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ASRA and CCS Road Racer Jim McConville Proves Hard Work Pays Off

28 Jul 2017

Jim McConville on the ASRA podium at Road America

The podium has become familiar ground for Jim McConville (left)

Jim McConville could be considered the ‘every man’ hero of the motorcycle road racing world. The hard-working K&N-sponsored amateur racer competes in the Championship Cup Series (CCS) and the American Sportbike Racing Association (ASRA).

McConville currently sits as the points leader in the ASRA Sportbike class (600cc) and is trailing the leader in the ASRA SuperStock class (1000cc) by a minuscule 4 point margin. As impressive as those standings may be, McConville is quick to point out that it is persistence and determination rather than raw talent that have gotten him to this point.

“I wouldn’t say I have a natural racing talent, as I’ve been a slower learner than many of my competitors,” McConville told K&N. “I’ve just been slowly progressing towards my goals.”

Jim McConville racing in the ASRA series wearing his K&N helmet

McConville's GSX-R is protected by K&N filters and his head by a K&N painted Arai helmet

The competitive obsession started for McConville after he caught the racing bug while helping out a friend.

“I’ve always been into motorcycles and always had an interest in riding on the track,” McConville said. “A good friend of mine was a former racer and was currently a tire vendor for the local road racing series. He brought me with him to a few race weekends to help with tire changes and loading the trailer. The first time I went to the race track, I decided this was for me.”

After being hooked by the sport, McConville began the methodical process of developing the skills to compete. He also continued his relationship with the friend that introduced him to the sport.

“I started doing track days in 2009 and bought my current race bike in 2010,” McConville reflected. “In 2011, I started my rookie year at New Hampshire Motor Speedway for the Loudon Road Racing Series. I chose the race number 105 as a dedication to my friend that brought me into this community and became my mechanic as well as racing coach. After missing the Rookie of the Year award by just 8 points, I continued with the LRRS season and began control riding for the local track day company at NHMS.”

Jim McConville leading a race in the ASRA series

McConville (#105) is leading the pack in the ASRA Sportbike class

With the experience he garnered in the LRRS, McConville made the move to his current racing series affiliations. His early success in the CSS and ASRA was truly impressive.

“In 2013, I tried racing with the CCS series at New Jersey Motorsports Park as well as my first ASRA race at NHMS, which was my first win ever,” said McConville. “I finished the ASRA SuperStock series 3rd overall and decided to switch my racing program towards the CCS and ASRA series. In 2014, I completed 84 of 85 races in 18 race weekends, including 7 of the 8 ASRA rounds. I was able to finish 1st in the Super Stock class and 2nd in the Sportbike class on my 2006 Suzuki GSX-R 600 and bring home a National Championship.”

While 2017 looks like it may mark his return back to the top of the national rankings, McConville’s development as a top road racer has not been without its setbacks.

Jim McConville racing in the rain in the ASRA series

Rain does not dampen the spirits of the K&N-sponsored racer (left)

“In 2015, my season ended half way as I chipped a bone in my leg during practice from a chain that fell off the bike in front of me,” McConville said. “In 2016, I finished 2nd overall in both ASRA classes while struggling to reach my lap times prior to the leg injury.”

In keeping with his innate humility and sense of humor, McConville says racing is the perfect disguise for his 9 to 5 existence. However, to us, it appears to be a bit of a Clark Kent / Superman situation.

“Outside of racing, I’m a computer nerd,” quips McConville. “My exact title in the office is Senior Server Engineer. Racing is a great way to hide my true identity as a computer nerd, and it scares the crap out of my parents. So it’s a win-win for me. After work, I’m usually in the gym for 2-3 hours a day, five times a week. It’s a great stress reliever for me when I’m not wrenching or turning laps.”

Jim McConville wearing K&N gear with his GSX-R race bike

K&N has proudly sponsored McConville for his entire racing career

With his great positioning at the top of the ASRA Sportbike class and his dogged pursuit of the lead in the SuperStock class, McConville is setting his sights on a strong finish to the 2017 racing season. In addition to continuing his rigorous training routine, he is watching the long-term weather forecasts as he is acutely aware of the track conditions that suit his riding style.

“To be honest, I’m hoping for more rain as I’ve been very successful in the rain so far,” said McConville. “It’s weird to admit, but I prefer to race in the rain more than dry conditions. As far as preparation, I will be coaching for a track day as well as some race practice days to keep my legs and bike ready for the next ASRA round in September.”

No matter what happens the rest of the season, we can count on McConville returning to the racing life and the sport he loves in 2018.

“I've always enjoyed traveling across country solo in a homemade open trailer to race at a new track I've never seen before,” said McConville. “Also, I would like to thank K&N Powersports for the sponsorship they’ve had with me since 2010. The point of contact may have changed over the years, but their awesome service and communication never did.”

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Drew Skillman Wins NHRA Pro Stock Class at Mopar Mile-High Nationals in Bandimere

28 Jul 2017

NHRA Pro Stock driver Drew Skillman holding up his trophy at Route 66 Raceway in Chicago, Illinois

Drew Skillman enjoys the spoils of his win during the Route 66 Nationals, two weeks before Bandimere

There was a time when the thought of an NHRA Pro Stock driver winning back-to-back races seemed impossible. Nine different NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series drivers have won races this season in the Pro Stock division. No one has won back-to-back races. Until now.

Drew Skillman won the NHRA Pro Stock event at the 38th annual Mopar Mile-High Nationals at Bandimere Speedway in Colorado, the first of the Western Swing that includes races in Sonoma, California and Seattle, Washington. “Right now we’re the king of the hill,” Skillman said after the races. “We still have Sonoma left, then Seattle. I feel confident going into it.”

Skillman won the Pro Stock event at Route 66 Raceway in Illinois and has five career NHRA wins in the Pro Stock division. When asked if he thought it was impossible to win two races in a row, let alone sweep the Western Swing, Skillman said, “I don’t think it’s impossible at all.” “I definitely think we have the momentum,” he said. “Momentum is huge in this sport. When everyone feels positive, when everyone knows they’re going to kick ass you move forward like you’re going to. We just got to be aggressive right out of the trailer. As long as we do that, we’re here. We can win.”

Robert Hights drove his AAA funny car to a win at the Mopar Mile-High Nationals in Bandimere

Skillman said the big difference in his team is attitude. The team has the equipment and the crew to succeed. They finally pulled it together in recent weeks. “Attitude in the camp,” Skillman said. “When you get up and your start doing well, it helps everybody around you. We’ve always had the same talent, had the same pieces, we’ve had the same horsepower. We’re finally just utilizing it all in the same way.” Skillman is in seventh place in the NHRA Pro Stock standings. Bo Butner, who Skillman beat in the final round at Bandimere, leads the Pro Stock standings.

Robert Hight had to battle illness on his way to winning his first event of the year. Hight won the NHRA Funny Car event, ending a 34-race race winless streak and giving him at least one win in his 13 seasons in the NHRA Drag Racing Series. “I don’t know if I ate something bad this morning or last night,” Hight said after the races. “I’ve been sick all day. Couldn’t keep anything down. This isn’t the place you want to have that happen up here on the mountain.”

Pro Stock Motorcycle rider Eddie Krawiec too home a Wally for his effort at Bandimere Speedway

On top of feeling sick, Hight’s car had some hiccups. He said luck played a big role in winning at Bandimere. “In the second round and semis, kept dropping cylinders,” Hight said. “We’re lucky to get those wins. It really makes me proud to see our other teams coming in and helping (crew chief) Jimmy (Prock) all working together to get this car in the winner's circle.”

Hight, who won his last event in 2016 at Gainesville, beat Tommy Johnson Jr. in the final at Bandimere. It was the 38th NHRA event win of his career. “You try to block that out, you try to put it behind you and not even think about it,” Hight said, when asked about ending his winless streak. “The TV, the media, they continuously remind you of it, It starts wearing on you a little bit. And you see the other guys winning. What’s really frustrating is our performance is there. We run really good. We qualify well, We just haven’t raced well on Sunday. And haven’t had any luck. Today we got some luck. We needed it.”

Eddie Krawiec won the NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle event. It was his second win of the season and the 38th of his career. “This is my favorite track,” Krawiec said. “I love coming to Bandimere. The reason why is there is something special about Denver. I don’t know what it is, it’s the scenery, everything, it’s just such a cool place to come.” Krawiec is second in the NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle standings. LE Tonglet leads the Pro Stock Motorcycle standings. He was eliminated in the quarterfinals at Bandimere.

Along with Skillman, Krawiek, Hights, and Brown all took home a coveted Wally from Bandimere

Antron Brown won the Top Fuel class. It was his third career NHRA Top Fuel win at Bandimere. He won the race at Bandimere in 2009, the same year he completed the Western Swing sweep. It was also his third win of the season. He won the events at Las Vegas and Topeka, Kansas. But his win at Bandimere was far from easy. His crew continually made repairs on his car throughout the weekend and during the elimination rounds. “We were patching up every round,” Brown said. “Something was going wrong every time. Changed two different blocks. Didn’t really tear them up. The guys did incredible all day. Had the canopy off, had the whole body off. Fixing this, doing that, doing that.” Brown passed Leah Pritchett for second place in the NHRA Top Fuel standings. He beat Pritchett in the final round at Bandimere. Steve Torrance leads the Top Fuel standings.

The next NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series event is the Toyota Sonoma Nationals at Sonoma Raceway in California.

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Matt Coffman Rises to Top-10 Standings in Formula D Through Persistence

28 Jul 2017

Formula Drift driver Matt Coffman in Montreal, Canada Photo by 9NINE2

Matt Coffman greets the crowd as his name is announced during Opening Ceremonies in Montreal

The Matt Coffman Racing Nissan S13 is one of the oldest chassis on the Formula Drift grid. Coffman, a tall lanky figure with flowing blonde hair, wears a smile as his name is called in front of the Formula Drift Montreal crowd for Top 16 driver introductions. Hearing his name called in front of the capacity crowd in Montreal for the fourth time this season and the eighth time this year was an amazing feeling. Coffman knew that his hard work and dedication over the past five years of drifting is finally culminating in consistent results and the current Top 10 standings in the championship. For a kid growing up in a small town in Oregon, being competitive with the world’s best on a stage like this is something he could have never imagined.

Formula Drift driver Matt Coffman drifting his Nissan S13 in Montreal, Canada Photo by 9NINE2

Matt Coffman qualified 15th at Formula Drift Montreal, and currently sits in 9th overall

Coffman purchased a Nissan S13 back in 2011 and started drifting it at a regional drifting series in Southern Oregon soon after. The following year, Coffman began competing in the Thunderdrift ProAm series based out of Northern California where he honed his tandem skills. In 2013, Coffman competed all over the West Coast, competing in series in Washington, Northern California, and Southern California. Coffman earned his Formula Drift Pro license via his placing in the Golden Gate Drift series, but also found success in select events in both the Evergreen Drift and Top Drift series as well. Coffman’s 2013 ProAm car was a Nissan S13 with an LS7 engine, but a brand new chassis was sourced and built prior to his 2014 Formula Drift Pro debut.

The Coffman Racing Nissan S13 that was debuted back in 2014 is still the same chassis he uses today. Coffman struggled in his rookie season, failing to qualify in his first two events and never making it out of the Top 32 round in four appearances. In 2015, Coffman earned a pair of Top 16 appearances, but also failed to qualify at two events and finished in 30th position out of nearly 40 drivers. Never discouraged, Coffman and his team continued to focus on keeping the car reliable and driving the car as frequently as possible feeling that the results would come with enough seat time.

FD driver Matt Coffman competing against Kristaps Bluss in Montreal, Canada Photo by 9NINE2

Matt Coffman put down a strong lead run against Kristaps Bluss at Formula Drift Montreal

The Montreal round of Formula Drift in 2016 was a major turning point for Coffman and his team as he earned a Top 8 appearance, his first time earning a pair of tandem wins in the same weekend. Just a few weeks later, Coffman earned a top 4 appearance at Evergreen Speedway, which served as validation that Coffman truly could compete with the top drivers in the series. Coffman finished the season 16th in points, and the team carried the strong momentum into the 2017 season.

Matt Coffman narrowly lost to Kristaps Bluss in the Top 16 round at Formula Drift Montreal

In the first four events of 2017, Coffman already had matched the total number of tandem wins in all of 2016. Entering the same Montreal track that served as a breakout event for him last season, Coffman was excited to recreate the success and results. Coffman would qualify 15th and have to face his teammate Alec Hohnadell in the first round of tandem, a less-than-ideal situation for both drivers. When a broken part would require Hohnadell to call his competition timeout, members from both Hohnadell’s team and Coffman’s team would converge in an attempt to fix the car. Hohnadell was unable to repair the damage in time, which would give Coffman the win, but the camaraderie and teamwork from the Coffman Racing team showed that results weren’t the only focus on the weekend.

Formula Drift driver Matt Coffman smiling for the camera in Montreal, Canada Photo by 9NINE2

Despite not always earning the results he wants, Matt Coffman can always be spotted with a smile

While Coffman would fall to Kristaps Bluss in the Round of 16, the team is still very satisfied knowing that they currently sit in 9th place in the championship standings. The Coffman Racing Nissan S13 has performed nearly flawlessly all season long and is a testament that the old adage of “keeping it simple” can prove to be beneficial over the long haul of a full season of racing. Coffman still approaches every weekend of racing as a new chance to prove himself, but still can be spotted with a smile on his face anytime he has his helmet removed.

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K&N-Sponsored Bradley Morris Wins His First Pro 2 Race at Utah Motorsports Campus

27 Jul 2017

K&N Filters Pro 4 driven by Bradley Morris going through the rhythm section

In Bradley Morris’s rookie season in Pro 2, he was able to show everyone he was there to be out front by winning his first Pro 2 race. In addition to winning his first race, he also put on a show for the fans at the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series Utah race. Bradley did almost everything that a fan comes to an off-road race to see all in one weekend, which included some great racing, some door-to-door banging, a few crashes, and tearing apart the truck. Of course, all of this action made a lot of work for the team when the truck was off of the track.

Bradley Morris Flying over 150 ft in his Pro 4 over the table top in Utah

It started during practice in the Pro 4, where Bradley was trying out some different lines during the final session where he was trying an inside line. When he entered the corner sliding sideways, he found himself just an inch or two too far in and clipped the end of the K rail with the inside tire while it was turned inwards, spinning Bradley up the turn to a sudden stop. This ended up tearing apart the front left suspension and pivot mounts. The team was able to get it all fixed for the next day’s race with a long night and morning. Bradley would start in the rear for the race because of missing qualifying with the team making sure everything was correct for tech. With the start of the race Bradley would start to battle and try to move forward, but about half way through the race another racer would over rotate and stop sideways in front of Bradley. Bradley had no choice other than going to the inside, between the truck and the wall, to avoid hitting him in the door. Unfortunately, there was not enough room and in the collision, it ended up tearing apart the passenger side front suspension. This was the opposite side from what the team had just repaired the day before.

Putting some space between Bradley Morris K&N Pro 2 and second place

The team was able to get the second side fixed for the next day for Bradley. The Kicker Audio, Fallen Patriots Pro 4 battled through the trucks and stayed out of major trouble. But can’t say that about some of the other trucks. Half-way through the race a few trucks got together in front of Bradley, where one truck ended up on top of another with several trucks in a row smashed together behind it. Bradley was one of the trucks slammed together, and not having any damage he was able to continue. Bradley would battle in the top five for the remainder of the race and would end up finishing the race in fourth place.

Sliding the K&N Filters Pro 2 into the lead coming out of turn two

In the K&N Filters Pro 2 Bradley had qualified fifth, but with an inversion of six he would start the race on the front row. With such a great starting position, the team was hoping for big things. At the start of the race Bradley would find himself in second at the end of the first lap. Bradley got a little loose in the whoops, and upon entering the last corner he tried to save it but over rotated and stopped sideways in the turn where the driver behind him was able to get most of the way stopped only hitting him lightly to lift up the tires. Then the rest of the drivers smashed into that truck behind Bradley to lift Bradley just enough to make him roll over onto the roof. The safety crew would get Bradley back on all four Maxxis Tires and was ready to start going. Now starting in the back of the group, Bradley was ready to start moving his fast truck towards the front. Bradley would work his way back up to battle for fifth place around mid-race. He would battle two and three wide all around the track when after battling almost an entire lap three wide, Bradley would be on the inside of the turn. While trying to stay out of the truck next to him, Bradley caught the K rail and drove up it while turning and it sent the truck into a full barrel roll. The crowd erupted in cheers when Bradley would land on all four and not hesitate to push the gas pedal to the floor just to catch up to the trucks to continue his battle. At the end of the race, Bradley would finish with a top five finish in fifth place even with two roll overs.

Bradley Morris taking the checkered flag in his K&N Filters Pro 2 for the win

With another great inversion for Pro 2, Bradley was starting on the front row for Sunday’s race. The green flag waived and Bradley battled Rodrigo Ampudia door to door down the front stretch and through turn one. Coming out of turn two Bradley got in front of him and over the big jump. Bradley would start to stretch out his lead to over 6 truck lengths, but with a caution, that lead was gone. With the restart, Bradley would battle with Brian Deegan and Brian was trying everything to get past Bradley. Bradley was driving a great race and Brian couldn’t stay up with him for long and Bradley would stretch out his lead once again. Another caution came out which everyone else was happy about, but it didn’t really help them out. Bradley had great restarts throughout the race, and with several cautions, this was very important. Bradley would stretch out a gap between him and rest of the trucks after every caution, all the way to the checkered flag for his first Pro 2 win. Bradley said, “This is something I have dreamed of since I was a little kid, my team and I have worked very hard for this. Being able to win against the top drivers in my rookie year is the best feeling while having to work for the win with all the cautions with the previous champions right behind me. I can’t thank the people who have been with me through all my injuries and allowed me the opportunity to continue racing, along with my sponsors K&N Filters, Maxxis Tires, and Kicker Audio who have been with me and given me the best truck possible.”

K&N Filters-sponsored Bradley Morris standing on top of the podium for his first win in Pro 2

This season has been a great start to working out the kinks and bugs of a new Pro 2. The season has begun to turn around with the last three races finishing top five and with a third place podium finish in Mexico, and a fifth and the win in Utah. With these finishes Bradley is now leading the Rookie of the Year points for the Pro 2 class and fifth overall. Watch for Bradley to find his groove and stay upfront to battle with the other top drivers and to keep moving up the points standings. The team is heading to Wheatland, Missouri to the Lucas Oil Speedway which is a new track that has some new elements being introduced to the off-road race courses, which includes an over-under jump that is sure to be a crowd pleaser. Stay tuned to watch how things progress throughout the season and what other amazing things Bradley will bring to the track.

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Drew Skillman Wins NHRA Pro Stock at Fallen Patriots NHRA Route 66 Nationals

27 Jul 2017

Dew Skillman at Route 66 Raceway after winning the Fallen Patriots NHRA Route 66 Nationals

Drew Skillman won Pro Stock at the Fallen Patriots NHRA Route 66 Nationals presented by K&N

NHRA Pro Stock driver Drew Skillman joined the club. He is the ninth NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series driver to win a Pro Stock event. He won the Pro Stock portion of the races at the 20th annual Fallen Patriots NHRA Route 66 Nationals presented by K&N Filters at Route 66 Raceway. “We’ve struggled all year,” Skillman said. “Had a lot better car than I’ve been driving. Finally put everything together and just got my head right.”

Steve Torrence won in Top Fuel, Ron Capps won in Funny Car, and LE Tonglet won in Pro Stock Motorcycle at the Fallen Patriots NHRA Route 66 Nationals presented by K&N Filters. Skillman became the ninth different driver in Pro Stock to win in 13 events this season. Skillman won his first event of the season, defeating two-time Pro Stock champion Erica Enders in the final. It was Skillman’s fourth career NHRA victory. “Pro Stock’s so close right now,” Skillman said after the races. “That’s how it used to be. That’s how it should be. We’re all in the group now. Some cars just pick up for no reason. We’ve been pretty steady. We finally got what we deserved.”

Drew Skillman doing a burnout before a race at the Fallen Patriots NHRA Route 66 Nationals

Drew Skillman defeated Erica Enders to come away with the win at the Route 66 Nationals

Skillman qualified third and defeated Shane Tucker, Tanner Gray, and Bo Butner, the leader in the Pro Stock standings, on his way to the final. Enders reached the final for the third time this season, beating Chris McGaha, Greg Anderson, and Jason Line in the elimination rounds.

Skillman is in eighth place in the Pro Stock standings after winning at Route 66 Raceway. Enders is sixth after her runner-up performance.

It was an emotional weekend at Route 66 Raceway because of the passing of Terry Chandler. She was a longtime supporter of NHRA drag racing and funded a two-car Funny Car team. One of the cars, which carries the Make-A-Wish Foundation driven by Tommy Johnson Jr., reached the final in Funny Car at Route 66 Raceway.

Ron Capps Victory Race

Ron Capps beat Johnson in the final. Capps said afterward he was in a no-lose situation. He would have been happy for Chandler and her team if Johnson won the final race. “You already knew she was loved,” Capps said. “But people that had never met her before wanted to give their respects. Then to be lined up with one of her cars, it was a strange race. I never did see TJ. We knew it was going to be a good race.” Capps won his sixth NHRA Funny Car event of the year, a career high. He reached the final for the third time in the past four races, winning two of those events. But Route 66 Raceway had its challenges. Capps had to battle windy conditions and a poor qualifying effort to win races at Route 66 Raceway.

“This weekend was just a bizarre weekend for us,” Capps said. “We didn’t qualify in the top half. And that was because we couldn’t keep the car in a groove Friday night and then the second run on Saturday. We saw a lot of people having problems, dragsters as well. It’s not an easy track to drive. It demands a lot out of you. There’s a lot of crosswind. A side wind will blow you over 10 or 15 feet.”

Capps has a 200-point lead over Matt Hagan in second, and Jack Beckman is third in the Funny Car standings.

LE Tonglet Pro Stock Motorcycle

Torrence won his fifth NHRA Top Fuel event of the season. He beat his nemesis and top rival Antron Brown in the final. The rivalry favors Brown over their careers, but Torrence has been finishing on top lately. There was a time Torrence said he had a “mental block” when facing Brown on the drag strip. “I sent him a photo of a voodoo doll and asked him if he had one with my face on it,” Torrence joked after the races. Torrence won his 13th career NHRA Top Fuel event and his third in the past four events. But Torrence sang Brown’s praises after the race at Route 66 Raceway. “That guy’s the best,” Torrence said. “I put him at the pinnacle of our sport. He’s got the all-around package. If I was going to say I am trying to emulate anybody, it would be Antron Brown. The guy’s always on his game.” Torrence leads the Top Fuel standings by 101 points over Leah Pritchett, who reached the quarterfinals at Route 66 Raceway. Brown is in third place, 103 points behind Torrence.

The Winners Circle LE Tonglet, Drew Skillman, Ron Capps, Steve Torrence

Tonglet won for the fourth time in six NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle events. He defeated Hector Arana Jr. in the final round. Tonglet has reached the finals four times and is undefeated he does. “We knew we would be good, just not this early in the year,” Tonglet said. “We had three test sessions before Gainesville. That’s really where it all paid off.”

Tonglet leads the Pro Stock Motorcycle standings. Eddie Krawiec, who reached the semifinals, is second in the Pro Stock Motorcycle standings, followed by Arana in third. “It’s a lot more serious,” Tonglet said. “Qualifying you have one goal and that’s to make a perfect run, be low ET. On Sunday, the one goal is just to get win lights. It’s a different mindset and you got to stay calm and stay focused on what’s going on.”

The next NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series event is at Bandimere Speedway in Colorado.

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