E3 Spark Plugs News

You know E3 Spark Plugs-sponsored Jason Patison as the strong young racer who began his career at 15 and racked up a string of Rookie of the Year wins over the next decade. But there’s more than meets the eye with Patison, who aims to make the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series soon.

E3 Spark Plugs-Sponsored Racer Jason Patison.

Patison, son of Lucas Oil Executive Vice President Bob Patison, first hit the competition tracks in 1997, landing four top-five finishes in the Victorville County Fair Raceway’s dirt track mini-stock class. The next year, he became the event’s youngest track champion and won his first Rookie of the Year title. A string of other Rookie of the Year wins followed in 1999 in the Super Street Stock Class at Temecula Raceway; in 2000 at the NASCAR Pro-4 class at Orange Show Speedway; in 2002 in the NASCAR Super Late Model class at Mesa Marin Raceway; and in 2006 in the Hoosier Tire West Modified and the N.O.S. Speedway Modified. That year, he also was the Hoosier Tire West Modified Champion.

Most recently, Patison landed third and fourth place finishes in the Irwindale Speedway Super Late Model series. An accident and mechanical problems were to blame for disappointing 28th place and 20th place finishes in the NASCAR East Series in New Hampshire and Lime Rock Park, respectively. Later today, Jason will make another showing in the NASCAR East Series at Lee Speedway, then it’s back to Irwindale for a Super Late Model series race on Saturday.

E3 Spark Plugs-Sponsored Racer Jason Patison.

While not racing for Lucas Oil and E3 Spark Plugs, the Corona, CA-born Patison, who earned a business degree from California’s University of LaVerne, works as Editor in Chief of Team Lucas Magazine. Away from the office, he is an accomplished artist specializing in oil, charcoal and ink. And, he also builds and maintains beautiful salt water aquariums and coral tanks.

If you want the same power in your engine that propels Patison’s NASCAR career, then insist upon E3 spark plugs, featuring our patented DiamondFire technology. For an engine that runs both strong and clean, E3 car spark plugs, E3 truck spark plugs and E3 motorcycle spark plugs are unmatched.

Monster Energy racer Chad Reed has retired the Number One plate for the remainder of the 2010 Lucas Oil AMA Pro Championship. The defending outdoor national champion returned home to recover from the Epstein-Barr virus. Photo courtesy of www.chadreedracing.com.

Big news came this week from the Lucas Oil AMA Pro MX Championship series as the defending outdoor national champion Chad Reed dropped out of the chase for the 2010 title.  After being diagnosed with the Epstein-Barr virus, Monster Energy Kawasaki rider Reed has decided to recover at home with his wife and their new son Tate. Reed had struggled throughout the season with chronic fatigue syndrome before falling out of the series’ top 5 in national 450cc points last week at the Millville MX.

Hondas grabbed an early lead in Moto One as Red Bull’s Andrew Short led the way over Kevin Windham and Ben Townley. Rockstar Makita Suzuki rider Ryan Dungey was charging from a lack luster start when Townley crashed hard in the whoops injuring his right shoulder and ending the day for the fast Kiwi. Dungey would manage his way through the field sailing past Windham for second place before tracking down Short for the lead. Windham would fade to ninth late in the race as Honda riders Short and Aussie Brett Metcalfe would claim second and third in Moto One.

Red Bull Honda rider Andrew Short would grab his second holeshot of the day and his eighth holeshot of the season in Moto Two of the Washougal MX National. Windham would position his 450cc Red Bike into second place as Dungey chased the pair of Honda riders up Horsepower Hill.  As the race approached the halfway point in Moto Two, Dungey stepped up the pace to pass Windham and Short for the lead. Rockstar Energy’s Tommy Hahn put on an impressive ride to third and Yamaha rider Justin Brayton rebounded from a disappointing first moto to finish fourth.

The victory at Washougal was Dungey’s seventh of the 2010 Lucas Oil AMA season giving the factory Suzuki ace a commanding 95 point lead over Short for the championship. Townley’s misfortunes would allow Metcalfe and Joe Gibbs Racing Yamaha rider Josh Grant to move past the injured Honda rider to take over third and fourth place in the points championship. Popular privateer Nicholas Wey would have his best result of the season finishing fifth overall behind a very fast Tommy Hahn. Suzuki’s Hahn turned in the fastest times of the day and seems to be recovering nicely from his own nagging injuries.

The 450cc pro riders will have two weeks off before teams head all the way across the country for Round 9 of the AMA Lucas Oil MX Pro Championship in New Berlin, New York. Don’t forget to follow the action on the E3 Spark Plugs Racing blog from the famed Unadilla MX track as the world’s top riders battle all the way to the 2010 AMA Championship. If you want peak performance and great fuel mileage from your car, truck or SUV, ask for E3 Car Spark Plugs at your favorite auto parts store. Our patented DiamondFire technology is designed to deliver Energy, Efficiency and Ecology for your ride.

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Geico Honda Powersports Trey Canard continued his winning ways in the 250cc Lites class this weekend with a dominating performance over Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Christophe Pourcel at Washougal, WA.  E3 Spark Plugs Racing fans watched as Oklahoma’s Canard roosted his way over the top of Horsepower Hill in first place of both motos and claimed his third straight victory in the 2010 Lucas Oil AMA Pro Championship. This was the 30th year that the world’s best AMA pro motocross riders carved their way through the deep loamy soil of the legendary high-speed track at the Washougal National MX Park.

Monster Energy Kawasaki rider Jake Weimer finished third in Moto One at the Washougal National letting his 250cc Pro Circuit teammates know that he's still in the points race for the 2010 Lucas Oil AMA Pro MX Championship. Photo courtesy of www.kawasaki.com.

Championship points leader Pourcel was on damage control in the opening moto with an impressive ride through the field for a second place finish behind Canard in Moto One. As Canard took his first ever win in an opening moto, Pourcel’s Monster Energy teammates Jake Weimer and Tyla Rattray pushed each other to the finish line for third and fourth place, respectively. The other Pro Circuit Kawasaki 250cc Lites teammate, Dean Wilson, went down early in the opening moto at Washougal but recovered to finish in sixth place behind Honda rider Blake Wharton.

In Moto Two, Wilson and Canard had an old fashioned drag race to turn one as the Canadian Kawasaki rider tried to push Canard wide but the Honda ace held his line and rocketed to the top of Horsepower Hill to eventually lead every lap of both motos in the 250cc Lites class. Wilson fell victim to the field when he crashed early on during the second moto relinquishing the position to his teammate Pourcel. South African 250cc World Champion Tyla Rattray continued to show speed and consistency finishing in third ahead of Wharton and Ecuador’s Martin Davalos.

Canard’s 1-1 finishes put the Honda rider on top of the podium for the third consecutive race in a row giving the Honda ace the most overall wins this season so far in the 250cc class. With only three rounds left in the Lucas Oil AMA MX Championship, Pourcel’s points lead has slipped to only 38 points ahead of Canard. Rattray claimed the final step on the podium with a third overall on the day ahead of Wharton, Wilson and Weimer. The winner of round one at Hangtown MX, Eli Tomac, appears to be recovering from an early season case of heat exhaustion with a seventh place overall at Washougal.

The AMA pro riders have two weeks off before teams travel to the opposite coast for Round 9 of the 2010 Lucas Oil AMA Pro MX Championship at the famed Unadilla MX track in New Berlin, New York. Don’t forget to check the E3 Spark Plugs Blog for the latest results from the hills of the Leatherneck region of central New York State and remember to ask for E3 Spark Plugs the next time you change plugs in your car, truck, motorcycle or lawn & garden equipment. Let our patented DiamondFire technology deliver Energy, Efficiency and Ecology for your favorite engine.

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Defending EnduroCross champion Taddy Blazusiak of Poland raced to a hard-fought win, opening the E3 Spark Plugs-sponsored 2010 GEICO EnduroCross Series at Las Vegas’ Orleans Arena July 17. Touted the sport’s “premier showman,” Blazusiak rode his Red Bull KTM to victory over Geoff Aaron and Cory Graffunder.

Poland's Taddy Blazusiak, winner of the 2010 GEICO EnduroCross Series' Las Vegas opener.

Ten time National Trials champ Aaron kick-started race day by setting the fastest time in the Pioneer Hot Lap, which determined the gate picks for the evening heat races. When the dust settled, Blazusiak, Graffunder and Mike Brown were awarded the best gate picks for the main event. Blazusiak wond the $750 Girardi Wealth Management holeshot award, but it proved a short-term victory when Aaron quickly passed him by. The two riders ran neck-and-neck during the first half of the race, until a mishap sent Aaron tumbling into the GEICO rock garden. That gave Blazusiak a small lead that he managed to hold for the rest of the race.

The competition for third place proved to be a nail biter. Graffunder, Brown, Justin Soule, Gary Sutherlin, Cody Webb and Kyle Redmund. Each had a shot at the podium at various times during the race, but all bets were on Webb until he crashed into the Monster water hole. Brown and Soule followed closely for fourth and fifth place, respectively.

Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Ricky Dietrich provided the biggest shock of the day when he crashed during the Last Chance Qualifier, knocking him from the main event. Lucas Oil rider Colton Haaker, last year’s E3 Spark Plugs Junior champion also sat out the main event on the bench.

Next up for the GEICO EnduroCross Series presented by E3 Spark Plugs, maker of the top-rated E3 motorcycle spark plugs: Round Two at Guthrie, Oklahoma’s Lazy E Arena August 14.
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It doesn’t look like anyone can stop 450cc points leader Ryan Dungey from his goal of winning the 2010 AMA Lucas Oil MX Pro Championship in his rookie season. In front of a home-state crowd, native Minnesota rider Dungey dominated Round 7 at the popular Spring Creek National MX and extended his lead in the national championship chase. If you want to dominate on the street, in the woods or off-road in the dirt, try E3 Motorcycle Spark Plugs in your favorite ride. Let E3′s patented DiamondFire technology afford you the Energy, Efficiency and Ecology for your winning ride.

MX legend Kevin Windham returned to action at Millville as a factory Red Bull Honda rider replacing the injured Davi Milsaps. Photo courtesy of Geico Powersports Honda.

In Moto One of the 450cc class, MX legend Kevin Windham pulled an early lead riding the Red Bull Honda as a replacement rider for the injured Davi Milsaps. Windham had an excellent return to the factory Honda camp with a solid fourth overall finish for the day. Once Suzuki’s Ryan Dungey got by Windham, he picked up the pace and disappeared from the rest of the talented 450cc field. Joe Gibbs Racing Yamaha rider Josh Grant would finish second ahead of Honda’s Andrew Short and Kiwi Ben Townley. Defending MX Champion Chad Reed crashed during Moto One and would sit out the second race with a nagging neck injury.

Troy Lee Design/Lucas Oil rider Townley blasted to lead in Moto Two ahead of Short, Dungey and Windham before dropping his Honda in the Millville sand. Dungey would take the lead and wasted no time in putting distance between his Rockstar Suzuki and Short’s Red Bull Honda. Once again privateer Texan Kyle Regal would capture the factory teams’ attention as he raced pass the Hondas of Kevin Windham and Andrew Short for a second place in the moto and a third overall finish for the day. A pair of third place finishes would net Short a second overall leaving him 89 points behind Dungey for the championship.

The “Ryan Dungey Show” will head west along with the rest of the AMA Lucas Oil MX Pro Championship teams for Round 8 in Washougal, Washington. If you’re looking for championship performance for your motorcycle, car, SUV or truck, E3 car spark plugs are guaranteed to deliver time after time. Follow the world’s top riders all the way to 2010 MX National Championship finals on the E3 Spark Plugs racing blog.

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After waiting three years to win his first AMA 250cc MX national event, Geico Powersports Honda’s Trey Canard only had to wait one week to win his second championship series race. E3 Spark Plugs Racing fans watched while rain fell on Canard during the second moto as he dominated Round 7 of the Lucas Oil AMA Pro MX Championship. For the rest of the MX Lights field, it was survival of the elements, as Scottish rookie Dean Wilson and his Pro Circuit teammate Tyla Rattray finished the day second and third overall aboard their Monster Energy 250cc Kawasakis.

After injuring his knee in a crash during the first moto, Kawasaki rider Dean Wilson rebounded with a solid performance as rain fell on Round 7 of the AMA Lucas Oil 250cc MX National Championship. Photo courtesy of Pro Circuit Racing.

Although Moto One has belonged to Frenchman Christophe Pourcel during the first six rounds of the Lucas Oil AMA Championship, there have been five different overall winners with four of those being first-time AMA national wins. Saturday’s opening moto was no surprise as Pourcel and Canard traded the lead several times before Pourcel would double an uphill jump to claim the win ahead of Canard, Kawasaki teammates Jake Weimer and Tyla Rattray, Honda rider Blake Wharton and Pro Circuit’s Dean Wilson. Wilson was running third for most of the race before crashing his Kawasaki and injuring his knee.

Nico Izzi pulled the holeshot in Moto Two ahead of Canard and Wilson, both wasted little time in getting around the Yamaha rider. Pourcel, the 250cc AMA MX national point’s leader, had his typical bad start leaving the former world champion to struggle outside the top ten for most of the second race. With the rain falling harder and harder, former World 250cc Champion Tyla Rattray and Geico Powersports Honda rider Justin Barcia would race past a tiring Eli Tomac in third. As of late, Tomac hasn’t shown the strength that landed the rookie Honda rider a national win at Hang Town in the AMA MX season opener. Barcia would eventually gap Rattray and Pro Circuit Kawasaki teammate Jake Weimer who would finish in fourth.

Both Canard and Wilson made up ground in their battle with Pourcel for the 2010 national outdoor championship points lead. Next week, the teams head west to Washougal, Washington, for Round 8 of the 2010 AMA Lucas Oil MX Pro Championship on Saturday, July 24th. Don’t forget to check the E3 Spark Plugs news blog for race results, and pick our patented DiamondFire technology when you change plugs in your car, truck, motorcycle or lawn equipment. E3 car spark plugs provide the Energy, Efficiency and Ecology needed for today’s fast-paced world.

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Not exactly but attach a big asterisk to that statement. In recent years, there has been a rise in consumer complaints of poor running engines and sluggish motors that won’t idle properly. Most drivers naturally associate an engine’s spits and sputters with ignition problems. But, the truth is today’s drivers are filling their tanks with gasoline that has a reduced shelf life. Since the signing of the Renewable Fuel Standard Program in September of 2006, the majority of fuel pumped at gasoline stations contains around 10% of Ethanol and is often referred to as E10 gas. The problem is ethanol is not the most stable oxygenator, especially in sub-tropical or tropical climates.

Ethanol, a corn-based alternative fuel, comes with pros and cons.

Ethanol is an alcohol and alcohol separates from gasoline (called Phase Separation) in a relatively short time. In doing so, the alcohol attracts water molecules and gasoline sitting in holding tanks, gas cans or your car can become diluted. As the contaminated fuel mixes with the same amount of air as before, your engine is forced to operate at a lean condition. Running lean means hotter operating temperatures which can cause an increased wear factor for your car spark plugs. In addition, the diluted fuel has a reduced octane rating that may cause your engine to “knock” due to predestination. Some common engine problems associated with E10 Gasoline include:

• Lack of Performance
• Loss of Power
• Hard to Start
• Doesn’t Want to Idle
• Hesitates on Acceleration
• Stall at Slow Speeds

On a positive note, Ethanol is a leading alternative to fossil fuels and is considered to be a “green alternative”. Prior to the mid-1970s, most gasoline contained lead which was replaced by another oxygenating agent called MTBE (or Methyl-Tertiary-Butyl-Ether). Although oxygenates were found to reduce the carbon monoxide emissions from car engines, MTBE would later be scrutinized as a ground water contaminate. So, over 150 years after ethanol was first used to power a motor, the grain or sugarcane based fuel additive was back.

If your engine doesn’t run as well as it once did or if you’ve noticed a drop in gas mileage, it might be a good time to install new E3 car spark plugs. Our patented DiamondFire technology is proven to provide a cleaner, more thorough an engine’s combustion cycle. After extensive tests, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reported that E3′s “… technology offered clear advantages in HC and CO emissions control while at the same time improving power and fuel economy.” Plus, E3 is the ONLY car spark plug to be included in rulings by the EPA, cited as a “supplemental emissions control device.”

Each year the Hot Rod Power Tour takes cities by storm as thousands of hot rodders and enthusiasts, also know as Long Haulers, participate in the Hot Rod Power Tour.  One thing that is always a highlight is the Dyno Challenge.  This year’s Dyno Challenge, brought to you by Lucas Oil and E3 Spark Plugs, was no exception.  With high revving engines and earplugs required, this years winners brought more power than ever.  The winners of the 2010 Hot Rod Power Tour stops were awarded a leather bomber jacket with embroidered sponsor logos, and included:

Saturday, July 5 in Newton, Iowa
Andrew Cowherd of Carrollton, Missouri
2010 Chevy Camaro, 607 HP/543 Torque

Sunday, July 6 in Springfield, Illinois
Travis Vaughn of Grand Forks, North Dakota
2000 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am, 739 HP/692 Torque

Monday, July 7 in DuQuoin, Illinois
Brad Young of Carbondale, Illinois
2008 Mustang Shelby, 687 HP/630 Torque

Tuesday, July 8 in Bowling Green, Kentucky
Chris Huels of Battlefield, Missouri
1967 Chevy Nova, 750 HP/680 Torque

Wednesday, July 9 in Chattanooga, Tennessee
Troy Brumbalow of Cumming, Georgia
1971 Plymouth Barracuda, 729 HP/710 Torque

Thursday July 10 in Birmingham, Alabama
Albert Stephens of Theresa, New York
2010 Roush Mustang, 487 HP/429 Torque

Friday July 11 in Mobile, Alabama
David Driver of Mobile, Alabama
1996 Chevy Camaro, ¬428 HP/360 Torque

Backed by a five year, 100,000-mile warranty, E3 Spark Plugs with DiamondFire technology, are now available for most automotive and motorsports applications at automotive retail stores nationwide.  For more information and complete test results, visit www.e3sparkplugs.com.


Red Bull Honda’s Ashley Fiolek finally got her 2010 AMA WMX season on track in Buchanan, Michigan, over the July 4th weekend. E3 Motorcycle Spark Plugs fans cheered as the defending WMX National Champion and current series points leader Jessica Patterson battled for the lead in Moto One at the popular Red Bud MX National. DNA Shred Stix Yamaha’s Patterson tangled with a back marker late in the race giving Fiolek the cushion needed to take the win. Troy Lee Designs/Honda rider Tarah Geiger led Yamaha’s Vicki Golden to the line finishing third and fourth, respectively.

Ashely Fiolek regained her National Championship form with dominate 1-1 finishes at Red Bud MX in Round Five of the 2010 AMA WMX Championship. Photo courtesy of www.ridelust.com.

St. Augustine, FL native Fiolek gave notice to the talented WMX field in Moto Two when she grabbed the holeshot for Moto Two. Patterson wasted no time putting pressure on Fiolek early in the second race and last weekend’s podium finisher Sara Price moved her Monster Energy Drink Kawasaki into third. As the deep-rutted Red Bud MX track was taking its toll on the talented field, Patterson and Fiolek gapped the field leaving the pair to fight it out for the moto win. TLD/Honda-powered Geiger picked up her pace and moved past Price for third place on the rough Michigan motocross track.

With nothing but first place overall wins in 2010, Yamaha’s Patterson fought to keep her winning streak alive with a late moto charge on the rear wheel of Fiolek. But, the Red Bull Honda rider would show the same determination that landed her the Number One plate in ’09 and kept Patterson behind her all the way to the checkers. Geiger brought her Honda home in third place ahead of Price and Yamaha rider Mariana Balbi who posted 5-5 finishes for fifth overall on the day. The victory moved Fiolek to 20 points behind Patterson for the series championship followed by Geiger, Golden and Price.

WMX riders have two weeks off before teams travel to Millville, Minnesota, for the July 17th showdown at the Spring Creek Motocross track. This will be Round 6 for the lady motocrossers with only three races remaining to crown the 2010 WMX National Champion. Follow all the action to the final round at Steel City Raceway in Delmont, PA, by checking WMX race results at the E3 Spark Plugs news blog and remember to install E3 Car Spark Plugs in your favorite vehicle. Our patented DiamondFire technology delivers Energy, Efficiency and Ecology to any engine including your lawn & garden equipment.
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The 2010 AMA Lucas Oil MX Pro Championship had perfect weather for Round Six as the 450cc class traveled north to Buchanan, Michigan, for the popular Red Bud National. E3 Car Spark Plugs MX fans know that rookies aren’t supposed to win in the big bike class. But, somebody forgot to tell Rockstar Makita’s Ryan Dungey. Already this season, Dungey has won in the heat at Firestone MX in Texas, in the mud at High Point MX in Pennsylvania, in the sand at Budds Creek MX in Maryland, and in the mile-high altitude at Lakewood MX in Colorado. The rookie’s consistency on the track and focus off the track allows him to improve on lap times from when unloads until the checkered flag flies for the final moto.

The 2010 Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship brings the world's best motocross riders and teams together to compete on the nation's toughest tracks like Red Bud MX in Buchanan, Michigan. Visit the AMA MX series sponsor at www.lucasoil.com.

The Red Bud track is most famous for a 130-foot step-up jump known as LaRocco’s Leap. The very long, fast, uphill jump requires riders to jump over the equivalent of a 5-story building. In Moto One, Red Bull Honda’s Andrew Short pulled his fifth holeshot of the season but gave way to a hard-charging Ben Townley. The Troy Lee/Lucas Oil rider Townley had missed the 2008 and 2009 AMA outdoor motocross seasons due to a nagging shoulder injury but has shown a lot of speed in 2010. With a few laps to go in the opening moto, Townley dropped his Lucas Oil Honda in a sandy rut letting Dungey, Chad Reed and Short slip by to claim the respective podium positions. Fellow Aussie Brett Metcalfe followed Townley home with Joe Gibbs Racing’s Josh Grant in sixth place.

Déjà vu in moto two as Red Bull’s Short took an early lead followed by Dungey, Townley and Reed. After following Short for a couple of laps, Dungey went underneath the Honda rider and took command of the race. Townley was next to get around Short followed closely by Reed. In his best performance of the 2010 AMA Lucas Oil Pro MX season, Reed made a late race charge to second. Townley would settle for third giving the Kiwi third overall for the day. Short would relinquish fourth in Moto Two to the Geico Powersports Honda of Brett Metcalfe. Yamaha’s Josh Grant went (6-6) for sixth overall, followed by Honda’s Kyle Regal (7-7) in seventh overall and Yamaha rider Ryan Sipes (8-8) for eighth overall.

The AMA Pro MX teams have next weekend off before traveling to Millville, MN, for the Lucas Oil outdoor national motocross championship. Check back on 7/19 for E3 Spark Plugs Blog coverage of Round 7 from Spring Creek MX. Until then, if you want high performance from your truck spark plugs, install a set of E3 spark plugs with our patented DiamondFire technology. We deliver Energy, Efficiency and Ecology from your car, truck or motorcycle engine.

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