GLENDORA, Calif. — NHRA announced Friday it has reached an agreement with K&N Engineering, Inc., to renew its sponsorship of the popular K&N Horsepower Challenge, a lucrative bonus event for Pro Stock competitors. The bonus event will adopt a new qualifying procedure where a special fan vote will determine the final driver to make the starting lineup and a special fan promotion will center on a Harley-Davidson giveaway.
The K&N Horsepower Challenge is a special race-within-a-race bonus program for the top Pro Stock drivers in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series. The K&N Horsepower Challenge will continue to be conducted at the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals in Norwalk, Ohio. The race features a special elimination pairing with eight Pro Stock drivers in the field, including seven who accumulate the most points in qualifying during the 24-race Challenge series and one driver who is selected to the starting lineup for the event via a special fan vote.
As part of the K&N Horsepower Challenge, K&N will conduct a fan promotion during the running of the series and will present a new Harley-Davidson motorcycle to a lucky fan during the finals of the K&N Horsepower Challenge at Norwalk. Details of the fan promotion and ways to qualify will be announced in the near future.
The winner of the K&N Horsepower Challenge will earn $50,000, and the runner-up will earn $10,000. The two semifinalists will earn $3,000 each, while the four first-round finishers will receive $2,500 each.
“We are very proud to continue our relationship with all of the Pro Stock drivers and NHRA,” said Steve Williams, vice president, K&N Engineering. “Our goal is to continue to make the K&N Horsepower Challenge a premier All-Star event held at Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park in 2010.”
The K&N Horsepower Challenge features an overall purse of $145,000. In addition to the $76,000 K&N Horsepower Challenge, K&N also will award $72,000 in qualifying bonuses to quick Pro Stock qualifiers throughout the K&N Horsepower Challenge series. Low qualifiers earn $3,000 at each of the 24 events in the Challenge series. Those drivers who earned No. 1 qualifying positions at recent races from Norwalk to Sonoma will receive their points and bonus money retroactively.
The current K&N Horsepower Challenge standings following the recently completed race at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif. are listed below.
Earlier this year Jeg Coughlin claimed his third title in the prestigious race-within-a-race bonus event. Other past winners of the K&N Horsepower Challenge include Greg Anderson, Dave Connolly, Kurt Johnson, Warren Johnson, Darrell Alderman, Larry Morgan, Jim Yates, Bruce Allen and Bob Glidden.
K&N Engineering has been a major NHRA contingency sponsor for many years and has been the title sponsor for several NHRA national events in the past. K&N also is a primary sponsor on the K&N Filters Pontiac GXP Pro Stock car driven by Warren Johnson.
K&N is located in Riverside, Calif., and has more than seven hundred employees. Its 400,000 square foot manufacturing and distribution facilities produce the world’s best air filters that are reusable. Besides creating the first reusable performance air filter, K&N also produces the Wrench-Off oil filter and complete replacement air intake systems, adding horsepower for most cars and trucks.
Headquartered in Glendora, Calif., NHRA is the primary sanctioning body for the sport of drag racing in the United States. It presents 24 national events through its NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series. NHRA has 80,000 members and 140 member tracks. The NHRA-sanctioned sportsman and bracket racing series provide competition opportunities for drivers of all levels. The NHRA develops the stars of tomorrow by offering the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, NHRA Summit Racing Series and the NHRA Drags: Street Legal Style presented by AAA. NHRA also offers the Jr. Drag Racing League for youth ages 8 to 17.
1. Allen Johnson, Greeneville, Tenn., J&J Racing/Team Mopar Dodge Stratus 660
2. Greg Anderson, Charlotte, N.C., Summit Racing Pontiac GXP 645
3. Mike Edwards, Coweta, Okla., ART/Young Life Pontiac GXP 625
4. Jason Line, Mooresville, N.C., Summit Racing Pontiac GXP 610
5. Ron Krisher, Warren, Ohio, Valvoline Chevy Cobalt 565
6. Jeg Coughlin, Delaware, Ohio, JEGS.com Chevy Cobalt 540
7. Rodger Brogdon, Tomball, Texas, Rooftec Pontiac GXP 470
8. Warren Johnson, Buford, Ga., K&N Filters Pontiac GXP 465
9. Johnny Gray, Carlsbad, N.M., Johnny Gray Racing Dodge Stratus 460
10. Greg Stanfield, Bossier City, La., Attitude Apparel Pontiac GXP 450
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
