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Olsbergs MSE Rallycross Team Recognizes Partner K&N in Custom Carbon Fiber Intake

Feb 16, 2017

2016 was the first season with Honda for Oldsberg MSE, who had been running Fords

An Olsbergs MSE Honda kicking up dirt during the 2016 Global Rallycross season

If you’re looking for another motorsport that you can compare to Rallycross, why not take NHRA Pro Stock? In both cases the car bodies need to remain stock appearing and by rules there’s very little allowed in terms of driver’s aides, unlike some forms of motorsports. It puts the outcome squarely on the shoulders of the drivers and in both cases it makes for a great show.

The easiest way to imagine a Rallycross course - if you’ve never seen one - is to think of a Supercross circuit, now make it a little wider, with a few less jumps (that still launch the cars for 70 feet) and more space between them. Now turn 10 race cars loose and the barely-controlled mayhem that results is Rallycross.

"Rallycross is quite a pure sport. It’s put a lot of emphasis in the last 15 years on driver performance," said Ian Davies, team manager for the K&N-supported Olsbergs MSE Red Bull Honda team. "We don’t have electric aids, we have to have a mechanical gear lever, there are no semi-automatic gearboxes in our industry. We’ve kept things real," he explained to Red Bull Motorsports.

Wiman is a former Rallycross champion, both in Europe and the United States

Joni Wiman sliding his Honda Civic Coupe at the 2016 Phoenix Global Rallycross event

What the cars do have are engines tuned to produce around 600 horsepower for a 2.0L turbocharged four cylinder engine, with maximum kept in check via a 45 mm intake restrictor. The cars all carry a launch control that’s effective for just two seconds at the start. Olsbergs MSE is utilizing a sophisticated all-wheel drive system from Sadev that Davies is not willing to talk about. Combined it provides the ability to reach 60 mph within a rear wing of a Formula 1 car. That’s less time than it takes to say “zero to sixty” even if you talk really fast.

2016 was the first year for Olsbergs MSE running the new Honda Civic Coupe (having run Fords in the past), so there was a learning curve involved. Their top finishing driver was Joni (pronounced Yoni) Wiman, a rallycross driver from Finland. While Wiman was Global Rallycross Champion for OMSE in a Ford in 2013, in 2016 he finished sixth overall. Drivers for 2017 have not yet been announced.

A quick look at their record and you’ll understand why Honda secured OSME’s services. The team has earned a sizeable haul of 19 Summer X Games medals, including podium sweeps at Los Angeles in 2011 and Brazil in 2013, and its drivers are podium regulars in World and European Rallycross competition.

Oldsberg MSE has been partners with K&N Filters for a number of years and relies on its products

Olsbergs MSE formed a custom intake with K&N logo to house the conical filter and Precharger

2017 will be the second season that OMSE Red Bull will compete with Hondas in the Global Rallycross. Preparation for the coming season is well-underway. The cars are being completely stripped down and according to Davies there are upgrades in every area. The team utilizes the resources of its home base in Sweden as well as its shop in the Charlotte, North Carolina, area. Being based in North Carolina during the season avoids having to ship cars and parts back and forth between their home base for what is an entirely American series.

Part of the having preparation includes a new custom fabricated carbon fiber air box for the Honda. It’s an upgrade to the 2016 design but we can’t say anything more. Besides all we can do is look at the beautifully embossed K&N Filters logo on the air box. Their motivation for fabricating this amazing piece? “We have used K&N Filters for several years now and have a great belief in their product and are proud to give them something back by demonstrating our commitment to them,” Davies said.

The 2017 Red Bull Global Rallycross event schedule is as follows:

Round 1: Memphis, TN (April 29)

Round 2: Louisville, KY (May 21)

Round 3: Thompson, CT (June 3)*

Round 4: Thompson, CT (June 4)*

Round 5: Canada (June 17)*

Round 6: Canada (June 18)*

Round 7: Indianapolis, IN (July 9)

Round 8: Atlantic City, NJ (August 12)*

Round 9: Atlantic City, NJ (August 13)*

Round 10: Seattle, WA (September 9)*

Round 11: Seattle, WA (September 10)*

Round 12: Los Angeles, CA (October 14)

*Indicates doubleheader

Specific event details, including venues, ticket sale information, and broadcast times, will be released in the coming weeks.

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Ultra4 Unlimited Class Racer Pellegrino Takes 11th Place at 2017 King of the Hammers

Feb 16, 2017

Photo of Tony Pellegrino's Ultra4 Unlimited Class Car driver's side ready for race day!

K&N Brand Ambassador, Tony Pellegrino's Ultra4 Unlimited Class beast ready for race day!

Different people are fascinated by different things. Some are fascinated by art and music while others have an insatiable need to see what makes things tick or how they work. The simple act of taking a four-stroke apart can inspire and perhaps even mold a young mind. So is the case for a K&N Brand Ambassador and loyalist, Tony Pellegrino, whose father learned early on that it might be a good idea to keep his tools under lock and key if he ever had hopes of mowing the lawn again!

Pellegrino, grew up in sunny Southern California and was afforded a very outdoorsy lifestyle. Tony’s dad, Jim Pellegrino, spent quality time with his 3 boys teaching them about the finer things in life, like how to ride a dirt bike, and that really cool things come with motors! In fact when Tony was just five years old he raced a little mini bike that his uncle Frank had built for him, complete with ape hanger bars at Conejo Valley Days, back when Conejo Valley Days had motorcycle races! At the age of twelve Tony would go on to be the youngest competitor on two wheels to race the legendary Barstow to Vegas 175 mile desert race. Who knows, he might still hold that record to date!

Photo of Team GenRight putting the transmission back into the Ultra4 car

Team GenRight getting the transmission repaired and replaced for race day

As a high schooler, Tony would hop in his car and cruise with his buddies on a Friday or Saturday night. He and his friends would show off their killer rides in hopes they might turn a head or two. Toward the end of high school, Pellegrino met a fellow car guy named Mike Kirby, who was extremely knowledgeable when it came to cars. Kirby built and raced his own cars and would go on to be a mentor and teacher for Tony.

In his early twenties Tony met a young lady who would ultimately become his wife, the mother of their two boys and the yin to his yang in business. Debbie Youngers Pellegrino earned her degree in psychology from Chico State and later went on to study business. Nicknamed the Badass Boss Lady at GenRight Offroad, she’s responsible for anything to do with money! From ordinary tasks like paying the bills and keeping the shop lights on in their 45,000 square foot shop to making sure that GenRight Avenue is on the map at Hammertown. With a growing business comes growing responsibilities and Tony’s marketing prowess shows no signs in slowing the momentum of GenRight.

Photo of Pellegrino chasing the competition down the Back Door trail

Pellegrino chasing the competition down Back Door trail

For this family, stuff like camping, motorcycles, and off-roading is just a way of life. From four-wheeling from Santa Barbara to Solvang on their honeymoon to getting their oldest on a motorcycle at the age of 7, the Pellegrinos enjoy their life outdoors. But according to Pellegrino, with age comes a cage and in this case a Jeep. Before long Debbie and Tony found themselves checking out other Jeep builds and soaking up all they could with regards to modifications and improvements. Having experience in dirt bike riding and four-wheeling, Tony collected parts that folks would recommend and before long he discovered that too many of these parts simply didn’t work together.

GenRight Team Drivers - Jordan, Jami, and Tony Pellegrino talking race prep

Always interested motorcycles & RC cars, a self-proclaimed motor head who loved working on cars, Tony founded GenRight in 2005. Born out of necessity for better parts for his own Jeep, GenRight has grown into a nationally recognized brand. An off-road vehicle builder, parts fabricator, and dealer with a reputation that stands up to its original concept and mission, Genuine Ideas Engineered Right. Over the years they have stretched and grown beyond their original investors, moved five times from the result of rapid business growth and were influential in growing the rock-crawling movement. But that doesn’t seem to phase this self-motivated, driven, and persistent business owner, it simply adds fuel to his fire. And to think it all started with a gas tank!

Photo of Pellegrino passing the competition on Jack Hammer

Pellegrino once again picking the better line passing the competition on Jack Hammer

After hearing rumblings about a relatively new desert/rock crawling event, King of the Hammers, Tony headed back out to Johnson Valley with fresh eyes and his Jeep to check it out. While tooling around the lake bed and hitting a few trails, something Pellegrino was very familiar with, a guy by the name of Randy Slawson (Bomber Fabrication and 2x King) offered to give him a ride in his desert prepared car. Tony vividly recalls Randy suggesting that racing his Jeep at KOH was kinda like bringing a knife to a gunfight. So the next question became whether to build or buy a project car. The end result, buy a project car for Team GenRight to race at the next King of the Hammers in just three short months. After the first test day out on the lake bed with the car, the project became a tear down and total rebuild of epic proportions. Team GenRight couldn’t get back to the shop fast enough to get started on reworking the chassis, rebuilding the suspension, and creating a setup that would allow them to finish the race, much less on the podium. Team GenRight's Crew Chief, Darren Ruzicka, scrambled to prep the car for the next KOH race, testing the setup as they moved toward race day. The team went through three LS1 motors during testing and ultimately grabbed an LS1 out of a 5th Gen Camaro at the junkyard the week of the race. In the end, Tony Pellegrino was one of 100 entrants to start the 135 mile race, crossing the finish line in 14th place at the 2010 King of the Hammers event.

Photo of Pellegrino climbing a trail, highlighting the articulation of the GenRight suspension.

Pellegrino showing how capable and nimble the GenRight Ultra4 Car is in the rough

KOH changes course every year. They use the same trails, but change the course configuration to keep the racers on their toes. Whether a figure eight, clover leaf, or running out of the main pit in the opposite direction, King of the Hammers is considered the toughest one-day off-road race in the world. It is the largest off-road race event in North America in terms of both competitors and spectators. In its 11th year, this world renowned event shows no signs of stopping any time soon. This year, 300 plus race teams along with more than 35,000 spectators converged on the Means Dry Lake Bed at the Johnson Valley Off Highway Vehicle Area in Lucerne Valley, California, from February 3rd to the 11th, featuring desert racing at its very best.

Photo of Pellegrino and Rea in the GenRight Ultra4 Class Car on Full of Hate trail

Pellegrino and Rea twisting their way through the Full of Hate trail at King of the Hammers

2017 marks Team GenRight's 8th running of the King of the Hammers. It's safe to say that GenRight was instrumental in helping to grow not only the GenRight brand but collaboratively the other brands and sponsors involved with KOH as the event has grown exponentially over the past few years. GenRight became involved with K&N in 2014 at the Off-Road Expo after a K&N Rep noted that his Ultra4 Car had a dinky little air intake, not nearly what he needed to get maximum airflow for all that horsepower. Now Tony runs two big K&N intakes improving the efficiency and performance of his 800hp motor. In fact, every Jeep, truck, UTV, or Ultra4 car they build comes equipped with a K&N intake and products.

Photo of GenRight Ultra4 Car on Outerlimits Trail

Pellegrino and Rea coming down Outerlimits Trail at the 2017 King of the Hammers

In 2015, Darren Ruzicka built Tony a brand new Ultra4 car. Every part has been CNC’d and nothing has been left to chance. This year they updated the transfer case, put in a new Reid Racing Turbo 400 racing transmission and torque converter. The new LS based motor is a solid Billet block by RHS, without a single Chevy part. Called a tall block, this normally aspirated 454 ci. uses fewer parts and boasts 755 lb-ft of torque. Perfect for trails like Backdoor and Chocolate Thunder. It also has 800hp, plenty of top end for reaching speeds upward of 130 mph in the open desert. Telemetry showed that Pellegrino got his Ultra4 car up to 118.8 mph out on that open desert, during this year's race.

Photo of Pellegrino and Rea coming to the podium for a post race interview

Pellegrino and Rea heading to the podium post race for a follow up interview and debriefing

Heat, environmental elements, and the nature of the race cause engine and suspension components to take a beating and can cause parts to rapidly deteriorate. To eliminate heat soak the engine compartment was reconfigured to allow for better airflow producing greater cooling. The team switched to Fox shocks along with bringing KMC Wheels on board for all three race cars, complete with Falken Wildpeak MT tires getting all that power to the boulders!

The 2017 King of the Hammers saw the addition of a short course just off of main pit, used for last chance qualifying and Power Hour and an added benefit for spectators. Pellegrino would stage to qualify for his start position. His Ultra4 car was working flawlessly. The green flag dropped and he was on the throttle hard. It looked like it would be one of the fastest runs, only to end early after breaking a U-joint, resulting in a 113th start position for Tony on Friday.

Photo of Tony and Debbie Pellegrino post race next to the Unlimited Class Ultra4 Car

K&N Brand Ambassador, Tony Pellegrino with wife, Debbie all smiles after a successful race

King of the Hammers Ultra4 Unlimited Class race would start precisely at 8:00 a.m. on Friday. While Pellegrino's start position was less than ideal, he and his co-driver, Christopher Rea, would make the most of what lay ahead. Cars were staged in pairs and released every 30 seconds. Tony would have a start time of 8:28.00 and with the King crowned based on "time", Tony had as good a chance to be King as any of the other competitors. The strategy was to go fast, be smart and safe. His pit crew was ready and on point. This race can easily be won or lost in the pits. By mile marker 10 Tony had already passed a fellow competitor. This more than 200 mile race requires the driver to pace themselves, and take care throughout. Before Tony checked into Remote Pit 1, he had moved up substantially in the field. But there was no time to rest on his laurels and the team kicked into high gear to provide a flawless F1 style pit stop. He was back on course, kicking butt and taking names. The first run through Sledgehammer and Chocolate Thunder saw traffic and signs of carnage. Staying in the game, the experienced Pellegrino had the advantage when it came to the right line on the trails. Team spotters can make all the difference on technical trails.

Photo of GenRight Ultra4 Unlimited Class Car crossing the finish line

GenRight Ultra4 Unlimited Class Car with Pellegrino and Rea crossing the finish line

In the end Tony came from behind and passed 102 cars earning him and his co-driver Chris an astonishing and well deserved 11th place finish in his 8th running of KOH. His car performed better than ever and even though he didn't make the podium he feels like a winner being able to compete at this event and enjoy this experience and race with his boys. Team GenRight had three cars entered in the races, UTV Class, SmittyBilt Every Man Challenge, and the King of the Hammers. All three Pellegrino men, Tony, Jami, and Jordan, and their co-drivers (Chris Rea, Matt Lasher, and Gunnar Velasquez) finished and have memories that will last a lifetime. One Pellegrino did make the podium this past week. Jordan Pellegrino and Gunnar Velasquez qualified in pole position in the 4400 Class and were first to cross the finish line in their class. However, adjusted, official time had them 1 minute 26 seconds behind the first place finisher earning them a solid 2nd place finish, their second consecutive year, by about the same margin. Hats off to the Pellegrino's, their co-driver's and Team GenRight for their commitment to motorsports and their commitment to the K&N brand.

Photo of Co-Driver Christopher Rea being interviewed in the car with Tony Pellegrino

Co-Driver Christopher Rea sharing his thoughts on the race and the finish

Team Genright Photo including driver's, crew members, volunteers and family

Team GenRight team driver's, crew members, volunteers, and family. Go Blue!

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Clem Gets Good Start to 2017 Season at Chevrolet Performance World Championship

Feb 14, 2017

Tyler Clem races his sprint car in the Chevrolet Performance World Championship

Tyler Clem racing his sprint car in the Chevrolet Performance World Championship

Fourteen-year old Tyler Clem of St. Petersburg, Florida, began the 2017 racing season with a fourth place finish for $10,000-to-win Chevrolet Performance World Championship at the Bubba Raceway Park in his hometown.

The race was part of a three-day event, which was sanctioned by NeSmith RockAuto.com Winter Shootout that started on Thursday night in the opening round of the annual Bubba Army Winter Nationals. Clem earned the 15th-starting position for the A-Main after timing 8th fastest in the qualifying group. However, in the 40-lap event he slipped three spots to an 18th-place finish.

On Friday, he recorded the 13th fastest time in qualifying, which set him up in the B-Main and he progressed as part of the top six into the $2,000-to-win preliminary feature. Tyler finished second behind Rambo Franklin. Starting in 11th, he vaulted three slots to an 8th-place finish for the night.

Saturday night’s Chevrolet Performance World Championship was postponed to Sunday afternoon due to rain. Clem earned the 20th-starting position for the $10,000-to-win finale. He raced through the field in his Late Model and gained 16 spots in the 100-lapper actually finishing 4th behind Kyle Bronson, Brandon Sheppard, and Mike Pegher, Jr. He also earned the Hard Charger Award for the finish.

“We got better and better as the weekend went along, and it really showed in the 100 lapper on Sunday,” said Clem. “To have such a strong run against such a talented field of competitors gives me a lot of confidence and excitement for this season.”

Next on the schedule was the All Star Circuit of Champions at Bubba Raceway Park. Held on February 9th-11, Clem raced his 410 Sprint car in the competition that included a total of 38 Sprint Cars.

He began the first night achieving the fastest time overall in a field of veteran racers. Starting in 3rd in the Kear’s Speed Shot Heat #4, Clem finished 7th putting him into the B-Main. Starting in 3rd, he placed in the top 4 landing him a spot in the $5,000-to-win A-Main. He fell three spots in the 50-lap main event resulting in a 25th place finish.

On Friday. Clem posted the 7th fastest time in the qualifier, which earned him the pole position of the Hunt Brothers Pizza #3 where he finished 4th and he claimed a 16th place finish.

On Saturday, Clem earned 4th position for his heat after timing 9th fastest in a field of 36 racers. He needed a 5th place finish or better to move on to the $5,000-to-win finale. He actually finished 3rd, which was his best result of the weekend. In the 50-lapper, he fell just one position to earn a solid 14th place finish.

Tyler Clem’s next events are the All-Star Circuit of Champions at the Volusia Speedway Park in Barberville, Florida on February 14-20 and the DIRTcar Nationals at Volusia Speedway Park on February 20-25.

Tyler Clem’s sponsors include K&N Filters, Rent ‘N Roll, WingHouse, Shooters World, Vahlco Wheels, Hedman Hedders, Stanton Race Engines, Keyser Manufacturing, Rocket Chassis, Sunoco Fuels, Braille Battery, JE Pistons, Ferrea Valves, Whelen Engineering, 1-800-Ask-Gary, Tony Stewart Racing, Elder Ford, Leaf Race Wear, Winters Racing Products, Bell Helmets, Aurora, Dan Olson Racing Products, Impact, Race Optics, Redline Oil, Stepp’s Towing, BR Motorsports, AR Bodies, DB Plugs, Jones Racing Products, Ole NE Jewelers, Callies Performance Products, Willy’s Carburetors, Toyo Tires, Durst Motorsports, Gates Belts, Butlerbuilt Seat Systems, Zero Error Racing, Superior Bearing & Supply, AR Bodies, NGK Spark Plugs, and MSR Mafia Marketing & Website Services.

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2012-2016 Proton Suprima, Preve, and Exora Air Filter Lasts Up To a Million Miles

Feb 14, 2017

The K&N 33-3050 air filter will fit the Proton Suprima, Preve, and Exora.

The K&N 33-3050 replacement air filter is designed for the Proton Suprima, Preve, and Exora

Established in 1983, Proton is the sole national manufacturer of automobiles in Malaysia and originally manufactured rebadged Mitsubishi Motors cars in the 1980s and 1990s. Since the 2000s, Proton has manufactured a number of locally designed and engineered models and is the only Southeast Asia automaker with its own full research and development department. The company sells cars to at least 10 countries including Malaysia, Australia, Thailand, and Indonesia.

Launched in April 2012 the Preve is a front-wheel drive 4-door compact sedan that was the first global car offered by Proton. Two engines are available to power the car -- a 1.6-liter CamPro IAFM+ DOHC I4 and a 1.6-liter CamPro CFE DOHC I4 turbo. There are three transmissions –- a 5-speed manual, 6-speed CVT automatic, and a 7-speed CVT manumatic, which is an automatic transmission that permits the driver to control gear selection.

The car was introduced in Australia in October 2012, in Malaysia in 2013, in the United Kingdom in 2014 and in 2015 Proton signed a distribution agreement with Andes Motor to offer the car in Chile.

Seeking to create a signature exterior, Proton designed the Preve to include the so-called Proton Wing, the unification design element that combines the sport LED position headlights, Proton emblem and air-intake grille giving the vehicle the appearance of a rising bird.

The Preve has been designed to incorporate a maximum of six SRS airbags, an Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution EBD, Brake Assist (BA), Traction Control (TCS) and Electronic Stability Control (ESC).

The 1.6-liter CamPro Turbo DOHC I4 engine powers the car and is mated to a 7-speed CVT manumatic transmission. It delivers 138 horsepower at 5,000 rpm and 205 Nm of torque at 2,000-4,000 rpm.

The Suprima was introduced in Brunei, Australia, and Thailand in November 2013 and in Malaysia, the United Kingdom, Turkey, Egypt, South Africa, and the states in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) including Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates in 2014.

K&N 33-3050 box with ready to install air filter

The K&N 33-3050 comes oiled and ready to install right out of the box

The Suprima is the second Malaysian-made automobile to include factory-fitted LED position lamps and the first to be offered with LED daytime running lights. The LEDs built into the projector headlights on the Suprima Executive trim are identical to those of the Preve. Proton is the first to also introduce rear guide lights when they were included on the Suprima. The car also features side view mirrors with sport built-in LED turn signals, which is also included on the Preve.

K&N manufactures the 33-3050 washable and reusable replacement air filter for the 2012 to 2016 Proton Suprima, Preve, and Exora.

The air filter features a multilayered cotton gauze media that is treated with a special grade of oil to make the cotton strands sticky. This permits the media to capture and hold contaminants.

To clean the filter after up to 50,000 miles (depending on driving conditions), K&N offers the 99-5000 filter care service kit that is specially formulated to cleanse and recharge the air filter so it can be used for up to another 50,000 miles. The fact that the filter can be reused over and over again means that it may be the last filter you will ever have to buy. It will last for the lifetime of the car.

K&N is so confident of the quality of the filter it backs it with a 10-year/Million Mile Limited Warranty. The warranty guarantees that the air filter will perform for up to 10 years or 1,000,000 miles without needing replacement.

It works with OEM vehicle electronics, will not void the vehicle warranty, and is designed to simply replace the factory air filter in the existing factory air box.

The K&N 33-3050 replacement air filter fits the following vehicles:

2016 PROTON SUPRIMA 1.6L L4 Fuel Injection - Turbo
2016 PROTON PREVE 1.6L L4 Fuel Injection - Turbo
2016 PROTON EXORA 1.6L L4 Fuel Injection - Turbo
2015 PROTON SUPRIMA 1.6L L4 Fuel Injection - Turbo
2015 PROTON PREVE 1.6L L4 Fuel Injection - Turbo
2015 PROTON EXORA 1.6L L4 Fuel Injection - Turbo
2014 PROTON SUPRIMA 1.6L L4 Fuel Injection - Turbo
2014 PROTON PREVE 1.6L L4 Fuel Injection - Turbo
2014 PROTON EXORA 1.6L L4 Fuel Injection - Turbo
2013 PROTON SUPRIMA 1.6L L4 Fuel Injection - Turbo
2013 PROTON PREVE 1.6L L4 Fuel Injection - Turbo
2013 PROTON EXORA 1.6L L4 Fuel Injection - Turbo
2012 PROTON PREVE 1.6L L4 Fuel Injection - Turbo
2012 PROTON EXORA 1.6L L4 Fuel Injection - Turbo

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Eric Barron Season Ends with a Fast Pro 4 That is Ready for 2017

Feb 14, 2017

Eric Barron racing during the 2016 Lucas Oil Offroad Racing Series in his Pro 4

Eric Barron had to deal with dry then wet conditions, which makes off-road racing very demanding

Eric Barron had a tough 2016 season that began with struggles but ended with great potential for the next season. Eric Barron started in the offseason of the 2016 Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series season by working on making his number 32 Toyota, K&N Filters Pro 4 the fastest it could be. By doing this, Eric worked with a couple of companies trying out new products that could help his team accomplish this, and working with the new products brought the aspect of research and development along, including the highs and lows.

The season started out with high hopes after a great season opener at Wild Horse Pass with some great battles up front right away. The battles were fast and fierce with Eric standing on the podium in third place. He then followed that with a fourth place finish, but the truck wasn’t working the way it should have been. Eric was hoping to improve his racing finishes while improving the new parts on his truck.

Eric Barron racing during the 2016 Lucas Oil Offroad Racing Series in his Pro 4 shooting flames

A little extra boost going off the step down for Eric Barron in his K&N-sponsored Pro 4

During the middle part of the season the truck showed great speed, but just didn’t keep it all the way to the checkered flag. Eric and fellow K&N Filters-sponsored driver Kyle LeDuc had some great battles together, pushing the limits of the trucks. When the truck just couldn’t handle it, the bad luck would once again get him. Eric said, “2016 was good and bad, we struggled in the first half of the season with a certain area of the drivetrain. We finally got it figured out mid season, that’s why we were able to show great speed again.” Even with struggling a great amount of the season, Eric was able to capture seven top five finishes. In round twelve at Wild West Motorsports in Reno, one of the most demanding tracks of the series, Eric battled with Kyle at the front and stayed there to the end to finish for his second podium in second place.

Eric Barron during the 2016 Lucas Oil Offroad Racing Series won Fast Lap and second place

K&N-sponsored Eric Barron won Fast Lap and 2nd place finish at Wild West Motorsports

Looking forward to the 2017 season, Eric knows that a season of R&D is behind him and that he has a fast truck that’s ready to go. He is as ready as his truck, always thinking about standing on top of the podium once again. In this offseason, Eric is focusing on working with his current sponsors as well as working to acquire new partnerships with some great companies. “Working with K&N Filters for the last five years has been huge. I wouldn’t use any other filter! They are the best you can get, and it is one part of many products that makes our Pro 4 kick butt”, Eric said.

One of the things Eric is looking forward to is the new track that Lucas Oil has built at their facility in Wheatland, Missouri, which should be great for the series and brings new fans. This track is looking to be very technical but also has one of the first over-under jumps in short course off road, which is normally something you would see at a motocross event. Watch for Eric to be up front this upcoming 2017 season, and especially in Missouri where everyone is trying to be the very first person to stand on top of the podium at the new track.