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Chris Dyson racing a midget in the 2017 Chili Bowl (Photo courtesy Dyson Racing)

His most recent experience with Midgets was at the recent Chili Bowl ,in Oklahoma, competing against 350 other drivers. But first let’s look at what took Chris from Le Mans to Tulsa.

His father, Rob Dyson, is a familiar face to those who followed IMSA racing in the 1980s. In 1985, he began competing in the IMSA GTP category in a Porsche 962, moving to a Riley & Scott Mk III as the rules changed, with the team winning the Daytona 24 Hours in 1997 and 1999. Rob retired in 2003.

Chris grew up watching his dad’s successes, being only four when Rob started racing professionally. When he was old enough to get behind the wheel, Chris started in karts, and in 1999 moved into SCCA Club Racing competition in Spec Racer Ford.

Chris Dyson has race sports cars, sedans, Midgets and Winged Sprints (Photo courtesy Dyson Racing)

“I would have to say winning the two IMSA American Le Mans Series championships was the most important from a career perspective and reflected some great full-season campaigns,” Chris continued. He also raced at the 24 Hours of Le Mans three times, peaking out at about 200 mph on each lap.

In 2014-2015, Dyson Racing, with Chris now operating as both driver and Sporting Director, was in the midst of a two-year, works-supported Bentley effort in Pirelli World Challenge . The team enjoying considerable success, with Chris himself taking the top step on the podium at Elkhart Lake, plus a second at Long Beach and several thirds. But in the midst of all this, Chris decided to add dirt oval racing to his already packed agenda.

Dyson taking victory at Road America in the Bentley Continental GT (Photo courtesy Dyson Racing)

Chris lives in upstate New York. How did he decide to run in a series on the West Coast? “Cory Kruseman, who's believed in me and has put me in his cars, is based on the West Coast. Cory has always been successful in all forms of the sport. And he runs a racing school, so there's the added element of getting strong coaching and mentoring. We talked a lot about what I wanted to do and came up with a great program of events so the USAC Western States events have been a good fit. I'm East Coast based, so the ARDC is also interesting for me.”

Chris' Midget car is out of Kruseman's fleet: a Spike chassis out of Indy and an Esslinger motor from the Southern California engine builder. Intake draws through a K&N 100-8576 custom racing assembly air box protected by a K&N 100-8576PK air filter wrap.

Chris was out of commission for most of the year with back and rib injuries. Now healed, Chris jumped back into the fray at perhaps the largest Midget race in the country – the Chili Bowl. Run since 1987 inside the Tulsa Expo Center, the floor is covered with clay scrapped off the adjacent and now defunct horse racing track. Drivers come from across the country, Canada and even Australia, and from all forms of motorsports. Regular Midget racers regularly face drivers from NASCAR, IndyCar, and even NHRA.

A filter often used by Midget competitors is a K&N 100-8576 custom racing assembly

That’s over 350 competitors vying for 24 starting positions in the A-Main.

The Chili Bowl draws crowds as large as 22,000 spectators (Photo courtesy Chili Bowl Nationals)

“I’m looking at getting back into prototypes at some point this year, and some other interesting cars, and I'm excited to get back on the dirt ovals, too and I'm grateful for the support of Smokey Mountain Herbal Snuff and all my great sponsors who help make it happen.”

Besides maybe A.J. Foyt there are few drivers who can compare and contrast racing a Midget on a ¼ mile dirt oval to racing 200 mph in the dark at Le Mans. Here’s what Chris had to say:

“They’re totally different disciplines, and not just because of the car type, but at the end of the day it's all racing. The short-track racing is as frenetic as it gets, cut-and-thrust all the way and flat out non-stop until the end. They're short races but it's amazing how much they light up your brain. It doesn't feel short because you'll never be on a track in any other situation where as much is happening at any point in time.

Dyson drove a Nissan-powered Prototype in the 2014 24 Hours of Le Mans (Photo courtesy Dyson Racing)

“I'm happy in both forms of racing, to be honest and I consider myself one of the luckiest guys in racing to have been able to have such a diverse driving career. And I'm psyched to keep going on this wonderful adventure and improving my craft the whole time.”

Photographs courtesy Dyson Racing, except crowd shot, courtesy of Chili Bowl Nationals

The K&N RP-2960 universal air filter is designed to boost horsepower and torque

The tapered conical-shaped filter is washable and reusable and is engineered to offer high airflow and superior filtration. There are many reasons for its excellent performance. First, the filter features a multilayered cotton gauze media. The cotton has been treated with a special grade of filter oil that makes its strands extremely sticky. This permits the media to capture and hold extremely small impurities.

Second, the high rate of airflow is not deterred even as the media collects more and more particles. That’s because there are no holes for the impurities to clog causing the blockage of airflow.

Third, the filter exhibits a phenomenon known as “depth loading.” This means that there are many levels of the filter that captures the particles. This permits the K&N filter to hold significantly more dirt per square inch of media than the average paper filter allowing longer intervals between cleaning.

K&N offers the 99-5000 filter care service kit that is formulated to cleanse and recharge the filter after 50,000 miles of use and ensures that you can use the filter over and over again.

The less restrictive airflow and superior filtration is designed to boost the horsepower and torque of your vehicle. In addition, the K&N RP-2960 includes a carbon fiber top, which provides ultimate strength with minimal weight. Of course, the professional finish has a smooth, glass like appearance. In short, the filter does not only perform well, it looks great.

The Chevy Silverado 1500 is a powerful truck to begin with, but a few simple performance upgrades can improve your engine's performance. K&N has designed a range of engine upgrades to provide more power to your Chevy Silverado 1500's engine. Here are four ways you can use K&N's performance technology to improve your Chevy Silverado 1500:

1. Replace Your Paper Air Filter with a K&N Cotton Air Filter

Air filters keep dirt, harmful debris and other contaminants out of your engine. While most vehicles come with disposable paper air filters, K&N air filters are made with oiled cotton material that is much less restrictive than a paper air filter. Visit the K&N Chevy Silverado 1500 air filters page to find a K&N air filter made specifically for your Chevy Silverado 1500. The benefits of a K&N air filter include:

• Designed to increase horsepower, torque, and acceleration.
• Includes a washable and reusable air filter
• Better for the environment- reusable air filters means less disposable air filters filling up landfills

2. Install a K&N Air Intake System

K&N air intakes add horsepower, torque, and acceleration to whatever engine they are designed for. These air intake systems can provide an even more pronounced benefit to your engine.

K&N has designed air intakes for the many varieties of Chevy Silverado 1500 and you can find the perfect fit for yours by visiting K&N's Chevy Silverado 1500 air intakes page. A K&N air induction system:

• Replaces entire air box
• Reduces air flow restriction so that your engine can take in more air
• Air induction system includes a washable and reusable lifetime air filter
• Can be installed with commonly available tools, usually in 90 minutes or less
• Is designed to last up to 100,000 miles before service is required.

3. Upgrade Your Oil Filter to a K&N Oil Filter

Higher oil flow rates help your engine perform better. K&N offers Performance Silver and Performance Gold oil filters, both of which feature:

• High Flow Rates
• Exceptional filtration: block 99% of foreign material
• Strength and Durability to prevent damage from rocks and debris
• Anti-drainback valve (where applicable) keeps oil in the engine to help prevent dry starts
• Rolled threads help prevent stripping and give a smoother installation

K&N Performance Gold^® oil filters feature a 1" nut welded to the top of the canister, making them easy to remove when the time comes- simply wrench off with a standard tool. Browse oil filters that will fit your Chevrolet Silverado 1500 by visiting K&N's Chevy Silverado 1500 oil filters page.

Also available for the Chevy Silverado - K&N Cabin Air Filters

K&N Cabin Air Filters are also available for the Chevy Silverado 1500 and can help improve the interior air quality of your truck. K&N has designed a line of cabin air filters that will keep dust and debris from reaching the inside of your vehicle. Some benefits of a K&N cabin air filter include:

• Cleans and Freshens Incoming Air
• Helps Control Odors
• Easy to Clean & Reuse
• 10 Year / 100,000 Mile Limited Warranty

Find a cabin air filter that will fit your Chevy Silverado 1500 by visiting K&N's Chevy Silverado 1500 cabin air filters page.

Find K&N Products For Your Vehicle

Find K&N products for the Chevy Silverado 1500, as well as other vehicles, use the K&N application search below then use the K&N dealer search to find a K&N dealer in your part of the world.

The Warrior Voices Custom Harley sits at parade rest at the Dallas IMS

Warrior Voices, a 1979 Ironhead, built by Roy’s Toys Customs, won the Modified Retro Category of the J&P competition staged in the Lone Star State. K&N is a sponsor of the Mod Retro competition at each stop of the IMS.

Roy’s Toys is truly a family business with all of the major players branching off that familial tree. Roy Martin has been the patriarch and bike builder of the operation since 1994 when he and his wife of over 3 decades started the company. The couple’s son is an apprentice builder, and Roy’s daughter, Nikki, now serves as the Chief Operations Officer of the company.

The custom saddle was the starting point for the build

“Warrior Voices, a non-profit 5013c organization, came to Roy’s Toys Customs with an idea to build a custom motorcycle for the organization, to be auctioned off with all proceeds being put back into funding voice-over training for veterans who may not be able to work typical jobs, due to PTSD or physical disabilities, when they return home,” said Nikki. “One of the Warrior Voices board members donated his 1979 Ironhead Sportster for the build. We all agreed that if we at Roy’s Toys Customs were given free rein on the design concept, that we would build the bike, donating our time.”

Warrior Voices is a unique organization that provides veterans who were given an honorable or medical discharge the chance to attend a voice-over academy. The selected veterans learn the skills to be voice-over artists and voice actors.

The military theme is carried into all of the bike's details

“During this build, we were able to meet one of the voice-over students, Chad Ritter, a Purple Heart recipient,” Nikki said. “Hearing his story, and what he experienced while deployed and what he has to go through daily, truly validates the sacrifices that our veterans have made for our country.”

Clearly the build is a labor of love, so let’s get down to the details of the amazing custom Harley. The starting point of the project was a departure from the normal Roy’s design strategy.

“Typically we build the bike and then we have a hand tooled seat made to match our theme. With this build, we built the bike around the one-of-a-kind seat,” Nikki revealed. “Enoch Langston of Langston Leatherworks, came up with a grenade/microphone design.”

The paint scheme was also an important consideration for the Warrior Voices build. “We didn’t want to build a standard olive drab green bike. Trying to stay with the military theme, John Pugh of Gunslinger Custom Paint, was able to incorporate an old school look that would have been in the military,” Nikki said.

The microphone tail light speaks to the bike's important mission

The copper springer front end is a unique and beautiful element of the bike’s suspension. The rear is appropriately rigid. The significance of the vintage microphone tail light should be completely clear at this point.

The bike is actually still a work in progress. “We'll be adding a custom made Gatlin gun exhaust system that is performance-based, and will re-debut at the Chicago Championships,” Nikki said.

K&N congratulates Roy's Toys and we are happy to help in the important cause behind the Warrior Voices build.

Fowler and his team and family celebrate a second ATV title (photo: Yamaha)

Fowler’s 7 first-place finishes, combined with 11 podium finishes overall in 2016, secured him the championship in the penultimate race of the season. However, not one to just mail it in, he raced to second in the final round of the season at the Ironman Raceway in Crawfordsville, Indiana.

“To race and win the best cross-country class in the nation feels amazing, especially two years in a row,” Fowler said. “Thanks to Yamaha for the consistent performance of the YFZ450R, and for supporting not only my team, but the ATV racing community as a whole.”

Fowler raced to 7 wins in his 2016 championship season (photo: Yamaha)

“Fowler dominated the cross-country ATV circuit this season and consistently demonstrated why the YFZ450R is the racers’ top sport ATV of choice, with the power, durability, and performance to consistently top the podium,” said Nessl. “A big congratulations from everyone at Yamaha to Walker and his team for another amazing season.”

The accolades rained on Fowler from Yamaha reached a crescendo when the company named him a 2016 Yamaha Wall of Champions inductee. The significance of the award was not lost on Fowler, but he was quick to share the spotlight with his fellow Yamaha racers who were honored alongside and before him.

Fowler signing another big number 1 GNCC ATV plate

Fowler, who moved from motorcycles to ATVs earlier in his career, will be adding another racing series to his repertoire.

“For the 2017 GNCC series, not only are we going to be contending for our third championship on an ATV; Yamaha has also given us the opportunity to contend for our first XC1 Pro UTV title,” said Fowler. “So I’m super pumped, and I think we’re going to have a real good year.”

K&N congratulates Walker Fowler on the 2016 GNCC Pro ATV XC1 championship and on his Yamaha Wall of Fame induction. We look forward to being part of his ATV and UTV title chase in 2017.