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The young K&N champion under construction finished his 2012 rookie kart season with four second place and two third place podium finishes
There’s no single, straight-line, direct road to success in racing. Some racers start on motorcycles and turn into Indy Car champions. Some start in Legend cars, others in quarter-midgets or Sprint cars. However, many of the biggest names in NASCAR all have go-kart experience to thank for their successful racing foundations. Jeff Burton, Kevin Harvick and Jeff Gordon, to name a few, all earned their chops in go-karts before they reached double-digit age.
Kasey Gillis, the 7-year-old Fitzgerald Elementary School student from Rialto, California has that in common with some very best in the business. There are also several other early characteristics Kasey shares with these and other champions, like an immediate and very obvious flair for racing, mixed supremely with an unbridled joy for the sport, and the unconditional support from his family and friends.
Kasey’s first ever outdoor kart race was in February of 2012 where he finished 2nd in his class. His first indoor kart event came only nine months later at K1 Speed in Ontario, California. Kasey now owns the track record, three league wins in a row and the Jr. League Championship there.
Kasey Gillis runs the No.18 because of his NASCAR idol Kyle Busch
“Kasey runs the No.18 because his favorite driver is Kyle Busch in the No.18 M&M’s NASCAR and Kasey drives like Kyle does,” comments Larry, Kasey’s justifiably proud dad. “He is willing to drive the kart in deep and push his kart to the edge.”
Kyle Busch started out in go-karts right about the same age as Kasey. In his formative years Busch could be found driving around the cul-de-sac of his family’s Las Vegas neighborhood in a makeshift go-kart.
“He loves going fast and wants to win at everything he does,” Larry continues. “Kasey had a great rookie season, and he had two memorable highlights. The first was Kart Kamp, which involved three days of learning, both in the classroom and on the track. And it was very evident he was paying close attention to his instructor, Dave DiMond, the owner of Apex Raceway in Lake Perris, California. The third day was race day where Kasey finished in 2nd place, he was so excited.”
“Then the other highlight was his first pole in the second to the last race of the season. It was a hard fight for two laps, until another kart took him out, he spun into the infield and came back on the track in 5th place. He continued to fight hard for the rest of the race and finished with another 2nd place. Kasey finished the 2012 season with four 2nd place finishes, and two 3rd place finishes.”
Kasey is looking forward to the 2013 season kick-off at Apex Raceway in Lake Perris on the 17th of February 2013. He will be competing with his with a new race motor. The KCJ Motorsports team is planning to run all nine races on the schedule, in addition they will also attend as many other events in the Sothern California as possible.
“The whole family helps out,” adds dad, “Even his older brother get his hands dirty in the pits. Many other family members and friends come out and to support and cheer him on.”
Cody Swanson managed to finish the 2012 season as the Ventura Racing Association Midget Champion
After a few seasons of up and down results, Cody Swanson now knows what it is like to be a champion. The California kid was named Ventura Racing Association Midget champion at the historic Ventura Raceway this season. Steady improvements throughout the season finally put Swanson in victory lane, and led him on a roll that only stopped when he was crowned champion.
“Winning the championship this past season at Ventura was a great honor,” Swanson said via email. “Ventura Raceway has been known for exciting Midget racing for decades now and it’s great to be a part of history at the track. All season long racing was very tight and exciting and the championship didn’t come easy.”
Swanson and his #71 K&N Midget started the season on a bad note, wrecking out of opening night. But the team, led by his father and crewmembers Jeff Wahl, Jimmy Goodwine, Ray Mills and Tres Van Dyne, made steady improvements, culminating in Swanson’s first win on September 15th.
Despite the rough start Cody Swanson and his race team found a way to get a handle on the hard regulation tires
“When you had a year as great as we did, it is really hard to narrow down (the best moment). When you really get down to it though, the greatest moment has to be getting our first win. We worked really hard to get that win.”
A key for Swanson’s roaring comeback in the standings was figuring out how to get more forward bite on the spec right rear tire VRA uses. Following the opening night incident, the team was stuck playing catch up until August, when a breakthrough was made and the rest is history.
“The tire is significantly harder than any other organization uses across the country. When this is combined with a slick, granite-like surface, it makes it difficult to get the car to hook up off the corners. All year we worked hard and were always trying something different with the setup of the car. Every race improvements were made and it really showed at the end of the season. That’s what won us the championship.”
Swanson will move up into the USAC Western States Midget Series in 2013, running on dirt up and down the West Coast, as well as in Arizona. He is also looking for a motor for their pavement car so they can run some races on the asphalt.
Cody Swanson will make the move up to the USAC Western States Midget Series for 2013
While the driver did the heavy lifting, Swanson was quick to thank his crew and sponsors for giving him a championship caliber racecar.
“Racing is a team sport and this wouldn’t be possible without all the help my crew offers. I want to thank them for their outstanding work, and also thank our sponsors.
“K&N Filters are essential to the success of our team. We use every product available for both the racecar and the support vehicles. The air filter keeps a clean, high-volume airflow going through the intake, helping produce optimum horsepower. K&N Oil Filters keep our engine oil clean, helping us stretch out the life of our engine and save on rebuild costs. And the Fuel Filters keep the fuel lines and nozzles clean and free of debris and are very easy to maintain.”
Cody Swanson has been racing for many years and has seen much success. Check out these articles that prove it Legends Race at Irwindale, Swanson Back on the Track and Swanson Rookie Points Leader.
RJ Anderson sits atop the podium no tonly in 1st but, a 2012 championship
Another season of Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series (LOORRS) action is in the books for Stronghold Motorsports, and another championship is on the mantle. But this one just feels different. It feels a little more special.
19-year-old RJ Anderson became the youngest professional trophy truck champion in LOORRS history, securing the Pro Lite championship in 2012. The son of an off road racing legend, Anderson now sits on top of the world, another superstar in the stable of Stronghold drivers that includes motocross king Jeremy McGrath, Jeremy 'Twitch' Stenberg and Cameron Steele. A few months later, the championship is starting to settle in for Anderson.
“I think the championship has finally sunk in,” Anderson said. “At first it all seemed so unreal, but after a few newspaper and magazine articles I’ve come to terms with the new title of Pro Lite champion.
RJ Anderson appreciates his LOORRS Pro Lite fan base and their support
“I have to give a special thanks to everyone who has reached out and congratulated me on my dream come true this year.”
Faced with the decision to either play baseball or go racing, Anderson chose the dirt, following in the footsteps of his father, Randy, the long-time crew chief for trophy truck legend Walker Evans. Five years later, Anderson looks like a genius for choosing the loud pedal over the diamond.
RJ Anderson started off-road racing and the ripe young age of 14
“There are a few things that made this championship special to me. The biggest one is the fact that I started my off road racing career at the lowest level, in a trophy kart at age 14. I had to work my way up through the ranks, proving myself in each class that I entered. To be a Pro Lite champion was always my dream and to actually see it come true in just five years was a very big accomplishment for me.
“Another reason it was so special is I got to do it right alongside my dad. He’s been an off road legend his whole life, so to be able to accomplish something like this together was very cool for me.”
RJ Andseron and the Stronghold race team grabbed the points lead early in the season and never looked back
Anderson jumped out to an early points lead and was able to carry that momentum through the season, never losing sight of the final goal.
“I honestly never lost faith in brining home the 2012 championship. We grabbed the point lead early and tried not to lose any momentum. There are always bumps in the road, but my team put in one-hundred-and-ten percent at all time and gave me a truck I was confident with going into each and every race.”
RJ Anderson is the youngest trophy truck champion in LORRSS history
Those bumps Anderson alluded to certainly reared their ugly head during Anderson’s other championship run, but they also provided a moment of learning that helped Anderson better understand how to chase a championship and finish the deal.
“One thing I learned is in racing it’s never over until it’s over. I actually lost the TV championship earlier in the year after leading the points all season. I was leading the final race and on the last lap, I ended up breaking a transmission, which set me back to a runner-up finish in the points standings. I was very bummed, but it taught me to save my equipment, which helped carry over to the situation I was in during my Pro Lite championship hunt.”
Anderson dodged his biggest bullet early in the season.
The K&N sponsored racer has a long career ahead in off-road racing
“The most important moment of the year was when I lost a cylinder halfway through the Glen Helen night race and still managed to finish in fourth. We had a fast truck but on only seven cylinders, the truck was at a huge disadvantage. Championships are won on your bad days, so pulling off a fourth was a huge step in keeping us atop the field.”
Of course, every season has its magical moments, and for Anderson, one will forever be etched in his memory: the night he won the championship.
RJ Anderson understands engine protection is a big part of winning championships
“A moment I will never forget is pulling into the winners circle after winning the night race in Las Vegas. The win clinched the Pro Lite class championship and the energy from the crowd and my team was insane. My team worked so hard all year and to reward them with a championship was a huge accomplishment. It took a lot of weight off my shoulders going into the final round with the title already clinched.”
One of the biggest advantages Anderson had was the strong sponsorship from Monster Energy Drink, Stronghold Motorsports, and of course, K&N Filters.
“One of the toughest battles in off road racing is keeping your engine together each and every race. We race in a very dirty environment, and the K&N products we use give us the performance we need to win championships, and the clean air our engines need to run all race long.”
Motorcycle Racing has been in Shayna Texter's blood for many years
To many, including multiple championship-winning DFW Honda/K&N Filters racer Shayna Texter, racing is all about family. Many owe their careers to parents and older siblings who blazed trails, provided coaching and encouragement and who continue to help these racers along their paths. For Shayna, it started in 2004 after watching her older brother race. Of course, older brother Cory's example wasn't the only one - her grandfather, Glen Fitzcharles, who was inducted in the Sprint Car Hall of Fame in 2008, and father Randy, a professional flattrack and road racer of his own, both sparked a love for motorcycle racing in Shayna as a little girl.
In the passing years, time had been both cruel and giving. The Texter family lost Randy and his father, Shayna's grandfather, legendary Ray “Tex” Texter in less than two years. Meanwhile, Shayna continued to bring in championships, including the 2012 AMA All-Star Series Champion, multiple accolades from the AMA (Most Dedicated Rider, Most Outstanding Performance, and Female Rider of the Year), and four career AMA Grand National wins.
Shayna brought home a Pro Single championship victory in Springfiled, IL during 2012
The road to her 2012 AMA All-Star Series Championship was a difficult one, particularly at the series' close. Rain-outs in Springfield, IL, mechanical mishaps and track conditions added up to some stiff competition for the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield Short Track Nationals last September. Shayna was prepared to ride the same Honda CRF 450 she had ridden to the podium in 2011; the very same 2009 Honda she rode to the win at Sacramento California’s Mile in July of 2012.
Unfortunately, on the last lap of Qualifying, she blew 5th gear in the gearbox, forcing the crew to pull out their backup bike, a 2012 Honda. With only two-hours to set up the bike, Shayna's crew continued to make adjustments throughout the evening. “There was no way I could have done all the work in the swap-over; there were so many helping including Mark Cheza, Billy Gruwell, Jared Mees who were also helping to keep me focused," Shayna recounted.
Thankfully, both bikes shared similar equipment including K&N Filters. "My family has been using K&N products for as long as I can remember," Shayna explained. "If they make a product available for our bikes, we use them. The whole crew at K&N are really genuine people and I am really excited to be a part of the K&N family. The quality of the products and strong history in the company is something that can't be matched among their competitors. It adds performance to our motorcycles in the horsepower department and the products keep our bikes one step above the competition."
Shayna rides a 2012 Honda CRF450 in AMA flat track events across the country
Thankfully, with the bike tuned, Shayna returned to the field of Pro Single competitors. Through the heat, Shayna was in 6th before moving outside to take the spot behind the number two qualifier, Stephen Vanderkur. With one more outside line, Shayna made her move on the forth lap to take the lead, bringing home the championship. She then celebrated with her brother Cory and has remained forever grateful for the family she has and the new family she has acquired while racing.
Clark plans on continuing to race the NASCAR Modified for one at least one more season in 2013.
Pigtails and sixteen - that was Jessica Clark back in 2009 when we first discovered her stirring up a ruckus on the racing radar. At the time, setting aside time to answer interview questions from a sponsor got delegated to the backseat, Clark had more pressing priorities after all. She was fully focused and dedicated on maintaining a 4.0 GPA at Westlake High School, and how do you not immediately admire that kind of clear thinking from a kid? Clark is unmistakably one of those much needed overachievers that continue to push the learning curve forward so that the rest of us are shamed into achieving anything at all. Clark isn't a kid anymore, and as much as things have changed outwardly, the internal mechanical foundation that makes her tick has only been fortified, reinforced and polished to a diamond luster.
During the 2010 through 2011 race season Clark competed in the Western USAC Ford Focus Midget series and the NASCAR Whelen S2 Limited Late Model Series. She had 1 feature win, 1 pole, 9 top-three finishes, 19 top-five finishes, and 30 top-ten finishes.
"I also became the first female in USAC history to win two championships in one year," Clark adds. "I won the Western States Pavement Ford Focus Midget Championship and the Southern Pavement Ford Focus Midget Championship. My 2012 NASCAR Whelen All American Modified/Star Grand American Modified racing season recently ended, and on a strong note. I was not able to find the funding for a full season of racing, so I raced two thirds of a season. I finished off the season with a trophy dash win and a Star Grand American modified feature win. I will be racing NASCAR Whelen All American Modifieds next season at Stockton 99 Speedway with the hopes of turning it into a touring season."
On the subject of important lessons she's learned over the past few years Clark says. "On the driving side of racing I have learned that my ability to give accurate and detailed feedback to my crew is a necessity to improve our chances for a successful race.
Jessica Clark acknowledges that Ron Sutton's Winners Circle program has taught her to be a better racer and a more confident and astute young woman.
On the business side of racing I have learned that the key to any sponsorship is to treat it as a business partnership in which I, the driver, am a marketing partner. I have learned that a sponsorship is not a 'handout' to an 'up-and-coming racer.' It is an investment in a strong and lucrative form of marketing." It's only reasonable at this point to mention that there are veteran racers that never grasp that concept any better, or articulate it any more succinctly, than Clark just did.
Concerning her continuing involvement with the Ron Sutton's Winners Circle (RSWC), "It has been a blessing to my life's journey," she acknowledges. "It is a racing team that is dedicated to developing young, talented drivers to have a viable chance at a career in the NASCAR Cup series. I have been racing for RSWC for four years and I consider all drivers and crew members as my extended family. I was accepted on the team at the age of 14 and I was extremely shy, unconfident, and not business minded at all. After my first year on the team I had gained loads of self-confidence and I became quite outgoing."
"I attribute this growth of self to the in-class training days that we have each year during the off season. The topics of the classes include: fitness, chassis tuning, data acquisition and analysis, how to conduct yourself in interviews, sponsorship and marketing, etc. RSWC provides all the tools to become a well rounded driver on and off the track. I am eternally grateful to have had the opportunity to be a part of this team because it has not only turned me into a knowledgeable and experienced racer/business woman, it provides me with life skills and lessons that are priceless and will benefit me regardless of the whether or not I achieve a career in NASCAR."
Clark's short term plans are to continue racing the NASCAR Modified for one more season. Her long term goal is to be racing in either the K&N East Series or the ARCA Series within the next three years. "Five years from now I plan to be racing for a NASCAR Cup team," adds Clark.
