K&N Filters Goes Racing With Jay Leno's Big Dog Garage General Manager Bernard Juchli
- 16 Sept 2013
What makes this so unique, so different from other racing families? Rick's three daughters, Amber, Heather and Allison do the majority of the driving. This year, the focus has been primarily on Amber, the youngest of the three, and her move up into a quicker junior dragster class.
Amber took an even bigger leap forward recently, finishing runner-up in her age group at the Junior Dragster Challenge at Maple Grove Raceway in Reading, Pensilvaania. Bell called it a "great day," and added that he thought it was the best moment of the season for him, both as a father and a team owner. But Amber wasn't the only one having fun this summer. "Heather and Allison were both home this summer too, and were able to get some seat time in our new 1968 Pro Street Chevrolet Camaro," Bell said. Rick even jumped back behind the wheel in the new hot rod, and immediately found success. "I brought home a trophy the first time back in the driver's seat when I finished runner-up in my class," Bell said. But still, don't look for the patriarch of the family to consider making a full-time jump back behind the wheel. "The racing will always be for the girls," Bell said. The family is looking forward to several more Junior Dragster Challenge races during the fall, leading them up to Thanksgiving and a winter break.
Through all the years of watching his three daughters power down drag strips across the country, Bell said he's only been nervous once. "The only time I was ever worried was when Heather licensed in the front engine dragster," Bell said. "It wasn't that I didn't think she couldn't handle it, it was just that it was a big change watching her go from an 85 mile-per-hour junior dragster to a 165 mile-per-hour front engine dragster." All went well, squashing any concerns Bell had. He's just happy his daughters fell in love with the same sport he did. "The girls have always enjoyed being competitive with the boys," Bell said. "In school, when people find out they drag race, most boys don't believe them. It's nice to know that my girls are just as competitive and able drivers as any man at the track." For years, K&N Filters has been a big reason for the success of Bell Family Racing. "We have been using K&N products since 2003. We know we can trust their oil and air filters to protect our most important racing asset other than our drivers, our motors," Bell said. |
Stopping in at a kart shop, they were instantly hooked. He purchased a kart for his daughter, and it's all been about the fast paced sport of racing ever since. At the age of 12, Tiffany was eager and ready to try her hand at racing something with a little more umph. That in mind, her father gladly invested in a 600 c.c. quarter midget. With a burning passion for speed and stiff competition, the driver manned her first winged sprint car at 18. Now 26-years-old, Wyzard is still engulfed in the sport, and has no intentions of doing anything other than continuing her quest to become a household name in sprint car racing. When asked about her passion for the sport, Wyzard, explained, "I've been racing for 18 years. It's a huge rush, plus I'm a very competitive person. So there's not a better feeling. I currently run in the MOWA series."
Racing in the 410 sprint class, the driver has learned from experience that there are simply seasons that are plagued with problems. That being said, Tiffany Wyzard is currently in the process of trying to overcome such a scenario. I've only run two races this season," She explained. "We've had motor issues we're trying to work out. We plan on running at east ten more races before the season is over. Normally, we run about 26 to 30 races per season.
I'm assuming I'm not doing so well in the points right now," she continued. "I've only run one MOWA event. It has really been a year of ‘if something is going to go wrong, its going to happen to us'. All drivers have those years," she ensured. "We will bounce back next year; Staying Positive!" Although plagued with Murphy's Law thus far in the 2013 season, Tiffany Wyzard and her team are still hopeful and looking forward to their upcoming races. "A race I'm looking forward to is Burlington, Iowa," said Wyzard. "It's the 6th and 7th of September. It's always been one of my favorite tracks, and I haven't raced in a few weeks because of engine problems. So it's always exciting to jump back in." After taking off last year and not too much driving time this season, Wyzard is looking forward to regaining the comfort and confidence that comes with logging time behind the wheel. That being said, she feels the most effective means of reaching this goal, short-term, is frequenting local tracks where she is accustomed to racing. However, her long-term plans differ a great deal. "Next year, I would like to have a bruiser schedule and try to run about 40 races, including a few Outlaws shows," stated the driver. "I would like to run the Outlaw Nationals in the next couple of years. Eventually I would like to race full time with the Outlaws." With aspirations of pursuing her racing career, Tiffany Wyzard has put much thought into the elements of being a winner . "Staying focused and motivated," replied the driver when asked the keys to success. "Being consistent! Sponsors are a huge part of racing, so keeping your end of the deal - making sure they are getting exposure and you are promoting their product!" The driver is also aware of the importance of her team. "Your team is what makes it happen," she ensured. "You can't do it alone. I can't thank them enough for what they do. My dad especially; he's taught me a lot throughout the years. He's always there, no matter what. We build cars and engines together. It's really awesome that I can do that with him." Experience has also taught Tiffany Wyzard that no aspect of the sport is more important than keeping one's car in optimal running condition. "Maintenance is very important," Wyzard said. "Race cars work better when maintained. My car doesn't hit the track unless all maintenance is complete. It also makes it more safe when you locate issues before they become problems." In reference to keeping the internal components of her engine contaminant free, she continued, "I run K&N crankcase breathers and sprint air boxes. I also use the K&N filter oil and cleaner. I've been using their product since I've been in sprint cars. "I love their product. Great Quality," she continued. "Their air boxes do a great job of keeping the dirt out of our engines, which is very important." With all of her ducks back in a row and a positive attitude, Tiffany Wyzard is anticipating good things to come. When asked what fans can expect from her in the future, Wyzard concluded, "They can expect to see me in the sprint car for the rest of the season, and also a couple of Silver Crown races which will be posted on my web site. I'm very excited to see what the remainder of the season has in store for us." |
Months earlier, Flores reached out to fellow racer in need, 17-year-old Women's Ski Limited class competitor Anna Glennon who risked losing her shot at the National title if she didn't participate in the mid-season Sparks, Nevada, US Open of Watercross. Flores, who along with the rest of the K&N Filters-supported Optima Racing team, was already scheduled to be present, offered Glennon the use of his Raceskis.com-built Stock class Kawasaki SX-R.
Coached by Flores and team manager Mike Bartolomeo, Glennon rode Flores' 800cc-powered ski to a third place podium finish, and eventually came home with the National title in her class for the year as well. At the event, Glennon said, "Thank you Rob, for being generous enough to let me take your ski out for the most exciting three motos of my career. This weekend was a weekend I won't forget, that's for sure." This is not the first time for the veteran racer to extend a helping hand to a young racer, and certainly won't be the last. Glennon's younger sister, Jessie, is already taken up the sport competing in the Junior 12-13 Ski class. Flores, whose unmistakable laugh and laser-like focus on the closed course has earned him an equal portion of respect and friends on and off the water; and his willingness to give to the new generation ensures many more friends in the future. |
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For four years, Russ continued racing go-karts until graduating college and building his first Street Stock racecar in 2006. "It was a lot of fun," Russ recounted. "I enjoyed building it as my dad helped me all the way."
Choosing to go pro proved difficult. In his first two seasons, Russ was plagued with engine troubles, blowing four engines in five weeks. Doubling his efforts on his engine program, Russ won eight heats that following year, finishing 5th in points. Undaunted, Russ reached out to K&N Filters in 2007, earning a sponsorship and went on to win five features and five heats, collecting the track championship. The next year, Russ continued his momentum, winning 14 heats and four features as well as the track championship. By 2011, Russ stepped up to a Northeast Dirt Modified car and switched tracks, running at the Blackrock Speedway his rookie year. It was there, behind the wheel of his new Modified that Russ earned Rookie of The Year and won his first feature in only his second race out in it. Picking up two feature wins that year and ending up 7th in points, Russ went back to Woodhull Raceway (where he had won the Street Stock championship at Woodhull Raceway in 2009 and 2010) and fetched another Rookie of The Year honor in 2012. Currently, Russ is running a Bicknell chassis and has dominated 14 heat races to date, and is currently 4th in points. When asked why he ran K&N Filters, Russ explained, "In addition to filters, I also run K&N's valve cover breathers, crankcase breathers, pre-chargers, foam pre-filters, oil filters, fuel filters, flow control assemblies, cleaners and there grease. K&N Filters are hands down the best filter on the market. It is very reassuring to know when you put one on you're putting on the best available filter. I have never had a part failure due to one of their filters and have never had any issues with any of their products. I will never run another brand of filter or air filter, and I have K&N filters and intakes on all the cars I own." |
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