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Between the ages of 12 to 16, Wendy Mathis racked-up 75 feature wins racing Quarter Midgets
As is often the case, talent begins to reveal itself early on in life. For Wendy Mathis, living in Tampa Bay, Florida, her mad skills began to shine overtly between the ages of twelve and sixteen. During that four-year period, racing Quarter Midgets, Mathis racked-up an impressive 75 feature wins.
At age fifteen Wendy Mathis became the first female to win the Florida State Quarter Midget Championship
At the ripe age of fifteen she became the first female to win the Florida State Quarter Midget Championship. Since 2001, Wendy has competed with the Tampa Bay Area Racing Association (TBARA) Sprint Car Club, and she is currently competing full-time in the O'Reilly USCS Asphalt Thunder Series (Winged Pavement Sprint Car).
With the paint still wet on this new decade's Open for Business sign, Mathis is already in Australia, ready to take on a new challenge - the dirt tracks of Australia. Her debut has been delayed slightly though. In her January 3, blog entry she writes, "It's raining cats and dogs (kangaroos and wallabies) down here. Dubbo and Parramatta both got rained out, so I've been playing tourist waiting for another race, which should be on Monday (January 4, 2010).
Wendy Mathis uses K&N Sprint Car Air Box and Wrench Off oil filters
To prepare for her Australian assault Mathis first spent time with Sprint Car Yoda Cory Kruseman. "Right off the bat I have to thank K&N Filters for helping me get into the Cory Kruseman Sprint Car & Midget School (Ventura, California) right before I flew over here. That was a lot of learning in a short amount of time, and it really helped me out tremendously."
Wendy Mathis attended Cory Kruseman Sprint Car & Midget School in December, 2009
"I actually attended Cory's school on December 20. I had the opportunity to race against Cory in the "Little 500" some years ago, so I knew that he was a very talented driver. I had heard a lot of great things about his school and I couldn't wait to get instruction from one of the best in the business," explains Mathis.
"Some of the things that Cory was able to help me with were understanding the cushion, and how to use it properly - how to read the race track - throttle control and braking - and correctly entering and exiting corners."
2010 will be Wendy Mathis' second season as a team owner
"Cory took a lot of extra time with me to make sure that I understood as much as possible. Unfortunately, because of scheduling problems (the Ventura
County Fair Association had pre-scheduled a horse show), our time together was very brief, so I had to learn as much as I could really fast."
Wendy has competed with the Tampa Bay Area Racing Association (TBARA) Sprint Car Club Since 2001 and currently competing full-time in the O'Reilly USCS Asphalt Thunder Series
"If anyone is transitioning from pavement to dirt, or if they are already driving on the dirt, but want to hone their skills, or even if they just want a once in a lifetime experience, I highly recommend that they take Cory Kruseman's Sprint Car and Midget Driving School. This was an amazing experience and I can't thank Bob Harris at K&N enough for arranging it for me," says Mathis.
We asked Mathis how the decision to travel to the other side of the planet to race came about. "This is truly one of those opportunities that found me," says Mathis. "Todd, my marketing guy, my business manager, Josh, and my friend Brian, created a website to help keep sprint car fans in Florida up to date.
The Skene family (Craig, Trisha and their kids Zara, Jackson and Laura) where in the planning stages of a visit from Australia to the United States, to the Orlando area, to visit Disney World, among other things. Craig, being the hardcore racer that he is, managed to work in a few trips to speedways around Florida during their visit. Craig found www.FloridaSprintCarFans.com and contacted Todd. Together Todd and Josh compiled a list of every possible type of sprint car racing for Craig to take in during his visit." That's how the initial connection to Mathis came about.
As fate should have it, the first race on that list was only hours after the Skene's arrived in Orlando. Mathis and TBARA were racing at Desoto Super Speedway in Bradenton, Florida. There was a lengthy, but fortuitous rain delay that night, which provided Mathis plenty of time to chat and get familiar with the entire Skene family, and they hit it off well. "The entire family is so cool," says Mathis.
Mathis nearly won that night, running in third place for most of the race. Craig was "blown away" not just by Mathis, but with how fast and close the racing was. After the race, the family asked Mathis what she was doing for the next couple of weeks? She wasn't busy, so she agreed to show them around Florida.
"This incredible opportunity came about when Craig and his family invited me to travel to Australia and drive for them. I had done some research on Craig when I heard that he was coming over, and I knew that he was one of the best non-wing drivers in Australia. Craig is one of only a few drivers to reach the number one spot in Australia multiple times," adds Mathis. "So, to have the chance to drive his car was something that I couldn't pass up. It's one of those things you really usually only dream about."
"The Skene Family Racing Team has done a great job making sure I don't have too much down time out of the car," says Mathis. "I'm going to squeeze in six races in four weeks. I have two races scheduled at the famous Tyrepower Parramatta City Raceway (TPCR) in Sydney. I also have three races scheduled at Dubbo City Speedway, and one at Norwa Speedway. The history at TPCR is incredible; I can't believe that my first race ever on dirt will be there. How do you top that?"
"I really have to say that K&N really is the best filter in the world," says Mathis. "I've always believed in their products, but after touring the production facility and seeing the lengths that K&N goes through to assure that they stay the best is amazing."
"I use the K&N Sprint Car Air Box and the Wrench Off oil filters. I also use the K&N filter cleaner and filter oil to keep my air box working like new, and the
K&N Pre-Filter to keep the pleats from getting clogged with debris. The entire staff at K&N has been so helpful since I've been a part of the team. I just can't say enough good things about everyone at K&N. They really pride themselves on building relationships. Whether you're a retail customer, or a sponsored driver, you get their very best every time."
2010 will be Mathis' second season as a team owner and by all indications she has no intentions of slowing down. "There's a lot of pressure being the team owner and the driver. A lot of that is self-inflicted though. I expect more of myself and refuse to settle for less. I've got some big ideas for 2010 that I would like to announce, but I'm not quite ready just yet. I guess that will have to be another story."
RedLion Motorsports would like to see this 2006 Chevy Cobalt achieve 200mph
RedLion Motorsports specializes in vehicle restoration, engine builds, suspension, brakes and more. They have been in business for 37 years and developed an impressive resume of hot rods, custom imports and sport compact cars.
RedLion Motorsports' 2006 Chevy Cobalt SS
In the mid '70's Shane and Ben Therrien raced flat track motorcycles for Darryl Bassani in Southern California. Their passion for performance and restoration slowly grew into the conception of RedLion Motorsports. Some of their many accomplishments include a 1955 Chevy with zz4 Crate engine, 1958 Cadillac Sedan Deville, 1968 Chevelle, 1970 Nova, 1950 Dodge, 2006 Nissan 350z and a fully restored 1980 Chevy pickup.
RedLion Motorsports is currently located in Flagstaff, Arizona, and recently became a dealer for StreetGlow, Vertical Doors, Ksport, NRG Innovations, MHT Wheels, WSI Wheels and 3M products.
2006 Chevy Cobalt SS uses K&N air intake and oil filter
K&N spoke with Shane Therrien about the recent activities at RedLion Motorsports. "We are working on a 2008 Chevy Corvette Z06," said Therrien. "We already installed vertical doors on the Z06. It will soon include a supercharger, custom wheels and tires. We are also getting ready for the 2010 SEMA Show in Las Vegas, Nevada." The SEMA (Specialty Equipment Market Association) Show is an automotive expo that offers an abundance of information about automotive aftermarket parts and accessories and provides a platform for displaying modified vehicles that incorporate classic and modern aftermarket technologies.
RedLion Motorsports installed vertical doors on their custom Chevy Cobalt
For SEMA 2010, RedLion Motorsports will be displaying their custom 2006 Chevy Cobalt SS in the StreetGlow booth. "We have made some major modifications to the Cobalt in preparation for SEMA 2010," Therrien said. "We installed a Stage 2 supercharger kit and NGK spark plugs, Vibrant polished header and 3" downpipe elim cat, prototype Bassani exhaust, MRZ performance strut bar and dress up kit, Ingalls torque damper, Cryo2 intake system with 10lb bottle and dual purge and front spray bar and a lot more."
Chevy Cobalt with K&N air intake and Stage 2 supercharger kit
The RedLion Motorsports Chevrolet Cobalt SS is a show car, track car and a daily driver. "We take it to the local SCCA events as well as many car shows such as HIN, Speedworld, Route 66 Days, Hot Rod Power Tour, World of Wheels, Import Face-Off and more," added Therrien. "I also drive it to California, Phoenix, Las Vegas, and around town on a regular basis. We believe in driving the vehicle no matter how nice it may be."
RedLion Motorsports will be displaying their Cobalt SS in the StreetGlow booth at SEMA 2010
This unique Cobalt is equipped with a K&N air intake and oil filter. "I love the way K&N has performed on our Cobalt," said Therrien. "When I got the car I upgraded to a Stage2 supercharger kit. The noise of the supercharger along with the performance was there, but it needed a little more. After I installed the K&N Typhoon air intake system, the noise from the supercharger was awesome. We had more horsepower that we could feel on the freeway. I also noticed a gain in MPG from 22 city/30 hwy to 26 city/38 hwy."
RedLion Motorsports plans to convert this '06 Chevy Cobalt from a 2.0L to 2.3L
RedLion Motorsports have been using K&N products since the late '70's on their flat track motorcycles. "We use K&N products because there is no one out there who can compete with the performance in horsepower, torque and fuel economy," Therrien said, "as well as the great product manufacturing of K&N. We have tested the product time and time again and we have not been let down by the performance of the filter."
There is hard work ahead for RedLion Motorsports in order to prepare their 2006 Chevy Cobalt SS for the 2010 SEMA show. "We are in the works with REME Designs for a custom interior and sound system," said Therrien. "We are also installing a roll cage, Garrett 40R turbo, Brian Crower stroker kit to make the 2.0L a 2.3L and a fully built bottom end. Our goal is to achieve 200mph in the car with full interior and sound system within 2010."
RedLion Motorsports continues to gain recognition in the automotive industry for their great skills and understanding of performance. "We are trying to become a one stop shop for great deals on parts and installation," concludes Therrien, "we just need to get our name out there. We will definitely be involving K&N in our future by referring all of our customers to use K&N products, as well as using them on all of RedLion Motorsports' vehicles."
The 2010 schedule for RedLion Motorsports include the following:
- 2010 SEMA Show, H.I.N. in PHX, AZ
- H.I.N. in Anahiem, CA,
- H.I.N. in Pleasanton, CA
- DUB Show tour PHX, AZ
- DUB Show tour L.A.,CA
- DUB Show tour San Diego,CA
- NOPI in PHX
- Route 66 Days Flagstaff, AZ
- Speedworld Import vs Domestics in PHX, AZ
- AZ's fastest street car in PHX, AZ
- 2 events at the Northern AZ shootout at Speedworld in PHX, AZ
- Extreme Autofest -San Francisco, CA
- Just Cruisin car show-Willams, AZ
- Summit Fire Department Show-Flagstaff, AZ
2006 Chevy Cobalt SS Modifications as of November 2009
ENGINE MODS:
K&N Typhoon air intake, Stage 2 supercharger kit,bigger injectors, reflash, 3" pulley, Step 2 colder Iridium NGK Spark Plugs, Vibrant polished header,Vibrant 3"downpipe elim. cat, Prototype bassani exhaust, ingalls torque dampner, mrz performance strut bar, mrz performance dress up kit, Spec stage 2+ clutch and flywheel, Cryo2 intake system with 10lb bottle and dual purge and front spray bar.
SUSPENSION:
Ksport control pro 36 way adjustable coilovers
BRAKES:
Prototype Baer Brakes, 13.5" drilled and slotted rotors on front with Corvette C5 four piston calipers, and 13.5" drilled and slotted rotors in back, with all stainless steel brake lines
EXTERIOR:
Halo projector headlights, StreetGlow 7 color LED kit, with strobes all the way around in engine, tailights, etc. Vertical Doors, Cryo2 Purge ...VIS carbon fiber trunk, APR front splitter and canards.
INTERIOR:
Painted interior trim, Tenzo Racing pedals,Recaro SS seats, Pioneer Stereo package, cobra radar detector with screen, 10lb Cryo2 bottle in trunk, streetglow all inside the car and in the trunk to light up the bottle.
Wissmiller Racing Inc. got its start in 1989, with the purchase of a Stanley quarter midget, and nine-year-old Kyle Wissmiller behind the wheel. The hometown of Kyle and Wissmiller Racing is Saybrock, Illinois. However, no Wissmiller Racing story would be complete without a shout-out to Mitch, Kyle's younger bother. Mitch began his racing career one year after Kyle - he was seven years old at the time. The two bothers careers have been irrevocably intertwined ever since.
Kyle Wessmiller plans to include the ASCS non-wing, Illinois Sprint Series, MSCS and select USAC events in 2010
That very first year Kyle began racing he prodigiously went on to win the 1989 Quarter Midget Indoor Dirt Championship. The very next year Kyle finished second in Region 5 points, with eight feature wins. The year after that he won ten features and he was crowned 1991 Illinois State Quarter Midget Champion.
And, so it went every year after, victories piled on top of milestones, right up to 2001, his last year in quarter midget racing. Kyle ended the quarter midget phase of his racing career by wining ten features, including the biggest purse in mini-sprint racing in the country, the Pike County Nationals.
In 2002 Kyle bumped it up to the next phase of his racing career, moving into full-sized sprint cars. Two years later he landed a USAC midget and Silver Crown ride. And, so it continues to go with each passing year, the layers of experience and accomplishments continue to mount for the relentlessly efficient Kyle.
"We are currently working on putting two cars together for Mitch, and I am building a new car for 2010. Our plans include the ASCS non-wing, Illinois Sprint Series, MSCS and select USAC events. I will be running a Silver Crown car for Rick King in 2010, starting in May at the Indy fairgrounds," reveals Kyle.
"We use K&N air filters, oil filters, filter oil and cleaners. These have kept our engines running strong the entire season and have eliminated the need to replace rings mid-season. We have been able to distribute K&N brochures to all of our sponsors that could use K&N products. We will continue to run and promote quality K&N products on any cars we run, because we believe in the products."
Wissmiller Racing's plans for next season remain similar to their past schedules, meaning a large number of dirt sprint car races, Silver Crown races and a select number of midget races in the Midwest.
"We plan to travel to tracks in Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska and Iowa, as we chase the larger paying races across the country. Continued success on and off the track is our number one goal, and with the help of companies like K&N, we will continue to win races," concludes Kyle.
K&N Universal Air Filters are designed and manufactured for a wide variety of applications. All filters are constructed with ultra-strong molded pliable rubber flanges which absorb vibration and allow for secure attachment.
K&N universal XStream Clamp-on air filter, part number RX-5179
K&N has recently released a Round Tapered Universal XStream Clamp-on air filter, part number
RX-5179, that is washable and reusable. The flange can be stretched up to 1/16” (1.5 mm) to fit in-between sizes.
The RX-5179 has a flange inside diameter of 2.406 inches (61mm) and a height of 3.75 inches (95mm). It also has a 4.719 inch (120 mm) outside diameter base. K&N Universal XStream Clamp-on air filters are designed to capture harmful particles, and have low air restriction.
K&N consistently adds new filters to its extensive catalog. Regardless of the shape or size K&N probably has a universal air filter to fit your specific needs. Find K&N universal air filters for your needs by using the
Universal Air Filter Search by Dimension on knfilters.com
Shea Holbrook wins trophy in the #67 Acura Integra
Not yet 20 years old, Shea Holbrook from Groveland, Florida, a K&N sponsored racer, has already soundly confirmed that she is without question the real deal - a champion both on and off the track. And, according to all indications, we haven't seen anything yet. Shea has motorsports superstar written all over her.
Shea Holbrook from Groveland, Florida, discovered her passion for driving when she was 16
Last month, on Homestead Miami-Speedway, racing in the Formula Automotive Racing Association (FARA) 3-Hour endurance race, Shea placed first in class and third overall. Then in the 6-hour race she collected second in class. Shea got it done driving a car she hadn't raced since January. Due to last minute changes she was forced to dust off her faithful number 67 Acura Integra. With only a few days to prepare the car, her crew pulled off some miraculous wrenching readying the car. Shea didn't let their efforts go to waste.
Shea is equally as proficient off the track, recognizing early on that what she learns off the track equals growth and maturity on it. Last year Shea Racing partnered with the Frito Lay Corp., and together they raised $12,500 for the Susan G. Komen "For the Cure" charity. Future plans include raising money for MDA (Muscular Dystrophy), which affects her own family. She also volunteers for several other women and children charities.
Shea first discovered her passion for driving when she was 16, it was during a "Richard Petty Experience." Her talents where immediately recognized by the motorsport community as she roared through high performance driving events all throughout Florida. She went on to obtain her SCCA license and since then has been road racing competitively all over the nation with many organizations, from sprint races to 25-hour enduros.
Shea is also an accomplished national competitive water skier holding numerous state, regional and national titles. She is currently attending college and moving forward to become a pro driver.
Fittingly enough her mantra is "Fear is a state of mind, will is an action taken." Shea lives this quote and believes through commitment and determination anything is possible.
"My life couldn't be better. The past year and a half has been amazing on and off the racetrack," exclaims Shea. "I'm now a sophomore in college studying Public Relations, and I've have taken a big interest in broadcasting, and my racing career continues to grow."
She already has her own show on Z-Max Radio called ‘Racing with Shea,' on the air Wednesdays at 9:00 A.M. Not long ago at the Indy Car Championship in Homestead, Florida, she managed to wrangle a willing Helio Castroneves into an impromptu interview.
"Off track, through much guidance, I've learned that what you do off track makes what you can do on the track better. My world is revolving around the racing industry. My ultimate goal is to become a pro driver and I'm building a foundation for myself to help get there," says a confidently determined Shea.
"Also, over the past year I've joined Lyn St. James ‘Women in the Winners Circle' Foundation. Lyn has been incredibly helpful, she has given young female drivers like myself, the knowledge and opportunity to succeed within the racing industry. She provides us with the tools needed for success. Lyn's program is fantastic for young female drivers."
"On track, I couldn't have asked for a better year in racing. With tons of help I was fortunate enough to set my first track record, win a 3-hour endurance race, and win the SCCA CFR H1 Championship. Over the past three and a half years of racing I've been incredibly appreciative to meet the legends in racing that have shaped my career. And all my support has been so crucial this year. I want to praise and give unbelievable thanks to my family, K&N, Wine Country Motorsports, Lyn St. James, and all the racing organizations I've been involved with."
"K&N has supported my racing career from the day I became serious about having a pro career. Our car performs 110% with K&N's air filters, intakes, and oil filters. Everyone I've worked with at K&N has been incredibly helpful, focused, and not to mention they ship supplies at the speed of lightening. I'm honored to have a partner like K&N and will continue to make every effort to develop our relationship to full potential."
"I have to believe that 2010 will be a year to remember for my racing career. I'll be entering the world of pro racing. I'd rather keep quiet about exact plans for next year, but I will say that we have a sweet spot for Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge and the new changes to World Challenge. Just as importantly though is to continually keep nurturing my relationships will my established partners and to keep creating new partners along the way.
