Two-time Champion Jim Mardis Representing K&N
|
The first six seasons of the Lucas Oil Modified Series were chock-full of vivid, thrillingly spirited highlights, literally around every turn. And, with each succeeding year as word-of-mouth spread, the enthusiastic crowds continued to grow. However, according to those in the know, they were just knocking the dust off and setting the stage for the 2013 season that recently got underway at the LoanMart Arizona 100.
So far, the first event on the nine race schedule, presented by Optima Batteries at Havasu 95 Speedway, was a another successful kick off for the fastest-growing regional touring series in the country, and it’s very possible that the championship will come down to the very last lap, of the last race in Las Vegas in November. For 2013 K&N has added their endorsement by joining in as a series sponsor, for what most now believe will be the most competitive season to date.
K&N News spoke with Greg Scheidecker, the series co-founder and promoter, to hear his take on the much anticipated seventh season and with Tony Yorkman, Sports Marketing Manager at K&N Engineering Inc..
We asked Greg the following questions:
What are your thoughts about K&N joining the series?
“Lucas Oil is really looking forward to K&N’s involvement with the Lucas Oil Modifieds. K&N has a long, illustrious history in motorsports and this is where the company belongs. K&N was one of our original Team Lucas marketing partners and we have every intention of making them extremely happy to be back with us for the Modifieds.” Greg continued, “K&N will be the presenting sponsor for our race at Havasu 95 Speedway October, 19 and we’d love to see the K&N name on a race at Tucson or Kern County, or any of our tracks next year. They chose two-time champion, Jimmy Mardis, to carry the K&N colors this season, and we know Jimmy will do everything possible to make K&N’s return a success.”
Why do you think this series is catching on with fans the way it has, and what are some of your expectations for the 2013 season?
“We’re extremely grateful for the terrific fan support and we’re going to do everything we can to make sure we’re giving them good value for their money. If we can get someone to come to one of our races, we’re pretty confident they’ll like the show enough to come back and tell their friends.”
Greg continued saying that “I think there are several things the fans like. They know they’re not going to end up watching only 10 or 12 cars. We start at least 22 cars for every main event. We have some exciting B- mains that give those who have problems in qualifying; another chance to get into the main event, and once the main event gets under way there’s a lot of side-by-side racing and a lot of passing throughout the field. Plus, this year we’re using double file restarts everywhere except Blythe, which just isn’t wide enough for it.” “We had 33 entries for our opener at Havasu 95 Speedway March 2. They were all good-looking, well-prepared cars, and after the race one of the owners, who’s new to the series, said he liked the series so much he was bringing a second car to all the races. This is our seventh full season and we think it’s going to be the best one yet.”
Lucas Oil Modified 7th Season is Going to be Very Competitive
|
We then spoke with Tony Yorkman:
How does K&N feel about joing the 2013 Lucas Oil Modified Series?
Tony replied, “K&N’s core is the sportsman racers and there isn’t a better way to connect with the people that actually use our product on and off the race track than to support the series they race in. With all the efforts that Lucas Oil has put into the series by having a field of talented drivers to put on entertaining and competitive races for the fans as well as the awesome tracks here on the west coast, we believe everyone is in for a great race season. We have a long standing relationship with Lucas Oil as a company, and because we follow a lot of the same beliefs in how motorsports supports our business and for Lucas Oil to bring in other companies like Optima Batteries, it shows that they are choosing partners that support the motorsports community. K&N Engineering is extremely proud to be involved with the series and look forward to a great season”
Returning back to Greg, we continued to ask:
Why do the racers enjoy the series so much and how do they manage to keep races so entertainingly competitive?
“I think the answer to both is the same – it’s the rules package and the emphasis we’ve put on being consistent in what we do, and treating everyone the same. It’s also very affordable racing. That doesn’t mean it’s cheap; nothing in racing is, and especially when you’re competing in a touring series. But we do all we can to keep the costs down. We’re not making major changes in the rules and forcing the teams to build new cars every year. We’ve got a terrific Hoosier spec tire and most of the teams are able to run two races on the left-hand tires. Our schedules for each race weekend are designed so teams don’t have to spend more than absolutely necessary for food and lodging and those types of things.”
Greg then continued to say, “We’re also really fortunate that we work with such a great group of sponsors, so that we’ve been able to offer good purses and put together a tow money package that helps offset some of the travel costs. The racers deserve a lot of the credit too. They’re competitors, but they don’t think twice about helping each other out, because they want it to be the best show possible.”
The Lucas Oil Modified is One of the Fastest Growing Regional Touring Series in The Country
|
Are there were any plans to expand the series to other venues?
“Bill Rozhon (race director/co-founder) and Alan Brown (technical director) and myself spend a lot of time trying to look at the big picture and talking about where we’d like the series to be a year or two down the road. One of the most exciting parts of this season, and for the future, is that five of our races will be on national television, thanks to the Lucas Oil television production team and the MAVTV Real American and NBC Sports networks.” “That will be incredibly valuable exposure for the series, the race teams and most of all the sponsors. We’ve added a race this year at Rocky Mountain Raceways, a beautiful facility in West Valley, Utah, just outside of the Salt Lake City. We’re going back to the Irwindale Events Center and we’re continuing our excellent relationships with Madera Speedway, The Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Lucas Oil I-10 Speedway in Blythe and Havasu 95 Speedway in Lake Havasu City. There are on-going discussions about a return to Tucson Raceway Park and a race at Kern County Raceway in Bakersfield for next year. That would be about the limit, though. We want to expand for sure, but we want it to make sense economically for everyone involved.”
Find K&N products for your vehicle using the K&N application search then use the K&N dealer search to find a K&N dealer in your part of the world. |
H&M Motorsports teammates, Beau Baron And David Haagma have already both earned victories early in the 2013 season.
|
The H&M Motorsports team recently embarked upon a drive to Primm, about 45 miles south of Las Vegas. There was a casino within eye shot of their destination, but the crew's goal had nothing to do with feeding the slot machines. In fact, A WORCS event is held behind the Buffalo Bill's Resort every year, and they were eager to test their skills against other riders at the annual event.
According to team manger, Alan McCostlin, they arrived with a highly important aspect of racing on their side - recent success. "The Buffalo Bill's race was only the second of the year," he explained. David Haagma (H&M team member) was able to win the first race of the season."
H&M rider, Beau Baron, recently walked away from the Buffalo Bill's race, at Primm with two wins under his belt.
|
Continuing, he said, "We always try to be confident heading into every race, but Primm is a brutal track and is very challenging, both physically and on the bikes, to come out of there on top. We did a lot of off-season suspension testing with Elka and Jay Gobel, from Impact Solutions, and Doug Roll, from Roll Design. It helped us tremendously, and we were able to come away with a win."
With the first race of the day came the opportunity for Haagma to line up against his teammate, Beau Baron in the ATV Pro class. When the race was deemed underway, Baron managed to take an early lead, and never even considered looking back. He held a fast pace, striving to put distance between himself and the field of riders. He was never challenged once taking the front position, and his efforts were rewarded with a victory.
Beau has something that not a lot of people have, when it comes to racing," explained McCostlin. "He has a lot of heart and does not have any give up in his mind. He can get a bad start or a crash, or something else may happen, and he just keeps working and pushing through it. At the end of the day, he is usually on the podium. He's tough as nails and always gives 100-percent."
H&M team member, David Haagma earned a victory during the first event of 2013, setting standard that they hope to follow throughout the remainder of the season.
|
Although he already had one win under his belt, that was no reason for Baron to let up or call it a day. That's right, he had another race ahead of him. Lining up in the ATV class, the rider had already managed to muscle his way into the lead going into the third lap.
Again determined to win, the rider focused on the finish line. Through the remainder of the race, no rider was able to work their way close enough to Challenge Baron. When the dust had settled he was the clear winner and had earned his second podium of the event.
Haagsma, on the other hand, entered the race with less swagger in his stride than his teammate.
"David is usually confident, but this is one of his worse tracks," recalled McCostlin. "he does not care for Primm, and just tried to come out of there with a top-five finish. He ended up placing fourth in the race, so that was good."
Anyone who has participated in team sports will be quick to agree that unity is essential. Well, team H&M Motorsports is no different. "I think we have the best group of people surrounding our team for sure," stated McCostlin. "From riders to sponsors, and all in between, we have a great group of people with the same goal in mind - winning. We try to prepare ourselves the best we can for each event, and it paid off last year. We were able to win the 2012 WORCS ATV pro championship (Beau) and the 2012 Quad-X ATV Pro championship (David)."
The team is acutely aware that maintenance is often the deciding factor between failure and success. When asked if his team finds keeping their bikes in tip-top condition of importance, he said with a laugh, "I am very picky and try to make sure everything is one-hundred-percent all the time. It is a ton of work. But it the bikes don't finish races, we can't win championships. I try to keep on top of everything and make sure the equipment is prepared the best it can be for every event."
That in mind, the team manager and his crew are strong advocates of using K&N products for their filtering needs. "We've been using K&N filters since starting our team two years ago," explained McCostlin. "We use their air and oil filters on all of our ATVs and side-by-sides. David and I even have the K&N air intake systems on our trucks. K&N products are the best out. We have never had a failure and K&N played a huge part in my team winning two championships last year."
Anticipating what lie in store for the remainder of the season, Allan McCostlin concluded, "We are doing our best to win both ATV championships again, and David and Beau are going after the RZR championships also in Separate classes."
With high aspirations and a taste of previous championships, one might suspect that H&M Motorsports is capable of meeting their goals.
Other K&N Pro ATV news stories include H&M Motorsports' Pro ATV Racers Haagsma and Baron Win 2012 Quad-X and WORCS Championships, A Podium Filled Weekend For Pro ATV Sand Drag Racer, Gary "Gee" Armstrong and Danny Prather & David Scott Crowned BITD Pro Quad and ATV Grand Champions.
Find K&N products for your vehicle using the K&N application search then use the K&N dealer search to find a K&N dealer in your part of the world. |
Bryce Menzies finished the race at San Felipe only four seconds ahead of the second place driver.
|
The Menzies Motorsports crew recently rolled into San Felipe with high expectations of what would transpire in the hours to come. The SCORE International series was under new ownership, and in turn, sported new rules and regulations.
Although the change of ownership brought with it uncertainties, there was one thing that hadn't changed. Bryce Menzies was there with one thing on his mind - victory.
Leaving the starting line in one-minute Intervals, Menzies tackled what had traditionally been known as the "roughest" section of the Baja immediately with three drivers in front of him. Experience would obviously prove essential during the entire race, but the years under his belt would prove key during this first section of the course. The decisions of when to push his Red Bull/Menzies Motorsports truck and when to lay back early-on would inevitably be huge at the race's end.
Team Menzies Motorsports recently found themselves the subject of a controversial call at San Felipe, when Bryce Menzies was penalized for straying off of the designated course to avoid a drivers dust.
|
Menzies and his co-rider, Pete Mortensen, had already managed to pass B.J. Baldwin by the mile-38 marker, and had the others leading the field in their sights. In fact, Menzies found himself in a heated battle with Mark Weyrich for the physical lead148 miles into the race.
Nearing the dry lake bed, Weyrich had a flat, and Menzies took the lead. In front of the field of competitors, the driver proceeded forward, never looking back.
With only 30 miles left in the event, Menzies was challenged by Gustavo Vildolosa. Not willing to accept anything but a win, the driver made a mad run, crossing the finish line as the "unofficial winner" and less than four seconds ahead of Vildolosa.
But "unofficial" was the key word on this particular day. Unfortunately, the higher-powers slapped a five-and-one-half minute penalty on Bryce Menzies for straying off course to avoid Dan McMillin's dust as he neared mile 89. It was rumored that several other drivers took the same route without any repercussion, but the decision had been made, and Menzies Motorsports officially had to settle for second place.
Menzies Motorsports has managed to earn their share of victories throughout the years and is anticipating another stellar season in 2013.
|
Referring to the call, Director of Team Logistics/Marketing Office Manager, Dane Raney, said, "It's in the past, but we wish the rules were more clear and concise. We took this as fuel for our competitive fire. We won't lay down. We're going after the championship. We try and prepare for every scenario with our crew that consists of employees and volunteers. It takes more time and effort, but that, and a good driver help us win races.
Referring to the importance of the team, he continued, "They are important to everyone who is involved... We work hard to win races, but also respect everyone and help anyone who needs it along the way."
When asked what separates them from their competitors, he said, "Practice - practice - practice, preparation - preparation - preparation. Not to mention, an incredible driver really helps."
With a strong work ethic and an "incredible driver" on board, Menzies Motorsports is also a firm believer in the importance of keeping their rigs in tip-top running condition. That in mind, they are strong advocates of keeping their engines running free of dust and other foreign debris.
"Maintenance is key," ensured Raney. "These trucks have to be meticulously maintained if you want to run up front with the fast guys. The Trophy Truck class will not have a winner with a truck that hasn't been prepared correctly. The races are far too hard on the vehicles. We are lucky to have Pete Mortensen, who is one of the best in the sport."
Referring to their filtering needs, he continued, "We use a bunch of K&N products. Desert uses a 16-inch filter with filter oil, seal grease, pre-wraps and power cleaner. Short-course uses a 14-inch filter with filter oil, seal grease, pre-wraps, as well as carb gaskets. We've been using K&N products since Bryce's first buggy in 2007.
K&N has been an industry leader for as long as I can remember," he explained. "Brands come and go, but K&N has hung around. And that is a testament to having great products year-in and year-out. K&N has aided Menzies Motorsports in gathering both desert and short-course championships in years past. These trucks are constantly beat up, and K&N's product never fails."
When asked what fans can expect for Menzies Motorsports throughout the remainder of the season, Raney, replied, "First and foremost, we would like to thank our fans for all of their support over the years.We wouldn't be doing what we're doing if it wasn't for them. Winning races leads to our ultimate goal of winning championships. In the words of Ricky Bobby,'If you're not first, you're last'."
More K&N SCORE desert racing news is available on KNFilters.com including Nick Nelson Wins the SCORE Baja 1000 Race With His Class 24 450cc ATV, Roger Norman Makes Podium at the SCORE Baja 1000 with a 3rd Place as Iron Man, 2011 Win for K&N Sponsored Bryce Menzies SCORE Baja 1000 and All German Motorsports Builds SCORE International Series Off-Road Trophy Truck from BMW X6 SUV.
K&N has performance products for many on and off-road vehicles. Use the K&N application search to find the right performance part for your vehicle, then use the K&N dealer search to find a K&N dealer in your part of the world. |
Jon Crowley's King of the Hammers co-pilot/winch operator was Blake Van de Loo.
|
If King of the Hammers were a Jeopardy game show question surly the answer would be - what is Thor? Mjolnir is the hammer weapon of choice for superhero Thor. And, if it is indeed made of a star, as the legend holds, it would weigh as much as 300 billion elephants. Astrophysicist, Neil deGrasse Tyson, took the time to cipher up an answer to that truly perplexing, albeit fictional, scientific question. Yet even the wrath of Thor and all the might of his pachyderm dense star-hammer couldn't have battled any tougher, or more successfully, than Jon Crowley and his UTVGuide.net team in the genuine 2013 King of the Hammers.
The 2013 King of the Hammers lived up to its billing as toughest one-day off-road race on the planet.
|
The founders of Hammerking Productions are the force behind King of the Hammers, billed as the toughest one-day off-road race on the planet. King of the Hammers takes place each year in February, on public lands in Johnson Valley, California. Over the years the race has evolved from 12 teams racing for bragging rights and a case of beer, to more than 150 teams competing before thousands of zealous fans, both live and online.
The faintly sadistic folks of Hammerking have also established a racing class known as the Ultra4 class. The defining characteristic of this class is that all cars must be capable of 4-wheel drive. Beyond that, the class is unlimited, meaning these cars come in all shapes and sizes, and are capable of speeds over 100 miles-per-hour. However, they still include gear ratios as low as 100-to-1, in order to even have a chance at negotiating the insanely sick technical rock crawling sections that have become such fan favs.
"The road to the 2013 HCR King of the Hammers UTV Race was a tough journey for me," Crowley remarked. "Although this was my 5th year racing, I have struggled most years and have questioned my sanity many times for coming back to race year after year. The first four years of the UTV race were more like a desert sprint with a few rock obstacles sprinkled in. This year rumors flew all over cyberspace that King of the Hammers organizer Dave Cole was going to step up the game. Those rumors proved to be oh so true and much more."
Crowley and Van de Loo finished only 16 seconds behind the leader at the HCR King of the Hammers Race
|
We had the opportunity to speak with Mitch Guthrie earlier, so it will be great to get your perspective on the battle you guys shared. How tough is it to get your mind around finishing only 16 seconds behind him?
"If I had to finish 2nd place to anyone, Mitch is the guy. It's very tough knowing though that after almost 8 hours of racing, we were only 16 seconds behind. You second guess the whole race for days afterwards, wondering how different decisions along the course would have changed the outcome, but that is racing."
Care to give a shout-out to your co-pilot/winch operator during the race?
"My co-dog for King of the Hammers was Blake Van de Loo. We had never raced together, but we worked very well together. He is super experienced in the rocks and with the Polaris RZR XP, so I don't think I could have asked for anyone better."
What in your opinion took a bigger hit in this race, your vehicle, or you body and mind?
"I was absolutely spent at the end of the race, mentally and physically. Making sure I took care of the car was paramount to finishing the race. The course was absolutely brutal and it did take its toll on the car, but the RZR XP is a great platform for this format."
What are your thoughts about returning to the King of the Hammers event next year, and how do you plan to stay busy for the rest of the season?
"I am not sure if I will return to King of the Hammers next year. I have raced every year in the UTV class and it takes a huge commitment. It is one of those races that is hard to stay away from though, so I wouldn't count me out. I do race some local short course and possibly some desert races with VORRA in Northern California and Nevada."
More K&N off-road desert racing and rock crawling news can be found in Guthrie Racing's Father and Son Team Win the 2013 King of the Hammers UTV Title.
Find K&N performance products and power gaining air intake systems for your vehicle at KNFilters.com then use the K&N dealer search to find a K&N dealer in your part of the world. |
|
