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The oval can get rather crowded at Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series events

The series has become the leading national touring sanctioning organization for dirt late model racing. To prove its success, the 2017 season will include 56 sanctioned events held in 36 different venues across 21 states of the United States.

A V-8 engine that generates 800-horsepower powers the cars that race in the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series

The venues that have hosted or will host sanctioned events are located throughout the midwest and southern parts of the United States.

According to Jeremy Shields, Marketing and Sales Relations for Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, the series is sanctioning some of the industry’s largest events in 2017 including:

• Super Bowl of Racing at Golden Isles Speedway

• Lucas Oil Show-Me 100 at Lucas Oil Speedway

• Sunoco North/South 100 at Florence Speedway

• COMP Cams Topless 100 at Batesville Motor Speedway

• $100,000-to-win Dirt Track World Championship at Portsmouth Raceway Park

Each event pits vintage open wheel cars commonly found in Wisconsin from the 1950s to 1970s. Each event includes the following sections:

Racing at the Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, Missouri

• Qualifying. Usually occurring before the start of the event, drivers race to qualify for upcoming heat races. Each driver gets two timed laps and their best time determines qualification. Qualifying is also used to line up the big crown jewel events.

• Heat Races. Competitors who qualify for heat races participate in the “pill draw” to draw numbers that determine when each will start in their heat race. The heat races are the preliminary races for each class. These races may determine the starting race position in the main events and earn points. The top three or four winners qualify for A-Feature race.

• Semi-Feature/B Main. Racers who have not qualified for the A Main race have another opportunity to do so in this race. Called the last chance qualifier or B feature, the race includes drivers who did not make the A feature through the heat races. This race is 12 to 15 laps. The number of racers who participate affects how many racers graduate to the A event. It is usually between two to six. Those racers who qualify for the A-Main from the B-Main start behind the drivers who have qualified through the heats. At selected racing events where there are a large number of cars participating, there may be a series of qualifying races known as “alphabet soup” -- C, D, E, F, etc. The number of cars participating in the event determines the number of alphabet soup races. A certain number of racers will race in the lower feature and the top two go on to the next race and on and on until final qualifiers for the A Main race is determined.

K&N sponsors the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt series as a whole as well as several individual racers

Point collection starts with every driver receiving 50 “participant points” as long as they pay the entry fee and compete in at least time trials, heat race, or a b-main event. Overall fast qualifier in groups A and B collects 10 points for the fastest time in each event. Points are awarded for racers who finish first to 26th in the B-main event.

Over the years, Lucas Oil has increased the points fund to attract new racers into the sport.

"Show-up money has increased, and we’ve added more high paying events,” said Jeremy Shields, Marketing and Sales Relations, Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series. “New drivers are always looking to join the tour."

The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series makes stops in several southern and midwestern states

"We use social media to promote upcoming events, share post-race results, and promote our marketing partners," said Shields.

K&N Engineering has been a major sponsor of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Racing Series since its inception in 2005.

"K&N was one of the original partners when the series began in 2005," noted Shields. "K&N has been instrumental in helping grow the series to the premier national tour for Dirt Late Models. Above all, the relationship that we have built among their company employees is second-to-none."

Drivers who are competing in the Series in 2017 include:

• Boom Briggs

• Colton Flinner

• Darrelll Lanigan

The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series is a popular attraction at any stop in the series

• Don O’Neal

• Gregg Satterlee

• Hudson O’Neal

• Jimmy Owens

• Josh Richards

• Scott Bloomquist

• Steve Francis

• Tim McCreadie

• Timothy Culp

"The 2017 roster is bulging with superstar drivers boasting championship pedigrees. Combine the record number of events on the Series schedule with the strongest roster in Series history, 2017 looks to be the biggest year yet," concluded Shields.

Eric Linder (2nd from right) and other T5 members were on hand at the Overland Expo

The Team 5 (T5) Foundation is changing the world in a very direct and tangible way. The team’s motto may just sum it up best, “In order to be involved, you must first show up.” As you will read, T5 certainly “shows up” for those in need around the world, so catching up with them at the Overland Expo in Flagstaff, Arizona, meant finding them in a rare sedentary moment.

T5 provides critical medical care to the most remote regions around the world. The foundation sends teams of – you guessed it – five talented medical professionals to places that are in dire need of their services.

The Team 5 Tundra is fully equipped for its lifesaving mission

The team sees an average of 100 patients per day in the remote places they visit. T5 serves patients with chronic illnesses, deformities, and serious injuries. They also provide routine check-ups and help with real-world problems like de-worming. T5’s goal is to provide whatever is needed in any remote village, town, or tribe they visit.

The most lasting impact T5 has on the places they service is education. Medical education allows the foundation to make a long-term impact after each deployment is complete. That education includes training in such skills as midwifery, wilderness medicine, advanced first aid and CPR, and even combat casualty care.

All of the Quick Response Force Toyota Tundra's filtration needs are handled by K&N

The Quick Response Force Toyota Tundra was on display at the Overland Expo in all of its life-saving glory, and Linder and his team were on hand to enthusiastically talk about the Tundra and its mission.

The truck’s design goal is a bit of a departure from the rest of the T5 extreme vehicles. The Tundra is tasked with responding to stateside disaster situations. So, while the lion's share of the foundation's work is in remote locations outside the US, the QRF is a vital part of T5's rescue and relief efforts right here at home.

Following a disaster, the QRF is deployed from Las Vegas, Nevada, with 1-2 team members who ultimately meet up with the rest of the team onsite. Upon deployment the Team 5 Tundra is outfitted with all the requisite gear for a mission including personal safety gear, tents, sleeping bags, dehydrated food, clean water, etc.

The Quick Response Force Toyota Tundra includes a sleeping pod and expandable shade

The K&N products provided for the QRF include air filters, oil filters, cabin filters, and a full intake (which is not currently installed). The Tundra build also includes gear from North American Rescue, Hurst Tools, Winkler Knives, and Vetter Bags. To help it reach remote and rugged places, the build sits on an Icon suspension and beefy General tires.

Out front, a Warn winch is bolted to an Expedition One bumper. Ten different lighting options were added by Vision X for missions that require night vision. The build is completed by a series of lockers and bins under an innovative bed cap that can be raised to enhance the Tundra’s on-site readiness.

K&N is honored to be part of the Team 5 Foundation’s vital worldwide mission. To find out how you can donate to the foundation’s effort, visit the T5 website.

AMA Hall of Famer and friend of K&N, Dennis Mahan was on hand at the Arizona Mile

The Legends

The Arizona Mile was officially kicked off with a spirited four-lap riding demonstration by flat track racing pioneer Buddy Stubbs. The fit 77-year-old roosted his vintage 1972 Harley-Davidson® XR750 around the Turf Paradise oval just after the national anthem.

That beautiful Harley® flat tracker was appropriately fitted with two K&N pod filters. The classic lines of that XR750 was tangible proof that power and style never go out of fashion. The K&N filters were a testament to the enduring combination of performance and protection that has served as the hallmark of the company’s 4-plus decades of racing dominance.

Stubbs was not the only racing pioneer to grace the Arizona Mile. It’s not every day that an AMA Hall of Famer and motorcycling legend walks the pits of a modern flat track race. However, thats just what motorcycling icon Dennis Mahan did in the Arizona sun. Mahan is a long-time friend and former employee of K&N Engineering.

Buddy Stubbs opened the day's festifities on his K&N-equipped 1972 Harley flat tracker

The Racers

K&N has a rich history of flat track team and racer sponsorship that goes back to the company’s earliest years. K&N sponsors a number of both established superstars and rising talents in the sport.

K&N-sponsored Brad Baker has emerged as one of the true hotshots of the dirt oval. Baker, a racer for the powerful factory Indian racing team, was a magnet for autograph seekers in the pits, and fan-favorite in the packed grandstands as he raced to the podium in Arizona.

Another fan favorite at Turf Paradise was gender-stereotype-shattering racer Shayna Texter who competes for the K&N-backed RMR Racing Team. Shayna’s brother Cory is a K&N-sponsored racer and up-and-coming star of the sport. Fast runs in the family, and K&N is proud of the speedy siblings.

K&N-sponsored racer Brad Baker is among the sport's biggest stars

Other notable K&N-backed racers in American flat track are Kenny Coolbeth Jr., J.R. Addison, and several others that we will keep you up to speed on throughout the season.

The Bikes

The American Flat Track paddock is filled with bikes trusting their performance and protection to K&N filters. It’s not just the K&N-sponsored teams and riders that choose our products.

As you will see in the photos below, there is no other company that even comes close to K&N as the filter of choice for the fast dirt oval. Enjoy the eye-candy!

K&N protects Jake Shoemaker's Kawasaki Ninja 650

J.R. Addison's very trick Kawasaki Ninja 650 is protected by K&N

Jarod Vanderkooi's RMR Kawasaki is also K&N protected

Many of the AFT Singles wear K&Ns too

Sammy-O Racing's V-twin proudly wears K&N technology

A close-up of Estenson Racing's filter of choice

The Willy-built Kawasaki breathes through a K&N

Another of Jake Shoemaker's K&N-protected Kawasaki Ninja 650s

Of course, Sammy Halbert's Yamaha FZ-07 performs with a K&N

Buddy Stubbs' vintage XR750 proudly displays big K&N pods

The K&N 63-1136 air intake has an RU-5064 rubber air filter fully encased in a full filter housing

The company became a major player in the ATV industry when it introduced its Ranger Utility Vehicle (UTV) in 1998. The Ranger featured Polaris exclusive On-Demand six-wheel drive, a rear cargo box and side-by-side seating to accommodate two adults. It became a mainstay vehicle for hunters, farmers, ranchers, and homeowners who work on their land and outdoor enthusiasts who wanted to traverse the rugged off-road terrain for recreation.

In 2007, Polaris unveiled the RZR, a UTV meant to challenge Yamaha’s Rhino, which had helped to win a major share of the UTV market for the Japanese manufacturer.

The RZR did not only challenge the Rhino, it actually redefined what a UTV was. The vehicle looked different than any other UTV in the market and it was specifically designed to offer off-road fun to riders. The vehicle was only 50-inches in width, which permitted it to go on trails where no previous UTVs could go. Many trails had a maximum width of 50-inches and most UTVs were simply too wide to ride them.

It wasn’t long before the RZR was one of the most popular all-terrain vehicles in the market and it helped Polaris become the leading UTV manufacturer.

The most recent RZR vehicles to come from Polaris are the 2016 RZR XP Turbo and RZR XP 4 Turbo EPS.

A 925cc, 4-stroke, twin cylinder, double overhead twin cam engine with electronic fuel injection powers both the RZR XP 4 Turbo EPS and XP Turbo. The engine delivers 144-horsepower. What’s unique about it is that it delivers the same horsepower at higher elevations.

Typically, a UTV engine will lose about 3.0% to 3.5% of its horsepower for every 1000 feet gain in elevation. So, for example, at 7,000 feet, a non-boosted 100-horsepower engine is actually delivering an output power of between 75.5 to 79-horsepower. The Polaris ProStar Turbo engine is not affected by higher elevations because it includes the turbocharger.

The engine can achieve 0-60-mph (0-96.6-kph) in 5.89-seconds and offers more than 45% more torque than other engines. In fact, this engine is the most powerful side-by-side engine available. In order to achieve its extreme performance, the engine includes a number of high performance parts including forged pistons, an upgraded 270-degree firing order forged crankshaft, high strength connecting rods, a closed deck cylinder, sodium filled exhaust valves and a new oil lubrication system. It performs consistently in all temperatures because it includes a new liquid charge air cooler with front-mounted radiator and high-flow electric pump.

To manage the massive power of the turbocharger, the engine also includes an engine management system with knock detection, boost control and a high-flow return style fuel system. All of this ensures that the engine performs at maximum power in all conditions, altitudes and temperatures.

The K&N 63-1136 air intake is designed for the Polaris ProStar 925cc, 4-stroke turbocharged engine

The RZR XP Turbo EPS also features a suspension system with highly tuned FOX Podium® Internal Bypass Shocks that include large diameter bodies (3-inches/7.6-centimeters in the rear, 2.5-inches/6.4-centimeters up front), adjustable remote reservoirs and increased fluid capacity for dramatic improvement in heat dissipation, fade resistance, and durability.

To complement the shocks, Polaris includes bigger coil-over springs. Also included are 29-inch (73.7-centimeter) Maxxis Bighorn tires on 14-inch (35.6-centimeter) cast rims.

The vehicle features a 90-inch (228.6-centimeter) wheelbase, 18-inches (45.7-centimeters) of rear travel and 13.5-inches (34.3-centimeters) of ground clearance.

K&N has recently introduced the 63-1136 air intake kit specifically for the 2016 Polaris RZR XP 4 Turbo EPS and Polaris RZR XP Turbo. Dyno tests confirm that the kit offers an estimated boost of 4.09-horsepower at 35.8-mph.

The kit includes a K&N washable and reusable RU-5064 universal rubber air filter. It features a multilayered cotton gauze media that has been treated with a special grade of oil, which makes the cotton strands very sticky.

K&N also offers the 99-5000 filter care service kit that is specially formulated to cleanse and rejuvenate the air filter so that it can be used over and over again for the life of the vehicle.

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

The air filter is totally encased within the air intake kit. The kit also includes a free-flowing aluminum intake tube, nine stainless steel clamps and two couplers.

The air intake is designed to dramatically reduce intake restriction because it provides a smoother and straighter path for the airflow to reach the engine. This allows the engine to breathe more air than the factory air intake assembly permitted. The result is a boost in horsepower, acceleration, throttle response, and improved engine sound.

The K&N 63-1136 air intake kit can be installed in about 90 minutes using common hand tools. It is designed for the following vehicles:

2017 POLARIS RZR XP TURBO 925 - All Models
2017 POLARIS RZR XP 4 TURBO EPS 925 - All Models
2016 POLARIS RZR XP TURBO 925 - All Models
2016 POLARIS RZR XP 4 TURBO EPS 925 - All Models

Kathy waits out the weather in her trailer at Virginia Motorsports Park

Nonetheless, Kathy and her husband Kevin, who run the team from their shop in Lima, Ohio, see 2017 as their best opportunity to take the Top Dragster championship in the 1/8 mile PDRA series. Last year Kathy finished fourth in the championship and was only able to attend six of nine races. In addition she’ll be running at NHRA Divisional and National events not just for the 1/4 mile experience, but also to further support her marketing partners.

While she was knocked out in the second round at the first PDRA event of the year, at the NHRA Divisional at VMP she qualified second. The event couldn’t be completed so it will be run as part of the August race. In the meantime, Kathy made it to the semifinals at the NHRA Nationals in Atlanta.

Kathy, alone with her thoughts before her run, planning out each move to the microsecond

Kathy got her start drag racing like most kids – competing in her father’s Nova. While working to establish her career in broadcasting didn’t leave much time for drag racing, but she was slowly drawn back in. First it was racing her own Camaro (on which she installed her first K&N filter), and then through various steps ended up working for Frank Hawley's NHRA Drag Racing School. While working for Frank she earned her Top Alcohol license and she was on her way.

Now her sites are set on becoming one of the top 1/8th mile Top Dragster racers in the country. And she has the car to make it happen.

Warming up her Mickey Thompson slicks before a run. Top Dragsters run automatic transmissions.

Stan started with off with a Brodix Big Block punched out to 547 CID. Heads are aluminum B3 units from Brodix as well. Pistons are from J&E and the crank is from, of course, Ohio Crankshaft. Air is drawn through a K&N filter by the F3-121 Procharger, and into the engine via a single-blow-through carburetor.

Upon hearing the motor start for the first time a former team member referred to its sound as "thumpy goodness." Some of that is due to Kevin, who fabricates the headers himself out of Borla pipes. As the President of Performance by Fisher, a custom exhaust and repair facility in their hometown of Lima, he certainly brings the skills to the job. Once the welding is done the headers receive an Armor Coat ceramic coating.

Power is driven back not through a direct drive using a series of clutches like a Top Fuel dragster, but rather a heavily-modified Abruzzi two-speed Powerglide with an aluminum torque converter. The chassis is an American Race Cars 272-inch wheelbase dragster out of Millbury, OH (see a trend here?).

The ultimate selfie. Actually a frame grab off a video of one of Kathy's runs. Trade seats anyone?

As performance by Fisher is also a independent repair garage that focuses on performance work, Kevin and his crew install K&N filters on customer cars. As Kathy says, "use ‘em, love ‘em, sell ‘em."