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CT Racing's Danny Prather and Dave Scott 1st Pro Quad at 2012 BITD Vegas-to-Reno Race

14 Nov 2012

The team of Danny Prather and Dave Scott took 1st overall Pro Quad at the 2012 Best in the Desert Vegas to Reno race

The Best in the Desert (BITD), Las Vegas to Reno race is the longest, and arguably the toughest off-road challenge in the U.S. Doing well here is mandatory for anyone entertaining championship hopes, as the event is worth double points. CT Racing’s Danny Prather and Dave Scott took a huge step forward toward defending their overall 2011 title by taking first in Pro Quad at this year’s BITD contest. For CT Racing this is their fifth year in the row atop the Las Vegas to Reno podium.

"To win Vegas to Reno was great!" said Prather. "For two guys to ride one bike almost 550 miles in 10 hours over some of the most brutal and scenic terrains in the U.S. was awesome. With my family chasing us all the way to Reno, it was one of my most memorable races I've competed in."

"Memorable" seems like a humble understatement when you consider the context, and being that Prather and Scott had to put together one of the more impressive rides in recent race history to get it done. Prather began the race in 5th and had a quick 30 mile ride to the first pit, before handing over the controls to Scott at the first pit. Scott rode the next 65 miles and managed to work up into 4th place before turning the bike back to Prather at the third pit stop. Shortly after the exchange Prather came upon a pack of about 30 motorcycles heading backwards on the course. The race course markers had been taken out by the lead motorcycles and almost everyone behind them got lost.

A couple of klicks later Prather realized he was lost too, and that’s when he found Josh Row and another motorcycle who had collided head-on while going the wrong direction. Prather stopped to assist the riders and make sure they were alright. Row appeared to have a minor concussion but was otherwise alright, the rider on the motorcycle had broken his wrist pretty badly though and needed help. Prather created a makeshift splint out of two sticks and some zip ties so he could ride out and find help. That random act of kindness put the team back in 8th place and a full 20 minutes off the lead.

The duo then remarkably disproved the theory that no good deed goes unpunished, as they powered through the pack, made up the time deficit, and inched out a win by a mere 20 seconds after 534 miles. The team in fact finished the race an impressive 8th overall. The win put Prather and Scott into a solid points lead with the final contest of the year, the Henderson 250, coming up this December.

The BITD win put Prather and Scott into a 36 point lead in the championship heading into the final contest in December

"We had a great race," said the K&N sponsored rider after the race. "Our CT Racing Honda ran strong the whole race with no flats at all, and we went the entire race on one set of Maxxis Razr tires. It was exciting towards the end with how close the competition was. Thank you so much to all of our sponsors who made it possible for us to pull off this win. Our team and sponsors have been working hard this year to defend our number 1 plate and win another championship."

Prather and Scott have been racing together for two years. Prather adds, "Dave (Scott) and I have very similar riding styles and we like the same bike set-up, which has made it nice, since Dave lives in New Mexico and it's not often we can get together."

The dynamic duo ignited their 2012 season with a full-head of confidence by winning the Parker 250. "We also finished in a very close 2nd place at Silver State 300, and that gave us a narrow points lead over the factory Can-Am team," added Prather. "And with Vegas to Reno being a double points race, the win gave us a 36 point lead for the championship! It's nice going into the final round with a little cushion."

"Our next race for the Best in the Desert series is December 2nd at the Henderson 250. Dave and I both do local desert and grand prix races in between the BITD schedule to keep our skills sharp and stay in shape. My next race is the famous Lake Elsinore Grand Prix on November 10th."

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Bruno Massel Wins 2012 Comp Eliminator Title at 31st Annual Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals

14 Nov 2012

Roughly six klicks north of Brainerd, Minnesota, on Highway 371, is where you'll find Brainerd International Raceway(BIR), the fastest quarter-mile drag strip in the world. It earned that honor after Tony Schumacher set a world record there in his Top Fuel Dragster in 2005. This year for the 31st Annual Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals, BIR once again offered up ideal conditions for racers, and with temperatures in the mid 70s and low humidity, new track records came in bunches much to the delight of the huge throng of spirited fans.

Bruno Massel currently has the lead in both the Divisional and National points standing

The BIR Nationals is the 16th of 23 events on the 2012 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series calendar and doing well here is on everyone's must-do list. The final duel in Competition Eliminator came down to Addison, Illinois' Bruno Massel and David Rampy. When the thunder faded it was Massel piloting his 1400 plus horsepower Turbocharged Chevy Cobalt that took the victory with at 7.001ET at 179.40 mph. Massel now has a 4-0 record against Rampy this year alone.

As wins go, how does winning the 31st annual Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals rate for you?
"It was a big win for me in terms of the national points chase as well as on a personal level. Brainerd has always been special to me. I was at the Inaugural event with my dad when he was running Super Gas back in the day, and the late August stop in Minnesota, became a family tradition. We'd come into town early in the week and stay a few days at a cabin on the lake and make a mini vacation out of it. So it was really special to be able to stand up on stage in the winner's circle with my two sons, my wife and my dad, and celebrate the victory together as a family. As far as the National points chase, the win was critical as it gave me a perfect score on the National level with three national event victories for the season."

You are now 4-0 against Rampy, why do you figure that is?
"What can you say about David that hasn't been said before? He's a great racer and an all around great guy. I guess I've just been part lucky and part good alongside of him over the years. I really can't explain it, but I was told by someone from NHRA after Brainerd that I've beaten David now 12 straight times in Comp. I think I should get a lifetime achievement award for that record. (LOL) The thing is, he is more than capable of beating me the next 20 times we race! I'm a realist, I know the streak can't last forever, but I'd love to squeak out a few more along the way."

How did the 2012 season treat you overall?
"It started about as bad as it could. Second round at the Charlotte National event I lost to the timing system. I was told that something tripped the Guard beam at the starting line and I received a red-light without my car ever moving. It was tough to swallow and made for a long ride home. Definitely not the kind of mojo you want to have to start the season. Once the warm weather came around, so did our performance on the track. We won the Brainerd points meet to lock us into our fourth straight All-Stars race by a single point, which emotionally really turned the season around. From there we won the Topeka National and than doubled-up at our home track in Joliet, Illinois, winning the Jegs All-Stars and Route 66 Nationals the next day. As we speak, I'm trying to hang onto our lead in both the Divisional and National points standing with just three races to go, it's a bit nerve racking to say the least!"

So when and where do you race next?
"Not sure, where debating on hitting a few heads-up Sport Compact Races in Florida or towing out west to try and act as a spoiler for the other Championship hopefuls. I just want to add how important the support of Autogeek.net and Detailer's Pro Series waxes and polishes have been to my racing program. Without them and the support of K&N and my other sponsors, we absolutely wouldn't be racing this season."

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FourPlay Racing Crowns Powerful 2012 Pro Runabout Open Class Debut with a Victory

14 Nov 2012

Professional Jet Ski racing has been a goal for Victor Nolan since he was a kid

Growing up in the suburbs of Baltimore, Maryland, Victor Nolan would often daydream. That wasn't unusual in the least, not for a 7-year-old boy romping in the sunshine, while picnicking with his mom at a local park. What was curious though, was the focus of his reverie.

"I remember standing on the beach watching local Jet Ski racers practice and tune their skis, and from that point on it was always something that I wanted to be a part of," Victor recollects. "I started riding at the age of 14, but didn't start racing until the age of 20 for financial reasons. I have participated in many other sports along the way such as baseball, boxing, power lifting, and even drag racing. But my heart has always been in water-cross."

At the age of 17, Victor opened his first business buying, repairing, and reselling home appliances. After three successful years he sold his business and launched his present career, Nolan's Home Improvement, which has developed into a very lucrative enterprise. And guess what; Nolan now has FourPlay Racing, his very own professional jet ski racing team that travels throughout the United States and Canada. The team is centered around family, and consists of several family members. Jennifer, Victor's wife, acts as team manager and Darren Terzi, Jennifers father, acts as crew chief and assistant mechanic. Back in the day Terzi was also a racer, competing in the NHRA.

In 2012 Victor and his team announced their arrival up to the Pro Runabout Open class in a very large way. The team's first two races were in New York. The first was in Kingston back in June, and they dominated the 4-stroke Runabout Open with a first place finish. The second event was at Mayfield in July, "And we once again dominated the Pro Runabout Open with another first place finish," said Victor. "The same weekend we also competed in two other classes, one in the Pro Sport Open were I took a second place, and the other in Pro Ski Stock were I took a 5th place. Then on July 21st and 22nd we were in Colonial Beach Virginia for a national event to compete against some of the best riders in the world. We were having some super charger issues this weekend but took a 5th in moto one, a 7th in moto two, and a 5th in moto three for a 6th place overall finish."

The team's last three races included two National and one Canadian International race. First they traveled to Lake Hartwell, Georgia and they started out strong with a 6th place finish in the first moto. "We then placed 7th in the second moto, and 8th in the third, ending up with an 8th place finish overall," Victor adds. "Considering I am new to this high professional level of racing and competition, I was extremely pleased with how my ski performed and how my racing skills have adjusted as well. A moment I will never forget was receiving a compliment from one of the top tuners in the country in regards to how far I have come as a rider and competitor in such as short amount of time."

Victor Nolan and the FourPlay race team travel across the US and Canada to compete in Water Cross competitons

Charleston, West Virginia was team FourPlay Racing's second stop during this outing "We had been waiting for our new super charger to be delivered and received it in just enough time to have it for the race," Victor explained. This enabled us to create more power than we have ever had with this ski. In the first moto I started out on the line in sixth place. By the eighth lap I was able to make some passes and moved myself up to fourth, which was the closest I have been to the Pro US podium yet."

During the race in Charleston, Victor came out on the wrong end of a mishap with another competitor. He was diagnosed with a broken rib and had to miss the last two motos on Sunday. Nonetheless, Victor didn't let a little thing like that stop him from missing his last two motos on Sunday.

"My wife Jennifer, who is a critical care trauma nurse, had to wrap up my entire chest extremely tight to give me enough support so that I could race. After a painful day of racing, I ended up 9th in the second moto, and 7th in the third. This was a long stressful weekend of racing, but thanks to the entire FourPlay Racing team, we were able to work through it together."

FourPlay Racing's 2012 season came to a close in Sarnia, Canada. It was the team's first international race at the pro level. "After two amazing days of racing, we finished in 3rd place overall for both days. This was the most memorable race for the entire season because not only did I end up with two podium finishes but on Saturday I won the second moto! When I'm not racing there is always something to do to prepare myself for the next season," adds Victor already daydreaming about next season.

FourPlay Racing starts their 2013 season May 4th and 5th at Lake Charles, Louisiana. The K&N sponsored team will only be competing on the IJSBA National Tour and in the World Finals.

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Jason Meyers Makes Guest Appearance at Knoxville in the World of Outlaws

14 Nov 2012

Paul Arch's photo of Jason Meyers driving the number 21 race car to a 5th place finish at Knoxville

It's not often that athletes get to truly go out on top. They all say that's how they want to do it, but rarely does is happen. That's why everyone was stunned when two-time defending World of Outlaws champion Jason Meyers abruptly retired at the start of the 2012 season. Meyers cited a chance to spend time with his two daughters and his wife, Robyn, and an opportunity to move into a "new career" as a family man as the main reason for stepping aside following two dominant seasons at the top level of Sprint Car racing.

But Meyers wasn't done, not yet at least. As the Knoxville Nationals neared in early August, Meyers found himself with an opportunity to return to the biggest Sprint Car race in the world, a race that he has been so close to winning in the past, only to see it slip away. The opportunity at revenge came through friend and fellow California racer Tommy Tarlton, his father Tom, and their Tarlton and Sons racing team.

"Jason is a close friend of mine and a professional," Tommy Tarlton said. "Before the season, when he started talking about retiring, my father and I approached him about the possibility of running a car for us at the Knoxville Nationals. Jason was in favor of doing so because he had been so close to winning it before, and he really wanted to have another shot at winning it."

Meyers said he thought people misunderstood his decision to step away from racing on a full-time basis, not understanding that he was not leaving the sport he loved, but instead just taking a break from the day-to-day grind of a full-time driver at the top of his game.

"I think one misconception of some was that I was leaving the sport for good," Meyers said. "My intentions have always been to change what I do for a living so that I can be home and be a dad. But my entire family and all of my friends are in racing and to ever leave it completely would mean leaving them and that is something I never want to do."

After six months of not racing wheel-to-wheel at speeds over 100mph, one might think Meyers was a bit nervous or unsettled strapping back into a racecar, but instead Meyers immediately established himself as one of the fastest drivers at the race. "I know this sounds cliché, but it's like riding a bike," Meyers said. "I spend every day right now in an uncomfortable position trying to learn a new business and get up to speed as fast as possible, so climbing back in a racecar was the most comfortable thing in the world to me. It's what I know and I know it well."

Jason Meyers qualifying win on Thursday in the World of Outlaws

Meyers turned in a magical performance on his qualifying night, winning the Thursday qualifier and setting the team up for a top-10 start in the Saturday 50-lap feature. Meyers spent the first half of the race riding around in the back half of the top-10. When it was time to go, Meyers started picking cars off, driving up to fifth.

But Meyers simply ran out of laps, and had to settle with a top-5 finish in his return to competition. Still, for a one-race effort with a rusty driver, everyone involved with the team was satisfied.

"I couldn't be happier with how our return went," Meyers added. "It was very satisfying to go back to Knoxville with the Tarlton team and run as well as we did. For the entire team to go back to Knoxville for a one-off trip and win their qualifying night and run fifth at the biggest race in the world, we were all very excited. It took a lot of great people and their efforts to pull that off."

Tarlton said that while Meyers enjoyed himself, the team also benefitted greatly from the experience a champion and world-class driver like Meyers brings to the table.

"On and off the track Jason helped our team with his experience from travelling the country as well as running a team as a business," said Tarlton, himself a two-time champion of the Ocean Sprints series. "Doing it for a career over the last ten years, he has so much knowledge about the sport that continues to be really beneficial to our team, helping us get to the next level."

After a weekend back in the saddle, Meyers was candid about whether or not he is contemplating a return to the seat on a full-time basis in 2013. "It's always really comfortable going back to what you know and I would be lying if I said there wasn't that little part in me that still burns for the drivers seat," Meyers said. "Just recently, another opportunity came up and I had to turn it down. What I can tell you is that anyone who knows me well knows that while it takes me a while to make a decision, once I make that decision, it is final. My family is very important to me and the two greatest things I can hope to accomplish in life are to be a great husband and a great father.

"I have no regrets. We were able to spend ten years living my dream and now it is time to prepare for the dreams of our kids. I wouldn't give a single year back, but we are now on to another dream and look forward to remaining a part of the racing world in some way. Make no mistake, I still want to race, and plan on doing so, but it will only be on a level where I can be home with my family and my business."

Sounds easy, right?

Tarlton said his team is thankful of the support K&N has provided to their championship winning team.

"K&N provides us with their top of the line products to keep us in front of the competition. We currently run K&N Air Filters, Outwears, and use their filter spray and filter cleaner. Much of the success we have on the track comes from the components we use and our ability to prepare away from the track."

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.

Carl Renezeder Shatters the 100-Win Milestone at LOORRS Event in Las Vegas

6 Nov 2012

Carl Renezeder has carved out a short-course off-road legacy that will endure in the history books forever

"Well, I've got eight championships now, so I'd like to win two more to make it an even ten," remarked Carl Renezeder. "And, I just want to keep winning more races and enjoying the journey. People focus on 100, but every one of these wins has a story behind it."

For the record that would now be 102 back-stories. As soon as Renezeder hit the century victory mark at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, it was as though he crossed both a personal finish and starting line at the same instant, because with that history making goal finally gone, he went on to win 101 and 102 without any real challenge.

Back in April of 2011 Renezeder told us, "At the moment our eye is on win number 93. We're just keeping our heads down and working hard at getting it all to fall into place." The closer the 100 win loomed, the more it appeared to weigh on Renezeder. Trying not to focus on something, when everyone around is obsessed with it, saps massive amounts of energy that should be applied elsewhere. Therefore thumping that triple-digit monkey off his back clearly energized and renewed Renezeder.

The long time K&N supported driver says he's hungrier than ever for more wins and championships

"Outstanding! He's back." Those three words emailed by Ron Stukenberg of Nissan North America to the Team Renezeder said it all. The Renezeder of old seemed to have slipped into the shadows in the first half of the 2012 season, where he experienced some of the worst results of his short-course career. However, in the true fashion of an eight-time champion, Renezeder found the magic to smash through the barrier and claim his rightful place in the Vegas spotlight.

"It was pretty special to win my 100th at the same track as I won my first race," said Renezeder. "I'm also really proud that all my wins have been with the same Lucas Oil Truck."

After slightly less than 14 complete seasons of racing, Renezeder brought his win record full circle by earning his 100th, 101 and 102nd win in the same place he earned his first one back in 1999.

"I did not want that race to end," commented Renezeder over the radio after career win number 101 in his Pro-2 truck. The truck was flawless and the track suited the set-up perfectly. Renezeder started the race from the third spot after qualifying second with a four-truck invert. By the time he hit the tabletop jump out of turn one, on lap one, he had the lead and never looked back.

Team Renezeder has 8 National Championships, 102 wins and counting

After the race he continued, "I was kind of hoping that someone would catch me and make it a battle, but it's so much fun driving a truck like that, it doesn't matter if you're battling ten trucks or out there on your own. There's no other feeling like it."

The history setting victory and the one right after that were relatively uneventful, as though providence had cleared a path for Renezeder to at last embrace his legacy. But, it was win 102 that left everyone there witnessing it shaking their heads in admiration, for a remarkable display of driving, put together by an extraordinary driver.

It was the last race on the docket for the weekend and Renezeder was lined up in seventh place with the eight-truck inversion. He clearly understood that several laws of physics would need to be broken, being that the track had proven to be ill-suited for passing. At the restart of a mandatory yellow, Renezeder had only Brian Deegan and Robert Naughton between him and another mark in the history books. And once more for good measure, Renezeder made it look like driving clinic for advanced track skills, as he passed both drivers and led the final two laps on route to victory.

Renezeder said that he’s really proud that all his wins have been with the same Lucas Oil Truck

"The truck was flawless. You guys are awesome," commented the K&N sponsored driver, with a distinct mark of respect in his voice, on his way to victory lane for the third time. The dates and win locations were written on the bottom of the trophy, which set off a stream of memories paving the long road taken to this exact point in his life. Then a new line was drawn in the dirt. Renezeder says he is hungrier than ever for more wins, more battles, more innovation and more championships, and the team went back to work perfecting their winning formula.

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