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K&N makes performance parts for the Dodge Dart, like this 2015 Dodge Dart 2.0L turbo

In 2009, the Chrysler Corporation was about to shut its doors forever. Mercedes-Benz had bought the company back in 1998 for $57 billion. But they couldn't make it work, and eventually sold out for just $9 billion in 2007. The lucky buyer was a venture capital outfit called Cerberus Capital Management, and the bankruptcy court eventually decided that they couldn't make it work either. Then a blunt speaking French-Canadian named Sergio Marchionne decided to have a go at saving the storied American automaker. However, Mr. Marchionne wasn't just some starry eyed investor that insisted on wearing a fuzzy black sweater every single day. He was the CEO of a massive Italian car company called Fiat, and the merger would give them access to a huge U.S. dealer network. It also gave Chrysler access to a huge portfolio of ready-made engines and car platforms, which meant they could start creating new models almost immediately. The first of these new Italian-American collaborative cars was a compact sedan called the Dodge Dart. It rode on a modified Alfa Romeo Giulietta platform, and had an aggressive look that would come to embody the Dodge brand.

Behind the distinctive crosshair grille were a selection of new engines that were codeveloped by Fiat and Chrysler engineers. The base 2013-2016 Dodge Dart 2.0L Tigershark 4cyl used advanced engine tech like dual-variable valve timing to make 160-hp and 148 lb-ft of torque. The 2013-2016 Dodge Dart Turbo is powered by the 1.4T FIRE 4cyl (aka 1.4L MultiAir Turbo). Designed by Fiat, this Fully Integrated Robotised Engine (i.e FIRE) uses an intercooled turbo, along with their MultiAir electro-hydraulic variable valve timing system, which improves the power and fuel efficiency by constantly adjusting the amount of air going into the motor. All of this results in a Dodge Dart 1.4T that makes 160-hp, and an impressive 184 lb-ft of torque at just 2500 rpm. And finally, the top-spec 2013-2016 Dodge Dart 2.4L Tigershark uses the more advanced MultiAir 2 VVT system to make 184-hp and 174 lb-ft. This motor provides the sport-flavored Dodge Dart GT enough power to backup its sinister looks. But if you want to get more performance from any of these engines, then checkout these K&N Dodge Dart performance parts.

K&N Replacement Air Filter

Get excellent engine protection on the 2013-2016 Dodge Dart with a K&N air filter

Engineered for these variations of the 2013-2016 Dodge Dart:

• 2013-2016 Dodge Dart 2.0L Tigershark
• 2013-2016 Dodge Dart 1.4L MultiAir Turbo
• 2013-2016 Dodge Dart 2.4L Tigershark

The MultiAir system in your 2013-2016 Dodge Dart engine is able to instantly adjust the engine airflow to provide better fuel economy when you're just puttering around, and more power when you really step on it. To maximize the efficiency of this highly advanced variable valve timing system, the K&N 33-2491 replacement air filter uses a low restriction cotton gauze filter media. Plus it's reusable, and your factory warranty won't be affected.

K&N Cold Air Intake Systems

K&N 69-2547TS Typhoon Performance Intake System

A K&N 69-2547TS Typhoon Intake will give your Dodge Dart 2.0L Tigershark a lot more 'bite'

K&N 69-2548TS Typhoon Performance Intake System

The K&N 69-2548TS Typhoon Intake will give your 2013-2016 Dodge Dart Turbo a serious boost in power

K&N Oil Filters

Get exceptional engine protection on your 2013-2016 Dodge Dart with a K&N PS-1017 Oil Filter

Engineered for these variations of the 2013-2016 Dodge Dart:

• 2013-2016 Dodge Dart 2.0L Tigershark
• 2013-2016 Dodge Dart 1.4L MultiAir Turbo
• 2013-2016 Dodge Dart 2.4L Tigershark

K&N PS-1017 Performance Silver Oil Filter

It doesn't matter if your Dodge Dart has the 2.0L Tigershark, the 2.4L Tigershark, or the 1.4L MultiAir Turbo, a K&N PS-1017 Performance Silver Oil Filter can provide exceptional protection against dirt, sludge, and other harmful oil contaminates. It has the same high-flow and high filtration that K&N air filters are known for, because the low restriction filter media allows more oil to flow through. The increased oil flow rate means that more oil gets cleaned, faster. Plus the heavy duty canister is designed to handle the increased oil pressure that occurs during spirited driving.

A K&N Wrench Off Oil Filter protects your Dodge Dart engine during a race or the drive to work

Designed to endure extreme punishment on a racetrack, the K&N HP-1017 Wrench-off Oil Filter can protect your Dodge Dart engine, no matter where you drive it. It uses a unique resin-impregnated cellulose filter media that can remove 99% of the oil contaminants, while significantly increasing the oil flow rate for excellent engine protection at high RPMs. The heavy duty steel canister can withstand higher oil pressure, and damage from road debris. There's also a 1 inch hex nut welded to the top of the canister for easy wrench off removal. And if you need to pass inspection at a racetrack, you can attach a safety wire through the pre-drilled hole in the hex nut.

Jarett Andretti made the most of a difficult opening weekend in USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Series

“Ocala is always a blow-off-the-cobwebs kind of race for us,” said John Andretti of Andretti Short Track. “A lot of [AMSOIL Series] competitors run sprint cars and midgets over the winter. We aren’t set up to do that.”

Nevertheless, Jarett ran fourth-quickest in the opening practice, but the green racetrack from recent Florida storms changed rapidly throughout Friday’s qualifying. Running in the middle of the qualifying field, the track went away from their setup and Jarett qualified 11th. After transferring to the Feature from his heat race, Jarett worked forward but had to back out from getting collected in two other competitors’ fight. That dropped him back several spots, forcing him to work his way back to P11 despite a minor driveline issue.

Jarett Andretti is following the Andretti tradition of USAC racing in the AMSOIL Sprint Series

“USAC just makes us better,” John said. “They’re gonna race us hard and that raises up our level. Winning a USAC race is as tough as an IndyCar or NASCAR Cup race because the talent is so deep.”

The rest of 2017 will find Jarett running 70 to 80 sprint-car races. That will include USAC races as well as a variety of events that fit into the schedule. Next up will be the opening round of Mansfield Motor Speedway’s Triple Crown Spring Series on March 25. That race reopens Mansfield, a former paved oval that was converted back to a dirt 0.4-mile oval, for the 2017 season.

In just his second year of sprint-car racing, Jarett will run 70 to 80 races in 2017

“Right now, Jarett is learning the guys [in the series] and what he needs to do to race around them,” John said.

Andretti Short Track will be running their DRC Chassis all year with the J&D Performance-built engines putting down big horsepower. Those engines get their air and oil through K&N filters, as does the engine on the team’s tow rig.

(Photos: Rick Lane Motorsports Photography]

The starter waves off the field for the 2016 K&N Pro Series. Will you be there for 2017?

The NASCAR K&N Pro Series, which includes the East and the West, is the top step in NASCAR’s developmental ladder before a driver progresses to the three national series. The NASCAR K&N Series was previously known as – among other names – Grand National West, Winston West Series, and the Camping World West Series. It was actually formed in 1954, not long after NASCAR itself, as a way to develop the skills of drivers from the western US who couldn’t regularly travel to compete in the Southeastern US. The very first (of three) championships went to Lloyd Dane driving a Hudson Hornet.

Previous winner Patrick Staropoli raced in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series last year

The SPEARS SRL Southwest Tour Series is a Late Model racing league operating since 1985, originally with NASCAR sanction as the NASCAR Featherlite Southwest Tour and later AutoZone Elite Division, Southwest Series, and before being sanctioned by a group of West Coast racers under the premises of the Stockcar Racing League.

The cars feature a 101” wheelbase and weigh 2,900 lbs. All cars are fitted with a fiberglass body and are powered by a 362 CID Chevrolet, Dodge, of Ford V8.

One of the Dave Reed Racing entries blows a little flame in exciting SRL Southwest Tour racing

The schedule for this big night at Irwindale Speedway will start off with qualifying, an on-track autograph session, and the first 100 lapper for the NASCAR K&N Pro Series, followed by the SPEARS Southwest Tour Series “SPEARS Manufacturing 100”, and finally the second 100-lap event for the K&N Series.

Irwindale Speedway is located near the intersection of the 210 and 605 freeways, east of Los Angeles. The speedway offers 6,000 comfortable seats, twin paved oval race tracks (banked 1/2 and 1/3 mile), excellent sound and lighting systems, and paved parking for over 3,000 spectator cars.

Ryan Partridge won three races in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West in 2016

In a way, Partridge said it was a blessing that he didn’t win the K&N Pro Series West championship last year. It was his second year racing for Bob Bruncati and his Sunrise Ford Racing team. Typically, drivers don’t come back for a third year with Bruncati. But because Partridge and his team were so close last year, Bruncati decided to bring them back for another shot.

“I am a firm believer that everything happens for a reason,” said Partridge, the driver of the No. 9 car for the Sunrise Ford Racing team. “If you pay attention historically, Bob Bruncati with his Sunrise Ford Racing team only keeps drivers for two years. The fact that he brought me back for a third year, I’m very blessed and blown away. Perhaps if we won the championship last year, there would be no reason for a third year. So I like to think things happen for a reason. I’d rather stay in the seat than winning championships any day.”

The K&N Pro Series West season opens with the NAPA Auto Parts 150 presented by Interstate Batteries at Tucson Speedway in Arizona. Partridge won the K&N Pro Series West race at Tucson last year. It was his first win of the season.

“If you look back to the beginning of last season, we started off with a more conservative approach with a championship in mind,” Partridge said. “Historically you have to be fairly conservative. You can’t take any chances because you need to finish every race. That was kind of our mentality, our mindset going into last season. Low and behold, Todd ended up winning the first two races. That kind of set the pace to where we were already behind the 8-ball. We were playing catch up now.”

Gilliland won the first two races of the K&N Pro Series West in 2016. He won the season opener at Irwindale Speedway and the second race at Kern County Raceway Park in California. The first race of the 2017 K&N Pro Series West schedule is in Tucson, the first of a four-race stretch in eight days to start the season. NASCAR and K&N are putting up a $100,000 bonus if a driver can win all four races. Partridge said he is focused on starting the season strong.

Ryan Partridge won the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West season finale in 2016 at All American Speedway

Part of the reason Partridge says he fell short of winning the K&N Pro Series West championship last year was because of a conservative approach at the start of the season. It’ a mistake he doesn’t want to duplicate.

“I think that’s more just my focus,” Partridge said. “I think being aggressive is what we’re going to have to do so this last year doesn’t repeat itself. I don’t think we can leave anything on the table. There’s going to be some tough competition. We need to make sure we clear our mind and can sleep sound at night because we tried as hard as we can all year long.

“I think we have to drive harder. I think we have to drive every race like it’s our last race.”

Experience and unity will also be the team’s strength this year, Partridge said. The crew has been together for three years and Bruncati has high expectations. Partridge said he welcomes the challenge.

“Everything was jiving well with the 9 team last year,” Partridge said. “The crew’s having fun, the owner’s having fun, the driver’s having fun. Everything is just jiving. It’s a harmonious feel. They value that. It’s rare you come across that and everyone just clicks. They know that we’re capable of the championship. They know, even last year, had a couple of breaks gone our way, it would have been a different outcome.”

The Sunrise Ford Racing team added another car for the 2017 campaign. Julia Landauer, one of the top rookies in the K&N Pro Series West last year, joined Bruncati’s team and will make her debut in Tucson.

Ryan Partridge was second in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West standings in 2016, behind Todd Gilliland

Partridge said he appreciates all the support K&N gives to the Pro Series West.

“K&N has consistently year in, year out, been dishing out serious money for us to go racing,” Partridge said. “We couldn’t be more proud to have that company supporting us. The prestige K&N has as a brand, the prestige they have developed in the racing community, is huge. Not because of what they do now, but because of where they come from. Very excited that we have a great name working for us.”