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Passing took time and effort for Jordan Phillips in the muddy conditions in Indiana (Photo Ken Hill)

“The course had a mix of everything such as tight wooded sections, steep hills, off camber sections, and plenty of muddy areas,” reported Phillips. “Saturday morning before our 10:00 am race time, the temperatures were in the low 50s, which was a bit chilly.”

In the main event, Phillips got a great start off the line and was engaged in a fast and competitive fight for the podium. However, he soon found himself slaloming around stuck ATVs.

Rain and mud were the rule of the day in the GNCC round 6 (Photo Ken Hill)

Carrying good speed and picking better lines, Phillips found his way back to podium contention.

“The third lap was better and I moved up to 4th,” Phillips said. “However, a storm moved in and began pouring the rain during the entire last lap. I made a pass for 3rd.”

Things were looking good for a top-three finish but nature was not done influencing the outcome of the race.

A lodged tree branch took Phillips out of podium contention (Photo Ken Hill)

Phillips will be back in action in Athens, Ohio, for the seventh round of the GNCC series.

Jordan Phillips races a Can-Am Renegade 1000 which gets added airflow and protection from the K&N CM-8012 air filter. To find the perfect filter or intake for your UTV check out K&N’s online application tool.

Davi Haagsma's podium finish in round 7 extends his points lead

For Haagsma, the entire 2017 WORCS season has included the turbo versus naturally-aspirated debate. While Haagsma has a turbo car in development, he has competed in a non-turbo through the first 8 round of the WORCS schedule.

Haagsma has opted for the reliability and familiarity of the naturally aspirated UTV over the raw power of the turbo. It’s hard to argue with his rationale as he holds a solid double digit lead in the Pro class. He has maintained a 14-point lead despite the fact that the top podium spot eluded him in the two Utah races on the schedule.

Round 7 - Sand Hollow State Park, St. George, Utah

Haagsma has raced the first 8 WORCS rounds in a non-turbo SxS

Despite being underpowered, Haagsma racked up his fifth podium finish in six races. That consistency has been a huge part of the grip H&M Motorsports holds in the points lead in the SxS Pro Class.

“The sand takes a lot of horsepower and I knew I was underpowered,” Haagsma said. “I had to race with the turbo cars and try to make it to the finish. With three corners to go, I got into the smoother stuff and barely got by for third. I had two more corners to block him and made it home third. Overall it was a good day points wise.”

Round 8 - Iron Mine Race Park, Cedar City, Utah

Haagsma grabbed the holeshot at the start of the Iron Mine race in southern Utah in his naturally aspirated car. He lost the lead to a turbo car on one of the track’s wide-open sections. Haagsma stayed consistent and competitive, and regained the lead on the final lap. He seemed well on his way to the win in Cedar City when he suffered a race-ending belt failure.

“On the very last lap, I passed Ryan (Piplic) and then about 20 seconds later I blew up the belt,” said Haagsma, “That ended my race.”

Haagsma holds the series lead going into the final three rounds of the season

“This is not the race I wanted, but I still have a decent points lead,” said Haagsma. “We have to do well the next races.”

The WORCS season will move to Glen Helen Raceway in Devore, California, for the series’ Summer Festival.

David Haagsma's series-leading naturally aspirated Polaris SxS runs the new K&N 63-1133 Aircharger performance air intake. Use the K&N search by vehicle tool to find the performance and protection you need for your UTV.

Vaughn Gittin Jr. and Chelsea Denofa tandem at the Hyperfest event at VIR

Gittin Jr. and Denofa are both veterans of the HyperFest experience. Gittin Jr. has attended every Hyperfest event since 2003, while this year was a return to the event for Denofa who missed the past few seasons but attended many times when the event was held at Summit Point International Raceway. “If any place is the epitome of automotive culture, this is it. Hyperfest is a relaxed event full of fun-seekers like me. There are so many activities to choose from, and it’s great to see everyone bringing their rides out and just enjoying the culture,” said Gittin Jr.

Chelsea Denofa leads a drift train which includes Vaughn Gittin Jr at Hyperfest

Vaughn Gittin Jr. gave several ridealongs to spectators at VIR during Hyperfest

Chelsea Denofa drifts in front of the crowd during Hyperfest event at VIR

The Autozone Ford Mustang RTR drift car burned several sets of tires at Hyperfest

Nicky Hayden was once a K&N-sponsored flat track racer

Nicky was bicycling in Rimini, Italy, when he was in a collision with a car. He was 35.

Nicky, “The Kentucky Kid,” was one of greatest modern American motorcycle racers. He was the last American to win the MotoGP World Championship (2006), which is the pinnacle of motorcycle road racing. More recently, Nicky was competing for Honda on the World Superbike circuit.

The outpouring of sympathy from the motorcycling world has had a common theme. Everyone from fellow racing champions like Valentino Rossi, to the fans who interacted with Nicky in the paddock have echoed that he was a genuine and kind individual, as well as an amazing ambassador to the sport he loved.

Hayden was one of the most decorated American motorcycle racers (Photo: Red Bull Honda)

“Nicky my brother, our story wasn’t suppose to end like this. You were world champ for a reason. I’ve never met someone with the desire for racing bikes like you.

“I remember growing up we shared a room and you studying notes you took from the previous race and we were 12-13 years old, I’ll never forget the Monday morning after you won the World Championship, you woke me up to go running. That’s what separated you from the rest and made you a legend. I could go on.

“You made everyone here better, cause when you wasn’t here, we were riding or cycling to close the gap for when we road with you again,. You pushed me to my best, but more importantly I’ll remember what kind of brother you were. You were legend of a racer and a brother.

The touching photo that Roger Hayden mentioned in his tribute to his brother

“Don’t worry I got the nieces handled. No boyfriends till they’re in college and I’ll teach the nephews what it takes to be a champion in whatever they decide.

“This picture is special to me, because after some bad luck and it looked like your world title was over, I grabbed you like this and told you it was still your year, and that was the first thing you did to me when I saw you at the podium. Tell me it back.

“Even during this incredibly difficult time I still have my faith, I believe if god will bring you to it, he will bring you through it. Till we ride again I love you.”

Antron Brown (left), Ron Capps (center), and Tanner Gray celebrate their victories in Topeka

Capps defeated his Don Schumacher Racing teammate Matt Hagan in the final round with a 3.924-second pass at 321.42 mph. Hagan was the No. 1 qualifier in Funny Car at Topeka. Capps is the first driver since Robert Hight in 2012 to win four NHRA Funny Car events in a row.

“I’m just the luckiest dude in the world,” Capps said after the races on Sunday. “I had nothing to do with it I just stepped on the gas at the right time and held the car together in the right lane. We’ve won a championship for a reason and we’ve won four in a row together for a reason. Everyone just gels together.”

Capps won events at Royal Purple Raceway in Texas, Max Dragway in North Carolina, and Atlanta Dragway in Georgia before winning at Topeka. Capps, the reigning NHRA Funny Car champion, knocked out Cruz Pedregon, Courtney Force, and Hight before facing Hagan in the final. Hagan set a national record with a 3.802-second pass at 338.85 mph in qualifying on Saturday. He eliminated Jack Wyatt, J.R. Todd, and Jack Beckman before losing to Capps in the final.

Capps increased his lead in the NHRA Funny Car standings over Hagan to 119 points after eight events.

Tanner Gray getting his tires hot and sticky on his way to the W at Heartland Park in Topeka, Kansas

“The competition has been so tight that you have to run these cars on edge every lap,” said Brown, who won the 63rd event of his NHRA career. “We kept our head down and stayed poised. We went out there and raced our hearts out. It feels really good to win here at Topeka. I’ve been wanting to win here for so long.”

Brown knocked out Kebin Kinsley, Shawn Langdon, and Leah Pritchett in the elimination rounds before facing Torrence in the final. Torrence beat Mike Salinas, Brittany Force, and Clay Millican in the elimination rounds. Brittany Force set the national speed record at 333.96 mph in eliminations. Torrence went to the final round for the fourth time this season.

Pritchett leads the NHRA Top Fuel standings after eight events. She has a 30-point lead over Torrence. Brown is third in the NHRA Top Fuel standings, 41 points behind Pritchett.

Rookie Tanner Gray won the NHRA Pro Stock title at Topeka. He beat Jeg Coughlin Jr. in the final round. Gray won his second event of the season. Coughlin lost when he red lit on the start in the final race.

Leah Pritchett (far lane) battles Tony Schumacher at Heartland Park in Topeka, Kansas

Bo Butner, who was the top qualifier and lost to Gray in the semifinals, leads the NHRA Pro Stock standings by 24 point over Greg Anderson. Gray is third, 60 points behind Butner.

The next race in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season is the fifth annual NHRA New England Nationals at New England Dragway.