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The K&N Ford Powered Black Stallion Monster Truck Team flew high in Quebec City. Driver and owner Michael Vaters gave the fans one of the most intense freestyles shows so far on the Canadian Monster Spectacular Tour.
Pit party for Monster Truck Spectacular Tour drew a packed house at the Pepsi Coliseum in Quebec City
Iron Warrior Monster Truck climbs over cars in Moncton, New Brunswick
“Right off the bat I set a huge bar for the other drivers,” said Vaters. “During the wheelie contest I pulled off my signature move, named the reverser and the crowd loved it.” The Black Stallion took on 5 top monster trucks, Jim Kohler in the Avenger, Trey Myers driving Iron Warrior, Chris Bergeron in Brutus, Joe Miller driving Iron Outlaw and Jimmy Creten in Bounty Hunter.
K&N Ford Powered Black Stallion Flag goes to a lucky fan in Canada
Monster Truck Black Stallion in a colossal sky wheelie on the Monster Spectacular Canadian Tour
The racing was very close and the field very competitive. It was anyone’s night to win. In the first round of racing Vaters defeated Bounty Hunter and Iron Warrior defeated Avenger. In the final Jimmy Creten and the Bounty Hunter took the win from Black Stallion by inches.
The team then packed up and made its way back over to Moncton, New Brunswick to take part in the Sunday afternoon show. “It’s always sold out and has become an annual ritual for us,” said Vaters. “I try to give back to my fans because they’ve given me so much. I take the K&N flag off the back of my truck at the end of every show. I sign it and run into the crowd to give to a lucky young fan. The entire arena goes crazy over the chance to get the actual K&N race flag off the Black Stallion.”
The Iron Warrior started the show in New Brunswick with a vertical stand before it launched over a group of cars. Bounty Hunter took out Iron Warrior in the first round of racing, then went on to defeat Iron Outlaw in the finals.
Vaters uses K&N products. “We use K&N’s air and oil filters,” he said. “We’re hard on motors at every race and K&N protects our engines. K&N can handle the Monster Truck scene.”
Next week Michael Vaters and his pit crew head back to Canada for more stops on the Monster Spectacular Tour and Trey Myers will head across the Atlantic to take part in the Monster Jam European Tour.
Carlsbad, California teen Jacob Pearlman earned a spot on the podium in his sports car racing debut with the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) at Buttonwillow Raceway. Pearlman had a strong 3rd place finish.
Jacob Pearlman far right on the podium at Buttonwillow Raceway Park in California
The K&N sponsored 16-year-old is a championship kart racer. He had to wait a year to make his first car racing start. “We acquired the car last year, but Jacob was not old enough to race it,” said Richard Pearlman, Jacob’s father. “He turned 16 late last year and went to the SCCA licensing school in February.”
Jacob (left), Richard Pearlman (center) and Crew Chief Kyle Eggleton (right) with Pearlman Motor Racing Mazda RX-7
Sports car racing debut for teen Jacob Pearlman with the Sports Car Club of America
Pearlman raced in the regional Pro-7 class in his No. 25 Pearlman Motor Racing Mazda RX-7 with K&N products. Pearlman qualified solidly in the middle of the field on both Saturday and Sunday.
“Jacob faced a steep learning curve and lost several spots on the starts,” said Pearlman. “He was able to work his way back up through the field during the races and finished 4th on Saturday.”
The next day he picked up his pace and moved up to a podium finish despite a very hot and slick race track. “The air temperature was pushing 110 degrees and the track conditions deteriorated from Saturday to Sunday,” said Pearlman. “Most of the racers slowed down from the Saturday race, but Jacob was 2 seconds a lap faster over the 3.1 mile course.”
Pearlman has used K&N products for years. “K&N has been a key to Jacob’s success at the track,” said Richard Pearlman. “We never worry about the reliability of our K&N filters even under the most extreme conditions.”
“I had a blast racing the Mazda,” said Jacob Pearlman. “It is much more difficult to drive and race than a go-kart. I still need more seat time, but I am happy with my first weekend and I’m looking forward to getting back on the track. I need to work on my starts.”
Pearlman will take the month of June off from racing to participate in the North Carolina State University Motorsports Engineering Summer Program. His ultimate goal is to be an engineer or designer for a top-tier race team. Pearlman will be back behind the wheel of his Pro-7 racer in July at the Auto Club Speedway of Southern California.
Duane LaFluer won his first Wally in a NHRA Division 3 points race at the Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio. LaFleur drove his K&N Filters 1968 Chevrolet Camaro roadster built by Race Tech Race Cars of Burlington, North Carolina to a Super Gas win after seven rounds of eliminations.
NHRA Sportsman class racer Duane LaFleur races in Super Gas and Super Comp
“We ran all seven rounds in one day in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series,” said LaFluer. “It was awesome. The weather was great and I had five near perfect runs and got lucky twice. I’ll take several rounds of luck on any given day.”
Duane LaFleur bested Tim McGuire to win a Wally in Super Gas at the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series at Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio
1968 Chevy Camaro Roadster features a 540 cubic inch big block Chevrolet engine built by Larry Sexton to make 900 horsepower
LaFluer, of Lancaster, New York has raced Super Gas and Super Comp for 14 years. He was the victim of a high speed crash at the 2006 K&N Nationals in Englishtown, New Jersey. The engine of his 1967 Jiffy-tite Firebird threw a connecting rod through the block and spewed oil and water all over the track. “I went end over end nine times,” said LaFluer. “I was in a 150 mph roll and stopped against a retaining wall. I was lucky to walk away. That was the end of my Firebird.”
LaFluer has run his Camaro for three years. Its power plant is a 540 cubic inch Chevrolet big block built by Larry Sexton to make 900 horsepower. It is equipped with K&N products. “My K&N filters give me additional horsepower and acceleration,” said LaFluer. “I get excellent filtration and K&N gives me the protection I need on my motors on and off the track.”
In 2008, LaFluer finished 6th overall in his division and 50th in the country. “This year I hope to finish in the top ten nationwide and in the top 5 in my division,” he said. “Unfortunately about four thousand other racers are saying the same thing,” he said.
The LaFleur Racing Team plans to attend at least 12 races in 2009, with the next race in Chicago.
The clock is ticking for a father and daughter race team who are more than ready to take on the 2009 STA-BIL National Lawn Mower Racing Series.
K&N has signed on the father and daughter racing team of Ken and Katie Jones of Mendota, Illinois to become the K&N Sponsored Lawn Mower Racing Team
Cutting blades are removed on the lawn mower racing circuit, there are no cash prizes and racers compete for bragging rights
Ken and Katie Jones of Mendota, Illinois have been part of the lawn mower racing scene for years. Ken Jones is a 15-year USLMRA (U.S. Lawn Mower Racing Association) racing veteran, USLMRA Steering Committee Member, Race Director and President of the Illinois Lawn Mower Racing Association. Katie, 14, races in the Junior Prepared Class and grew up on the lawn mower circuit at her father’s side.
Ken Jones is a 15 year USLMRA U.S. Lawn Mower Racing Association Veteran
Katie Jones races in the Junior Prepared Class of the USLMRA
K&N is proud to announce a partnership with K&N Jones Racing for the 2009 Lawn Mower Racing Series. “It’s an honor to be selected to represent K&N and to team up with my daughter Katie for such a fine company,” said Jones. “Now USLMRA lawn mower racing can take its place among the world-class racing organizations that K&N supports such as the Indy Racing League, American Motorcycle Association and the Snap-On Stars of Karting.”
Racing lawn mowers are highly modified versions of the average lawn mower with the cutting blades removed. They can reach speeds anywhere from 25 to 60 mph. Some racing lawn mowers sound like small block Chevy motors and are clocked at more than 100 mph. There are no cash prizes, racers compete for trophies, glory and bragging rights.
“K&N is proud to be part of Ken Jones Racing,” said Tony Yorkman, K&N Sports Marketing Manager. “They are very competitive and know how to have fun at the track. As a family, Ken and Katie have to rely on each other and they both know they can rely on K&N products. We are happy to include them in our K&N family.”
Lawn mower racers have the option of several classes, the Stock, IMOW, Prepared and Factory Experimental. “We race three mowers side-by-side on the track,” said Jones. “We do have aggressive driving rules but we do everything we can not to bump each other. We run with open wheels and if we bump tires we’re likely to go airborne.”
Katie Jones is in the Junior Prepared Class. “Katie has been racing since she was only 10-years-old,” said Jones. “During the 2008 season she took first place in two races.” Ken Jones races in the AP portion of the IMOW class.
“I use K&N air filters and would not use anything else,” said Jones. “A lot of guys at the track use them on the circuit. Nothing else protects our engines like K&N.”
K&N and Ken Jones Racing will be featured on USLMRA telecasts on Fox Sports Net and the Outdoor Channel this fall. Ken Jones Racing will also have a prominent display at the 2nd Annual Performance Mowersports Expo during the 17th annual STA-BIL Nationals Weekend, September 3-5 in Delaware, Ohio.
Ken and Katie Jones are currently gearing up for the STA-BIL Off-Road Truck and Tractor Nationals in LaPort County, Indiana.
The first half of the 2009 WE ROCK pro National West Series concluded in Cedar City, Utah and K&N sponsored driver Cody Waggoner continues to lead the championship chase in points. The 2008 champion, Jesse Haines is only one point behind and Jason Paule is in third place.
Cody and Jim Waggoner lead the WE ROCK Series in points
Team Waggoner Racing finished in first place on Day 1 and on Day 2. Cody and Jim Waggoner also went into the shoot-out with a slight point lead. “Cody and Jim did great in the shoot-out,” said Lindsay Waggoner. “But when all was said and done they tied for first place.”
Cedar City, Utah hosts second WE ROCK USA event of the season
The courses are tough in Utah, each having its own level of difficulty. “One thing we don’t have to worry about is our K&N products,” said Waggoner. “K&N provides us excellent filtration and protects our engines from the dust and dirt.”
Team Waggoner Racing is ready to take on the next WE ROCK event of the “Biggest Little City in the World,” Reno, Nevada on the weekend of July 19th.
