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HANSEN SIZZLES TO PAS VICTORY |
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Perris, Calif…(June 21, 2008) Garrett Hansen, Manhattan Beach, Calif., drove the Mark Preistley / Roy Miller Freightlines No. 7 Maxim to his second career USAC/CRA victory Saturday at the Perris Auto Speedway. One week made a big difference for Hansen, who rode out a vicious flip just seven days ago at Santa Maria (Cailf.) Speedway. Showing no ill-affects of the incident, Hansen led the final 18-laps of the 25-lap event and became the eleventh different winner in 14 races this season. “Last week was one of the hardest flips I’ve taken and it definitely dinged me out for the first part of the week,” Hansen admitted. “But to be able to come back and do this proves that I can get back in the car and not worry about anything.” The first day of summer left little doubt that spring was gone. Mid-day temperatures in excess of 110 degrees combined with heavy winds to take its toll on the normally well groomed Perris Auto Speedway. “The track was really treacherous tonight and it was really hard to stay off the wall. We did our share of banging off the crash wall. Luckily, we didn’t hit it too much and we were able to bring it home,” Hansen explained. “Track officials and USAC officials did a good job and gave it their best effort to give us, and the fans, a track we could race on. It was so dusty (at the start) that we couldn’t see the cars in front of us. I really have to hand it to the Kazarian’s and USAC for stopping the race and making it so we could see a lot better.” Former high school classmates Matt Mitchell and Blake Miller (Yorba Linda, Calif.) shared the front row for the main event. At the end of the opening lap, Mitchell led Alan Ballard, Miller, Hansen and the Kittle Plumbing / Pace Lighting No. 18 Stinger driven by Danny Sheridan of Santa Maria, Calif. Visibility concerns were addressed after Ballard spun during the fourth lap entering turn-four and was struck by Cody Wiiliams and Alex Schutte. Following a twenty minute delay to water and work the racing surface, Ballard was the only driver unable to make the call. Mitchell continued to set the pace with Hansen running in second-place once racing resumed. Hansen took the lead in turn-two on the eighth-lap after a textbook slide-job through the first turn. Before the end of the lap, Miller put his Jeff Gardner / Roy Miller Freightlines No. 93 Sled into the runner-up spot. Even though the top-two positions would remain the same for the balance of the race, the battle for the third-position was hotly contested until the final lap. Defending USAC/CRA Champion Tony Jones, Norco, Calif., eventually drove the Alexander Trucking / La Villa Restaurant No. 4 DRC to a third-place finish after starting tenth. Current USAC/CRA point leader Mike Spencer, Temecula, Calif., edged Sheridan for fourth in the Ron Chaffin / Temecula Valley Pipe & Supple No. 50 Maxim. Todd Hunsaker earned Hard-Charger honors with his 20th to tenth-place drive. Fast qualifier David Cardey pulled into the pits prior to the parade lap and was scored 20th in the feature. |
