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Dylan Kwasniewski Wins 2013 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Championship

15 Nov 2013

Dylan Kwasniewski and Geoff Lee, Road Atlanta's track president, in Victory lane

Dylan Kwasniewski won the race and the championship, becoming the first driver to win the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East and NASCAR K&N Pro Series West titles in consecutive years.

Number 98 - Dylan Kwasniewski leading wire-to-wire pulls off a win

"I knew my dad would have wanted me to do it," Kwasniewski said. "He was the one who started it. He told somebody that my son is going to become a NASCAR champion one day. Now I can say I am a back-to-back champion."

Dylan Kwasniewski and Brett Moffitt entered the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East season finale at Road Atlanta in Georgia separated by five points in the championship standings.

Dylan Kwasniewski celebrating with his team at Road Atlanta in Victory Lane

Kwasniewski won six races in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East, the most since Brad Leighton won six races in 1999. Ricky Craven holds the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East record with 10 wins in one season in 1991.

It was the first K&N Pro Series East championship for Turner Scott Motorsports, which made its debut in the series in 2013.

Dylan Kwasniewski and George Silbermann, NASCAR Vice President, in the Victory Land at Road Atlanta

Dylan Kwasniewski and George Silbermann, NASCAR's Vice President, in the Victory Land at Road Atlanta

Kwasniewski easily won the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East championship when Moffitt fell out of contention with a transmission problem on lap 6. Moffitt finished a distant 24th and Kwasniewski won the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East championship by 33 points.

Kwasniewski had two poor finishes in the previous two races. He was 24th at the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway and was 29th at the race at Dover International Speedway in Delaware.

Car owner Harry Scott of Turner-Scott Motorsports with Dylan Kwasniewski in the Victory Lane

Those two races allowed Moffitt to close the gap on Kwasniewski in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East standings.

Dylan Kwasniewski and the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East championship trophy

"It just shows that he never quits," said Mardy Lindley, Dylan Kwasniewski's crew chief. "We never gave up. It was just a great day today. It just showed how our season went. In the beginning it was up and down. When it was up, it was really up."

Moffitt moved within striking distance of Kwasniewski for the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East championship in the last race of the season. But Moffitt's car conked out early in the race leaving little drama in the championship race.

Number 97, Jesse Little, received the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Sunoco Rookie of the Year honors

"We were coming into this last race with two horrible races," Kwasniewski said. "It could have been either way. We bounced back. We knew that we had the championship locked in. We knew that we had the car to beat."

The 18-year-old Kwasniewski is the third youngest driver to win the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East championship. Joey Logano and Ryan Truex won the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East title when they were 17.

"I went into this race, just like the last race at Phoenix, knowing that I was the one to beat at this race," Kwasniewski said. "I was the one that they were going to be chasing. I just had to have that mentality, it's not a cocky mentality, it's just a confident one that you know you can go out there and win every single weekend. That's what I did."

Qualifying for the Road Atlanta 115 was rained out. The starting grid was set by championship points. Kwasniewski started on the pole alongside Moffitt.

Dylan Kwasniewski led every lap of the race. Daniel Suarez was second, with Bryan Ortiz in third.

Related K&N News Articles about the Road Atlanta Racetrack: Torrential Rain Forced Officials to Halt Petit Le Mans on Road Atlanta Circuit; Daytona SportBike Race One Series at Road Atlanta in the books for Rider Chaz Davies

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Increase Horsepower & Torque on 2007, 2008 & 2009 Dodge Ram Cummins Diesels with K&N Air Intake

14 Nov 2013

K&N Air Intake under the hood of Dodge Ram 3500 Pickups

In the land of turbo-diesel motors for pickup trucks, Cummins motors are the elder statesmen, but that doesn't mean they're outdated by any means. The 6.7 liter inline-6 cylinder powerplant in the 2007, 2008 and 2009 Dodge Ram 2500 and 3500 models produces a respectable 350 horsepower and 650 pound-feet of torque to the flywheel and benefits from the inherent balance of a straight-6 motor. Large amounts of horsepower and torque are the name of the game with these diesel pickup trucks and now, owners of 2007-2009 Dodge Ram 2500 and 3500 6.7 liter diesel trucks can have an increase in horsepower, torque, and performance with the K&N 71-1557 Blackhawk Induction™ air intake system.

K&N Air Intake System for Dodge Ram 2500 & 3500 Pickups

The 71-1557 air intake utilizes an aluminum intake tube to help increase airflow to the turbo. A black powdercoating finish is applied to the tube to give the system a sleek look under the hood. The tube comes with a welded K&N engraved plate for just a touch of shine. The tube is also designed to accommodate the factory filter minder gauge if your truck has one. A lot of heat is generated under the hood, especially from the big turbocharger, so the 71-1557 comes with a heat shield to help keep inlet air temperatures cooler. A Black K&N RU-5177HBK air filter is fitted to the inlet of the intake tube, helping to provide excellent filtration efficiency without sacrificing airflow. The filter employs K&N's Dryflow synthetic filter media which doesn't require any oil. It's washable and reusable and can go for up to 100,000 miles between cleanings, depending on driving conditions.

Dyno Chart for K&N Dodge Ram 2500 & 3500 Pickups Air Intake 71-1557

The proof of performance is on the dyno. The 71-1557 air intake produced an estimated 9.2 horsepower at 2950rpm and 19.1 pound-feet of torque at 2250rpm to the wheels. That's a noticeable gain in performance that will help your Cummins-powered Ram get up and go more quickly and easily.

The 71-1557 Blackhawk Induction air intake system maintains all necessary factory connections and can easily be installed in about 90 minutes using basic hand tools and the provided step-by-step instructions. It's also backed by K&N's Million Mile Limited Warranty, giving customers the confidence that they're intake system is a worth-while investment.

Whether your Ram Cummins diesel is a faithful workhorse, weekend toy-tower, around town truck or show pony, the 71-1557 Blackhawk Induction air intake system is one upgrade that will provide a noticeable increase in performance while looking great under the hood.

The K&N 71-1557 will fit the following Dodge Ram 2500 & Ram 3500 pickup models:
2009 Dodge Ram 3500 Pickup 6.7L diesel
2009 Dodge Ram 2500 Pickup 6.7L diesel
2008 Dodge Ram 3500 Pickup 6.7L diesel
2008 Dodge Ram 2500 Pickup 6.7L diesel
2007 Dodge Ram 3500 Pickup 6.7L diesel
2007 Dodge Ram 2500 Pickup 6.7L diesel

For all K&N Dodge Ram 3500 Pickups air intakes visit the Air Intakes for Dodge Ram 3500 Pickups page on KNFilters.com.

Related news story: Dodge Ram 2500 and 3500 Diesels Gain Estimated 20 HP with K&N Air Intake Kit

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Shea Racing Caps Off the 2013 Pirelli World Challenge Season on the Podium

13 Nov 2013

Shea and her dad, team co-owner Jeff Holbrook, were all smiles after the team's stellar season-ending performance in Huston

Shea Holbrook and her dad, team co-owner Jeff Holbrook, were all smiles after the team's stellar season-ending performance in Huston

The fading months of 2013 draw to completion Shea Holbrook Racing's fourth season in the highly competitive Pirelli World Challenge Championship. Furthermore, it marks the first successful year for K&N's Shea Holbrook as a driver, and multi-car team owner.

"There's definitely a different emotional feeling between being a driver and a team co-owner," Holbrook reflects. "Being a driver, there's a lot of self-gratification, because from the green to the checker, it's all up to the driver to get the job done. The saying 'there's no I in team' absolutely holds true when it comes to being a co-owner. Everything you do is just one piece of the puzzle. Being it was our first year as a multi-car effort, I honestly couldn't be happier with our end results. We proved we can run out front. We built quality racecars and never had any major issues. We had solid drivers behind the wheel, and the teams overall work ethic was fantastic. Some may say we're the underdog in this game, but we're running without a leash, and we're looking to build upon what we have for the 2014 season."

P.J. Groenke and Shea Holbrook were tireless signing autographs for all their fans

Shea Racing Team capped off their season on a high note by earning their first podium finish at the Grand Prix of Houston. P.J. Groenke, the driver of the No. 66 Mulligan Gold, Tundra Technical Solutions, Verax.ca, Honda Fit finished 4th in race one, and then secured his first Pirelli World Challenge podium in the second race with a 3rd place finish, positioning him 6th overall in the Touring Car B-Spec Championship. Groenke was also awarded the "Grassroots to Glory Award" for the strides he's made this season.

"Very gratifying," was Holbrook's reaction to the podium finish. "And I'm extremely proud of the effort the whole team put in to achieve that. Many times Shea Racing drivers were in positions to secure podiums, but unfortunately the things we can't control, seemed to get us up until the last race. P.J. Groenke charged to the front in practice and in the race, and it was a very deserving 3rd place finish."

In their inaugural year as a three, and sometimes four-car team, Shea Racing completed the 2013 Pirelli World Challenge season with three top-10 finishes in the Touring Car and Touring Car B-Spec Championships.

(L to R) Brian Fowler, P.J. Groenke and Shea Holbrook celebrated their podium finish in the last round of 2013 Pirelli World Challenge

Holbrook, piloting the K&N supported No. 67 TRUECar, Hendrick Honda, Lucas Oil, Radium, Honda Fit, ran as high as 3rd in race one in Houston, before an incident caused her to slide back to sixth where she ultimately finished. Despite the first-year adjustment period of being pulled in various directions, Holbrook managed a solid 7th place finish in the championship.

The team's third top-10 championship was delivered by Jon Miller, driver of the No. 68 Titan Motorsports, loudbasstard, TRUECar, Honda Civic Si. Although Miller was unable to attend the final race, he still finished 4th in the Touring Car Championship.

Brian Fowler in his No. 65 TRUECar, Tundra Technical Solutions, Ford Fiesta, had his best finishes at the demanding Huston street course, securing an 11th and 12th place finish respectively. Despite running a partial season, Fowler still finished 19th in the Touring Car B-Spec Championship.

"It can be pretty stressful," Holbrook remarked about her first year multitasking duties. "We definitely had more highs than lows though, which is a great thing, but there were things I came across that I'll handle better next year, having now gone through it. This year was a great learning process and I definitely know how to be better prepared for next season. When you have good people to stand with you, and they share the same vision, then collectively you can get the job done."

"There's no secret that I'm always making sure our drivers and crew are being taken care of. I take pride that Shea Racing is a place where a driver can find a sense of family, increase their marketability, and to present a stage where the driver and sponsors can uniquely build their own brand using us as a platform. If we can help a young driver land a sponsorship deal to come racing with us, we'll do that. In turn, they've helped me to refocus my attention on the corners ahead, instead of just seeing the one in front of me."

About the remainder of 2013 Shea Holbrook says "Racing-wise getting in the car as much as possible during the off season is crucial. I'm focusing my attention on the 2014 season, which will take up a lot of time, and we're already ahead of pace. Next year should be a really great year for me. I've been looking forward to doing some other things, and with the support from partners, my family and fans, I think we'll achieve the goals we have set out. In January I'm also re-launching the social media campaign I started this year – Steel Ovary Nation! It should be really cool!"

Related K&N News Articles about Pirelli World Challenge & Shea Holbrook: Shea Holbrook Racing Earns Pirelli World Challenge Championship Points at Lime Rock Grand Prix; Shea Holbrook's Team Fast & Furious Top the Fireball Run and Raise Awareness for Missing Children; Shea Holbrook's Newly Expanded Team Starts 2013 Pirelli World Challenge Season Strong; Pirelli World Challenge Racer Shea Holbrook Prepares for 2013 Race Season

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Scott Free Racing Ready for Rough Waters at Super Boat World Championship in Key West

13 Nov 2013

The K&N supported 30-foot Phantom Superboat Vee class vessel is capable of reaching 95 mph

On November 3rd Super Boat teams from the United States and around the World converged in Key West, Florida for the 33rd Annual Key West Super Boat World Championships. This is the ultimate showdown for the biggest and baddest boats in all of offshore racing, and it's the one brass-ring every team is looking to take hold of.

"There is a saying that goes around the circuit," held Stephen Kildahl "In order to be the best - you have to win Key West'. Key West is by far the trickiest and most challenging event of the year, with three days of racing and a race course like no other. The course has two types of water conditions, calm in the harbor, and rough on the back stretch, where the Gulf of Mexico meets the Atlantic Ocean. To put that in perspective, it's a bit like racing a car around Indy and then hanging a left onto the Baja 1000.

The highly successful father and son team are the leading contenders for another World Championship in Key West

"Your setup is crucial, so you have to find an intermediate setup, and then determine whether you want to be good in the rough or calm," Kildahl explains. "Our team has been working on our rough water setup and trying to better our acceleration out of the corners. We believe this will be crucial for this event and it will help us capture the Championships. We will have seven very competitive boats in our class, and it should be a good week of racing."

The 23-year-old Estero, Florida resident knows a thing or two about good weeks of racing too. Kildahl has been competing since he was nine, and he was on the pro circuit by the time he was 16. In this, his 8th year of racing, he has already inked 2 National Championships, 3 Florida Championships and 2 World Championships. Kildahl currently races a 30-foot Phantom with a 525HP racing engine, capable of reaching speeds of up to 95 mph.

Despite a trim tab problem at the Florida Championships Scott Free Racing still managed to finish in 2nd place

Kildahl's trusted Throttleman and sage mentor is his dad, Steve. Kildahl senior, the owner of Central Marine, is in his 29th year of racing. In that time he has amassed 4 National Championships, 3 Florida Championships, 4 World Championships, 3 World Speed Records, 2 Endurance Records, and in 1992 he was crowned "Throttleman of the Year."

The enormously dynamic father and son team head to Key West riding a generous wave of momentum following their 2nd place finish in Florida Championship. In Clearwater, Florida, 30,000 fans watched as the K&N sponsored Scott Free Racing team pulled out a second tier on the podium despite experiencing a trim tab issue that surfaced early in the race. The 5th Annual Clearwater Bright House Super Boat Championship event is the seventh race of the offshore race season.

The Scott Free Racing team has opted for a rough water setup heading into Key West

"The Clearwater race was a great venue with some ups-and-downs," said Kildahl. "While we were in our pre-race staging area, my dad noticed that one of the trim tab indicators wasn't working. Our instant reaction was that the driver side trim tab was not working, and we had no idea what position it was currently in. As the race was about to start, we had trouble getting the boat on plane with the trim tab issue causing us to start about 8 to 10 boat lengths behind our other competitors. As the race went on, and we were able to get the boat setup to handle the trim issue, we were able to capture a 2nd place finish with a top speed of 90mph. Clearwater was also the final race of the regular season, so with our trim tab troubles, and our 2nd place finish, we also finished 2nd in the Florida Championship, missing 1st place by only 7 points. We learned after the race that the trim tab was working fine, but the actual indicator that tells my dad the position of the trim tab broke, not allowing my dad to know the position of the trim tabs."

The team was also invited to compete in the Qatar Cup in Doha, Qatar in the Middle East in late January. "Our team was honored to be invited to the Qatar Cup and take our program international," commented Stephen Kildahl. "Unfortunately promoters did not have enough time to schedule shipping of the boat, as it would have to have been shipped out just weeks after the Key West race. Our plans now are for the race in 2015."

Related K&N News Articles about Scott Free Racing: International Superboat Vee Class Offshore Boat Team Scott Free Racing Prepares for Next Event

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Custom Designed Blackhawk Intake Adds Power to Dodge Charger, Dodge Challenger and Chrysler 300

13 Nov 2013

K&N Air Intake under the hood of Dodge Charger SRT-8

K&N Blackhawk Air Intake under the hood of Dodge Charger SRT-8

K&N Blackhawk Induction™ air intakes are designed to provide additional performance on muscle cars, sports utility vehicles and trucks. Blackhawk air intake part 71-2545 is a great way to add extra power and performance to 2011 to 2016 Dodge Challenger and Charger models with a 6.4 liter engine, as well as 2012 to 2015 Chrysler 300 models with a 6.4 liter engine. This Blackhawk air intake has black components and it looks great under your hood, while providing a killer engine sound.

K&N Blackhawk Induction Air Intake System for Dodge Charger, Challenger and Chrysler 300 SRT-8

The intake has a durable, powder coated black metal intake tube with a hand welded K&N engraved plaque. It's free-flowing mandrel-bent aluminum tube is designed to smooth and straighten air flow. The intake tube is also designed to utilize the factory inlet air temperature sensor.

Also included is a high-flow K&N Dryflow^® air filter. The black, oil-free, Dryflow air filter (RU-3102HBK) is washable and reusable, so you'll never need to purchase another air filter for your K&N Blackhawk air intake again. The air filter's large surface area protects your engine by providing excellent filtration. It can easily be cleaned with K&N Synthetic Air Filter Cleaner (99-0624) and can last up to 100,000 miles before servicing is needed, depending on driving conditions.

Dyno Chart for K&N Dodge Charger, Challenger and Chrysler 300 SRT-8 Air Intake 71-2545

The Blackhawk air intake 71-2545 also includes a custom made heat shield and other hardware needed for installation. By installing the Blackhawk air intake system, and removing the restrictive factory air box and air filter, your engine will breathe easier and produce more power. Installation is easy, usually lasting no more than 90 minutes. K&N's 71-2545 Blackhawk air intake is covered under by K&N's Million Mile Limited Warranty and it is guaranteed to provide additional horsepower to 2011 through 2013 6.4 liter SRT-8 models, as well as 2012 and 2013 Chrysler 300 6.4 liter SRT-8 models. Dyno testing revealed an estimated gain of 9 horsepower at 4,564rpm and an additional 10.2 foot-pounds of torque at 4,438rpm.

The K&N 71-2545 will fit the following Dodge Charger, Challenger and Chrysler 300 SRT-8 models:
2016 Dodge Charger 6.4L V8
2016 Dodge Challenger 6.4L V8
2015 Dodge Charger 6.4L V8
2015 Dodge Challenger 6.4L V8
2015 Chrysler 300 6.4L V8
2014 Dodge Charger 6.4L V8
2014 Dodge Challenger 6.4L V8
2014 Chrysler 300 6.4L V8
2013 Dodge Charger 6.4L V8
2013 Dodge Challenger 6.4L V8
2013 Chrysler 300 6.4L V8
2012 Dodge Charger 6.4L V8
2012 Dodge Challenger 6.4L V8
2012 Chrysler 300 6.4L V8
2011 Dodge Challenger 6.4L V8

For all K&N Dodge Charger, Challenger and Chrysler 300 SRT-8 air intakes visit the Air Intakes for Dodge Charger , Air Intakes for Dodge Challenger and Air Intakes for Chrysler 300 SRT-8 pages on KNFilters.com.

Related news story: K&N Releases Blackhawk Induction™ Air Intakes for Muscle Cars, SUVs and Trucks

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