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There are different ways to make a professional debut. Tyler Wharton made his first appearance in a professional race when he took on the 450 Motocross Class in Texas. The teen bypassed the racers closest to him in age and rank with a ninth overall qualifying time out of 71 riders. Wharton is also a multiple Loretta Lynn Champion, which is the Amateur Motocross National equivalent to NASCAR’s Daytona 500.
Wharton will compete with his new K&N helmet at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas
Wharton is a privateer racer represented by The Ross Agency. In 2009, he will contest the AMA Supercross East Coast Lites Series on a 2009 Honda CRF250R.
AMA Supercross East Coast Lites Series Racer Tyler Wharton
Multiple Loretta Lynn Champion Tyler Wharton
The Pilot Point, Texas resident comes from a racing family where the track is part of his way of life. This will be his first year in the AMA Supercross Series. “Tyler is the complete package,” said Craig Ross, owner of The Ross Agency. “He is talented as a racer and knows how to handle his fans. He has a personality that radiates and everyone walks away with a smile on their face after they meet him.”
Wharton will wear a K&N helmet and use K&N XStream Series Motocross Air Filters (HA-4503XD) and K&N oil filters (KN-116) on his Honda. “I really like K&N,” said Wharton. “My bike is a lot crisper throughout the power band. It also has better response. I crack the throttle and the power is right there.”
“Tyler leveled me when I first met him,” said Ross. “Simply put he is an open and fun loving nice kid.”
As Ross put together Wharton’s privateer program, K&N was on the top of his list of contacts. “K&N is almost indestructible,” said Ross. “The
K&N product is cost effective and dependable. Tyler does not need to worry about anything other than his opponents while he’s racing. K&N will aid our performance and will work.”
Wharton will next compete at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas.
The Ultimate Monster Jam Freestyle and Thrill Show wowed the crowd at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas.
Black Stallion goes all out in wheelie competition at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas, photo by Kenny Lau
Alltel Arena in Little Rock, Arkansas will host next Monster Jam, photo by Kenny Lau
The freestyle show featured the craziest obstacles with ramps and jumps so big they are tried out and tested in Texas before they end up in stadiums throughout the country. Eight of the top Monster Trucks in the country performed in front of 160,000 spectators. K&N provides product to 90 percent of the Monster Jam trucks.
Monster Jam's Black Stallion puts air under his truck at Reliant Stadium, photo by Kenny Lau
Opening Ceremonies at Monster Jam Freestyle Competition in Texas, photo by Kenny Lau
Grave Digger piloted by Gary Porter, Black Stallion piloted by Mike Vaters, Safe Auto Minimizer piloted by Marc McDonald, Gun Slinger piloted by Scott Hartsock, Pastrana 199 piloted by Paul Cohen, Monster Mutt piloted by Whit Tarlton, Iron Warrior piloted by Trey Myers and Cowboy piloted by Glen Logan started off with a wheelie competition.
Since this was freestyle, trucks are allowed to go for the best wheelie as many times as they want. In regular competition
Monster Jam trucks only have one try to do the best job. In Houston, drivers were making four to five
hits each. Since the events of the night are not judged by score cards, pilots make it more exciting for the fans.
Two trucks are sent out at the same time for the Cyclone event. “We are allowed to use our judgment as to where and how many donuts we do,” said Black Stallion owner and pilot Michael Vaters. “As each truck comes off the floor another goes out. As a result there is a constant stream of trucks at all times and the action never slows. It’s fun for the drivers and the crowd and very different from the more structured competition in Monster Jam.”
In the final activity of the show each truck was given two minutes on the clock to pull of the widest moves they could. “Trey Myers and the Iron Warrior blasted out to take on the track with a good run,” said Vaters. “I put some major air under the Black Stallion and showed the crowd the
true force behind the truck.”
Vaters uses K&N air and oil filters on his Monster Trucks. “Over my many years in this business I’ve used a lot of products, but K&N is the one that can handle the dirty and dusty environment during Monster Jam competitions,” said Vaters. “We are known nationwide for our wild and crazy driving and the ability to push our engines to the limit. We’re hard on our motors and K&N gives us the protection we need for competition.”
The next Monster Jam event will be in Little Rock, Arkansas in the Alltel Arena.
The New Year brought a lot of changes for CJM Racing. The team has a new driver, a new crew and a new 2009 Toyota Camry for the 10-month long NASCAR Nationwide Series.
NASCAR Nationwide Series Team CJM Racing Driver Scott Lagasse Jr.
Scott Lagasse Jr. started out in kart racing, then the modified division. He moved on to drive a truck for Bobby Hamilton Racing in 2006 and competed in two Nationwide Series races in 2007. He
also stood out after securing a victory in his first ARCA appearance in the 2008 racing season. The move was noticed by NASCAR Nationwide Series
Team CJM Racing and together they mapped out a future.
New NASCAR Nationwide Series CJM crew will help pilot Scott Lagasse Jr. contend for NASCAR National and Regional Rookie of the Year award
2009 Toyota Camry is new team car for CJM Racing in the NASCAR Nationwide Series
Over the course of the 2009 season, Lagasse will pilot the No. 11 America’s Incredible Pizza Company Toyota full time and compete for Rookie-of-the-Year (ROTY) honors. NASCAR’s National and Regional Touring Series select’s a ROTY by looking at points and conduct. Past NASCAR Nationwide Series ROTY winners include Carle Edwards and Kyle Busch.
Paul Wolfe is CJM Racing’s America’s Incredible Pizza Company Race Team’s new crew chief. “Paul brings a wealth of knowledge to the table,” said CJM’s Media Relations Manager Shayna Keller. “He has worked with past NASCAR ROTY’s and will lead Scott in the No. 11 car.”
One thing that has remained constant for CJM Racing is its use of K&N products. “K&N provides us with excellent power and filtration,” said Keller. “It also protects our engine on the race track.”
The 2009 NASCAR season opens at Daytona International Speedway on January 24th. The event, known as Speedweeks is considered the Super Bowl of racing and includes, the 24-Hour Rolex race, Gatorade Duels, Bud Shootout, the Nationwide Series, the Camping World Series and the Sprint Cup Series (Daytona 500).
The house was packed with with more than 40,000 fans in Anaheim, California for round three of the AMA Supercross
Series. Rockstar Energy Hart and Huntington Honda SX team rider Troy Adams made the final twenty man field and raced his way to 15th place.
Hart and Huntington Team Rider Troy Adams
“I felt good all day and the track was really tough,” said Adams. “With the help of my mechanic and the whole team, I felt like I had a good night. We also learned new things.” Adams is now 21st overall in series points. Hart and Huntington team rider Josh Hansen had a few crashes and arm pump problems. He failed to make the final event.
Hart and Huntington Team Rider Josh Hansen in Anaheim, California
Freestyle pioneer and Hart and Huntington Team Owner Carey Hart
The opening round of the Monster Energy Supercross Series also took place in Anaheim, where team riders Troy Adams and Josh Hansen both experienced trouble and failed to qualify for the main event. Adams had a few bad starts and a first turn crash as Hansen’s opening night arm pump did him in.
Although the team has had a few mishaps throughout the season so far, the riders are prepared for top ten finishes throughout the Monster Energy Supercross Series. The team is owned by freestyle pioneer and celebrity Carey Hart.
Adams and Hansen are currently running prototype designs of K&N’s XStream Series Air
Filter for the 2009 Honda CRF450. The 2009 Honda CRF450 has a much larger airbox to increase horsepower and torque while providing excellent filtration.
“We need to be better as a team and I think we will be,” said Team Manager Kenny Watson. “I’m happy with Troy’s finish but I know he can do better and Josh will be on it next weekend in Houston, Texas.”
El Gato Racing’s Shawn Walters took first place in the M.O.R. E. (Mojave Off-Road Racing Enthusiast) Series. The team was awarded its second 1st place championship trophy in two years in the 1450 Sportsman Class division.
Mojave Off Road Racing Enthusiast Series Racer wins 1450 Sportsman Class Division
El Gato Racing is based in Big Bear Lake, California
“We are so excited to receive another trophy,” said Shawn Walters. “Our 1985 Chevrolet 1500 truck puts out just over 400 horsepower with its 350 crate motor. My dad Carl can tear engines apart and put them back together. I take care of suspension and fabrication.”
El Gato Racing competes in Barstow, California and the Lucerne Valley in San Bernardino County
1985 Chevrolet 1500 truck puts out just over 400 horsepower
Shawn Walters is from Big Bear Lake, California. He is a snowboarder and wake boarder in this mountain resort community. Walters also wanted to be a desert racer and started out on a pit crew for SCORE and CORR racing trucks.
“The combined experience on the slopes and in the pits gave me the opportunity to fulfill my dream,” he said. “My sense of balance helps me with the controls on a desert racer. We also plan to introduce a new truck into the 1400 class in 2009.” El Gato’s 1989 Ford Ranger will enter the 1400 class in selected B.I.T.D (Best in the Desert) and SCORE Desert Racing Series venues. It is a 302 powered 4 link Ford Ranger which cycles 21 inches in the front and 16 inches in the rear.
El Gato puts K&N products on all of its vehicles. “K&N protects our engines in extreme desert racing,” said Walters. “I have K&N on my chase vehicle, our racing vehicle and my 1998 Ford F150 with a 4.8 liter V8 engine. K&N makes all of our engines breathe, whether we are at high elevation or in the desert.”
Walters’ will next compete in Barstow, California at a M.O.R.E. Series race.
