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Kody Swanson Wins Big at Toledo Speedway Leading Every Lap of the Rollie Beale 150

26 oct 2011

Kody's power-steering pump broke around lap 50, but he held on for 100 laps, becoming the first driver to lead all 150-laps of a Silver Crown event.

Adversity is our friend - it's how we learn what we're made of. Everyone's plans get broken, tumbles get taken, expectations fizzle. Ultimately though, it's what we choose to do after getting knocked down that defines us. Kingsburg, California's Kody Swanson way to deal with disappointment is to remain focused on all the positives and move forward. It's a trait his younger brother Tanner shares as well.

Kody Swanson started on the pole, grabbed the lead, and led every lap of the Rollie Beale 150.

At the Rollie Beale 150 USAC Traxxas Silver Crown Series finale at Toledo Speedway, Kody first claimed the pole in his Toyota/Team Six-R Beast/Toyota, at a speed of 121.548 mph. Then he led all 150 laps from green to checkered flag.

"Considering the circumstances that I've gone through this season, this final Silver Crown race really meant a lot to me," Kody told K&N News. "One year ago, I was in a position to steal the Championship as an underdog, and had I not had some really bad luck in the middle of the season (cut rear tire while leading at Raceway Park), we just might have done that."

"So, this year, I was really looking forward to trying to win that Championship for Team 6R Racing. Being that I missed the first three races (of an eight race season due to injuries resulting from a crash), that was out of the question. So I was really focused on salvaging my Silver Crown season, and capping off the year on such a strong note is a great way for us to look forward to 2012."

For a while during race it appeared as though Tanner was going to make it another sensational first and second place Swanson brother's finish. Tanner was running in third and pressuring second place, when his engine let go after only 50 laps.

Capping off the year on such a strong note, says Kody, is a great way for the team to look forward to 2012.

"Tanner always does well focusing for races, especially big events," said Kody. "Case in point, he won his first Night Before the 500, at a track he'd never even been to (O'Reilly Raceway Park). So it was no surprise that he was strong at Toledo. While all know that it's part of racing, having something completely out of your control, take you out of a race, can be the most frustrating part. As good as his car was handling, he definitely had a shot at the win, and being sidelined early just adds insult to injury. He was still happy for the entire team, and he was the first person to greet me in Victory Lane in Toledo. But you better believe he'll be motivated when we get to Irwindale for Turkey Night."

"I don't think anyone has ever led all 150-laps of a Silver Crown race before," said Kody after being asked about his stellar feat. "Last year was the first year the Silver Crown series ran 150-lap races, and I'm the first to ever lead one wire-to-wire, so that was pretty neat."

Kody had his own trouble after a caution on lap 50; his power-steering pump was on the fritz. "So when we went back to green, I had to find a way to make things work. After a few laps I got a really good rhythm going, where I could turn the racecar by getting back to the throttle and getting the power steering pump to kick back on and turn the car. It was a little more difficult in lapped traffic, so I was happy to get a little breathing room before the end, and actually pull away by about a straight-away by the finish. After going through all of that, I was really excited to win for my team."

Do you guys have anything going between now and the Turkey Night Grand Prix?
"I actually hooked up with Alan Kaiser Construction Racing from Napa Valley, California earlier this year for a USAC Western Classic dirt race at Chico," added Kody. "We won the first night out, and now we're going to try our luck at the Oval Nationals in Perris. Knowing that I don't have much dirt Sprint car experience, we're just going to have a good time and try our best! We're both trying to work some things out for other races in mid-November, but we're both looking forward to Turkey Night."

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Alexandra Juteau Wins 2010-2011 MX Provincial Women's Pro Championship

26 oct 2011

Alexandra Juteau recently celebrated her CMRX ATV MX Series Championship.

As a teenager, Alexandra Juteau, of Quebec, Canada, had the opportunity to attend an ATV session under the supervision of multiple Canadian Champion, Richard Pelchat. After the champion rider suggested that Juteau consider racing, she spent a few weekends watching him compete, and in turn was convinced to give it a shot. "He is the principle reason why I got interested in racing," recalled Alexandra.

Six years have passed since Juteau embarked upon her first race, and all of her hard work and perseverance paid off this season, as the twenty-one-year-old rider recently earned the title of 2010-2011 MX Provincial Women's Pro Champion.

Racing in Women's Pro class of the CMRC ATV MX Series, Juteau and her team recently rolled into La Croche, Quebec, eager to race in the eighth and ninth rounds of the series at the Quadcross Quebec Championship.

In her sixth year of racing, Alexandra Juteau recently earned her first championshipion the Women's Pro class of the CMRC ATV MX Series.

During round eight, Alexandra and her Yamaha YFZ R 450 took control of the race and never looked back until she was deemed the victor. Although anxious to compete in round nine, Mother Nature had other plans. Thunderstorms rumbled through, dumping torrential rainfall, and in turn cancelling the race.

Even though round nine had been canceled, and the final event of the season was scheduled for one week later, Juteau had already managed to accumulate enough points to earn the championship. "This was great," explained the rider. "No need to feel stressed, just one thing in mind... Have fun and appreciate! With six seasons of experience, I'm not easily stressed when I race now, but there is always the thought that you can experience problems that could lead to losing first place."

Attending the final rounds of the season with the championship already cinched, Alexandra had the luxury of riding strictly for fun. That said, Juteau had no intentions of taking it easy, and in turn won the Ladies Open class. After getting caught up in a traffic jam, consisting of herself and eight other riders, during the first lap of the second motto, Juteau managed to worm her way free and finished second in the Ladies pro.

Alexandra Juteau reently had the 2010-2011 MX Provincial Women'sPro Championship wrappedup during the next to last event of the season.

When asked the key to her success during the 2010-2011 season, Juteau credited her championship title to determination. "For me, a race is never finished until the checkered flag is waved. My starts are not always good, and I always have to come back from the back position to win." According to the rider, she credits a portion of her success to the ability to pass riders quickly. She stresses the importance of pulling away from the slower riders and working her way to the front early on, before the lead riders create too much of a gap.

Alexandra Juteau also credits good physical fitness to her recent success. "It really made a difference that I was in such good shape when the season began. I went to the gym five times a week all winter long. It helped me race consistently from beginning to end, and also helped develop my determination."

Referring to her team, Juteau said, "They are the most important element of my success, for sure! My parents are really close to me, and are there for every race. They've helped me during all of those years to improve in the sport," explained the rider. "Dad is my mechanic and never stops pushing me. He really knows me and in turn knows how to make me react and perform at 105 percent. Mom is there to remind us when projects are too big, and make our lives easier at the races, by preparing food among other things. Our sponsors are also a part of the team, and make a difference by suggesting ways that I could improve my bike, and reduce the high costs of an ATV race season.

As one might suspect, Alexandra Juteau and her team are also acutely aware of the importance of maintenance. When asked if she used K&N products, Juteau said, "Absolutely! I use K&N filter # RF-1007. For me K&N means quality," she continued. "Their products have proved themselves and are leading in the industry."

When asked about her plans for the 2012 season, Alexandra Juteau explained, "I am presently working on sponsorship, which will determine the direction the 2012 season will take."

When asked if there was a message that she would like to relay to her fans and sponsors, Alexandra Juteau said, "A big Thank you!!!!! Thanks to all of those who support me in one way or another. I really appreciate what my sponsors have done for me. Thanks again to K&N, Desjardins Marine, Stadium Suspension, PLX Sport, G-Force, Gagne-Lessard Sport, St-Donat, and Forma Boots.

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.

K&N's Jenna Jefferies and Defending Champion Shelby Reid Win M.O.R.E Off-Road Race for the Cure

26 oct 2011

Reid and Jefferies discussed competing in The Race for the Cure at the beginning of the year, and once they landed some sponsors they made it official.

Women drivers and team owner's wives and daughters, female industry leaders and celebrities - all came together for the 6th Annual Powder Puff Off-Road Race for the Cure. The female-only event was presented by Mohave Off-Road Racing Enthusiast (M.O.R.E.), in Barstow, California, in a show of support for a great cause; Breast Cancer Research.

Jenna Jefferies said that once her and Shelby Reid landed their first jump, and saw they were in clean air, the nerves were all gone.

2010 overall champion, Shelby Reid teamed up with K&N's, Jenna Jefferies, and successfully defend her Unlimited Class 1 victory. Reid is a highly skilled and experienced driver, competing on a regular basis in the M.O.R.E. Series, as well as in BITD (Best in the Desert Racing Association). "I was really excited to ride with her," said Jefferies, "but I do have to say I was also a little nervous."

Jefferies has been around off-road racing most of her life. "I have done this race twice before with my sister-in-law, but those are the only races I have been in," adds Jefferies. Although she's been on some fast runs with her brothers in the past, this was her first ride as co-pilot, responsible for navigating the race, and she proved to be on top of her game.

Reid and Jefferies got off the line in their unlimited heat at noon, and it was a clearly an adrenaline-check start. Instead stomping the gas-peddle and charging, they first had to cruise at 35mph through the mandated speed zone. Then at mile-one the race was on.

Shelby Reid made it back-to-back wins at this year's 6th Annual Powder Puff Off-Road Race for the Cure.

"We passed the first car within the next mile, and then another," said Jefferies. "We finally passed the fourth car by race mile five and then it was just us and clean air. That was an awesome feeling. We hit our first jump and as we landed I just smiled, from then on my nerves were gone. At the same time, I realized that Shelby is quite the driver!"

The team of Reid and Jefferies definitely plan on coming back in 2012 to defend their title.

As they started their second lap Reid and Jefferies were informed that the second place car was about a minute behind them, and they were closing. "Shelby and I decided that we didn't need to worry about the cars behind us; we needed to focus on ourselves, and what was ahead of us. About a quarter through the third lap we were informed that the second place car had rolled (everyone was okay), and the next car was about nine minutes back. Shelby kept driving her pace and I made sure we stayed on course, the car temperatures stayed where they needed and that she obeyed the speed limits."

Reid and Jefferies decided to team-up for this event after attending races together over the past year or so. Reid and Damen shared driving duties last year and Casey preps her car for each race and helps out in the pits. "We talked about running it together at the beginning of the year, and were able to get some sponsors to help support us, so we signed up," explains Jefferies. "And we definitely plan on doing it again next year."

Jefferies has been working for K&N for over 12 years, and for the past six years she has been the National Accounts Manager. "It is a great job. I get the opportunity to help grow sales, as well as get our products into some of our top accounts stores and warehouses. I also get the opportunity to travel quite a bit and attend several shows/events. It has allowed me to really get to know the industry and realize what a great industry this is."

"It was definitely exciting winning the event, but it gives you chills when you see all of the people out there supporting breast cancer, and you hear the stories of the lives that were lost to this awful disease," continues Jefferies. "It is a great feeling to be part of this event and to raise money that goes towards better research, which helps to save somebody's life in the future."

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.

K&N's Mike Edwards Claims Fourth NHRA Pro Stock Pole of 2011 in the Arizona Heat

26 oct 2011

Mike Edwards at the 27th annual NHRA Arizona Nationals

In a class where minute thousandths of a second can mean all the difference in the world, K&N's Mike Edwards has been knocking at the door of his next number one Pro Stock qualifier for the last handful of races. He and his Penhall/K&N Pontiac GXP made it stick during the most recent event in Chandler, Arizona for the 27th annual NHRA Arizona Nationals.

Mike Edwards and his Penhall/K&N Pontiac GXP

Edwards had been a provisional pole sitter during the last several races, only to be knocked back at the last moment by current 2012 K&N Horsepower Challenge leader, Jason Line. His luck changed during the Arizona Nationals, but it wasn't from the first hit.

During Friday's first session, it was Warren, Ohio's Ron Krisher who stunned the field when his 6.658 in the nearly four thousand feet of air [adjusted altitude] put him at the top of the heap, but Edwards would have something to say about that later in the day for session number two.

While the air temperature rose slightly between session one and two, the track had been allowed to cool from nearly one-hundred thirty degrees to under one-twenty. NHRA Pro Stock teams not only tune their engines for the conditions at hand, but lots of attention is paid to the car's suspension components and setup, as well. With cars hanging on the edge of every ounce of power they can safely put to the ground, even slight changes in the conditions can make a world of difference.

During session number two, Edwards was able to fully take advantage of what he learned in his first pass and the lower track temps to bump the number one spot to a 6.642. Line tied the E.T. during the very next pair, but once again Edwards would grab the top spot with his faster 209.10 mile-per-hour.

"It was real toasty," said Edwards of the air temperature, shortly following Friday's second session. "I guess the one thing about it, is at least it's dry. Back at home [Oklahoma] when it is 100 degrees it is really humid. This was a good first day, a good start. The track came around pretty good there in the night run. Tomorrow will be a different day, but hey we made two good runs, so hat's off to my guys and we'll see what tomorrow holds. We like these conditions. It seems like we run better when it is hot and I do not know why, I can't explain that. For some reason it seems like we run a little bit better in the heat."

"We made a good run, but I think we can run better," Edwards continued following Friday's passes. "Conditions should be better tomorrow and I look for some times to improve definitely."

Teams did the best they could to fully capitalize on what they knew would be the best conditions they would have available during qualifying sessions. In the second to last pair, Jason Line, who also currently leads the NHRA Pro Stock Championship points, streaked down the quarter-mile passing Edwards when he posted a 6.620. But Edwards would save the best for the final pair and in the same lane Line just took away his number one, he snatched it back by being three thousandths of a second quicker to the stripe with a 6.617.

In the fourth and final Pro Stock qualifying session for the 27th annual NHRA Arizona Nationals, Edwards was lucky to hold on to his number one spot, as teams were unable to surpass his number, most not able to even duplicate numbers from the previous session. During the final pair of Pro Stock to go down the track, Edwards knew his chances were good of going into Sunday on the pole and went for what seemed to be a little testing. Unfortunately, he experienced extremely violent tire shake at the hit and had to push in the clutch and abort the run.

"We ran good this morning but struggled getting off of the starting line," Edwards admitted after Saturday's passes. "We just haven't gotten it figured out and we are a little concerned about that. We didn't get down tonight, so we are definitely scratching our heads."

"We've run good at times," Edwards said. "When the temperature gets warmer, we just seem to run better. The engine runs better for whatever reason. We have been off, hit-or-miss on the West Coast. We have been trying stuff on the car and we feel it has been better at times and sometimes it bites us like tonight. We have got to get back to the drawing board for sure."

All-in-all, Mike Edwards' 6.617 held and for the effort he gained the highest amount of qualifying points for the 2012 K&N Horsepower Challenge along with the $3,000 Low Qualifier Bonus Check from K&N Engineering. The feat helped him maintain his third place spot, sixty-five points behind Greg Anderson at number two and one-hundred twenty-five back from current leader, Jason Line.

With just two remaining events on the 2011 schedule, the teams will enjoy one weekend off before heading to their next to the last event in Las Vegas and the 11th annual Big O Tires NHRA Nationals.

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.

K&N's Steve Williams Battles His Way to NHRA Super Comp Victory During Arizona Nationals

25 oct 2011

NHRA Super Comp National Event Victory for Steve Williams

Vice President of Research and Development at K&N Engineering, Steve Williams maintains an extremely busy schedule, one that does not always afford him the amount of time he would like to spend chasing championships on the NHRA trail. That may be favorable to his fellow competitors, because once Williams does have a chance to compete, he's quite a force to be reckoned with as he proved once again during his latest outing for the 27th annual NHRA Arizona Nationals. Williams took the Super Comp title and narrowly missed adding an appearance in the Super Gas final to his outstanding weekend.

Steve Williams at the 27th annual NHRA Arizona Nationals

Williams, of Beaumont, California, points out that it's been a different kind of season for him. "Normally I would race sixteen or seventeen events and this year it's only going to be ten or eleven," he said. "But it's been good."

The weather for the entire event was rather warm, exceeding the ninety degree mark. "I will say this, the track was awesome," he noted of Firebird Int'l Raceway. "They have resurfaced it down there and it was really smooth for us sportsman guys and they did a great job keeping it the way it needed to be."

Competing in his usual Super Comp and Super Gas, Williams was pleased with his two hot rod's right off the bat. "Both the Corvette and the Dragster were real close," he said of the time run E.T.'s. "Had a couple of decent time runs, even though it was really hot. We were supposed to get three [runs], but we only got two. I always like it when you get less time runs. Anytime you get three or four, it always makes it [eliminations] tougher."

Williams slashed his way through the rounds in both Super Comp and Super Gas and admits that the first three rounds in both were some tough ones to get by, including a memorable second round in his TNT Dragster in the 8.90 category. "I had a killer race with a guy named Matthew Harvil who was just two thousandths away from a perfect run," he pointed out of his competitor's 8.899 and .001 light. "I mean I could have been out in Super Comp in second round. The same goes for second round in Super Gas. I was â€˜trip-zip' on the tree [.000] and just managed to breakout a few thou less than they did."

Behind the wheel of his K&N '63 Corvette Roadster loaded up with a 565 Chevy, Williams sent Las Vegas native Roger Kato packing after dialing his car much closer to the number and easily taking the stripe with a safe 9.935 on the 9.90 index. In Super Comp, Williams used his full one hundredth of a second starting line advantage to put space between he and Chuck Babcock all while posting a dead-on 8.902 and taking just what he needed at the stripe.

"We went into the fourth round in both Super Gas and Super Comp having a shot at a bye into the final," he said. "So I can get into the final in both categories if I win fourth round. I do look ahead at the ladder and I fully expected to be in the final in both cars." "I ran Super Gas first against [Steve] Casner who ended up winning," he reflected. "I broke out by a couple of thou and missed the tree a little bit. It didn't feel like it, but that's what the time slip said. So in Super Comp, I came around [to the staging lanes] and strangely enough, I had no idea what happened, but the guy I was paired with was a no show."

Nick Saetes was to be Williams fourth round competitor and as Williams points out, was pitted only a few trailers away. "We had lost in Gas and I get in my dragster and head to the lanes," he continued. "The other two pairs are already loaded up with their helmets on and he's not there. I thought he was probably behind me. They were running the rest of the Super Stockers and the guy at the lanes was calling [Saetes] number and he was nowhere around. So I ended up making a single. We get back to the trailer and he walks over and told me that they were standing at the fence watching and the next thing they knew, they see Super Comp cars go down the track and they had just flat missed the call."

"I really felt bad," he admitted. "My goal is to win every round, but I wanna race people. At the same time, I've had some pretty rough luck this year and you just have to do your job and move on."

Williams made his scheduled bye in the semi-final and put a nice package together, making a strong statement of his intentions to take it all in the final, after a .001 and 8.909.

Donny Toia would line up against Williams and it would prove to be a great final round. "We left the line and I knew I hit it [good light] and he hit it," he explained. "I knew what his sixty [foot] was and where he was supposed to be. We leave the line and I'm like OK, we're both on. I knew it was going to come down to the stripe and I basically had the car hard-dialed. I wasn't trying to carry any extra and I honestly thought I might get there by a few thousandths. As we get to the stripe, I'm watching the noses and I can tell he's a little but in front of me."

"As soon as I looked up, I saw my win light come on and I knew we both broke out," he added.

Williams 8.898 to Toia's 8.893 gave him the NHRA Super Comp National Event Victory, making it his fourth National win in five final round appearances.

In addition to all the K&N products that Williams uses, develops and tests on the two cars he not only races, but wins with, he carefully notes some of the other items on his Super Comp dragster that he feels were important contributors to his most recent win. "We had made a couple of adjustments to the car and one of them was the new Edelbrock manifold and it's absolutely awesome," he said. "It's a second design Edelbrock that sits on top of the 622 Brodix that I have been running for years. We have also been working with A1 Converters and they have come up with just a great, really consistent converter along with our Hughes Transmission."

"It would have been awesome to be in the finals in both cars," he confessed. "I'm not saying that if I would have got past Casner in Gas that I would have beat Jimmy Lewis, but the Corvette was awesome and I was driving great. I've got close before, a final and a semi-final. It's one of those things that very few people have doubled up. Especially in Super Gas and Super Comp on the national level, I know it's happened, but not very often."

Williams will return to the track in the coming weeks for his two final 2011 scheduled events, starting with the NHRA division race in Las Vegas before wrapping up the season during the NHRA World Finals in Pomona, California.

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.

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