rare, no one has a spare to loan you."

Oenes says there have been other opportunities for him to win a trophy on his dad's birthday, but until now, nerves had gotten the better of him and he hadn't been able to deliver. He started the morning of the final by telling his friends that it would be "neat" if he could finally give dad a birthday win.

"That being said, I did my best to keep the thought out of my head so I could try to stay focused. It worked for the most part. In the final, as I was staging, the excitement of possibly giving dad a terrific birthday present got into my head. My reaction time was a dismal .050 to Steve Johnson's near perfect .006."

"When you're racing one of the best racers in the nation you better bring you're "A" game. I got lucky he had transmission troubles, and slowed, otherwise it would have been a different ending to the story," remarked a humble Sergeant Oenes.

"I feel very fortunate to have not only made it to the final, but also to get the victory. To do that on dads birthday was amazing!"

The Oenes Motorsports Dragster Race Team has one more race left in the Fast 16 Series towards the end of September at Bandimere. "If all goes according to plan we will attend the Division Four race in Noble, Oklahoma at the end of October and the Division Seven race in Las Vegas at the beginning of November to wrap up our year. Thank you K&N for everything you do."

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.

Driver Interview: Up-And-Coming Racer Hunter Smith - This Kid is Going Places

Sep 14, 2010

Hunter Smith and his K&N sponsored kart.

What are most 14-year-old boys up to? Chasing girls, putting off their homework, and sleeping in every Saturday and Sunday? Well that's not Hunter Smith. This 14-year-old young man exhibits maturity and discipline well beyond his years. He races, plays sports, and somehow manages to balance a girlfriend and schoolwork in with all that and much more. K&N sponsors this exceptional young man and recently had the opportunity to ask him about his racing, busy schedule, and future goals. Here's what Hunter had to say:

Hunter tearing down the track in his kart.

How has your season been to date? What position have you achieved?
Our season has been very good so far. We are currently in the championship lead and we have 8 points-paying wins, and 2 non-point-paying wins to date. Overall, I can't complain.

Have you faced any challenges with kart setup? What's working well and what isn't?
We have faced a lot of challenges with kart setups. Camber, caster, toe, and weight distribution are the four challenges that have come up with most. The track we race on (Snydersville Raceway) is a very wide- slightly banked track and being that it is a dirt oval, the track changes with air temperature, weather, and how many karts are driving on it. Setups are constantly changing, so my crew chief (my dad) and I always have to be on our game and work with what we are given.

Coming out of the turn, Hunter focuses on the straight-away.

How does this season compare to last season?
I think overall, this season has been better. 2009 was our first year, so we didn't know what to expect. And miraculously, we won the championship! In our rookie year! In 2009 we won 8 point paying races, and 2 non- point paying races, which is equal to what we have in wins at this point in 2010 and the season isn't over! So in performance on the track, we are a lot better.

Hunter overtaking one of his competitors.

Communication between my dad and I has gotten a lot better too. However, last season we had a bigger points lead at this point, and we currently only have 25 points over 2nd place. We just need to work on getting a few more wins and securing championship #2.

What have you learned this year? Personal growth? Technical knowledge?
This year has been a big learning curve. I've learned how to handle people, work with sponsors, and a lot of technical aspects of the kart from aerodynamics to how a K&N Air Filter can give me maximum performance on the track. One lesson that sticks out in my mind is from NASCAR Whelen Modified driver, Burt Myers. He says you should count your blessings, not your problems.

Hunter throws some opposite lock to keep his kart under control.

At one point this season I was on a winning streak. I won 4 races in a row and my competitors started to get angry, so they came after me. We got roughed up a little bit, but fought through it. Like Burt said, I just had to focus on the good, not the bad.

How do you feel about the team's performance this year?
The team's performance this year has been absolutely amazing. My pit crew consists of my dad, Ed Prchlik, and Jake Odee. They are always giving a 100% effort. If I go out in practice and the kart is handling terribly, they set it up so I can win the heat and feature. They always know what they are doing, and I can't thank them enough.

What challenges are you expecting in the next race?
My competitors are all very fierce and hungry for wins, as am I. The track condition could always be different from last week. Hopefully we can go out for practice and see what we are going to have to do to make sure we can set the kart up and get win number 11 of 2010.

Being such a young racer, what challenges have you faced balancing, school, sports, girls, and racing?
Believe it or not, I haven't faced that many challenges. At this point my education does come first and thankfully my teachers have been rather supportive and understanding about my racing. I am very athletic- I race, I play soccer, I workout daily, and I have played basketball, baseball, t-ball, run cross-country and track. I was also awarded the physical fitness award in 8th grade. And girls? Well that hasn't been a problem at all. My girlfriend, whom I have been with for almost 7 months, is my biggest fan. She makes it to as many races as she can. She's always there to help me through those rough races, and celebrate when we have a good one.

Where does kart racing fit in to your life goals? Do you plan on racing professionally as a career?
I'm hoping to start sprint car racing in 2011. Kart racing has been great to me, and I'm ready to move up. And yes, I do plan on racing professionally as a career. Hopefully I can make it to any form of professional auto racing- NASCAR, IRL, World of Outlaws, you name it, I want to drive it.

How have K&N products helped your kart?
K&N products have helped our kart a lot! K&N air filters are so durable and never clog. K&N's filter oil and filter cleaner keep our filters clean, so we can get all the clean air we can going into the engine. Thank you K&N!

14 years old and he's already balancing and managing more things than people twice his age. Hunter Smith is a bright and growing star in the racing world. He has his head on straight and with his talent and a little bit of luck, Hunter Smith will be on television sets across the country every weekend on a NASCAR circuit. K&N is proud to sponsor Hunter and his team and hopes that our relationship with and support of Hunter will continue for years to come as he continues to grow and progress through the racing ranks towards his career goal of professional racing.

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.

K&N Sponsored Team High Lifter - Polaris Racing Wins at Lower Place Motorsports

Sep 14, 2010

K&N sponsored Team High Lifter - Polaris is very confident going into the last two races of the season.

While most of us are careful to maneuver around mud puddles, Team High Lifter - Polaris continues to be very successful at racing smack through them. A huge crowd of ATV enthusiasts were in attendance recently to catch the mud-whomping action at Lower Place Motorsports in Martin's Mill, Texas.

JW Otwell earned a third place finish in the Pro A Class on a Polaris Sportsman 850.

It has been a very triumphant year of racing indeed for the K&N sponsored Team High Lifter - Polaris, as they continue into the final stretch with plenty of momentum, capturing seven podium finishes so far, including two wins at Lower Place Motorsports.

Team racer Brian Robertson took first place in the RUV Class on his Polaris Ranger XP. His wife and teammate, Maggie Robertson, placed second in the Women's Class, riding a Polaris Sportsman 850, while team racer, JW Otwell, pulled out a third place finish in the Pro A Class on a Polaris Sportsman 850. The big winner of the day however was the newest member of Team High Lifter - Polaris Racing, Brian Haughton. Haughton took first place in the Bogger Class, on his Polaris Sportsman 550.

The Bogger Class name originally comes from a class used in the mud truck racing industry. It is a type of tire designed specially to be used in extreme mud driving. For ATV's it denotes the middle-class sized engines, single-cylinder 500cc and up. In the ATV mud racing industry the class criteria continues to evolve as the OEMs constantly make changes and we try to keep the requirements for each class as even as possible.

Haughton wasn't content with just the one victory though, he also took third place in the Open Class, on his Polaris Sportsman 850, and another third in the RUV Class, aboard a Polaris Ranger RZR-S.

"I'm very proud of the team's accomplishments this past season, remarked team manager Tracie Engi. "I believe one of the main reasons that we've done so well this year is a combination of a great group of dedicated racers and our fine tuned Polaris machines. Our team members spend a lot of time with their bikes making sure they are maintained and in top running condition at all times."

The 2010 High Lifter PSR tour heads into the final stretch with only two races left for the season. The next race takes place in Splendora, Texas at Splendora Motocross Park on September 11th , with the final race concluding the series on September 25th, at High Lifter Off-Road Park in Shreveport, Louisiana.

"I am looking forward to the final race this season for a few reasons," adds Engi. "First, it is going to be held at High Lifter Off Road Park in Shreveport, Louisiana, which has great trails for after the races. Second, it will be great to see what individuals will be on top and win the series for their classes. Everyone has worked hard all year and this is the race they prepare for. Everyone will come bringing their best in order to get those final points." "It's been a great racing year for all the members of Team High Lifter-Polaris Racing. Without incredible Sponsors, such as K & N Engineering, the success the team has had this season would not have been 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.

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