K&N Signs Female NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle Sensation Kalifornia Katie Sullivan
- Mar 10, 2011
Kalifornia Katie is on an extremely fast track to meet and exceed all her wildest dreams. At the age of 18, Sullivan became the youngest female to ever qualify in NHRA Pro Stock motorcycle history, and she's only the seventh female to ever qualify. Johnny Jump, K&N's Brand Manager for the Powersports Division is quoted as saying, "I like to work with racers who are going somewhere. Katie has more drive and energy and is putting more into her career and this sport than many of the veterans out there. It makes me proud to support someone like her. We wish her the best this year, and we are going to do whatever we can to get her to the starting line. Gentlemen look out, and start your engines!" When she's not scorching the dragstrip Sullivan is a fulltime student majoring in small business and entrepreneurship. In addition, she also owns two businesses, one is called Kalifornia Katie's Trailer Sales, and the other is a graphics business called Tough Girl Designs. Sullivan is driven to finish her degree, and to make her businesses successful, but the one thing she is most passionate about is drag racing.
"When I am daydreaming, I think a lot about times that have meant a lot to me, times when people told me I couldn't do things, yet with the help of a lot of people, we went out and did them," said Sullivan. "One of my favorite memories is being barely 18 years old and getting on a Pro Stock bike for the first time. I had been having people tell me I couldn't do it, that I couldn't handle it. The first time I got on a Pro Stock bike I knew I was at home, as soon as they fired it, I knew that was where I belonged. On my first pass we clicked off a 7.28 with the bike turned down." Sullivan understands and respects drag racing history and she reflects about where she will ultimately fit into that history. "I think about winning races and going out and being the best I possibly can. Then of course I am always thinking what I can do to make our team better too? I look for every conceivable way we can push harder to be better, and make it to the top. Even though I work on other things all day long, my mind is always going 250 mph on racing." "It still gives me chills when I think about having a big name like K&N onboard with my team. I am 20-years-old and in my third year of racing Pro Stock, and to have K&N be a part of that, and helping me to be the best seems surreal. I am ecstatic to have K&N's support."
Sullivan says that 2010 was actually a pivotal year for her, as it was the first season that her dad, Charlie, and she stepped out with their own team. "I would love to sit back and say how awesome the season was, but I am not sure that really describes it. I like to think of 2010 as a learning season, and oh boy did I learn a ton. We struggled, but what was important is even through the struggling we never once thought about giving up. Every time we were out at the track we were learning and improving. I walked away from our 2010 season with even more determination and passion than I have ever had." "I am a very goal oriented person," adds Sullivan. "When I want something, I go after it, until I can make it happen. My dad told me when I was a little girl that if something is to be, it is up to me, and I live my life by that. This season I have big goals, but my biggest goal in all honestly is to have fun, and to make sure that everyone around me has fun. We take racing very seriously in our pit, but my team and I work too hard to miss out on having fun along the way. I feel like if we go out with the passion, determination and the will not only to win, but to have fun, this team is really going to go places." Sullivan is very much aware of, and is grateful for, all the continuing support she receives for her team. "My parents are really the first people I have to thank, without them and their support, none of this would be possible. I am where I am because of the amazing support I have received from a lot of people, and I honestly cannot give the people around me enough credit. I am excited to go out and show everyone what this team can do, and to have K&N Filters on my side going into this season - I know we are going to rock it!" 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. |
