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Wes Miller Brings Back the Bomb Squad for an Explosive UTV Racing Effort

Wes Miller of the Bomb Squad next to his Polaris UTV

Wes Miller is pumped about getting his new Polaris dirty

Wes Miller is no stranger to the dirt. The creator of the Huevos ATV movie series has five SCORE championships and multiple BAJA wins on his extensive racing resume that spans several decades. Miller is back with a vengeance on the 2017 racing scene.

Fresh off his UTV debut in the latest staging of the Mint 400, Miller has brought back the Bomb Squad for the 2017 race season. The 2017 Polaris RZR XP4 Turbo is the racing platform that Miller is excited to be piloting in the UTV World Championships as well as the full SCORE series.

“I have a long history with Polaris and it is a privilege to be an official member of Team RZR,” said Miller. “It puts me in an elite group of peers and I look forward to some great racing.”

Wes Miller of the Bomb Squad jumping his Polaris UTV

Miller is confident that his partnership with sponsors like K&N will produce wins

After some serious research and rumination, Miller chose to have Rhys Millen Racing (RMR) build and prep the RZR for the season. It appears the partnership is primed to reap some serious success. On his end, Rhys Millen is excited to be working with the Polaris Turbo. RMR will be launching a new race series chassis in this partnership.

“This is our first step into the (UTV) pro production turbo category,” said Millen. “With our many years racing turbocharged rally cars, we are confident the RZR will work well right out of the box. With Wes' vast experience in the desert and off-road racing, we are confident that this lightweight, low center of gravity design will complement his driving style.”

The corporate sponsorship and support behind the Bomb Squad racing effort is deep and strong. In addition to the factory support provided by Polaris, Miller’s team is rolling on the sponsorship of Douglas Wheel Technologies, also known as DWT, which is now in its fourth decade of premium wheel manufacturing.

Wes Miller of the Bomb Squad racing his Polaris UTV

The Mint 400 was a great first test for the Bomb Squad

The Bomb Squad is also placing its trust in K&N to provide performance and protection for their racing UTVs. “I can't state enough how enthusiastic I am about this team,” Miller said. “I truly believe we have assembled a world class program. I have been off-road racing the majority of my life and it is amazing to have support from so many great companies.”

K&N is excited to be a part of the Bomb Squad’s UTV racing team. Next up for the team is the San Felipe 250 March 30-April 2 in the Baja of Mexico.

Take a look at the brand-new K&N 63-1133 Polaris RZR intake and check K&N's online application tool to get the perfect filter or intake system for your UTV.

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K&N UTV Racer Katie Vernola Fights to an Impressive Finish in the Mint 400

Katie Vernola racing her Polaris UTV in the Mint 400 in Primm, Nevada

The race day started before sunrise for K&N-sponsored Katie Vernola

“I finished my first Mint 400!” Katie Vernola had reason to be excited. It wasn’t easy, but the veteran UTV racer finished her first Best in the Desert (BITD) UTV Pro Turbo class race. Finishing was especially sweet since it came in the brutal Mint 400 in the desert outside of Primm, Nevada.

In a race like the Mint 400, fighting through mechanical issues is part of the game. Vernola and her teammate Matthew Hove had their fair share of equipment challenges in their Polaris RZR Turbo on the way to the finish line. After Vernola and her team took care of the early-race problems in the pits, the K&N-sponsored racer ran consistent and fast laps on the demanding Mint course to finish an impressive 17th in her class.

Katie Vernola racing her Polaris UTV in the Mint 400 in Primm, Nevada

Vernola fought through mechanical issues to conquer the Mojave Desert course

“During the first 30 miles, I went through two belts and an axle, but that’s the Mint 400 for you…it was brutal,” said Vernola. “We figured out the problem, fixed that and kept picking up the speed from there. We tried to stay smooth and consistent and let the car do its thing. Once I came around the short course area, I saw some big UTV teams and was happy to finish the race with the top guys.”

While Vernola is an experienced WORCS and Terracross UTV racer, this is her first season in BITD. In Vernola’s first career desert race, the Parker 425, tire issues ended her race just past the halfway point. While the learning curve in desert racing is steep, Vernola proved she is up to the challenge. Drawing from her experience in that first race, Vernola kept the UTV together for the full race.

Katie Vernola racing her Polaris UTV in the Mint 400 in Primm, Nevada

Vernola trusts K&N filter technology to keep her engine clean even in these brutal conditions

“This is just my second Best in the Desert race and my first ever finish. I could not be happier. BITD is a whole other animal from short course racing. That is huge for me. I grew up in the desert, but I never raced in the desert. The experience is what makes it awesome. I got to do it with Matt, who is a good friend and great driver.”

Vernola was effusive in her praise of the sponsors and crew that helped her get through the Mint 400.

“I can’t thank all my sponsors enough,” said Vernola. “I want to thank my pit crew, Pete Corwin, Niko and Angelo Skiparnias, Jay Rockow, Jim Osier, and Sara Price for helping me get to the finish line."

Next up for Vernola are the WORCS rounds 4 & 5 in Lake Havasu, Arizona on March 18-19. In the WORCS series, Vernola is chasing the points championship in SxS Pro Unlimited Class.

Katie Vernola with her Polaris UTV after the Mint 400 in Primm, Nevada

Vernola is all smiles after her Mint 400 finish

The next BITD race on the schedule is round three in Laughlin, Nevada April 14-15. That race will be the UTV World Championship where Katie is looking to build on the momentum she garnered from her impressive Mint 400 finish.

We at K&N congratulate Katie Vernola on her fantastic Mint 400 race. K&N is proud to be a major sponsor of “The Great American Off-Road Race” and we are honored to be part of the success of so many great desert racers.

If you are looking for top performance and protection for your Polaris UTV, check out the brand-new K&N 63-1133 Polaris intake.

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Dana Hallberg's Deadline Customs Bagger Wins the J&P Modified Harley® Class in MN

Dana Hallberg’s Deadline Customs Bagger side view at the Minneapolis IMS

From the front wheel back, the Deadline Customs Bagger build is beautiful

It’s long, it’s low, and it has a front wheel that's nearly a yard tall.

Dana Hallberg’s Deadline Customs Bagger rolled away with the win in the Modified Harley® Class of the J&P Cycles Ultimate Builder Bike Show Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Mod Harley is one of the competitions that K&N supports at all of the venues of the Progressive International Motorcycle Show (IMS).

Hallberg didn’t have to transport his scintillating bagger far to capture the Mod Harley trophy. Deadline Customs is based out of Forest Lake, which is a short jaunt northeast of Minneapolis.

Dana Hallberg’s Deadline Customs Bagger front view at the Minneapolis IMS

The 30-inch front wheel features an low profile tire and cool retro fender

Let’s get right to that front hoop. Hallberg’s 2011 Road King custom features a towering 30-inch chrome, spoked rim. That eye-catching wheel is accentuated by an ultra-low-profile tire. The wheel is hooded with a very cool, stylized, retro front fender.

The Road King falls back from that signature front end precipitously to an ultra-low seat. The rules of the class state that an entrant in the Modified Harley competition "Must have Harley-Davidson® engine cases and frame. Neck may be cut to rake or stretch frame." Clearly this Deadline Customs Bagger underwent some serious neck-work!

Dana Hallberg’s Deadline Customs Bagger rear view at the Minneapolis IMS

Sweeping bodywork defines the rear end of the Bagger

The full custom body on the build carries that “dripping off the front wheel” aesthetic of the bike to the very tip of the flowing bags. When viewed from the back, it almost looks like a crimson sheet is blowing off the tail-end. All of the custom bodywork is coated in a beautiful deep red candy paint.

Even the custom shorty exhaust pipes that emanate from the cylinders parallel the angle created in the bodywork. While the rear wheel may be concealed behind the hand-crafted bodywork, the custom built V-twin is on full display.

Baggers have taken a bit of a back seat in many of the 2017 IMS J&P competitions. However, Deadline Customs big Bagger doesn’t take a backseat to anyone. K&N congratulates Dana Hallberg on a massive build and a huge win in Minneapolis.

Dana Hallberg’s Deadline Customs Bagger with check at the Minneapolis IMS

To the winner of the Modified Harley Class go the spoils

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This 1955 Chevy 5400 Low Cab Forward Was on Display at the 2015 SEMA Show

The Futura Concepts low cab forward is a modern take on a classic

The Futura Concepts low cab forward is a modern take on a classic

Most people are familiar with the Chevy trucks of the late 1940s and 1950s. These post-WWII trucks were all the rage with soldiers coming home from the war and Chevy was pumping them out as fast as they could. From the 1947-1953 Advanced Design Chevys to the Bel Air-styled Chevy Task Force, the half-ton Chevy pickups have made their mark in history. However, the commercial Chevrolet trucks of the 1940s and 1950s are not as well known. For the most part, commercial series trucks looked like their light duty counterparts. This was until trucks like the cab over engine (COE) design, or cab-overs, came out.

These strange looking trucks became popular with shipping companies, farmers, the military, and basically anybody looking for a truck that could haul heavy loads. The cab-over-engine name basically explains itself. The cab sat higher than the standard trucks and the engine was moved under the cab. This made for a shorter wheelbase and greater forward visibility. With the redesign of their trucks in 1955, Chevy unveiled the redesigned COE, called the low cab forward (LCF). These trucks still positioned the driver higher than standard pickups, but the engine was moved forward. This design was so popular that they are still available today. Most box trucks and a lot of semis come in the LCF configuration.

With the custom bed and skirt they made, you would never know the truck didn't originally have i

With the custom bed and skirt they made, you would never know the truck didn't originally have it

Some builders have taken early examples of the Chevy LCF and added their own twist to them. Jorge Cubillas and Sambo Flores of Futura Concepts in Riverside, California, did just that. After buying a 1955 Series 2 Chevy LCF from their friend Del Uschenko of Delmo’s Speed, and with some design help from automotive artist Max Grundy, they had an idea in mind and got to work.

The idea was to bring the truck a lot closer to the ground and give it the custom look that it deserved. They started by pulling the cab and bed off the truck. The stock frame and suspension went to the scrap pile. For a replacement frame, they sourced a 2002 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 utility truck from the junk yard. Again, they scrapped the pieces they didn’t need. They ended up using the entire frame, Duramax engine, Allison transmission, brakes, fuel tank, and other miscellaneous pieces that they made work with the new setup. To help give the truck the power it would need to move the behemoth that would be, Jorge and Sambo upgraded the turbos to Precision 78mm versions, they swapped the fuel injectors, and for added flair they painted the engine to match what the body would be. Finally, they added a custom intake with K&N filters to help the diesel take deep breaths of air.

This is how the truck came to Jorge and Sambo. They put a lot of work into it to make it shine!

This is how the truck came to Jorge and Sambo. They put a lot of work into it to make it shine!

For suspension, they used a set of Devious Customs control arms up front paired with Contitech 2600 airbags for ride height control. Out back, a Jimenez Brothers’ custom heavy-duty two link locates the rear end, while providing a mounting location for the Contitech 2900 ‘bags. Wrapping up the rolling chassis is a set of black steelie wheels shod in Coker white wall tires. With the suspension and frame taken care of, it was time to focus on the body.

The truck originally had a stake bed, but the team at Futura wanted to make it into a flatbed tow truck. To bring their idea to fruition, they welded up a flat bed and mounted it behind the cab on the frame. Then they built a skirt around the front and sides of the bed. The deck of the bed received a slick wood covering with stainless runners and a custom E-lock fastening system. To give the cab a retro cool look, they gave it a 3-inch gentleman’s chop and stretched the fenders and steps 5 inches for a proper stance.

Next, the truck then went into the paint booth and received a two-tone combo of House of Kolor Light Battleship Gray and Ivory that was then accented with Dark Battleship Gray. To fill the window voids after the chop, Eddie Kotto of Kotto Auto Glass came in and made custom glass for the front and back. Eddie is well known in the industry, having worked with the likes of Boyd Coddington, Chip Foose, Shaq, and Xzibit to name a few.

Jorge and Sambo made a custom intake with K&N filters to feed the big Duramax plenty of air

Jorge and Sambo made a custom intake with K&N filters to feed the big Duramax plenty of air

With the glass installed and the paint dry, it was time for the interior. Futura Concepts handled most of the build themselves, but for the interior, they called in the experts at Kiwi Kustom Upholstery. The bench was covered in a burnt orange leather with the headliner covered in a matching suede. To tie in the gray and ivory of the exterior, the dash, doors, and pillars were sprayed with House of Kolor Burnt Orange paint and some more Light and Dark Battleship Gray. With less than a day to spare, they jumped in the truck and headed for Las Vegas. The plan was to unveil the truck at the 2015 SEMA show. Thanks to a lot of sleepless nights, good friends, and a bit of luck, they made it and the truck was an absolute head turner. Jorge and Sambo said they couldn’t get this truck built without the help of their friends and family. They wanted to thank Max Grundy, Del Uschenko, Ben Ingry, Pops, Monty, and everyone else who helped bring the build together.

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K&N Air Intake for 2016-2017 Shelby GT350 Offers Estimated Boost of 18 Horsepower

The 69-3538TTK air intake system includes a washable and reusable universal air filter.

The K&N 69-3538TTK Typhoon air intake improves horsepower, throttle response, and engine sound

Born on January 11, 1923, Carroll Shelby was an American automobile designer and businessman who gained fame for producing high performance cars like the AC Cobra and the Shelby Mustang.

He spent a good portion of his childhood from 7 to 14-years old in bed due to a heart valve leakage, but outgrew the problem. It was apparent as early as his days in high school that he was destined to have a career in automotive racing and production. He obtained his initial skills working on his own Willy automobile while attending Woodrow Wilson High School in Dallas, Texas.

After graduating, he planned to attend the Georgia School of Technology to study Aeronautical Engineering. However, World War II changed things. He enlisted in the United States Army Air Corps and served as a flight instructor and test pilot. He ultimately left the service after the war with the rank of staff sergeant and then worked on oil wells and a poultry farm.

He started racing cars as an amateur during the mid 1950s using a friend’s MG TC and a borrowed Cad-Allards. His early success in racing led to invitations to participate in the Aston Martin and Maserati factory racing teams during the mid and late 1950s.

Some of the races he competed in included:

• The 12 Hours of Sebring in an Aston Martin DBR1/300 in 1958

• The Mount Washington Hillclimb Auto Race in a specially prepared Ferrari 375 GP Roadster in 1956

• Formula One races from 1958 to 1959

• The 24 Hours of Le Mans in an Aston Martin DBR1 in 1959

He set U.S. and International speed records driving a modified, streamline supercharged Austin Healy 100S at the Bonneville Salt Flats, completed the Mount Washington HillClimb race in a record 10:21.8 seconds. In addition, he won eight World Championships and several non-championship races during his stint in Formula One.

As he raced in the 1959 24 Hours of Le Mans, he noticed the performance of an AC-Motors-built racer, known as the Ace, which became the origin for his AC Cobra that was built three years later.

He retired from racing in 1959 due to health issues and created a high-performance driving school and the Shelby-American Company, a manufacturer of custom high-performance automobiles.

In his first venture Shelby asked AC Motors of England to design a new high performance car with a Ford V8 used in its popular AC Ace sports car. The car was dubbed the AC Cobra and Shelby obtained a license to import it into the United States. It soon became known as the Shelby Cobra. Ford Motors Invested in it from 1962 through 1965 and also provided financial support to Shelby American for the development of the Ford GT (also known as the Shelby Mustang) from 1964 through 1967.

After Lee Iacocca left Ford, he asked Shelby to create high performance cars for his new employer, Chrysler. Shelby joined the board of directors and assisted Iacocca as the Performance Consultant. He was instrumental in the development of the Dodge Viper and help produced an assortment of Dodge Shelby cars including the Dodge Shelby Charger from 1983-1984, the Dodge Daytona Shelby Z from 1987-1988, and other cars from 1983 through 1989.

In 2003, Shelby re-established ties with Ford to be the Technical Advisor in the development of the Ford GT. He is a member of the International Motorsports Hall of Fame, the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America, the Automotive Hall of Fame, and the SCCA Hall of Fame.

The K&N 69-3538TTK replaces the factory intake on the 2016 and 2017 Shelby Mustangs.

The K&N 69-3538TTK is designed to replace the factory intake system

He died on May 10, 2012.

Two of the most recent Shelby Mustangs to be developed are the 2016-2017 Ford Shelby GT350 and the 2018 Ford Shelby GT500.

A 5.2-liter flat plane crank V8 engine, also known as the Voodoo motor, which offers 526 horsepower and 429 lb-ft of torque powers the 2016 GT350.

The car features track-focused chassis tuning, significant aerodynamic enhancements that include a lowered hood around the engine, two piece Brembo brakes, MagneRide damping option, lightweight Tremec 6-speed manual transmission, and Recaro seats. Other changes meant to make the car lighter include a carbon fiber reinforced polymer radiator support that guides cooling channels for many components.

If you are still looking for more horsepower in your 2016 and 2017 Ford Shelby GT350, then consider buying the K&N 69-3538TTK Typhoon air intake system. This system has been rated to offer an estimated boost of 18.12 horsepower at 6400 rpm. It includes a free-flowing, mandrel-bent aluminum tube that reduces the airflow restriction caused by the factory intake. The tube helps smooth and straighten the airflow giving the engine more air, which helps it produce more power and acceleration throughout the engine RPM range.

The intake also includes a washable and reusable K&N RP-2960 universal air filter with a carbon fiber top. The round-tapered filter features a media made of multiple layers of cotton gauze. The gauze has been treated with a special grade of oil that makes them very sticky so that they can catch and hold particles.

K&N also offers the 99-5000 filter care service kit, which is specially formulated to clean and recharge the K&N air filter when it comes time to clean it. This means that the filter can be used over and over again and will be the only filter you will need for the life of your car. A heat shield is also included that blocks hot engine air from entering the intake. This helps assure that the air that flows to the engine is cool resulting in better performance.

The air intake is designed to replace the factory intake system and the air filter and heat shield will fit into the factory air box location. The air filter installs easily using the existing factory mounting points. The whole process can be done in about 90 minutes using common hand tools.

The K&N 69-3538TTK Typhoon Air Intake System fits the following vehicles:

2017 FORD MUSTANG SHELBY 5.2L V8 Fuel Injection - All Models
2016 FORD MUSTANG SHELBY 5.2L V8 Fuel Injection - All Models

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