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Nearly 80 percent of today's new passenger cars have cabin air filters, including Honda's 2009-2016 Insight, Fit and CR-Z, all of which can use the K&N VF2033.

Google "air pollution" and several sites inform us that the leading cause of air pollution in the United States is motor vehicles, which release gaseous and microscopic particles as the engines run. That when we are out on the road we're at ground zero for inhaling harmful air should be obvious, but we don't even think about it.

But the air is everywhere. When we step out of the car, we're back in it. Why the paranoia? Because in spite of awareness programs, state, national and international regulations and efforts by industries worldwide, air quality is still an issue. The effects of inhaling vehicular, industrial, and residential contaminants are a silent pandemic of asthma, stroke, heart and lung disease, and premature births.

If we have a/c in home, office, public buildings, we have cleaner, filtered air. Now car makers equip our new vehicles with automotive a/c, or cabin, air filters. Every little bit helps everyone, not only asthma and allergy sufferers, and the very young and the elderly. Cabin air filters also help keep our car's ventilation and air conditioning system working properly by providing a clean, unrestricted flow of air.

Most cabin air filters are rectangular or nearly square and are mounted behind the glove box, such as the VF2000 which is shared by many models of Toyota Avalon, Prius and Scion.

Does your car have a cabin filter?

More than 80 percent of new cars built today will have an air conditioning filter. Your owner's manual will tell you if your car has one. Lacking a manual, you can visit the manufacturer's website, or ask your dealer or mechanic if your car has a cabin air filter.

Car cabin air filter location will vary by vehicle year, make, and model but is generally installed in one of three places. Most often a cabin filter can be found behind the glove box, as in the 2007-2016 Hyundai Elantra. It can be under the hood near the windshield, as in the 2000-2013 Chevy Impala, or underneath the dashboard as in the 2010-2012 Mazda3.

As with your home vacuum cleaner, the filters need to be emptied after use and periodically replaced. Most cabin air filters can be replaced without special equipment, but some require basic hand tools to open the cabin air filter compartment.

Discarding and installing a new cabin filter is easy, but they just choke the landfills. In 2014, K&N came up with a thrifty approach to this routine maintenance procedure by inventing a washable, reusable replacement car cabin air filter. Examples are the K&N VF2033 for 2009-2016 Honda Insight, Fit, CR-Z, and HR-V, and the K&N VF3008 for the 2000-2005 Jaguar S-Type, Lincoln LS, and Thunderbird. So what can we learn about cabin filters?

K&N car cabin air filters, exemplified by the VF3008 for the Lincoln LS, Thunderbird and Jaguar S-Type, provide greater filter surface area and sturdiness with their fan-folded synthetic material, wire mesh support and molded polyurethane frame.

What are cabin and a/c filters, and what do they do?

Air pollution became a focus of an international environmental movement in the 1960s, and car cabin air filters were first developed in the late 1980s in Europe and Japan, out of concern for protecting sensitive drivers and passengers from inhaling pollen and dust. This concern quickly expanded to the need for protecting us all against air contaminated with diesel soot and gaseous substances in metropolitan areas with lots of car traffic (plus unburnt industrial smogs) that release hydrocarbons, sulphur dioxide, nitrous oxides, hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, and benzene, to name just the headliners of the pollutant short list.

International Organization for Standardization (ISO) testing and manufacturing standards were drafted in 1994 and updated in 2001 for particulate and odor-reducing functions of cabin filters. K&N's a/c filters trap particles and help to reduce odors inside the cabin. Examples are the K&N VF2027 for the 2011-2016 Dodge Charger, Challenger, and Chrysler 300, and the VF2000 for the 2005-2016 Toyota Avalon, Prius and Scion.

Manufacturer's stock cabin air filters are usually folded paper or some combination of paper and fibers. They are often rectangular or nearly square in shape and are simply a physical barrier to trap dust, pollen, leaves and other debris, reducing the flow of chemically contaminated air that makes it into the ventilation and air conditioning system. The particles accumulate on the surface of the filter and eventually cake up, forming their own layer, restricting the flow of incoming air. To keep the air clean in the cabin, these filters are intended to be discarded at least annually.

K&N car cabin air filters are a fan-folded, single layer of thermally bonded nonwoven synthetic material held in a molded urethane frame with wire screening. The filter material itself has been electrostatically charged to attract and hold dirt. As air flows through the K&N cabin air filter, dirt, and allergen particles become trapped in the synthetic fibers, and the electrostatic charge helps hold them in place. This design allows for increased airflow, even as the filter gets dirty. The construction of the K&N cabin filter is intended to allow it to be removed, washed, recharged, and reused.

Watch the K&N washable cabin air filters overview video for an excellent introduction to cabin air filters and what they do.

In 2014 K&N introduced the washable, reusable cabin air filter, and is designing new ones every day.

Why do car cabin filters need maintenance?

There is truth to the old saying, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it.", but following a preventive routine keeps a/c parts from wearing or breaking, and keeps the car on the road longer. Furthermore, as the saying goes, "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure," which is another truism that applies as much to vehicle health and safety as to personal wellness. Just as you change the oil and refresh the fluids in the engine, the rest of the car's systems need regular check-ups and cleanings.

A clogged car cabin air filter can, besides creating an uncomfortable environment for occupants by no longer trapping dust, fungus, spores and bacteria, also allow moldy odors and mildew to invade the cabin. The cumulative effects also put a strain on the heating and air conditioning systems. This is a great reason to perhaps coordinate cabin filter changes with your annual or semi-annual A/C service.

Your dealer or mechanic can do this for you, or you can do it yourself. Removing, discarding, and replacing the OEM cabin filter with the same stock version is easy. But so is investing in a K&N car cabin air filter that is washable, reusable, and guaranteed with a 10-Year/Million Mile Limited Warranty.

Cleaning your K&N washable cabin air filter works best if you use the 99-6000 K&N refresher kit and follow these simple steps:

1. Remove the filter from your vehicle
2. Spray the cabin filter cleaner onto the filter
3. Rinse the filter with water to remove all dirt
4. Air dry naturally for 20-30 minutes
5. Apply K&N cabin air filter refresher to the filter media
6. Re-install the filter back into your vehicle

The keys to a successful service are thoroughly rinsing the cabin filter, letting it dry completely and using K&N's refresher spray. The spray brings back the electrostatic charge so the filter can continue to help capture many types of dust, mold, mildew, spores, fungus, bacteria, and germs while helping to control odors.

K&N has a washable, reusable car cabin air filter for your car

When you're ready to try a K&N cabin filter in your car, visit the K&N website and use the Search by Vehicle tool and you can find a local K&N retailer by plugging your location into the K&N Dealer Search as well. K&N is developing new cabin air filters all the time and if they do not currently offer a filter for your vehicle, you can personally request that K&N makes one using the online product request.

K&N car cabin air filters are designed to last for years of use and are guaranteed by the K&N 10-Year/Million Mile Limited Warranty. It's a win-win-win scenario, for owners, for the vehicles, and the environment.

The Brickyard 400 is one of the biggest NASCAR races of the summer. The annual event, sponsored by Crown Royal, will be held on July 24th. Consisting of several events, fan activities, and 650 miles of racing (the Lilly Diabetes 250 and the Crown Royal 400), the weekend is guaranteed to be one you won't want to miss if you are within driving distance.

If you are attending the NASCAR Crown Royal 400 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway this weekend, be sure to stop by the K&N booth, located right next to Gate 1.

This gorgeous Lucas Oil vintage funny car is one of the vehicles displayed in the K&N booth at the NASCAR 400 at the Brickyard.

Located right next to gate 1 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the K&N booth will be the place to be this weekend.

For this event, K&N is teaming up with NASCAR to offer a one of a kind fan experience. A pair of K&N haulers are located next to Gate 1 and will be the hub for all K&N activities. For those unfamiliar with the area, gate 1 is on the corner of Crawfordsville Road and 1802 Georgetown Road next to the roundabout at Crawfordsville Road/Speedway Drive and Georgetown/Main. If you are looking for an intake for your daily driver, project car, or any other vehicle, our product experts will be on hand to help you with not only K&N product, but also Spectre and AIRAID as well. While you're getting insight to help your engine breathe a little better, your spouse can be spinning our prize wheel for a chance to win free merchandise, product, trips, or other great prizes. We didn't forget about the kiddos either. They can enter our coloring contest for a chance to win more free prizes.

We also have new apparel designs available for purchase as well as our latest and greatest product installed on several vehicles in the K&N 'Korral'. If you are in Indianapolis, swing on by. We are outside of the gates, so you don't even need a pass to get to us. Check back for all the info on events that K&N will be attending, or sign up for our newsletter so you stay in the know at all times.

The Jarrett Andretti sprint car uses K&N products and can be checked out this weekend at the Crown Royal 400 at the Brickyard.

K&N will have new apparel designs available for purchase throughout the weekend at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Gate 1.

This 5th gen Camaro has Spectre Performance's newest product on it, the under hood caps and covers set. These parts are available for purchase on the Spectre Performance website.

Johnny Lewis joined the Lloyd brothers' team for the 2016 AMA Pro Flat Track season.

Lloyd Brothers Motorsport and Johnny Lewis Team Up Again for 2016
A short season won’t stop the Lloyd brothers from competing at the top level in this year’s series.

Johnny Lewis will ride for Lloyd Brothers Motorsport in select rounds of the AMA Pro Racing Flat Track Championship and the Second Annual Harley-Davidson Flat Track X Games. Lewis will be riding the newest version of the LBM Flat Tracker with title sponsorship from Dillard Family Racing.

Lloyd Brothers Motorsport races exclusively in the AMA Pro Racing Grand National Dirt Track Circuit as well as the Flat Track X Games.

“We didn’t have the funding for the full series this year, but we are excited to continue with our rider from last year, Johnny Lewis. Johnny would not have been able to compete in a full season anyway because he and his wife are expecting a baby girl in the coming weeks. So we are skipping three rounds and will pick it up at the X-Games,” said David Lloyd, co-owner with his brother Michael of Lloyd Brothers Motorsport (LBM).

“Our Focus is to make sure that the team has every possible advantage to compete well at each race that we attend while at the same time gaining valuable experience together to move forward in the future,” stated team co-owner Michael Lloyd. “We had several top-five finishes last year running a partial season with Johnny. In addition to removing over 13 pounds from the motorcycle, we have made chassis and power plant changes that should move us forward,” added David Lloyd.

According to David, Michael and David have owned a team for 12 or 13 years. “We helped to develop the LBM Flat Tracker, which we have been having pretty good success with. We also participated in the Moto ST Series and won that championship two years in a row, back in 2007 and 2008.”

David and Michael’s primary business is building homes in the Columbus, Ohio area.

David started racing 30 years ago when he was 14 years old. “I grew up riding motorcycles. I did the pro series for a couple of years and we’ve been influential in getting new brands involved in the sport,” he said.

He first started getting interested in motorcycle racing when he was about 13. He noted that no one in his family was involved in the sport. It was a personal appeal that stemmed from the popularity of motorcycle racing in the rural area in which he grew up.

“We lived out in the country and I heard of people riding motorcycles,” said David. “The first time I rode one I was hooked. I got involved locally and a shop owner saw how well I was riding and he helped support me and got me into racing by the time I was 16.”

David turned pro when he was 16. “I turned to the then Pro-Am class at 16 and then moved up to the Junior pro ranks when I was 17 and I got my expert license when I was 18,” he said.

Johnny's featured bike this year is 13-pound lighter Ducati Scrambler with improvements made to the chassis and powerplant.

As a co-owner of a team David focuses on recruiting riders and collecting sponsors. “Finding riders for dirt track is just looking at the talent pool and seeing who is available each year,” he explained. “We are very excited to have Johnny Lewis moving forward. His talent, work ethic and personality are unmatched in the paddock.”

Building a program that attracts high visibility and provides a quick return on investment has allowed the team to lure sponsors.  They have attracted a lot of attention by using different types of branded motorcycles that have not been seen in Flat Track racing before. For example, Lloyd Brothers Motorsport has competed on motorcycles from Ducati and Aprilia as well as Harley-Davidson and Kawasaki.

David pointed out that the team’s biggest race victory occurred in 2010 in Prescott, Arizona. In their first race with Joe Kopp, who won the national championship twice, Lloyd Brothers Motorsport’s Ducati was the first to beat a Harley-Davidson motorcycle in 19 years. To say it was close would be an understatement. Kopp won by 17-thousandths of a second.

“Prior to that race Harley-Davidson and Honda had both developed motors for Flat Track racing that won every race for 28 years. The win got us in every motorcycle magazine around the world. It was pretty cool,” he said.

The racing team concentrates on Flat Track racing because it gives them the opportunity to develop new things for their motorcycles. “I like to develop new things so everything we do on dirt track is hand made,” said David. “For example, we design our own chassis. Every time we race we have a chance to test them and then improve them. It is a constant evolution process to make them better. That’s why Flat Track racing is so cool.

“Dirt track seems pretty simple,” continued David. “You just keep going left all the time. But the motorcycles and the riders have to be very much on point. We’re always in one gear, there are no front brakes and there are only four corners. Things have to work very, very well opposed to road racing when you have 15 corners, six-speeds and a front brake. You have to be sure that your motorcycle is set up and designed correctly so it can work on different types of tracks.”

This isn't the first time Johnny is running with the Lloyd brothers. However, this season will be a short one for the team.

David noted that tracks vary widely in Flat Track racing. Some tracks are hard and sticky, some are hard and slippery and some are deep cushioned.  “Racing Flat Track is like a moving target. You have to make sure everything fits right. It’s very challenging,” he said.

Members of Lloyd Brothers Motorsport include Lewis, who also runs a dirt track school, Daniel Kalal, and Richard Lambracht. “We’ve all been together for quite awhile. We have a good group of people. It truly takes a village to be successful,” said David.

David noted that K&N Filters has been sponsoring Lloyd Brothers Motorsport for 13 years. “They’ve been fantastic. We have built a personal relationship with them,” he said.

“You know, some cushion tracks are incredibility dirty and violent environments where motorcycles get hit with 100-mile an hour rooster tails. For us, K&N is our only choice as far as air filters are concerned. They take a beating and still come through,” he concluded.

Lloyd Brothers Motorsport will compete next in the X-Games on June 2.

Shea is regarded as a tough competitor and is not known to give up ground easily.

Few of us can point to the exact moment when our life turned around 180 degrees. And even fewer of us have had it happen in the passenger seat of a car someone else was driving. But that’s exactly what happened to 15 year old Shea Holbrook.

Moving into the top-level Touring Class of World Challenge has suited Shea well.

A promising young competitive water skier in her native state of Florida, she was given a ride in one of the Richard Petty Experience Sprint Cup replicas around Daytona International Speedway by a program instructor. Before she had even unbelted herself from the car in pit lane, Shea knew she that wanted to become a professional race car driver.

The move from water skiing to auto racing isn’t as unlikely a move as you might think. Both emphasize control at speed, optimizing weight transfer, and controlling the interface between the ski and water or four tires and asphalt.

All of the vehicles in this photo has a K&N air filter on it and most have oil filters too. Shea even runs K&N fuel filters on her race rig.

So with the help of her parents, together they built her first race car in the family garage, and in 2009 had won the Central Florida Class H1 championship. In 2010, she went into the SCCA World Challenge series where she finished sixth. In 2011, Shea won the Pirelli World Challenge Touring Car race at the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, only the second female driver to win a World Challenge Touring Car race.

For 2012, not only did she record her best finish in World Challenge (fourth), but she began to attract the attention of the media. Shea was made a member of the all-female TRUECar Racing Women Empowered Initiative, while Honda Canada made her the star of one of its TV commercials. She was even featured in an article in Teen Vogue, sharing with young women the infinite possibilities open to them.

Shea Racing wears its K&N logo with pride, using the company’s products on its race cars and tow vehicles.

In 2013, Shea finished seventh in the Pirelli World Challenge Touring Car B class, and then moved to the faster A class for 2014, when she finished second overall. She was also the subject of a national TV commercial for sponsor TRUECar.

For 2015, Shea was forced to operate on a shoestring as TRUECar had dropped their program prematurely. Despite the fact that she was only able to compete in four World Challenge TCA races, she still managing to record three top five finishes.

Shea Racing is returning full force, fill-time to the 2016 Pirelli World Challenge Touring car championship -- the first time since 2012. The team is campaigning a pair of Honda Accords V6’s with Shea Holbrook, 6-time PWC winner s back into a Touring Car number 67 joined by the 2015 Trans Am TA3 “Rookie of the Year,” Jason Fichter in car number 7. Shea currently sits a very competitive third in points after eight of 19 races, and Shea Racing occupies third in the team championship, thanks in part to the seventh place in standings held down by Jason Fichter.

And while Shea Racing uses K&N oil and fuel filters on its tow rig, and K&N’s high performance oil filter on its race cars, it’s the K&N air intake about which Shea is most enthused “We use the K&N 69-1212TS Typhoon air intake which guarantees us an increase in power before we ever tune.” In fact, in K&N’s own chassis dyno tests, the installation of a 69-1212TS on an otherwise stock Honda Accord increased power by 7.43 horsepower.

Not surprising Shea is a K&N fan. That first high-speed ride was in a Petty Experience car equipped with a K&N air filter.

50 Years ago, if you had boasted to your friends about buying a brand new Chevy Nova, they might have laughed at you, and shrugged you off while getting into their Camaro, Charger, or Mustang. Well, as the great Bob Dylan once said, "the times, they are a changin'." And so they have.

These days, the Chevy Nova, also called the Chevy II, is one of the most sought after cars for restoration projects. The Nova dates all the way back to 1962 - the year of the Tiger - and with a 327ci motor and 4-speed manual transmission option, the Nova was no kitten.

No detail was overlooked in this build. Can you spot the billet rearview mirror?

Paul lives in Claremont, California, just a few miles from the iconic Auto Club Raceway at the Fairplex in Pomona.

A thin red stripe breaks up the black and white paintjob by Gage Motorsports, in Arlington, Washington.

Currently the most sought after Chevy Novas are the 68-74 models, bearing the classic "muscle car" look. These came with a multitude of engine options, ranging from a 153ci 2.5L inline-four, all the way to a 402ci 6.6L V8, and almost anything in between. It also had a variety of available transmissions, with the 2-speed Powerglide and 4-speed Borg-Warner T-10 manual as an option. Some Novas even came off the assembly line with disc brakes, to stop all the power behind them. A popular option was the 4-barrel 300 hp 5.7L setup with a three-speed Turbo Hydra-matic 350 (THM350)

The front suspension consists of a Santuff 4-Link Coilover setup, sitting under a 427 LS7 GM motor.

Black and red Kirkey race seats adorn the interior with G-Forge 5-point seat belts and an Art Morrison cage.

An E-3770 6 x 14-inch round K&N air cleaner sits atop the powerful 427ci LS7.

Paul Summers, of Claremont, California, had a similar idea in mind when he bought his 1969 Chevy Nova, although the 350ci motor wasn't going to cut it for him. He sought the definitive power of the Chevy LS7. "I bought the car in 2013," Paul says, "my goal was to have a street car that ran high 9s on the strip." He got what he wished for - a robust Nova that had power, style, and a beautiful paintjob done by Gage Motorsports in Arlington, Washington.

Paul moved to Southern California in 2014 and began to show interest in the wealth of car shows that SoCal has to offer. He began to show off the enhancing qualities of the car, like the black and red Kirkey race seats and the Art Morrison cage with G-Forge 5-point seat belts. The aforementioned LS7 features L92 heads, Doug's headers, and a Flowmaster exhaust to let the LS7 roar. It's also fitted with Aluminum Champion wheels wrapped in Mickey-Thompson tires contributing to the smooth look and feel of this car. Paul's drivetrain consists of an Inland Empire Driveline driveshaft and a Mark Williams 4.11 ring and pinion. The Nova is also equipped with a Santuff 4-Link coilover suspension setup, to make sure the handling is excellent.

The cowl hood is necessary when running a 6" filter setup.

Paul takes no nonsense, and lets his competition know about it.

The classic 427 badges let everyone know what's under the hood!

Needless to say, Paul definitely has a great taste in highly customized cars and enthusiasts at the many car shows he attended agreed. He was prosperous in winning multiple trophies including 25 best-of-show awards amongst numerous car shows in Southern California. Paul also won the Super Chevy Editor's Pick award at the 2016 Grand National Roadster Show and took home a trophy from the Street Machine Muscle Car Nationals. Trophies were great, however something was missing, his need for speed. He started taking his car to the local drag strips and proceeded to run low 10s at around 120 mph. One day, he was able to make a 10.20 pass at 128 MPH but the rear end concluded his session quickly when it gave out, thus pretzeling the driveshaft, and cracking the transmission case in the process. He replaced the rear-end with a Mark Williams 40-Spline and had the transmission rebuilt. While the car was indisposed, Paul decided to take off the stock front-end and replace it with an all new tube chassis chromoly front end. He is now ready to hit the track again, and test out his new and better than before 1969 Chevy Nova.

The car is now running high 9's and Paul couldn't be happier. He doesn't have any issue pushing his T-400 Transmission to the limit in the name of a little speed addiction. You better believe that Paul drives the car on the streets too. If you ever pull up next to a black and white Nova with a massive cowl induction hood, let him be, you don't want to get your feelings hurt.

A Wilwood brake setup with drilled and slotted rotors sits behind the Mickey Thompson clad Aluminum Champion wheels and are responsible for bringing the Nova down from top speed.

Despite all the modifications, some features on the vehicle remained, like the side fender badges.

The Nova is equipped with a Hurst shifter outfitted with a trans-lock switch.