K&N Sponsored Val Torres Wins Super Gas at NHRA Winternationals

“You just take a deep breath, and give it all you got,” said NHRA Super Gas Champion Val Torres. “When that green light hits it is a great feeling, because when it’s your time it’s your time.”

It was definitely the 22-year-old racer's time at the 46th annual CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals at the Auto Club Raceway in Pomona, California. Val Torres Pontiac Firebird defeated Bill Ohmer’s Chevy Nova.

Super Gas shows full-bodied production vehicles with full fenders, grilles, hoods, windshields, tops and doors that are functional. Left-handed steering street roadsters are definitely allowed, but dragsters are not allowed. The Super Gas class has to follow the same rules as Super Comp but with a different index. In Super Gas a heads-up start is used and racers are not allowed to run faster than the 9.90 second index.

Val uses a K&N Engineering oil filter in his 1998 Pontiac, Firebird and said he plans to run K&N oil filters all season long. “The filters are very easy to change,” said Val. “I recommend them.”

Val has raced for 8 years, the last three in Super Gas. “It’s a genuine rush, next, I want to go Pro Stock,” said Val. “K&N is a great sponsor.”