E3 Spark Plugs News

Competitive powerboat racer Dan Bunting (center) takes his sophomore turn with Team E3 Racing.

Dan Bunting returns for his second stint as a Team E3 Racing Tier 1 winner. And this time, he’s got two new rides and a world record to his name.

Bunting is a longtime competitive racer and owner of Extreme Powerboat Racing, a professional driving school that also offers marketing, design and promotional items plus safety and performance products geared toward the sport. Last year, he and his team made history by establishing the 1/4 mile straightaway speed record in their class at the American Power Boat Association (APBA) Records Run in New Martinsville, West Virginia. – a feat powered by E3 Spark Plugs.

The Extreme Powerboat Racing team, along with Flex Seal, finished the 2012 season first in the APBA points for their region, and sixth in the APR SuperLeague points. The team also landed the SuperLeague’s “Most Improved Driver” award and appeared in a nationwide FlexSeal commercial donning E3 Spark Plugs Racing Team shirts.

This year, Bunting has added two new powerboats to his racing fleet, one of which will become the E3 Spark Plugs Powerboat. And he intends to spread the word, sharing sponsored plugs with friends and competitors.

Meanwhile, the Formula 3 Points champ and founder of a second team, Tunnel Vision Racing, continues his career in law enforcement. A police officer since 1993, he has served as a deputy sheriff in Ohio and Colorado and has held the ranks of patrolman, lieutenant and chief of police, ergo the number and name of his previous boat, “Five-O.”

E3 Spark Plugs congratulates Bunting and his team for their second-year Team E3 Racing win. Welcome back!

Check out the Extreme Powerboat Racing team, donning their Team E3 Spark Plugs garb, in this FlexSeal infomercial…

It’s official! E3 Spark Plugs’ spark and glow plugs are now the official plugs of the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA). The multi-year sponsorship agreement revs up in 2013. It means you’ll see the E3 logo in NHRA advertising, promotional and point-of-purchase materials, and on product packaging. From the tracks and pits at the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series events, you’ll see our signs and crazy inflatables, and we’ll be incorporated into advertising via NHRA’s multimedia outlets and commercial inventory in the ESPN2/ESPN2HD broadcasts.

“We at E3 are very excited to be the official spark plug and glow plug of NHRA. Our customers and the NHRA fan are all about power and performance, something we understand completely,” said Todd Arey, president of E3 Spark Plugs. “We are committed to helping them achieve those goals, and it is with great enthusiasm that E3 Spark Plugs partners with the National Hot Rod Association, the clear global leader in championship drag racing.”

Adds John Siragusa, NHRA senior director of sales and business development: “E3 Spark Plugs has been involved for a number of years and has long seen the value of association with NHRA. We are excited to have E3 Spark Plugs increase their involvement in the sport by becoming an official sponsor.”

Founded by Wally Parks in 1951, the NHRA is North American drag racing’s governing body, setting rules and hosting events throughout the U.S. and Canada. With over 80,000 drivers in its rosters, it’s considered one of the largest motorsports sanctioning bodies in the world.

Backed by a five-year, 100,000-mile warranty, E3 spark plugs, with our patented DiamondFIRE side-wire electrode, project the combustion spark in a way that more quickly ignites the air/fuel mixture, thereby creating a significantly faster and larger flame kernel. In effect, this burns more of the available fuel, resulting in increased combustion efficiency for improved power and fuel economy with reduced emissions. E3 spark plugs are available for most automotive, small-engine, and powersports applications at automotive and home-improvement retail stores nationwide. E3 glow plugs were introduced at the recent 2012 SEMA Show in Las Vegas.

The 2012 EnduroCross season expands to eight events.

Officials of the GEICO AMA EnduroCross Championship Series announced its 2012 racing schedule. The 2012 Championship expands to eight events with the series kicking off in Las Vegas on Friday, May 4th on Supercross finals weekend.

Known as the “toughest racing on two wheels,” EnduroCross pits competitors against each other on extreme off-road tracks featuring boulders, logs, sand and mud pits, a water hole and other surprise obstacles like giant tires.

EnduroCross is a favorite of racing fans both in the stands and on the living room couch. Events air on ESPN, ESPN2, ABC and the Versus network. Check TV listings for air dates. And if you don’t want to wait for the programming guys, mark your calendar to catch all the EnduroX events live.

2012 GEICO AMA EnduroCross Schedule

• May 4, Orleans Arena (Friday during Supercross weekend), Las Vegas, NV
• June 9, Power Balance Pavilion, Sacramento, CA
• Los Angeles, CA, date and venue TBD
• September 15, Citizens Business Bank Arena, Ontario, CA
• October 6, National Western Complex, Denver, CO
• October 20, Comcast Arena, Everett, WA
• October 27, Idaho Center, Boise, ID
• November 17, Orleans Arena, Las Vegas, NV

E3 Spark Plugs is proud to co-sponsor the GEICO AMA EnduroCross Championship Series and looks forward to a hard-charging, thrill-packed racing season.

Taddy Blazusiak sweeps the final two events of the GEICO AMA EnduroCross Championships for a perfect season. Phot by Drew Ruiz via EnduroCross.

The final rounds of the 2011 GEICO AMA EnduroCross series might as well have been dubbed the “Taddy Blazusiak Show.” The Polish phenom won both main events, making it a perfect season. But Taylor Robert came with his A-game as well, earning his first ever EnduroCross podium and claiming the E3 Spark Plugs Junior Championship for top drivers under age 21.

In the afternoon Hot Laps, it looked like Blazusiak had some real competition. Beta’s Cody Webb claimed the fastest lap time in the battle for heat race gate picks. Blazusiak settled for second, followed by KTM teammate Mike Brown, Husqvarna’s Cory Graffunder and Monster Kawasaki’s Justin Soule. Blazusiak, Brown and Webb proved strong enough in the Hot Laps to earn a direct shot to the double main events.

In the first main event, Blazusiak shot to the front right away, winning the $1,000 Girardi Wealth Management Holeshot award. He kept that lead all the way to the finish line, though Soule remained close enough to make the race an exciting one for both the competitors and the fans. Graffunder also rode an impressive race, making it to the podium in his second race after a broken wrist kept him off the tracks for most of the season.

GEICO Honda’s Kyle Redmond claimed the holeshot in the second main event, but Blazusiak was hot on his trail. Blazusiak quickly took the lead – and took it in a big way. He led by a long shot throughout the remainder of the race. Robert, Brown, Soule and Redmond crossed the finish line behind, him. Keith Sweeten and Jacob Argubright finished second and third, respectively, behind Robert for the E3 Spark Plugs Junior Championship.

Visit the EnduroCross website for full results and mark your calendars for the 2012 championship kickoff in Las Vegas May 4. To all the winners this weekend, congratulations from E3 Spark Plugs!

16-year-old Austin Barnes is the latest E3 75 winner.

This past weekend’s E3 75 got off to a pretty rough start with the first of four yellow flags falling even before the entire field of 26 starters could get past the starting line. But once the drivers got into the groove, it proved to be a spectacular race.

Part of the Lucas Oil Modified Racing Series presented by Rockstar Energy Drink, the E3 75 boasted a field of the best open wheel driving talent from throughout the western states area and a $3,000 winning purse. The pre-race favorite was 16-year-old Escondido, Californian Austin Barnes, who started the day by setting a new track qualifying record of 15.215 seconds. Barnes led most of the race, but nearly lost it to Aaron McMorran, who, in a last-minute deal, climbed into the driver’s seat of the #1H modified normally driven in the series by Thomas Pfundstein.

McMorran clearly had winning on his mind and Barnes’ taillights in his sight. He drove a hard-charged fight to catch and pass Barnes and came heartbreakingly close. Barnes held onto the lead and won by a mere seven tenths of a second. Rounding out the top five were Scott Winters, Bear Rzesnowiecky and Shelby Strobel.

E3 Spark Plugs congratulates Barnes and all the racers who burned up the Las Vegas Bullring Nov. 5.

Carl Renezeder clinches the Lucas Oil Off-Road Racing Series Pro 4 championship title.

Rounds 13 and 14 of the Lucas Oil Off-Road Racing Series presented by GEICO and sponsored in part by E3 Spark Plugs proved a beautiful but bittersweet time for racers and fans. We celebrated as one favorite competitor locked down the season’s first championship title and said a formal good-bye to two others.

Saturday’s round was the first since the death of 2010 Pro 4 Champion Rick Huseman, his brother Jeff and friend Dan Hicks, all killed in a plane crash near Barstow, CA last month. Tributes to the Huseman brothers could be seen everywhere. Pro 2 competitor Robby Woods’ truck featured a special green paint scheme with Rick Huseman’s name and number. Junior 2 Kart racer Shelby Anderson had her kart painted with the livery that Huseman ran and invited other racers to pen a special message on it. In fact, most ever vehicle and driver suit bore some sort of tribute to the Huseman brothers. Most touching, however, was the final lap of Rick Huseman’s No. 36 Toyota driven by brother Kevin Huseman. The number is now permanently retired from Pro 4.

After the opening ceremonies, racers were ready to put on a show worthy of their friends’ memory. And they did just that – especially in the Pro 4. Carl Renezeder; the three LeDucs, dad Curt and brothers Kyle and Todd; and Greg Adler spent much of the race neck-and-neck with each other – each leading the field at one point or another. The race proved quite the barnburner with two full-course cautions to clear Josh Merrell’s and Curt LeDuc’s trucks from the tracks.

When the mud stopped flying, it was Renezeder out front for his 98th off-road victory with enough series points to clinch this season’s Pro 4 championship title. Rounding out the top five were the brothers LeDuc, Kyle and Todd taking second and third place respectively, Adler finishing fourth and Kent Brascho finishing fifth.

E3 Spark Plugs racing fans and staff congratulate Renezeder and all the other winners. For full results visit the Lucas Oil Off-Road Racing Series website.

A celebrity auction hosted on eBay is raising money to benefit late IndyCar racer Dan Wheldon's two young sons.

Danica Patrick’s ride in Saturday’s NASCAR Nationwide Series race will honor the late Dan Wheldon, who was killed in an IndyCar crash at Las Vegas Motor Speedway last month. And a celebrity auction on Ebay is racking up tens of thousands of dollars to benefit Wheldon’s children.

Patrick’s car will feature Wheldon’s famous Lionheart logo on the hood and promote the racer’s memorial website. In place of her famous American flag-themed helmet, Patrick will wear a special tribute helmet that will be auctioned off. At the time of his death, Wheldon was slated to replace Patrick at Andretti Autosport in 2012, as Patrick begins her fulltime NASCAR career.

The auction benefiting the trust set up for Wheldon’s two-year-old son Sebastian and infant son Oliver began with a simple, loving gesture by fellow IndyCar racer Graham Rahal. Almost immediately after Rahal announced he would auction off his Las Vegas finale helmet to help raise money for Wheldon’s young sons, offers from other celebrity athletes came flooding in. Eleven-time ASP World Champion Kelly Slater offered a surfboard. Lance Armstrong pledged a Tour de France Jersey. Rahal’s phone rang off the hook.

Rahal enlisted help from GoDaddy.com and got connected with eBay, which waived all fees. Los Angeles-based Auction Cause stepped up to manage the auction. And a Twitter account, @DWheldonAuction, landed more than 4,000 followers within 20 minutes of its launch, growing to nearly 13,000 at press time.

Thus far, the auction has raised nearly $220,000.

“I thought we would have a lot of support and a pretty good turnout of people saying ‘We’ll give this’ or ‘We’ll give that,’ but for it to get as large as it has—nobody ever expected this,” Rahal told reporters Wednesday. “It’s been pretty cool. I think it shows how tight-knit the sports community is overall. It isn’t just racing.”

E3 Spark Plugs sends continued thoughts to the Wheldon family and kudos to the racing pros and fans helping them through a heartbreaking time. And we encourage you to visit the auction site and bid high!

E3 Spark Plugs congratulates Lucas Oil & MAVTV!

E3 Spark Plugs sends out a huge “congrats” to Lucas Oil Products on its purchase of the MAVTV cable network. Our longtime racing partner Lucas Oil already had been one of the network’s key shareholders and strategic partners since its original 2008 investment. But the company now owns full control of MAV TV and promises another major financial infusion.

Founded in 2002 and launched in 2004, MAVTV is billed as “TV created by men for men.” Developed by four former Showtime Networks executives, the network provides original content from a uniquely mail perspective: “Car crashes, fist fights, hair-raising sprints to the finish and breathtakingly beautiful women-all in fantastic HD detail,” its website says. “What more can a man ask for?”

“For MAVTV, we’re focusing on three main areas including significant programming buys from major studios, exclusive new programming and an aggressive marketing campaign to improve consumer awareness,” says Lucas Oil Products Executive Vice President Bob Patison.

The company’s Lucas Oil Studios division in Corona, CA already produces more than 350 hours of motorsports and lifestyle television programming each year. With a cutting-edge production facility and an extensive portfolio of marketing relationships, Lucas Oil plans local media buys and prominent brand positioning within Lucas Oil properties such as Lucas Oil Stadium (home of the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts). Grassroots marketing campaigns at more than 400 racing events nationwide including Lucas Oil’s Off Road Racing Series, Lucas Oil Drag Boat Series, Lucas Oil Pro Pulling events and multiple NHRA teams.

You’ll just have to stay tuned to see what Lucas Oil has in store for new MAVTV programming and infrastructure. Whatever it is they’ve got planned, we at E3 Spark Plugs are sure it’ll be well worth watching. We’re proud to be a partner and sponsor with so many amazing Lucas Oil events and projects and look forward to the next chapter in amazing motorsports programming.

Rockstar Makita Suzuki rider Ryan Dungey won the battle at Pala MX Raceway but Monster Energy Kawasaki's Ryan Villopoto won the war and claimed his first Lucas Oil AMA Pro MX outdoor championship in the 450cc class. Photo courtesy of http://www.suzukicycles.com/Racing/Motocross/Gallery.aspx.

In the 450cc class of the Lucas Oil AMA MX Pro Championship, the national title would not be decided until the final lap of the final moto of the 2011 season at Pala Raceway. Southern California race fans turned out in record numbers to watch the showdown between Suzuki’s Ryan Dungey, last year’s national champion, and Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto, this year’s AMA indoor Supercross champion. To keep the pair of title contenders honest, Honda had rookie rider, Justin Barcia, and a seasoned former-national champion, Chad Reed of Two-Two Motorsports, ready to compete for the event win. After losing points to Villopoto when his Rockstar Makita Suzuki did not show up on time for the start of the second race at Steel City MX, Dungey was confident that with a little luck he could still make up a fourteen-point deficit.

At the beginning of Moto One, both Dungey and Villopoto looked beatable. The duo were buried in mid-pack as KTM’s Mike Alessi pulled the holeshot and started to gap the field. Canadian national champion Colton Facciotti was running second with the big red machine of Justin Barcia in third. Realizing his opportunity for another moto win, Barcia quickly moved his Honda to the lead. However, the two Ryans were just getting started and collectively worked their way to the front of the pack. Villopoto was first to get by Barcia for the lead followed by Dungey. At one point, the two Ryans were literally swapping the lead between corners. Villopoto would eventually garner a three-second gap over his rival. Barcia held on for a well deserved third followed by Alessi in fourth place.

Even though he increased his points lead at the end of the first moto, Villopoto knew all too well how quickly you can end up on the ground, out of the race, and out of the championship. So, as the gate dropped on the most important race of the season, the two Ryans again prepared themselves for one last battle in 2011. The Honda of Chad Reed would lead Justin Barcia and the rest of the 450cc riders across the line at the end of lap one. It didn’t appear that either contender would be able to catch Reed or Barcia early on. But, as the race neared the half way mark, Barcia pressured Reed into a mistake and took over first place. As the championship contenders caught Reed, Dungey would slip by leaving Villopoto to battle with the former champion.

Dungey would catch and pass Barcia for the win but it was too little, too late. Villopoto’s third place was good enough to win the “450cc War” allowing the Kawasaki rider to claim both the indoor and outdoor motocross titles, just as Dungey had done in 2010. Ironically, or maybe rightfully so, Dungey and Villopoto have been chasing each other their entire lives and were fierce competitors throughout their amateur motocross and 250cc Pro careers. So, what’s upcoming for the two Ryans? Both riders will be teammates representing the United States in the Motocross Des Nations next weekend in Saint Jean D’Angely, France. A big shout-out from all of the E3 spark plug racing fans to all of the Mx teams and a special thanks to Lucas Oil for sponsoring another terrific AMA outdoor motocross season.

DNA Shred Stix/Star Racing Yamaha rider Kyle Cunningham has finished fourth overall in last three Lucas Oil AMA Pro MX 250cc championship races behind Pro Circuit's dynamic trio. Photo courtesy of www.yamaha-motor.com.

The Monster Energy 250cc Kawasaki team dominated the podium once again at Round 8 of the Lucas Oil AMA Pro MX Championship last weekend in Washougal, WA. Geico Honda’s Justin Barcia led the Lites class through turn one of the first moto ahead of Pro Circuit’s Blake Baggett and DNA Shred Stix/Star Racing Yamaha’s Ryan Sipes. El Chupacabra wasted little time and quickly passed Barcia for the lead but Sipes, who was fastest of day in qualifying, would take the lead away before the close of lap one. Series points leader, Dean Wilson, had a bad start, clipped the fence and was struggling to work his way forward.

Although Sipes has shown the speed to unseat the Pro Circuit trio of Baggett, Wilson and Rattray, the Yamaha rider has lacked consistency. After Baggett re-passed the Star Racing Yamaha, Sipes would make several mistakes dropping him to an eventual 15th place finish. In the mean time, his Yamaha teammate, Kyle Cunningham and the green bike of Tyla Rattray were working their way by Barcia. Rattray would try to close the gap on Baggett but finished 11 seconds to the rears. Cunningham held on for third place with Barcia in fourth followed by a hard-charging Dean Wilson in fifth. Local favorite Tommy Weeck finished sixth on his Motosport Hillsboro Honda.

Wilson’s hard charge continued in Moto 2 as the Scotsman rounded the first turn of the difficult Washougal track in the lead. Barcia, Baggett and Cunningham were stuck in the pack and working hard to get by slower riders. Mr. Consistency, Tyla Rattray, had put his Pro Circuit Kawasaki in second and would challenge Wilson late in the Moto 2. But, Wilson would hold on to a slim half-second lead at the finish line over Rattray followed by El Chupacabra in third giving the Monster Energy Kawasaki team its fifth sweep of the overall podium in just eight races. The DNA Shred Stix/Star Racing Yamaha of Gareth Swanepoel crossed the line in fourth giving the South African a fifth place overall for the event.

Wilson retains the series points lead but once again failed to win an overall. Baggett’s 1-3 finishes gave the Kawasaki ace his fifth overall win for the season. Rattray, who is the only other Lites rider to win in 2011, finished second overall with Wilson in third. Cunningham’s 3-7 finishes added to the Yamaha rider’s streak of fourth-place overalls. Teams, riders and E3 spark plugs racing fans have the next two weekends off as everyone looks forward to Round 9 of the championship at the famed Unadilla MX track in New Berlin, NY. If you’re looking for a high performance car, truck, motorcycle or snowmobile spark plugs, stop by your favorite discount or auto parts store and pick up a box of E3 replacement plugs for your ride.