Bubba the Love Sponge’s Son Tyler Clem & K&N Filters Go Way Back to Quarter Midgets

Back in 2008, at just 5 years old, Tyler Allen Clem was racing the Quarter Midgets of America (QMA) series at Tampa and New Smyrna, Florida race tracks

While the year 2008 may not seem like long ago to many of us, it is an eternity in the eyes of a child. Back in 2008, at just 5 years old, Tyler Allen Clem was racing the Quarter Midgets of America (QMA) series at Tampa and New Smyrna, Florida race tracks. Tyler began his racing career by watching his dad race 360 sprint cars. But that’s not really what Tyler’s dad is known for.

Tyler’s father is better known as Bubba the Love Sponge Clem, a radio personality who also functions as the owner of the Clem Racing Inc. team. Bubba the Love Sponge, a native of Warsaw, Indiana, was born Todd Clem. In 1999 he legally changed his name to the trademarked Bubba the Love Sponge. Some would describe Bubba the Love Sponge as the second "baddest" boy in radio behind Howard Stern.

Eight years since he began racing, Tyler Clem has moved from Quarter Midgets to NeSmith Crate Late Model cars and is still sponsored by K&N air filters

Radio fame aside, Tyler Clem has been diligently racing and working his way up the ladder. From Tyler’s early days of running a Stanley Quarter Midget chassis with an Xcellerator 120cc engine to now driving a NeSmith Crate Late Model for 2016, the team has relied on K&N air filters. “I’ve always been a huge believer in K&N, not only as a racer, but for my personal vehicles as well,” said Bubba the Love Sponge. He continued, “K&N was one of the first corporate sponsors to believe in us.”

Tyler Clem got his 2016 season started off on the right foot with a strong showing in the 25th Annual Ice Bowl at the Talladega Short Track in Eastaboga, Alabama

Tyler Clem got his 2016 season started off on the right foot with a strong showing in the 25th Annual Ice Bowl at the Talladega Short Track in Eastaboga, Alabama. The Talladega Short Track boasts a 1/3 mile long high-banked (18°) red clay oval with 400 foot straightaways and hosts Chevrolet Of Boaz Super Late Models, Sportsman, Crate Late Models, Oxford Love Stuff Thundercars, Riteway Auto Sales Hot Shots, Street Stocks and Pony Stocks.

The 25th Annual 2016 Ice Bowl attracted 65 entries in the Crate Late Model class for the NeSmith Winter sanctioned event. Tyler Clem logged the fifth fastest qualifying time in his group, but was one position shy of earning a transfer when he finished 4th place in his heat race. Clem moved onto the B-main event hoping to make it the A-main and get his shot at the $3,000-to-win prize. Clem made it the main and started from 20th before finishing 12th. Making up 8 positions on a tight 1/3 mile track is quite impressive.

“It was special to make the Ice Bowl finale, and it was an accomplishment to be able to advance eight spots in the feature,” said Tyler Clem. Tyler is now preparing for the annual Bubba Army Winternationals series at Bubba Raceway Park. Clem will try his hand at four of the 2016 Bubba Army Winternationals NeSmith Dirt Late Model class races taking place on the 3/8 mile, D shaped, Semi-banked, clay track near Ocala, Florida. Tyler’s first race of the Bubba Army Winternationals will take place January 27-30, 2016.

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