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Nikki Dunn Makes the Switch from Drag Racing to Dirt Track and is Hooked

14 Dec 2012

Drag racing since a young age, nursing student, Nikki Dunn , has recently acquired a burning passion for dirt-track racing

While attending nursing school in her home town of Hot Springs, Arkansas, Nikki Dunn appears as a typical young female with typical aspirations. When class is over though, Dunn enters a world where few women dare to go - the world of racing!

Growing up in a drag racing family, Dunn is no stranger to the mindset of spending the weekend at the track. In fact, Dunn also acutely understands what it takes to line up against a fellow driver and embark in a little friendly competition, as she has been drag racing for several years.

Although a passion for drag racing is instilled in the young driver, she recently turned over a new leaf. You got it, she experienced her first taste of dirt track racing. And it didn’t take many laps for Dunn to become hooked.

“I’ve always loved dirt track racing,” explained Dunn. “Dirt track racing is way different from drag racing. In drag racing, there are only two cars, but in dirt track there are up to seventy-five cars on the track at once. The hardest thing for me to learn is how to drive the turns right.”

Racing in the Enduro class, Dunn will have ample opportunity to practice navigating turns. In fact, she and her passenger begin each race with 200 laps in front of them or as many as they can complete in two hours.

Nikki Dunn and her crew “freshens the motor” and prepares her car with a new coat of paint prior to every race

The driver has competed in two enduro races thus far, and has already learned how the rigors of dirt track have an adverse effect on one’s car. Seventy-five laps into her premier event, Dunn’s engine overheated, and in turn had to be rebuilt. The following race was also tainted with mechanical problems in lap eighty-five, when her car died and wouldn’t start.

When asked her strong point as a driver, Dunn said, “Knowing how to control the car. I feel like my drag racing career taught me to control the car easily. My drag racing experience has been good for me, because it has taken my nerves down. When I get in the car, I’m not as scared as I used to be. Also, with drag racing, I’ve learned how to work on cars more and I know more about them.”

With any endeavor, success comes to those who realize their faults and strive to conquer them. Although new to the sport of dirt track racing Nikki Dunn is perfectly aware of her weak points as a driver and is eager to improve.

“I feel like I have so many weak points right now. I am still new to the dirt track world,” she commented. “I just need to learn more about how to drive in a turn, and not to get scared when I’m in turns with other cars. I think the key to success is to just work hard and practice my driving skills as much as I can, so I can get the driving pattern down, and know how to race well.”

Although new to the dirt track scene, Nikki Dunn’s experience as a drag racer has taught her important aspects of the sport, other than driving. Referring to the importance of her crew, she said, “I consider my team a very important part of my racing. If I did not have them, I would not be where I am now. They’ve helped me keep my car together, and also were the ones who gave me the car. They are responsible for me being able to run at the races.”

Dunn is also aware that maintenance is an essential element of the game, and is a strong advocate of using K&N products for her filtering needs.

“I feel that maintenance has played a huge part in my racing,” she explained. “Before each race, we always have to freshen the motor and put a fresh coat of paint on the car. I have always had a K&N filter on my race car and have loved it,” Dunn continued. “Their products have made a huge difference in my daily driving as well, because it has improved my gas mileage.”

Nikki Dunn is still young in the sport of racing and has many years of fun and excitement waiting in the future. Referring to her plans in the world of racing she said, “I plan to keep dirt track racing. We are getting a mini-sprint, so I will be driving that next year, as well as my enduro car. My dad has also talked about getting another drag car, and letting me run it. I would love to be able to do both, but I love dirt track racing so much more, because it’s a longer race.”

When asked what her fans can expect in the future, Nikki Dunn said, “Fans can expect so much from Nikki Dunn in the next few years! I will be racing a mini-sprint next season. Hopefully, in the next few years, I’ll be racing worldwide, and hope to one day make it to the “Chili Bowl” and race with the big-time drivers.”

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Speedtec Motorsport Closes 2012 Dutch Supercar Challenge Championship Second Overall

14 Dec 2012

The BMW Zilhouette Z4’s proved that they have the speed to be a serious championship contender in 2013

Holland's K&N supported Speedtec Motorsport team took the Dutch Supercar Challenge Championship down to the last race at TT Circuit Assen, in Assen, Netherlands. Last season the team’s consistency produced nine podiums in the 16 race series, and they clinched the championship before the last race. This season the team didn’t just have to contend with competing on the track, and with being the marked defending champions, but they also battled with various mechanical issues. Yet, despite those challenges Robert de Graaff and Philippe Ribbens, driving the ETEC-Dodge Viper, finished the Supercar Challenge Super GT Division in second place.

Philippe Ribbens qualified the Viper into a respectable fourth place in Assen, but he felt that the car was capable of much more. "During the second free practice I noticed that there was something not quite right on the car," said Ribbens. "After an inspection, our engineers found that a connection in the differential was going bad.”

The team put together a huge effort and had the Viper ready to race in time for the first race on Saturday. Ribbens started the race and said it felt a bit “nervous” at first. After another quick adjustment the Viper was running near its capabilities, and when Ribbens brought the car in the pits for the driver change, he was in third place. The pit crew then managed to send de Graaff back on the track in second place. After some intense back-forth racing the duo of de Graaff and Ribbens finished the day on the second tier of the podium.

Leo Van der Eijk and Bas Schouten drove their BMW Zilhouette to third place in the last TT Circuit Assen race

Although the racing eventually went relatively smoothly for the team on Saturday, Sunday’s race seemed destined to be plagued by problems. During Sunday’s contest the Speedtec team once more battled to get the ETEC-Viper in the second spot and pressuring first place. However this time an electrical failure in the traction control system surfaced and the Viper immediately dropped back into sixth place.

"That was difficult to adjust to in the final laps,” said Ribbens, “Because you normally rely very much on such a system. Now I had to press very gently on the gas, because otherwise I would wear out the tires within a few laps.”

The electrical problem was later traced back to the onboard Live Stream camera. It was the first time the team used the system to broadcast live to the local TV station. “We must have hit some cables during the pit stop,” added Ribbens.

It wasn’t a trouble-free weekend, or year, for Robert de Graaff and Philippe Ribbens, nevertheless the two drivers looked back at the season as being highly successful in the long run. “It just wasn’t our weekend,” remarked de Graaff. “But we still finished with second and fourth place, and that’s something the whole team can be proud of.”

The Dunlop Supercar Challenge in Assen also completed the first season for the pair of Speedtec Motorsport BMW Zilhouette Z4’s driven by Leo Van der Eijk and Bas Schouten and the van Vliet brothers Nico and Peter. For Van der Eijk and Schouten it was the first time racing together in the Zilhouettes and they finished their Saturday contest on the podium in third place. The TT Circuit Assen race was a truly impressive first outing for the duo.

Even though the driving team of Robert de Graaff and Philippe Ribbens had several mechanical problems during the season they still finished second in the Supercar Challenge Super GT Division

Things didn’t go as well for Nico and Peter on Sunday though. "The engine temperature ran too high, towards the 140-150 degrees (Centigrade). That's just too much, because that should be approximately around the 110 degrees," said Nico. Before the overheating problem the brothers were running comfortably with the lead cars. They eventually finished the race out of the points. Nico and Peter van Vliet still managed to cap their 2012 season with a solid sixth place in the overall point standings.

"It was a year with ups and downs, but we have shown that the Speedtec Zilhouette is a car with potency,” said team owner Peter van Vliet. “Next year the cars will definitely be in the fight for victories in the Supersport-Division, and we will decide this winter to see how we are going to get the seats filled in again in 2013."

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Samantha Kenny Makes Strides Towards Successful Career in NHRA Super Comp Class

14 Dec 2012

Samantha Kenny got her drag racing license as a birthday present from her father

Samantha Kenny reached the fifth round in the Super Comp division at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series season finale at Auto Club Raceway in Pomona.

Her dad and her brother were hoping she could add another Wally trophy to their collection. But she fell a little short.

Alan Kenny, Samantha’s dad, won the Super Comp national championship. Jason Kenny, her brother, won the Super Comp event in Las Vegas two weeks prior to the season finale in Pomona.

Of the three, Samantha Kenny was the only one to reach the final day of eliminations at Pomona. She had the whole family pulling for her on the final race of the season.

“It’s actually been my best season as well,” the 30-year-old Samantha Kenny said. “Went rounds a lot divisionally. Trying to help dad out and go rounds here was incredible. Seem to get in a rhythm when the pressure’s on, I seem to do better.”

She was put in a bit of a pressure situation at Pomona. Her dad was knocked out early and his nearest competitor in the Super Comp standings, Stephan Kondolay , was still alive. Samantha Kenny and Kondolay were supposed to meet in the fifth round of eliminations.

But Kondolay was knocked out in the fourth round, lifting some of the pressure off of Samantha and securing the championship for Alan Kenny.

Samantha Kenny drives the black dragster in the NHRA Super Comp class

“I always had a feeling he was going to win it no matter what," Samantha Kenny said. "It was nerve wracking and Stefan kept progressing rounds. I had my game face on and I was ready to face him if I had to.”

Samantha Kenny beat Shane Molinari in the fourth round at Pomona. She had a reaction time of 0.007 seconds and won the race with a time of 8.943 seconds. She lost to Matt Constant in the fifth round.

“It was a good finish, nothing to hang our head about,” Alan Kenny said. “Looking forward to next year already.”

Kondolay lost to Constant in the fourth round when he jumped the start 0.002 seconds too soon.

“Winning first round is the biggest thing for me,” Samantha Kenny said. “It’s always the most nerve wracking for everybody. I’ve been driving really good, making some decent decisions at the finish line, which has helped.”

Samantha Kenny started drag racing about nine years ago. She earned her drag racing license as a birthday present from her dad and brother, but she admits it took her a while to warm up to the idea of racing full time.

“I competed in figure skating for 13 years,” said Samantha Kenny, who grew up in Canada with her family and lives in Ohio. “It was a birthday gift to go get my drag racing license at Frank Hawley’s in Florida. I wasn’t really excited about going. They’re good at it and that’s what they do. I was just, like, oh well, whatever.”

Family and friends make drag racing full time easier for Samantha Kenny

After her second run at the driving school, Alan Kenny said his daughter took off her helmet and had the biggest smile on her face. He said, “We got another one.”

Racing with her dad and brother has another advantage. It keeps the family close.

“I guess it’s something I never thought I’d want to do, but we live in three different places, two different countries, we see each other probably more than some families see each other when they live in the same city,” Samantha Kenny said. “Every weekend we race together, we support each other. We’re up there fighting for each other. With dad in the championship this year, Jason and I got to help out, trying to take some contenders out made a team effort out of it. It’s been incredible.”

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Jammin' Jared Mees is the 2012 AMA Grand National Champion and Lucas Oil No.1

14 Dec 2012

2012 was a career defining season for Jared Mees and the Rogers Racing/Blue Springs Harley Davidson team

This just in - Jared Mees is getting married. Without question Mees clinched one of the most coveted titles in motorcycle racing, the AMA Pro Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship, plus he earned the Lucas Oil No. 1 plate. However, let’s not bury the actual story lead. Sure there’s pressure going shoulder-to-shoulder at speeds of up to 130 mph at Southern California’s historic Pomona Half-Mile, but you don’t truly appreciate thorny times until you have a wedding and a new home looming over your itinerary.

“Well, actually I have had more stress on me after the season,” confirmed Mees. “Because I bought a house in June and have been trying to fix it up and move in before the holidays and the weather turns to ice cold conditions. So I really wish I could go back to Pomona and do it all over again,” he laughs. “But it honestly has sunk in and feels really good, I just wish I could have enjoyed it a little more during the off season. Heck, when I get done with this house I’ll be getting busy with Daytona.”

Going into Pomona, Mees had already locked up the GNC Expert Singles title after Round 12 in Illinois. He was holding a 12 point lead over Sammy Halbert, and 20 points over the defending Grand National Champion Jake Johnson. All he needed to do was finish strong and bring it in ahead of Halbert to insure the title. Mees got a great start in the Main Event, coming out of the first corner in 4th. “I was rolling pretty well, when all of a sudden it felt like somebody hit me with a Mack truck. It was little Sammy Halbert!” said Mees. “He bulldozed his way right into my side. Not sure what he was thinking, but I am very lucky not to have gone down.”

The hard knock clearly got Mees’ attention “I did not want to try and make a pass on him, as frankly, I felt a bit nervous about what he might try to do,” remarked Mees at the time. The concern was short lived though as Halbert’s clutch started to go on the fritz. Once the K&N sponsored rider got around Halbert he settled into riding his own race.

“The last four laps I was running 5th but there was a pack of riders behind me who started racing me. I wanted no part of it. Not that any of them were dirty racers, but the track was rough, and had some bumps, and accidents can happen. I brought it home in 8th, and it was good enough to win the Grand National Championship. Man, did it feel great to get it back for the Team.”

This season the K&N backed racer won five championships plus fiancée Nichole Cheza’s heart

Are there any moments during the season that stand out, or in hindsight now appear pivotal?
“Yeah, winning Hagerstown (AMA 31st Annual Hub City Classic). That has been a place that is very special to me as my family and friends come to support me. To win there in the fashion we did was just indescribable. I would also say the race at Santa Rosa, California was important, as we struggled all day and almost won it at the end coming off the third row was awesome. One other thing that sticks out is proposing to my girlfriend, Nichole Cheza (who also races) during opening ceremonies at the Springfield Mile in front of the crowd.”

Are there any changes or anything new in store for next season?
“Yes, we hired Kenny Tolbert who is Chris Carrs’ long time mechanic for next season, and I am very excited to start working with Kenny and just starting fresh with a new guy. Craig Rogers and I are going to remain together and we hope to keep this number 1 plate.”

“I cannot say enough about my team, Craig Rogers, the owner, Brent Armbruster, the mechanic, and all who helped me all year long. They made it so much easier to have a great year in which I won the I.C.E. Championship, the All Star Singles Championship, the All Star Twins Championship, the GNC Singles Championship and the GNC Combined Grand National Championship. Also, as icing on the cake, Nichole said yes to my marriage proposal!”

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Three-Time Ukraine Drift King Aleksandr Grinchuk Continues his Rule in 2012

14 Dec 2012

Exhibition drift shows in Kyiv and Baku, Azerbaijan were greeted by 50,000 fans

It’s good to be King – although the unyielding demands and pressures can at times become a real buzzkill.

“For three years I was the holder of the Ukrainian Drift King title", reminisced Aleksandr Grinchuk. “It was not easy to defend this title in 2010 and 2011. But this season this title became the main goal for every drift pilot in Ukraine. I managed to get four podiums during the year. Unfortunately some technical problems with my transmission in the final round made my fourth time championship impossible.”

Grinchuk was immediately able to highlight the positive aspect of not entering next season as the defending champion. “This is a good experience and a relief. In the beginning of the 2013 racing season the target won’t be on my back this time,” he adds with a smile.

The reason why this coveted drift title sits atop of every Ukrainian driver’s must-have list is because of Aleksandr Grinchuk. Grinchuk is simply the most successful driver in the history of Ukrainian drifting. In fact without him, drifting in this corner of the world would not be what it is today, seeing that he literally put drifting on the Ukrainian motorsports map. He won the Ukrainian title in 2009, 2010, and in 2011 he was awarded the ultimate crown – the “Absolute Drift Champion of Ukraine.” To earn that title requires winning all three of the Ukrainian drift championships, the TuningFest Drift Edition Championship, Vinnitza Grand Prix Championship and the most prestigious, the Ukrainian Drift Championship (UDC).

Aleksandr Grinchuk is the ironman of Ukrainian drifting

Accordingly, that makes Grinchuk the dude, the baddest man around, and when you’re the top-gun everyone is out to take you down and make a name for themselves. Which is what makes Grinchuk’s three titles in a row all the more impressive. Although Grinchuk came up a tad short of notching that fourth title on his holster in 2012, he continued to be the primary figure for advancing the popularity of drifting not only in the Ukraine, but throughout all of Eastern Europe.

"The 2012 Drift Racing season in Ukraine was very interesting and intense,” Grinchuk remarked. “With three different national championships at the start of the season, only one showed consistency in their plans, schedules and rules during the season. That is why my team and I had to change our race plan several times this year.”

However the confusion didn’t deter any of the drivers’ efforts, in fact quite the contrary according to Grinchuk, because the overall level of drifting continued to take several strides forward once again, as illustrated by even better results coming not only from the top drivers, but the results of novice drivers improved significantly as well.

Grinchuk came up a little short this year in claiming his fourth straight drift title

“This season was awesome with some great drift battles all over the Ukraine in the usual places and several new cities like Lviv and Poltava,” commented the K&N sponsored driver. “Also, we took a very good step forward with ‘show-runs’ made by Red Bull. The main event of the year was called ‘Parade of the Champions’ and it gathered more than 50,000 people at the Main Street of the capital of Ukraine, Kyiv. At this event three cars made up the show, the F1 Red Bull Racing car, NASCAR Red Bull car, and my drift car.”

Much to the delight of the passionate fans, Formula 1 driver Daniel Ricciardo not only paraded his F1 car, but he also sped up Main Street in the Red Bull NASCAR racer.

“It was an honor to be part of this show equally with the world’s best race cars,” said Grinchuk. “We made a lot of smoke, speed and some very good drifting on the closed central street of Kyiv for several hours. This show was a large success. Three weeks later we were invited to take part in the same show-run in Baku, Azerbaijan where we doubled our success, this time with F1 legend David Coulthard.”

The K&N supported driver continued to advance the popularity of drifting throughout Eastern Europe in 2012

For the 2013 season Grinchuk and his team have plans to upgrade his car to a lighter chassis and to add some additional power. Results from this season clearly indicated that the lightest cars with hugest amounts of horsepower were having a serious advantage.

“Using the new car I plan to start the chase for more championships,” Grinchuk adds. “This time for the Ukrainian Drift Championship and the East European Drift Championship.”

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