Resurgent Ryan Kaplan Pushes into Late 2010 with New Energy
- Sep 14, 2010
K&N-sponsored midget and sprint racer Ryan Kaplan (of Kaplan Racing) has returned to his best form, and as of August has gathered a fine new pile of on-track success. Following a BCRA Midget win at Silver Dollar Speedway in August, Kaplan plucked a fifth in the winged sprinter, and then took a fourth in the same car in Antioch at the Golden State Challenge.
When he's not running a tractor at the family farm (fastest pistachios in California?), Ryan Kaplan has refocused his efforts on a strong end to his race season, both in the Kaplan Racing 410 car and their USAC/BCRA Midget. On August 6, Kaplan won the Bay Cities Racing Association race at Silver Dollar Raceway in Chico, CA, putting a fine point on his return to form. After sweeping his heat in the Chrysler-powered #20 BCRA Midget, he started eighth in the main, and won that too. Kaplan's win in the midget was from a field of 29 BCRA cars, which packed Silver Dollar's quarter-mile with twitchy little four-wheeled hornets. He waited until the final lap of 25 to scoot low on Ryan Margeson, and took his first win in too long. The current Chrysler motor in the midget is a 380hp four-banger, turning 8700rpm at peak, but the Kaplans will be returning to the Esslinger-prepared Ford four for the rest of the season. Everything Kaplan runs breaths through K&N Filters. Kaplan says, "We love the K&N products because they keep the engine clean - that's all we need. We run the air filters and oil filters too, and all we need to do is wash them out after a race." As of late, Kaplan's focus has been on his father, who surprised everyone - including himself - with triple-bypass surgery in July. He's doing a lot better now. "It's a big weight off my shoulders," Kaplan added. "The midget race was his first race back since his surgery, and it was really nice to have him out there to see my win." On the day this release was written, Ryan Kaplan and Kaplan Racing were headed for a weekend at Calistoga Speedway in Calistoga, CA, to run the #20 with the USAC Midgets. On Wednesday, Kaplan Racing was going to be at Silver Dollar in Chico again, to run #20 in a BCRA race for the start of the Gold Cup. He's also racing the team's 410 car in the Gold Cup Race of Champions on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Busy guy, and he's stayed in school as well. The Kaplan Racing 410 car, also #20, is family-owned. Kaplan Racing's main sponsor is K&N. Kaplan would also like to thank Simpson Race Products, FK rod ends, JE Pistons, Fuel Safe, Met Tec, and Redline Oil. 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. |
