K&N Engineering extends agreement to sponsor Horsepower Challenge

GLENDORA, Calif. (July 26, 2012) – NHRA officials announced today that K&N Engineering, Inc. has extended its agreement to sponsor the popular K&N Horsepower Challenge, a lucrative bonus event for Pro Stock competitors, through the year 2014. In addition, the event will move to the spring Las Vegas event beginning in 2013.

“We are extremely proud and excited to be continuing our relationship with NHRA and all the teams in the Pro Stock category,” said Steve Williams, K&N vice president. “For the last five years, we have held the K&N Horsepower Challenge at Summit Racing Equipment Park located in Norwalk with great success. In 2013, the event will be hosted at the SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals in the spring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Vincent Nobile

Photo by: Michael C. Johnson

“We are giving fans in a different part of the country a chance to see this great event in person. Every year during the Horsepower Challenge, eight lucky fans that have entered our sweepstakes at KNfilters.com win an all-expense paid trip to the event and are paired with each of the eight Pro Stock drivers. With the champion of the K&N Horsepower Challenge winning a big payday, and the fan winning a brand new vehicle, it will undoubtedly be an incredible event once again.”

The $148,000 K&N Horsepower Challenge is a special race-within-a-race bonus program showcasing the top drivers in NHRA Pro Stock racing who qualify based on accumulating the most points in qualifying during a yearlong period in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series. The K&N Horsepower Challenge pays the winner $50,000. The runner-up receives $10,000. The two semifinalists earn $3,000 apiece, and $2,500 goes to each of the four first-round finishers. As part of the program, a $3,000 bonus is awarded to the No. 1 qualifier at each NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series event.

“We are excited to continue our relationship with K&N to showcase the best NHRA Pro Stock drivers in the country,” said Gary Darcy, senior vice president sales and marketing, NHRA. “This program serves to drive more awareness for not only K&N and NHRA, but also Pro Stock.”

This year’s K&N Horsepower Challenge was won by Vincent Nobile, driver of the Mountain View Tire Dodge Avenger, who became the youngest driver to win the tradition-rich race-within-a-race bonus event.

As part of the extension, NHRA officials announced the move of the race to the SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in the spring. With the new venue, the number of events where teams can collect points to qualify for the K&N Horsepower Challenge will be shortened. Points will be accumulated beginning at the recently concluded Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals this past weekend in Norwalk, Ohio through the race prior to the spring Las Vegas event in 2013. After next year’s event, the qualifying process will revert back to the full NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series schedule of events.

The first seven positions in the K&N Horsepower Challenge will be determined by points earned at NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series events. But the eighth and final spot will be decided by a fan vote.

In addition, K&N will once again offer the popular consumer sweepstakes, which provides an opportunity for eight lucky fans to receive a trip to the SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals in Las Vegas and be randomly paired with one of the eight Pro Stock drivers competing in the event for a chance to win prizes. Details on the 2013 K&N Horsepower Challenge sweepstakes will be announced at a later date.

K&N Engineering has been a major sponsor for many years in NHRA at the league and team level, including a major contingency sponsor.