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After his four round sweep of the Cocopah Cup Challenge Jason Johnson and son Jaxx celebrated together in victory lane
Why is the fourth movement of a symphony always the most powerful one? Why does the climax come at the end of the movie and a fireworks display instead of the beginning, and why do we eat dessert last? In psychology terms this is a human phenomenon related to "peak-end bias," yet in motorsports it's simply thought of as a champion's will.
The Cocopah Cup saw 40 drivers competing for the $20,000 prize, but with his clean sweep, it was Jason Johnson that also collected an extra five grand
"To win the Cocopah Cup Challenge by sweeping all four events at the Cocopah Speedway was fantastic," declared K&N's Jason Johnson. "At the beginning of the season we were aware of the extra bonus up for grabs, but knew it would be a very tough feat to accomplish. Great team work put us in position for the win each night, and staying up front in clean air is always a bonus to winning races. This accomplishment has to go down as one of the most prestigious tasks we ever achieved as a team here at Jason Johnson Racing."
After winning the first two rounds of the Cocopah Cup back in March, Johnson and his crew where meticulously focused on continuing their winning ways at the historic Yuma, Arizona 3/8th mile oval in November. The only thing standing in their way was 39 other drivers and an unlimited list of racing misfortunes that could run amuck at anytime. And that's where the indomitable "Ragin' Cajun's" champion mindset kicked in full force. Nothing, it seems, would stand in the way of Johnson's remarkable will to win, not starting dead last in his Round 3 heat race, or even dropping a cylinder in the waning laps of the A-Main. Johnson simply stayed on the gas of his Stenhouse Jr. Racing Roush Yates Ford No.4, and crossed the finish line 3.675 seconds ahead of second place.
Besides winning the Cup Jason Johnson Racing also locked up their fourth consecutive ASCS National Tour Drivers Championship
After his Round 3 victory all that now stood between Johnson and the $25,000 purse for sweeping the Cocopah Cup Challenge, which included the $5,000 "extra bonus," and the earning the 2013 Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour title, was the Round 4 A-Main. As the winner of the last round Johnson got an automatic pass into Saturday night's finale.
And in spectacular fashion, with a packed house cheering them on, Logan Forler and Johnson drag raced down the straight-aways as they repeatedly contested for the bottom lane as it was the fastest way around the oval to the checked flag. Refusing once more to be denied, Johnson made it there first, winning his fourth straight ASCS National Tour championship and collecting the considerable Cocopah Cup Challenge check.
Currently in a three-way tie with 4 National Championships Jason Johnson is looking to stand alone with 5 championships in 2014
In victory lane, the humble driver from Eunice, Louisiana, praised his race team, "It just speaks volumes about this team and what they accomplished. The biggest satisfaction for the 2013 season is the fact that Jason Johnson Racing has been in existence for four years, beginning in 2010. And with great supporters such as K&N aboard, we have managed to earn four ASCS National Championships in those four years. I'm very proud for everyone involved and who contributes to being a part of this successful team. In 2013 we did not win as many as we would have liked, but we managed to win several big events, which made up for it."
For the first time in the last ten years, my wife Bobbi and I decided to stay home in the USA, versus going down under to compete in Australia," remarked Johnson regarding his off season plans. "With our new son, Jaxx Hosea Johnson, being born on May 8th, we look forward to a little down time to enjoy family life and the holiday season. I'm very blessed!"
Jason Johnson Racing plans to compete for the 2014 ASCS National Championship. "We are currently in a three-way tie with 4 National Championship," Johnson adds, "And we would love to become the first with 5 National Championships."
Related K&N News Articles about Jason Johnson and ASCS Racing:ASCS Championship Driver Jason Johnson Leads After a Sizzlin' 2012 Speed week Performance;
ASCS 360 Sprint Class Racer Brian Brown Earns Top Podium Spot at Devil's Bowl;
ASCS Lucas Oil National Series Sprint Car Win for Jason Johnson at I-30 Speedway;
Arnold Motorsports' Miranda Arnold Ready for 2013 ASCS Racing Season
In his first season racing Modified Karts Trevor Briska finished 3rd overall in the Lucas Oil Regional Series and 11th in LOORS.
"We had a good weekend of racing for the final race of the Lucas Oil Off-Road Regional series at Lake Elsinore," reported Clint Briska. Clint is the Vice President of the international J.H. Sims Trucking Company, Inc., but more to the point, he's the proud father of Trevor, the up-and-comer with promising off-road racing skills.
The young K&N up-and-comer is looking forward to making into the PRO 2 or PRO 4 class.
The day started off a little rough for Trevor at Lake Elsinore Motorsports Park, with an electrical issue that kept blowing the main fuse and causing the car to shut down. The setback allowed Trevor to only complete two laps of qualifying, which relegated him into the 19th starting position out of 25 Modified Trophy Karts. However, the kid from Ontario, California has clearly illustrated early on in his life that he was not one to be slowed down by a little adversity.
When the green flag dropped at Lake Elsinore Motorsports Park, Trevor quickly started picking up positions. By the end of the race he made his way up to 5th place and had earned enough points to finish 3rd overall on the series.
Trevor just became a teenager in November, and what makes his competitive tenacity that much more impressive, is that 2013 was his first year racing Modified Trophy Karts. He got his first taste of racing motocross when he was just six-years-old, but two years later he was diagnosed with Diabetes. "At which time we took about seven months off of racing to get his health in order," said dad.
Trevor lists making it back to Crandon for the 43rd Off-Road World Championships as one of his 2013 highlights.
"In 2012 we started racing JR2 Trophy Karts, in which Trevor finished 10th overall in the LOORS, and if I am not mistaken, 4th in the regional's," Clint remarks. "I was helping a friend of mine, John Holmes, who was racing Pro Buggy in LOORS at the time and we were going to all of the races. This made us think that maybe Trevor would like to try racing the Trophy Kart series. This year we were able to compete in four of the Robby Gordon SST races that the Modified Karts were invited to, as well as making the trip back to Crandon, Wisconsin for the 43rd year of Off-Road World Championships. It was also the first time they have ever had the Modified Trophy Karts and all the fans absolutely loved it!"
As if the young K&N backed racer needed anymore character building experiences, on November 4th, right before his 13th birthday, Trevor had to have brain surgery. At the start of the season he had gotten a concussion, and after a CT scan his doctor noticed that Trevor had an enlarged Arachnoid Cyst that required draining.
"He is recovering well and should be able to get back in the car by the start of the New Year," confirms dad. "Trevor is very much looking forward to next year's race season and plans on running in both the LOORS and the Regional's, as well as whatever else comes about. And we are hoping to be invited back to Crandon next year for sure. Trevor's biggest off-road racing hero is Kyle Leduc and he hopes to someday be able to make to the top ranks of the PRO 2 or PRO 4 as a driver."
In his rookie year in the Modified Karts, Trevor didn't only finish an inspiring 3rd overall in the Lucas Oil Regional Series at Lake Elsinore Motorsports Park, he very nearly broke into the top-10 in LOORS, finishing 11th overall in points out of 24 racers.
Just want to give a big thanks to K&N and all of our sponsors that help make it all happen," adds Clint. "It has definitely been a long year with a lot of racing."
Related K&N News Articles about Modified Kart Racing:Kart Series Racer Hunter Smith in Top Five for Championship at Borger's Speedway; Brooke Kawell Racing Readies for 2013 LOORRS Modified Kart Championship Bid; Fourteen-Year-Old Modified Kart Racer Brooke Kawell Anticipates Success in 2013; Bradley Morris Finishes 2012 3rd in Pro Lite & Modified Kart, 2nd in Limited Buggy
Perma-Cool Products' conviction to provide customers with top-quality parts and service has never lessened in the 30 plus years they've been in business.
It all began in 1969. Perma-Cool Products came to fruition in Pasadena, California. The company eventually moved their operation to Ontario, where they remained for 12 years. However, they recently opted to relocate back in the states, in the California town of Riverside.
During a forty-some-odd-year stint in the automotive cooling components industry, Perma-Cool Products' conviction to provide their customers with top-quality parts and service has never lessened. In fact, the company strives to stay atop an ever-growing technology, and in turn, has dealers throughout the United States, Canada and overseas.
It all began in 1969. Perma-Cool Products came to fruition in Pasadena, California. The company eventually moved their operation to Ontario, where they remained for 12.
Those in the automotive industry will likely be quick to agree that a key element of success is keeping your hands on the pulse of potential customers. Perma-Cool shares these sentiments, and has continuously added to their product line.
K&N HP-5001 Racing Oil Filter
As the year 2000 neared, an oil filter with a larger capacity was introduced to the NASCAR circuit. Although lending to a more proficient oil flow, the new filters were threaded differently from the norm. That in mind, the company producing the filters also designed the only mount fitting the thread patterns of these specialty parts. This was a very specific market, and the price was costly.
With time, other entities, including K&N products, designed their own line of high-capacity filters. Considering the needs of their customers, Perma-Cool decided it was time to fabricate a more affordable universal mount.
The response was positive. Those in the racing world now had a quality option. In reference to the K&N high-capacity oil filter, Perma-Cool Products Sales and Marketing manager, Kevin Doyle said, "This allows you to use the HP-5001 K&N oil filter to get extra oil capacity and filtration. These are a custom application; they come with mounting holes and can be mounted to the chassis or firewall."
Doyle explained that these oversized filters are not an item used in the street market, but are designed for a racing environment. "The response was very good," explained Doyle. "But this is a specialty part, since you must want to run the larger filter to use it. There's no stock mount for these filters. You have to have both, the filter and the mount; one is useless without the other."
Perma-Cool Products strives to stay atop an ever-growing technology, and in turn, has dealers throughout the United States, Canada and overseas.
Perma-Cool is very proud of their products' performances. When asked how they maintain stringent standards, Doyle said, "Being made in the USA allows you to control manufacturing and maintain quality, as well as keeping the jobs in the states.
"Perma-Cool has been designing and manufacturing automotive cooling components for 45-years, with the majority of the manufacturing being in house (foundry and powder coating is done outside). Being the actual manufacturer allows us to control quality and design, whereas some of our competitors duplicate products overseas."
With decades of experience under their belts, Perma-Cool products have become a standard in the world of racing. The company offers two options for those recognizing a need for high-capacity oil filters. Both parts sport 1 1/2 - 12 threaded nipples to accept the female thread of the filters. However, part #6630 has 3/4 NPT ports while part #6730 has 12 AN ports. Regardless of which part a race team determines is most suitable for their needs, there's one thing they can put in the bank, an increase in oil flow without concern of loss of quality and dependability.
Twister Motorsports completed the 2013 race season with mixed results in Utica Rome Speedway ESS 360 winged sprint and Bridgeport Speedway 410 open race.
Trenton, NJ (January 2, 2014) - The Twister Motorsports team has completed the 2013 season with mixed results from the different classes they raced, which included Utica Rome Speedway ESS 360 winged sprint and Bridgeport Speedway 410 open race.
Despite placing low in September at New Egypt URC 360 winged sprint and Selinsgrove 360 National, Twister Motorsports managed to place 4th and 5th at Williams Grove 410 World of Outlaws National in October. One issue Bitner believes hindered their performance was a lacking motor, which proved to be unsuitable for the racing grove.
"This year was a little up and down with no wins but some close ones," said Mark Bitner, owner and driver for Twister Motorsports. "We have figured out some of our problems, and we are looking forward to 2014 and being in the winners circle."
Twister Motorsports placed 4th and 5th at Williams Grove 410 World of Outlaws National in October.
From local racing in his early years to Micro Sprints 250cc and URC 360 competitions, Bitner has covered a wide variety of racetracks. Throughout his racing career Bitner has won races in each class he has raced and acquired a 410 engine. His driving highlights include winning at a 360-sprint feature at Lincoln Speedway. K&N Filters has been a faithful sponsor of Twister Motorsports for over a decade.
"K&N's filters are second to none. They keep the dirt, air and oil out of our engines. They are easy to clean, easy to use and last through the toughest conditions," said Bitner.
In addition to using K&N products, Twister Motorsports decided to paint their car black with orange stripes to resemble the K&N look.
"We are not a high-dollar team, but we put our money into the cars to make them fast," said Bitner. "We do our best to represent our sponsors in a professional and well-maintained manner."
One interesting change for the team was a new number for the 2014 season. Bitner chose F5 to play off his nickname, "Mr. Twister," referencing an F5 tornado rating. The team is currently working on releasing a schedule for the 2014 season.
"This year we are going to mainly concentrate on running Selinsgrove with our 360 car," said Bitner. "We will also run some select 410 winged shows and 305 winged and unwinged shows. We will attend the USAC Eastern Storm week of racing in June."
Related K&N News Articles about Twister Motorsports and Sprint Car Racing:Twister Motorsports' Mark Bitner Gets URC Victory at Lincoln Speedway; Twister Motorsports Keep it Twisted - Running Sprint and Enduro Cars Plus Quads on Ice; Midget, Sprint Car and LOORRS Racer Bradley Morris Enjoys an Action-Packed Season; ASCS 360 Sprint Class Racer Brian Brown Earns Top Podium Spot at Devil's Bowl
Winged Sprint Car Team Western Speed Racing's Tim Skoglund and Cody Gerhardt
Western Speed Racing driver Tim Skoglund won the Western Pabst Blue Ribbon Winged Series championship at Madera Speedway.
He won two races in the series of winged sprint cars and super modified cars. The first was in the 10th annual Fred Gerhardt Classic in July. Gerhardt is the grandfather of Cody Gerhardt, who also drives for Western Speed Racing, and the father of Kevin Gerhardt, the owner and manager of the team.
Skoglund had one runner-up finish and two third-place finishes in addition to his two wins at Madera Speedway.
Western Speedway Racing is planning an ambitious sprint car racing campaign in 2014.
"You can't have any DNFs. You can't have any mechanical failures," said Skoglund, driver of the No. 60 K&N Western Speed Racing Ignite Midget. "You gotta be spot on in order to pull through the whole year."
He won his second race in August and took over the lead in the standings. Skoglund qualified second in his heat race and started the main event on the outside of the second row.
Cody Gerhardt won his heat race and started on the front row of the race. But a crash at the start of the race collected Gerhardt and knocked him out of the race.
Skoglund avoided the collision and went on to win the race.
But Skoglund's championship season didn't start off so promising. He didn't post his first podium finish until the third race of the six-race season. He didn't notch his first win until the fourth race.
"The second race was terrible. I was chasing my tail," Skoglund said. "We go into the third race and I came out to the track and it was the same result. It was just wasn't what I was looking for."
Cody Gerhardt finished in sixth place in the Winged Series standings at Madera Speedway, the team's home track. He didn't finish on the podium in any of the six races.
Skoglund had one runner-up finish and two third-place finishes in addition to his two wins at Madera Speedway.
He said he had the most success at Meridian Speedway in Idaho. During a three-day event over Memorial Day weekend, he posted a second-place finish. But he also crashed on the last day of the Diamond Cup at Meridian Speedway.
"A lot of it was bad luck," Gerhardt said. "Most of it was a learning curve, running the winged series this year."
With a track championship, Western Speedway Racing is planning an ambitious campaign in 2014. The team plans to race at tracks all across the country. It's not only a way to test the team's drivers against the top competition in the country, but a way to spread the word about the team's sponsors, like K&N.
"I'm just excited for the opportunity for one," Skoglund said. "To see so many places, it will be fun to figure out how to get the car to handle in a hurry. Making the adjustments as a driver, it's going to be fast, but I'm up for it."
Gerhardt said he is looking forward to racing at the tracks in the Midwest.
"I feel confident knowing what to expect going back East," Gerhardt said. "I'd like to see the most improvement at my home track."
Related K&N News Articles about Western Speed Racing:Western Speed Racing's Cody Gerhardt Takes 2nd at 2012 Al Pombo Classic; Western Speed Racing Rules USAC Pavement Midgets at Vegas & Sprint Team Invade Irwindale; Cody Gerhardt and Western Speed Racing Makes a Showing in His Rookie Year; USAC Ford Focus Western Speed Racer Earns Podium Spot at Turkey Night Grand Prix
