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The orchestrated frensy that is a pit stop is nothing new to the Murray crew (Photo by Tim Kessel)

Yes, during a race, a misplaced jack that severs a brake line or a lug nut that's left loose can derail a desert racing team’s chance for success. On the other hand, smooth, quick, and effective pit sessions can go a long way to saving vital seconds in close race.

The Murray Race Team Pit Crew with the spoils of victory (Photo by UTVWC)

In the round robin competition, each team engaged in several head-to-head pit races in front of a large and enthusiastic crowd. Each team started the sessions in a staging box. After the announcer called the start command, a crew member hit a starting button, the team attacked the UTV, and the race was on. Two large digital timers told the tale.

K&N is a proud sponsor the the Murray Racing Team (Photo by Tim Kessel)

The winning Murray Racing crew did not have it easy. Several of the races were decided by a matter of seconds. In fact, one head-to-head round was decided by a fraction of a second. The best times of the competition were posted in under a minute.

While the competition was fun and friendly, there was no doubt that each team was fighting for pit supremacy. The 90 degree Laughlin temperature started to take its toll in the later rounds, but the Murray crew never lost a head-to-head on their way to the win.

For their efforts, the Murray Racing pit crew walked away with a new set of pit safety gear, a very cool golden trophy jack, and a year’s worth of bragging rights.

The crowd at the Pit Crew Challenge was large and enthusiastic (Photo by Tim Kessel)

The Pit Crew Challenge will appear on an upcoming UTVWC video (Photo by Tim Kessel)

Laughlin's Riverside Casino played host to the 2017 UTVWC (Photo by Tim Kessel)

Hundreds of racers and thousands of fans converged on the UTVWC contingency and tech inspection outside the Riverside. K&N and over 80 other contingency vendors were on site to cater to the racing and performance needs of the masses. The event was a huge success with nearly 300 UTV race teams, 60 registered media, and more than 520 branded racers.

The K&N display was visible from virtually anywhere at the massive contingency (Photo by Tim Kessel)

The Easter-weekend event was as family and fan-friendly as any race you’ll find. There was even an Easter egg hunt for the little ones.

K&N used the UTVWC contingency to show off two brand new intakes for the Polaris RZR UTVs. The 63-1133 for the 2014-2017 Polaris RZR 1000, and the 63-1136 for the 2016-2017 Polaris RZR XP Turbo, were on display. The innovative intakes replace the entire factory intake system, and both kits are purpose-built specifically for their applications.

K&N-sponsored racer Katie Vernola chats with a you race fan (Photo by Tim Kessel)

K&N’s Johnny Jump expressed the company’s excitement about being on-board with the UTV World Championship.

“K&N has been affiliated with the off-road industry, the ATV industry, and now the UTV industry for many years making cotton, washable reusable, high-flow air filters for these vehicles,” said Jump. “This event is super cool. This is my first year and K&N’s first year at the UTV World Championship and there are over 300 competitors here.”

K&N is proud to be a major sponsor of the UTV World Championship, and to be such an integral part of the UTV race scene. Take a look below for more of the sights at the UTVWC contingency and tech.

The K&N-sponsored UTV of Wes Miller and his Bomb Squad (Photo by Tim Kessel)

Hundreds of UTVs made their way through the contingency for tech inspections (Photo by Tim Kessel)

The iconic K&N logo was everywhere at the contingency (Photo by Tim Kessel)

The Pit Crew Challenge was a popular event at the contingency (Photo by Tim Kessel)

K&N is active in just about every kind of racing (Photo by Tim Kessel)

Katie Vernola in her K&N-sponsored UTV (Photo by Tim Kessel)

Kyle Benjamin wins the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East race at Greenville Pickens Speedway

Benjamin was in the lead on a lap 144 when the final caution of the race came out. He held on for the final two laps of the race to win the Kevin Whitaker Chevrolet 150.

“We didn’t have a winning car at the beginning,” Benjamin said. “To come back like we did at the end says a lot about the team. They made the right adjustments and kept our heads on straight.”

Benjamin is running a part-time schedule in the K&N Pro Series East. He won pole with a track record 19.144 second lap at 94.024 mph around the half-mile, newly paved oval.

“We’re not running the full season,” Benjamin said. “I wish I could run some more K&N races but it’s all I have so far.”

The race was split into two halves. Benjamin was running third at the break. He took the lead for good on lap 108 and was out front for 46 laps in the race. He won for the second time in a row at Greenville Pickens Speedway.

Kyle Benjamin won the pole and led for 46 laps in the K&N Pro Series East race in South Carolina

“We were probably a fifth place car tonight,” Bassett said after the race. “Everybody got jumbled up there on the last restart. That second place finish was like a win to us.”

Bassett qualified in 10th but moved up quickly. It was his third top-five finish at Greenville Pickens Speedway in his past three races.

“We didn’t have the best race car,” Bassett said. “We managed to keep it in one piece throughout the race and I was there at the end.”

Todd Gilliland, who won three races in a row in the K&N Pro Series West, was third at Greenville Pickens Speedway. He is running full time in the K&N Pro Series West and East.

“Fortunately we had a good enough car that we could drive up to the front there,” Gilliland said. “We were second at the halfway break and then came home third here. It’s tough. This place is really physical, hard on brakes, that was the biggest thing, the story of the night here throughout the pits, just brakes going away in that long green flag run at the end.”

Kyle Benjamin celebrates after winning the K&N Pro Series East race at Greenville Pickens Speedway

Harrison Burton was fourth at Greenville Pickens Speedway, followed by Tyler Dippel in fifth.

Ronnie Bassett Jr. leads the K&N Pro Series East standings after two races. Burton is eight points behind in second place. Gilliland is third, 12 points behind Bassett.

“I wish we could have had something a little bit more for them but we’ll get ‘em next time,” Gilliland said.

The next K&N Pro Series East race is the Zombie Auto 125 at Bristol Motor Speedway in Tennessee.

Enjoy the high flying action of the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series brought to you by K&N

The new 2017 season partnership will give K&N Filters sponsorship identification in several Team Lucas racing series, including the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series, the Lucas Oil Regional Off Road Racing Series, the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, the Lucas Oil Modified Series, the Lucas Oil Pro Pulling League, and the Lucas Oil Drag Boat Racing Series. This is in addition to K&N's existing presence at over 300 national and international Team Lucas racing events, and the associated primetime programming on networks like CBS, NBC, and Fox.

K&N is excited to partner with the Lucas Oil Modified Series for the 2017 season

Alex Striler, Director of Sales and Marketing of Team Lucas said, "We are very pleased that K&N Filters and Team Lucas have continued their partnership through the past nine years, as it demonstrates the worthwhile benefits associated with these cooperative marketing programs. We are proud to be partnered with such a great brand."

The 2017 season of the Lucas Oil Drag Boat Racing Series will now be sponsored by K&N

“The relationship that K&N Filters and Team Lucas shares is a reflection of the performance mindset that each company represents,” explained K&N’s Chief Sales and Marketing Officer, Jesse Spungin. “It is relationships like this, between two likeminded American companies, that helps our industry grow and benefits everyone involved. So we are excited to continue our partnership into 2017.”

Be sure to check back often for updates on all of the Lucas Oil series. Also check out K&N Filters on Facebook, Instagram, and all of your favorite social media channels for up-to-the-minute news and updates.

K&N will now be bringing you all the excitement of the Lucas Oil Pro Pulling League in 2017

Andrew Carlson wrapped up his Snocross career at the final event of the season at Lake Geneva, IL

If you’re not familiar with Snocross, it’s pretty much what it sounds like – Motocross on snowmobiles, in the snow, except the sleds weigh twice as much as Motocross bikes, just to add a little more of a challenge.

Family and racing have always been a close partnership for Chris and his wife, Deb. Both their daughter Taylor and son Andrew grew up racing with their father at regional Snocross tracks. The siblings started competing when Andrew and Taylor were four- and six-years-old, respectively. Both progressed in their skills and abilities to race at the national level.

“My dad has always been passionate about motorsports and presented the opportunity for us to compete as a family in a sport we all grew to love, said team Marketing Manager Taylor Carlson Schroer. “We began racing the National Snocross circuit 10 years ago where Andrew climbed up the ranks, eventually competing at the Winter X-Games and in the premier Pro Open class. Racing snowmobiles has allowed us to spend lots of time together as a family and I know we’re all really grateful for that,” Taylor continued.

Promising young rider Ryan Springer will move to another Polaris Snocross team for next season

Riding a Polaris IQR 600 sled in the national Pro Open Class in the eight-event 2016-2017 Amsoil Snocross Championship, Andrew scored multiple top 10 finishes in Pro Open, including two seventh place finishes. He ended the season 12th in points.

Teammate Ryan Springer finished one position ahead of Andrew for the season, in 11th place. Ryan capped off his season with a pair of top-five finishes at Lake Geneva, Illinois, positioning himself amongst the fastest in the sport. Ryan will look to continue his promising professional Snocross career with another Polaris team next winter.

The Snocross events were contested across the snow belt, from New York State to Colorado, and South Dakota to Michigan, as well as in the Carlson’s home state of Minnesota.

For his dedication and contribution to the sport Chris Carlson was honored by the International Series of Champions (ISOC) during their year end banquet. Chris was presented with the CJ Ramstad Ambassador award, named after the legendary snowmobiling writer and photographer who died in a traffic accident 10 years ago. The award recognizes Chris for his unrelenting passion and involvement in the sport and his efforts to support and grow the sport through his team and ERX Motor Park, co-owned by Chris.

The Carlson Moto team is seeking more podiums this season after Andrew's breakthough win last year

When Andrew was asked why he’s trading the pristine white of a Snocross track to the grass and mud of a TORC venue, he responded, “I have always been interested in off-road racing and have watched many motocross racers transition to truck racing. I got an opportunity to race a few years ago and have been hooked ever since."

While Carlson Moto is a team sponsored by K&N, they’ve also become evangelists for K&N products. "Carlson Moto is an organization made up of racers--both current and former,” said Taylor. “Andrew Carlson, all of our mechanics, and literally everyone on our team has raced, and we've all been using K&N for many years. We've all grown to trust the quality and reliability of the products, and as gear heads we just love the performance gains. We're honored to represent the company and look forward to putting K&N on top of the podium with us in 2017," she added.

The team utilizes the following K&N products on their vehicles:

61-4010 air cleaner

E-3732 air filter

HP-5001 oil filters

22-1440PK filter wraps

99-0704 sealing grease

99-0551 air filter oil

Photo credit: Gary Walton