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Bryan Fuller’s First Competition Frame Project Inspires Limited Run Street Tracker

The Fuller Moto Street Tracker side view

Fuller Moto's Street Tracker has the stance and performance of a full flat tracker (Photo Nick Rico)

It didn’t take long for Bryan Fuller to get fired up about the opportunity to work on a true competition flat track race bike. The master builder, designer, author, TV personality, and friend of K&N is always up for a new challenge.

“Instantly this project got me excited,” Fuller said. “This was going to be our first real race chassis! A lot of the same techniques and skills used for our small production runs of frames that we have created over the years came into play. We were getting our chance to break into racing and it was up to us now to build it to the level that these bikes could withstand 130 mph around a track and go for the win.”

The project got its start when David Lloyd, crew chief and co-owner of Lloyd Brothers Motorsports, came to Fuller with the idea of teaming up on the build. Lloyd knew what design elements and tweaks he wanted in the bike and he knew that Fuller Moto had the design and fabrication experience to bring the race bike to fruition. The racing knowledge-base that Lloyd possessed and the bike building expertise of Fuller came together in a kind of high-octane perfect storm.

World Champion Racer Johnny Lewis riding the Fuller Moto Street Tracker

World Champion Racer Johnny Lewis walked away from the Street Tracker impressed (Photo Nick Rico)

“Working alongside Lloyd Brothers, we knew what wasn’t working,” Fuller said. “We also had a strong idea of the bike characteristics that if manipulated, could be a game changer for the team. In addition, Fuller Moto brought some new idea improvements to the equation, like building the breather into the frame, which is an old custom technique.”

After the two companies had their meeting of the minds, the initial groundwork stage took some time.

“The full development process took about six weeks,” said Fuller. “The beginning set-up took the longest because we made a new JIG filtering system and new neck fixture.”

Fuller knew that Lloyd Brothers Motorsports would be ordering multiple frames, so the fabrication setup would have to be up to the task of duplicating the process in a streamlined and very accurate way. That fact proved inspirational for Fuller.

The Fuller Moto Street Tracker engine view with K&N filter

That's a K&N filter providing performance and protection for the Street Tracker (Photo Nick Rico)

“The idea occurred to me,” said Fuller, “why not also create a Limited Edition Pro Street Tracker Series at the same time?”

Fuller’s revelation brought another exciting facet to his already intriguing project. When the competition frames were complete and proving to be very successful for Lloyd Brothers in the American Flat Track (AFT) series, Fuller turned his full attention to the Street Tracker.

“As Lloyd Brothers Racing Team began winning more places in the AFT Series with their updated bikes, we got to work building the first Limited Edition Series Pro Street Tracker,” said Fuller.

The mission was clear. “It was very important to me that this bike perform beautifully both on the track and on the street,” Fuller said.

Fuller decided to make subtle but important tweaks to the race frame geometry in its metamorphosis to a street-worthy machine. The real-world ergonomics of the Street Tracker were enhanced with a +3-degree rake, a 1-inch stretch, and swing-arm modifications to slightly lengthen the wheelbase. The ergonomic modifications did not hamper the cutting edge handling of the Street Tracker; they simply made the bike more suitable for street duty.

Not only did Fuller want the bike to perform like the race version, he also wanted to retain the race-inspired look. He incorporated the same fiberglass as used on the race bike bodywork, but he trimmed it down a bit for a more tailored appearance.

The Fuller Moto Street Tracker front view

Think of the Street Tracker as a competition bike with lights (Photo Nick Rico)

“Aesthetically I wanted to keep it classic Ducati, emulating the beautiful Italian Ducati paint schemes of the past and future,” said Fuller.

To test how well the Street Tracker would perform in the dirt, Fuller turned to World Champion Racer Johnny Lewis. Lewis has raced for Lloyd Brothers in the past and now runs a flat track training school.

“Riding the Ducati Street Tracker, which matched the geometry of the Lloyd Brothers Motorsports Ducati I have raced in the past, was unique being that it felt like I was literally on my race bike with head light and electric start,” reported Lewis. “I didn’t expect to be backing a street bike into a corner on a 1/4 mile oval dirt track by the second lap. The fit and feel of the bike is spot on for a street performance motorcycle, providing a handling experience capable of taking off the head lights and going racing at a top level.”

Clearly Fuller’s Street Tracker is as close to a competition flat track racer as you will find in a street legal platform. “It is about the only street tracker you can buy that has direct lineage from a race bike,” said Fuller. “It is the real deal.”

Of course, Fuller’s first-of-the-series #1 Street Tracker breathes clean and easy trough a K&N pod air filter. For all of your filtration needs check out K&N’s easy-to-navigate online search tool.

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Sturgis 2017: We Take a Look Back and Forward as the Iconic Motorcycle Rally Turns 77

Downtown Sturgis crowd in South Dakota at the Sturgis motorcycle rally

Downtown Sturgis becomes a rolling bike show during the rally

For motorcyclists around the world, the legendary Sturgis Motorcycle Rally is a bucket list event. For many it becomes a memorable one-time foray into moto-excess. For loads of others, it becomes an annual pilgrimage around which yearly schedules are built and vacation time is happily spent.

Over the rally's 77 years, the magnetic draw of rumbling engines, diminished inhibitions, and moto-centric fun has attracted millions of bikers to the land of huge stone president’s faces and enticingly winding roads. Let’s take a look at the legacy and continued growth of the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.

The Beginning

The year was 1938 and Clarence "Pappy" Hoel, owner of a Sturgis Indian motorcycle shop and his fellow members of the Jackpine Gypsies Motorcycle Club had an idea. Why not stage a motorcycle event in the area? The Black Hills Motor Classic, as it was labeled at the time, was born. The rest, as they say, is motorcycling history.

The Jackpine Gypsies continued the steadily growing tradition until the event took a two–year hiatus during World War II. In 1944, the Classic reconvened and in 1949 the Main Street in Sturgis was briefly closed to car traffic for the first time to accommodate rally festivities. The Main Street closure, except to motorcycle traffic, is a tradition that continues to this day.

The Michael Lichter Motorcycles as Art Exhibit at the Buffalo Chip in Sturgis, South Dakota

K&N is proud to sponsor the Michael Lichter presents Motorcycles as Art Exhibit at the Buffalo Chip

The Growth Years

In 1965, the Black Hills Motor Classic expanded from a three-day event to a five-day rally. In the mid-1970s, vendors took notice of the burgeoning crowds and began setting up shop at the rally. The popularity of the event prompted a further opening of the party window. The rally grew to a 7-day event in 1975.

In 1991, the Black Hills Motor Classic officially became the Sturgis Rally and Races. What started as a gathering of a few hundred rolling souls in the 1930s, expanded to 6-digit attendance by the 1990s.

However, it was with the new millennium that the truly astronomical numbers were realized. The 60th anniversary of the rally in 2000 drew an estimated attendance of 600,000. The attendance peaked at the 75th anniversary of the rally in 2015, when well over 700,000 showed up.

Planning and Safety

Clearly, when a seemingly unwieldy number of fun-loving moto-tourists converge on a small town like Sturgis (population 7000), there will be logistical challenges. The relationship between the town and the rally population has ebbed and flowed over the years. However, the residents and officials of Sturgis understand what a financial boon that the rally brings year after year. Some estimates reflect that rally-goers spend an average of about $1000 each per visit.

Mt. Rushmore, South Dakota with bikers in the foreground

Great rides in the Black Hills area are a big draw of the Sturgis Rally

When the town began busting at the seams with the number of folks who wanted to camp in places like the town park, family businesses like the now famous Buffalo Chip Campground emerged to relieve the pressure. The Buffalo Chip, which becomes a bustling temporary city during the rally, has developed into a major player in the Sturgis event.

While the town, Meade County, and the state of South Dakota now play a primary official role in the organization and day-to-day operations of the rally, campgrounds like the Chip work hard to ensure a smooth and safe event. Nyla Griffith, the Media and Public Relations Director at the Buffalo Chip, details how important the cooperation of the various organizational entities is to the event’s success.

“The Buffalo Chip staff works closely with Meade County and the state of South Dakota emergency services to ensure that all guests are safe and happy,” says Griffith. “But we supplement with our own fire department, trucks and equipment, EMTs, and security. Our goal is that these crews are never busy, but they are here waiting to serve just in case.”

Super Hooligan racing will be featured at the Buffalo Chip in Sturgis, South Dakota

The K&N-sponsored Super Hooligan racing will be a highlight of the Sturgis entertainment

Entertaining the Masses

Keeping hundreds of thousands of restless and adventurous individuals entertained is a primary goal of the town, various Sturgis Rally organizations, the local bars like the Full Throttle Saloon, and venues like the Buffalo Chip.

In addition to the beautiful riding in the Black Hills, scheduled specialty rides, burn-out competitions, and the requisite wet t-shirt contests, racing takes center stage at Sturgis. The racing legacy goes back to the very first rally when 9 riders competed in a race in town. Competition has included hill climbs, drag racing, and circuit track racing in many forms.

This year, both American Flat Track (AFT) and Super Hooligan racing will be staged at the Buffalo Chip. K&N sponsors several top AFT racers, and is a primary sponsor for the Super Hooligan racing series.

The Buffalo Chip Campground Sturgis Rally aerial view

The Buffalo Chip Campground becomes the entertainment center of the Sturgis Rally

Music has long been a major part of the Sturgis experience. The first big-name act was Johnny Paycheck in 1982. Since then, performers like Alice Cooper, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Kid Rock, and ZZ Top have been booked, often repeatedly, throughout the years. Scheduling racing and finding the next big acts begins the moment the dust settles from a Sturgis Rally.

“It is an ongoing process,” Griffith told K&N. “People see how the Buffalo Chip has grown over the years, becoming the center of the rally. Our friends and industry partners want to bring their races, bike shows, and events to the Chip, and we are happy to accommodate them. Our guests love the races and events as much as they love the concerts.”

Speaking of concerts, Sturgis becomes a massive music festival during the rally. “We search all year long for the right bands, those who are on tour and have an opening on their calendar, but mostly we search for the bands that our guests are asking to see,” said Griffith. “Sometimes we get lucky and we get to present entertainment like Ozzy Osbourne, Aerosmith, Kid Rock, or Toby Keith.”

This year, the Buffalo Chip will also feature the Michael Lichter presents Motorcycles as Art Exhibit. K&N is proud to be a major sponsor of the show that is titled “Old Iron – Young Blood.” The exhibit will display the work of the next generation of innovative bike builders.

The K&N truck at Black Hills Harley-Davidson in Rapid City, South Dakota

Visit the K&N truck at Black Hills Harley-Davidson in Rapid City, South Dakota

The Ongoing Draw

There are certainly many ingredients that have made Sturgis the iconic annual gathering that it has become. History, location, and great planning are all factors. However, Griffith says the shared biker experience is the key to the continued growth of Sturgis.

“It has certainly come a long way,” Griffith said. “There is a real love of the industry, a passion for motorcycles, the open road, and the music that goes with (the rally), but mostly for the camaraderie so prevalent at gatherings like the Buffalo Chip’s festival.”

If you are planning to make the pilgrimage to Sturgis in 2017, stop by the K&N truck and trailer which will be on display at Black Hills Harley-Davidson in Rapid City, South Dakota. We will have the new AirCharger and Shaker intakes on display and for sale at the booth.

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2013-2015 Cadillac ATS & 2014-2015 CTS Sedans Gain 16 HP With A K&N Aircharger Kit

The RC-5138 K&N Filter oiled cotton filter measures 7.5" inches at the base

The large K&N filter element draws increased intake air while protecting the engine from damage

Certain Cadillac ATS and CTS are powered by the GM 3.6L High Feature V6 engine, which incorporates new technologies over its development for uncompromising efficiency and performance, including direct injection and continuously variable valve timing. While a powerful engine for its size, additional horsepower is readily available with the installation of a K&N 63-3084 AirCharger intake system.

The version of the engine in these Cadillacs, known internally as the LFX, is a 60° 24-valve design that features an aluminum block and DOHC cylinder heads. Installed in the 2013 – 2015 Cadillac ATS and 2014 – 2015 CTS Sedan the LFX engine produced 321 horsepower at 6800 rpm and 274 lb-ft of torque at 4800 rpm. Other features include piston oil-jets, a forged and fillet rolled crankshaft, sinter forged connecting rods, a variable intake manifold, twin knock control sensors, and coil-on-plug ignition.

So if you’re looking to increase the output of your 2013 – 2015 Cadillac ATS or 2014 – 2015 CTS, K&N has the solution: an AirCharger performance intake kit. In chassis dyno testing, a 2014 Cadillac CTS recorded a gain of 16.27 rear-wheel horsepower with no change other than the installation of a K&N 63-3084 AirCharger air intake system.

The heat shield and filter are designed to be located in the original air box space

The heat shield isolates the filter from underhood heat, allowing only cold air to flow to the motor

The K&N AirCharger air intake system replaces the restrictive factory air filter and air intake housing on select 2013 – 2015 ATS and CTS models. The air intake first enters a large 7.5-inch chrome topped K&N RC-5138 high-flow air filter sited within a heat shield that installs into the original air box space. Much of the performance increase can be attributed to the oversized conical air filter manufactured from multiple layers of oiled cotton filter media which offers less resistance than traditional filters but provides outstanding engine protection.

Engine protection is provided by a multi-layered cotton material that filters out microparticles that could potentially damage your engine in order to ensure a long engine life. Each design is verified through K&N’s in-house filtration testing lab, which adheres to strict ISO 5011 standards, ensuring that K&N filters provide high airflow without putting engine protection at risk.

The intake tube of a K&N AirCharger significantly reduces restriction to incoming air flow as well as calms turbulence. Air passes through an aerodynamically-verified intake tube into the engine’s throttle body for a guaranteed power gain. The intake tube accommodates the factory mass air sensor and crank case vent hose while the heat shield adapts the secondary air hose (where equipped) to a secondary air filter as well.

Complete detailed installation instructions with photographs are included in the shipping carton

Everything needed to install your new K&N 63-3084 is included in the box

Best of all, the K&N AirCharger intake system can be installed in 90 minutes or less with simple hand tools. All tools required are listed in the clear, step-by-step photo-illustrated instructions specific to your car that come included in the package.

And once you’ve installed your K&N filter you’ve eliminated the need to buy another air filter for the life of your covered Cadillac. The only maintenance is a service you can do yourself in no time at all. At intervals of around 100,000 miles (depending upon your driving conditions) use the K&N 99-5000 Recharger Kit to easily clean your AirCharger air filter, preparing it for another 100,000 miles of driving. The K&N air filter you purchase is warranted with the famous K&N 10-Year/Million Mile Limited Warranty.

The K&N 63-3084 is designed to fit the following vehicles:

2015 CADILLAC CTS 3.6L V6 Fuel Injection - All Models
2015 CADILLAC ATS 3.6L V6 Fuel Injection - All Models
2014 CADILLAC CTS 3.6L V6 Fuel Injection - Exc. Coupe & Wagon
2014 CADILLAC ATS 3.6L V6 Fuel Injection - All Models
2013 CADILLAC ATS 3.6L V6 Fuel Injection - All Models

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Bo Butner Wins the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals in Ohio

Bo Butner in his Chevy Camaro Pro Stock car at the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals

Bo Butner in his Chevy Camaro wins the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals

Bo Butner won the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Pro Stock event on Sunday, at the 11th annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals at Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park in Ohio. Winning with a 6.601 second pass at 210.50 mph, Butner, in his Jim Butner’s Auto Chevy Camaro, beat Greg Anderson who drove with a 6.581-second pass at 210.87 mph in his Summit Racing Equipment Chevrolet Camaro. With this victory, Butner has three victories on the year. This was his first win since Atlanta.

“Today was a great day, we made four pretty consistent runs and my car was good when it needed to be,” Butner said. “It’s one thing to have a good car, but we also had a lot of things go our way to get those win lights today.”

Butner raced with the second-best qualifying time and beat Val Smeland, Vincent Nobile and John Gaydosh for his fifth final round appearance of 2017. This helped Butner add to his lead in the Pro Stock standings, as well as becoming the first three-time race winner in the Pro Stock category this season.

Steve Torrence won in Top Fuel, Jack Beckman won in Funny Car and LE Tonglet won in Pro Stock Motorcycle. This was Torrance’s career best victory of the season with a 3.743-second pass at 331.45 mph in his Capco Contractors dragster beating Doug Kalitta in his Mac Tools dragster with a 3.736-second pass at 331.36 mph. For the first time since Englishtown, Torrence was the winner and he reached his sixth final round of the season. It was sixth final round appearance in the past eight events.

Jack Beckman, L.E. Tonglet, Steve Torrence, and Bo Butner in winners circle in Norwalk, Ohio

NHRA Mello Yello Winners Circle at the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals in Ohio

“I knew I left good on the tree but I could tell it would just be a coin toss who got it and fortunately I was able to come out ahead,” Torrence said. “It’s been a great season so far and we are hoping to keep this momentum going. We just need to keep our head down and work hard so that we can reach our goals as a team.”

By qualifying third Torrence conquered Troy Coughlin Jr., Clay Millican and Brittany Force. Kalitta defeated Troy Buff, Tony Schumacher and Leah Pritchett which led him to his second final round appearance of the season. Earning his 26th career victory and second of the season, Beckman with a 4.073-second pass at 311.85 mph in his Infinite Hero Foundation Dodge Charger R/T beat Robert Hight with a pass of 6.673 seconds at 98.53 mph in his Auto Club of Southern California Chevrolet Camaro SS. Since Englishtown this was Beckman’s first win making this his third final round appearance this season.

“We were consistently a bit off this weekend, but we are definitely happy to earn the victory this weekend,” Beckman said. “Now that we are getting down the track consistently, it keeps our opponents honest and that is definitely a formula we will continue to use for the rest of the season.”

Tonglet was victorious in Pro Stock Motorcycle with a 6.824-second pass at 195.76 mph in his Nitro Fish Racing Suzuki beating Matt Smith’s pass of 6.882 seconds at 195.31 mph in his Victory Polaris Magnum. This win was Tonglet’s 13th career victory and third win this season.

Pro Stock Motorcycle driver L.E. Tonglet at the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals

The Pro Stock Motorcycle Winner L.E. Tonglet wins the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals

“I didn’t see any win lights throughout qualifying, but seeing them on Sunday is what matters and we are happy with the results,” Tonglet said. “This is huge for us and our position in the points standings, so getting as many wins as possible is definitely our goal.”

Tonglet has made the finals in five rounds this season and he won three of those appearances. He has defeated Melissa Surber, Steve Johnson and Hector Arana Jr. before the final round. Tonglet was able to secure first in the Pro Stock Motorcycle points standings and Eddie Krawiec has dropped to second place because of his loss in the first round.

The 2017 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season continues with the Fallen Patriots NHRA Route 66 Nationals presented by K&N Filters at Route 66 Raceway.

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Brian Brown Racing Off To Quick Start in 2017 360 and 410 Winged Sprint Car Season

Brown races a 410 winged sprint no. 21.

Brian Brown competes in a 410 winged sprint no. 21

Getting off to a successful start is essential for an individual or team that competes in a professional sport. Brian Brown, owner of and the only driver for Brian Brown Racing, has done just that. In the first 40 races of a more than 80 race season this year Brown has achieved five wins, eight podium finishes, 13 top 5s, and 13 top 10s. Since starting his career racing 360 and 410 winged sprint cars in 1999, he has collected 158 career victories. He has a total of 35 Knoxville feature wins in the 410-winged spring class and 15 wins in the 360 class.

Brown, who is 37-years old, married and resides in Grain Valley, Missouri, became interested in racing sprint cars because his uncle raced them.

“It is something I have always enjoyed being around,” he said.

He started Brian Brown Racing in 2008.

“I split up with my previous team. You could say that on Sunday I wasn’t a car owner, but on Monday I was,” he said.

Prior to creating the team, he had raced for a number of other team owners including Danny Lasoski in 1999 through 2002, Lonny Parsons in 2003, and Tim and Gina Doogs from 2004 through 2007.

In his rookie year racing a 410-sprint car in 1999, he won one feature race at Mayetta, Kansas and was Rookie of the Year at Sedalia, Missouri.

In 2000, he was the Winged Outlaw Warrior Point Champion, Rookie of the Year with the Winged Outlaw Warriors, won 11 feature races, was 4th at the ASCS 360 Nationals, and winner at the Missouri State Fair.

In 2001, he collected five victories.

In 2002, he was the Knoxville 360 Points Champion, Knoxville 360 Rookie of the Year, collected six wins at Knoxville five times in a row, and amassed four more victories. He also finished first in the 360-point standings.

In 2003, he won his first 410 race at Knoxville Raceway, finished 4th in the World of Outlaws in Albuquerque, New Mexico, set two track records with the IRA Association, finished 6th in points in the Knoxville, Iowa 410 Division, and was 410 Rookie of the Year. He also finished 7th in the 410 point standings.

In 2004, he collected eight feature wins.

In 2005, he won 11 races, achieved 31 Top 5 finishes, 41 top 10 finishes and won the Lawrence Ideaus Memorial Race and the Missouri State Fair. He finished 2nd in the 410 point standings.

In 2006, he garnered 14 wins, 38 top 5 finishes, 44 top 10s, second in Knoxville 410 points, won the Lake Ozark Nationals, won six different associations, finished 2nd in the Factory Value Parts World Challenge, won the Missouri State Fair, won the Bob Ramey Sr. Memorial Race, and finished 2nd in the ASCS 360 Nationals. He also finished 2nd in the 410 point standings.

In 2007, he was the Knoxville 410 Point Champion, Hard Charger of the SuperClean Knoxville Nationals, won 15 feature races, was the Missouri State Champion, won the Gary Scott Memorial, and won the Michael Ross memorial Foundation Race. In addition, he finished first in the 410-point standings.

In 2008, he won nine races, achieved 33 top 5 finishes, 45 top 10 finishes, won the Cowtown Nationals, won night 3 of the SuperClean Knoxville Nationals, and finished 2nd in the Knoxville 360 Nationals. He also finished 4th in the 410 point standings.

In 2009, he won seven races including the Missouri State Fair, finished 2nd in the Knoxville Championship Cup Points competition, and was named car owner of the year at Knoxville Raceway, Moreover, he finished 2nd in the 410 point standings.

In 2010, he won 13 races, was the pole sitter at the 50th Annual Knoxville Nationals, point champion in the Knoxville 410, and was winner of the Jackson Nationals and Gulf Coast Nationals. He also finished first in the 410-point standings.

In 2011, he collected 12 victories.

In 2012, he won 10 events, achieved 37 top 3 finishes, 48 top 5 finishes and 59 top 10 finishes. He also finished 2nd at the 52nd Annual Knoxville Nationals, and won the Jackson Spring Nationals, the Devil’s Bowl Summer Nationals and the Mary Lee Standridge Memorial.

In 2013, he won 16 races, achieved 37 top 3 finishes, 43 top 5 finishes, 55 top 10 finishes, and finished 2nd at the 53rd Annual FVP Knoxville Nationals. He also won the Jackson Nationals, the Jackson Spring Nationals, the Devil’s Bowl Nationals, and the Front Row Challenge.

In 2014, he won 14 races, finished 2nd at the 54th Annual FVP Knoxville Nationals, and won his first World of Outlaws Race at the World Finals in Charlotte, North Carolina. He also won the 20th Annual Knoxville 360 Nationals, the Jackson Spring Nationals, the Front Row Challenge, the Prelim Night of the Knoxville Nationals, Prelim Night of the Short Track Nationals, the Nebraska Cup, and was the first driver to win three Knoxville Championship cup races in a row (1996-2014). He finished 4th in the 410 point standings.

In 2015 he finished 5th in the 410 point standings.

In 2016, he finished 2nd in the 410 point standings.

“The most important wins are the nationals and national prelim nights as well as World of Outlaw events,” said Brown.

Racer Brian Brown

Brian Brown, owner and sole driver of Brian Brown Racing

Brown Racing has three full time employees and two part time employees. The crew includes Chad Morgan, Michael Williams, Glen Wignall, and George Lasoski.

“The crew includes a chief, a car chief, a tire guy, and a jack of all trades,” said Brown.

The team’s quick start includes a victory at the Jackson Motorplex in Minnesota, fifth and sixth place finishes at the World of Outlaws at Knoxville Raceway, and a fourth place at the All Stars at 34 Raceway in West Burlington, Iowa. They also recorded a win in an ASCS National Series event at the Randolph County Raceway near Moberly, Missouri.

After the race at the Jackson Motorplex Brown commented, “We’ve had success at Jackson over the years, but it seems the last couple of times, we haven’t had the balance of the car that we feel we need to be maneuverable. Friday night was kind of the same. We kept making changes, but we didn’t think we made any great gains.

“We started beside (Jeffrey) Lynton,” continued Brown. “He got the jump and we ran second. We got lucky when he missed the scales, and we were awarded the win. The redraw went our way because of that, and we ended up starting outside the front row.”

Brown said of the feature race, “Scott (Winters) got a good start and got the lead. Then, we had another lucky break. Kerry (Madsen) had passed us and he went down, hooked a hole and got spun out. I think he was the class of the field all night long. He was going to be tough to beat. We were able to chase Scott down, pass him with seven to go, and go on and win. We don’t feel we had the fastest car all night long, but things fell our way. It was good to get another win up there.”

After the World of Outlaws event at Knoxville Raceway, Brown said, “We were hoping to qualify just a little better than fifth. I didn’t turn the laps that I needed to. It wasn’t where we wanted to be, but we were still in good position.”

He said about the heat race, “we felt we had a good opportunity to win. We did the things that we normally do when the track is like that, but we missed something. We just spun the whole way. We didn’t have the forward drive or grip that I felt we needed to contend. We were third after the first lap, and then we got racing with Shane (Stewart). Donny (Schatz) got by us, and Kerry (Madsen) got by us and we ended up sixth. That’s the way it goes sometimes.”

Concerning the All Stars event at 34 Raceway in West Burlington, Iowa, Brown commented, “Burlington has been feast or famine for us. We were pretty good there Sunday. We were second quick in our group and third overall. The way the All Stars format is, you have to work hard in the heat. We were able to go from third to second and that locked us in the Dash.

Concerning the main event in which Brown started inside row two, he said, “They reworked the track, and we lightened the car up. We thought it would blow off quickly. When they dropped the green, there was grip on the bottom and it never really blew off. So we were tight, and we were lucky to hold onto a fourth place finish there.”

As to the his victory at the ASCS National Series at Randolph County Raceway near Moberly, “It’s always good to get back to Moberly, especially with the ASCS National tour and a very good paying race. We’ve had a lot of success there in a 360. I’m not sure we’ve lost there in a 360 that I can remember.”

Brown started at the pole in the heat. “We were lucky enough to draw a good number for the heat, but we new drawing the pole that we had to win the heat. That set us up for the feature. We were able to sneak in a grab the last spot in the redraw.”

He started in the fourth row of the feature and had a good start, but he was in a nip and tuck contest with Ian Madsen and others, who passed him a few times due to early cautions.

“I’m not sure what was going on with the scoring, but it seemed every time I had a car passed for a lap or more, the yellow would come out, and they’d put me back behind them. It made for a better show though. It really didn’t matter. I felt really good in the car and we could go above the cushion where other drivers couldn’t.

“As long as I kept my head on straight, I thought we’d be fine,” continued Brown. “We were able to get up to fourth and then get Wayne (Johnson) for third. At that point, Sam (Hafertepe) and Aaron (Reutzel) were racing pretty hard for the lead. We were able to get by Sam and then Aaron for the lead. We got to traffic, and he had a good corner and got back by me. A yellow came out, and I thought that may be all she wrote. But we were able to get back by him, and go on to win. It was awesome to get a win that close to home, and on a big stage with the ASCS National tour. They’re very good racecar drivers, and it’s a great series.

It looked like Brown had another chance for a victory at Knoxville Raceway in Iowa. However, his car lost a left rear wheel and flipped in turn one. Fortunately, Brown is okay.

“We had a good start and got up to third pretty quickly,” said Brown about that race. “The yellow came out, and then we were able to get Austin (McCarl) for second. We turned our quickest lap there and made a good run on Matt (Juhl). We went into turn one and two and the left rear fell off. It was just unfortunate, you know. We had an opportunity to win both nights and we lost a good racecar, but on the other hand, it could have been a lot worse for me. I could have been banged up worse than I did.

“If you have to crash, you’d want it to be at Knoxville,” he quipped.

Brian Brown Racing has many sponsors, some of which have been with him for several years. One long time partner has been K&N.

“K&N has been with me since 2003 or 2004,” he said. “They do a great job. We use their carbon fiber air filters, filter oil, and filter cleaner. K&N filters are the best in the world for allowing the engine to breathe air and staying clean.”

Brian Brown Racing’s list of partners also include:

• Casey's General Store

• FVP

• Wormall Civil

• Searsboro Telephone Co.

Brown celebrates big win at The World of Outlaws at Cocopah Speedway.

Brown celebrates win at the World of Outlaws at Cocopah Speedway (Photo: Wheatley Chronicles)

• Impact

• HostIowa.net

• Champion Racing Oil

• MC Power Companies

• Ditzfeld Transfer, Inc.

• Weld Racing

• Next Led

• Smiley's Racing Products

• Garretts Racing Engines

• Housby

• Maxim Racing

• FSR Racing Products

• Ti64 Titanium

• K&N

• PENRAY

• Brown & Miller Racing Solutions

• ButlerBuilt

• Hoosier Racing Tire

• All Pro

• Vortex Racing Products

• Rod End Supply

• KSE Racing Products, Inc.

• Six-B Apparel

• Schoenfeld Headers

• Racing Optics

• Winters Performance Products

• Fuel Safe Racing Cells

• Red Devil Brakes

• Auto Meter

• ISC Racers Tape

• CP Carrillo

• Arctic Cat

• Kaeding Performance

• XYZ Machining, Inc.

• MSD Ignition

• Tru-Square

• Snap-On

• Mothers High Performance Car Care Products

• Bell

• Kinsler Fuel Injection

• Shell Shock

• Dan Olson Racing Products

• Kenny's Components

• Deli Express

• Cometic Gasket

• Wolfe Eye Clinic

• Klein Motors & RV's

• Legacy

• Fortress Wealth Management

• NGK Spark Plugs

• Bigs

• Duke's

“We’ve been very fortunate to have a lot of great partners and a lot of them have been with us for a very long time,” said Brown. “We’ve been very fortunate that there are partners that believe in us.

Brown noted that the race team has assisted many of the partners with R&D.

“We do a lot with a lot of different companies,” he said. “We help make current products better. For example, we have done R&D over the years for Weld Wheels. They are a Kansas City company and we’re from the Kansas City area. We’ve tested a lot of stuff for them.”

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