Inside Line Promotions – LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (Oct. 29, 2013) – Blake Hahn’s Short Track Nationals experience started off on a high note before it was doomed in the draw.
Hahn charged from seventh to third place during his heat race last Wednesday in the inaugural Short Track Nationals Open at I-30 Speedway. However, his night ended early in the feature when he jumped the cushion and nearly flipped exiting turn two.
“That first Wednesday night we had a good car,” he said. “On the second lap I got into the cushion and the front end hopped over. I got over the edge of the track and the front end dug into the ground and I kinda did a cartwheel. It bent a couple of radius rods and got the left front shock.”
After starting 10th, Hahn ended with a 23rd-place result. The momentum continued to dissipate on Thursday during his preliminary night at the 26th annual COMP Cams Short Track Nationals Presented by Hoosier Tires.
“We drew 125 and started at the back of the heat race,” he said. “It was narrow and not a lot of passing. The car was good. There just wasn’t a whole lot of passing and in every race there were a lot of good guys.”
Hahn advanced from seventh to sixth place in his heat race, which started him on the pole of a qualifier. He placed second, which lined him up fourth in a B Main that transferred only the top-two finishers to the main event.
“I had (Tim) Shaffer, (Brad) Loyet and (Jason) Sides on the front two rows,” he said. “I didn’t have the best car. I was a little loose in spots.”
Hahn finished where he started to miss a transfer by only two positions. When he returned to the bullring for Saturday’s $15,000-to-win finale, he was set to line up eighth in a C Main.
“We had a rain delay for a while,” he said. “We were the second race out and it was real narrow. Since it had just got done raining the track was pretty rough and tacky.”
Hahn placed 10th in the C Main, which ended his Short Track Nationals.
“We learned a lot,” he said. “We probably should have stuck to our base setup that we’ve had all year.”
Hahn is scheduled to make his debut at El Paso Speedway Park in El Paso, Texas, this Friday and at Southern New Mexico Speedway in Las Cruces, N.M., on Saturday with the Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour.
QUICK RESULTS –
Oct. 23 – I-30 Speedway in Little Rock, Ark. – Heat race: 3 (7); Feature: 23 (10).
Oct. 24 – I-30 Speedway in Little Rock, Ark. – Heat race: 6 (7); Qualifier: 2 (1); B Main: 4 (4).
Oct. 26 – I-30 Speedway in Little Rock, Ark. – C Main: 10 (8).
SEASON STATS –
52 races, 2 wins, 12 top fives, 24 top 10s, 31 top 15s, 33 top 20s
UP NEXT –
Friday at El Paso Speedway Park in El Paso, Texas, and Saturday at Southern New Mexico Speedway in Las Cruces, N.M., with the Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour
MEDIA LINKS –
Website: http://www.BlakeHahnRacing.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BlakeH52
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Blake-Hahn-Racing/139549836107030
VIDEO –
Here is a link by iRaceTV.com to Hahn’s first career sprint car victory at Lawton Speedway on July 20: http://youtu.be/IMP4X2tkh24
SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT – AFCO Shocks
AFCO Shocks has provided top quality suspension, cooling and brake products to racers and enthusiasts for more than 25 years. For more information, visit http://www.AFCOracing.com.
“I’ve run AFCO Shocks from a micro to a midget and now on our sprint car,” Hahn said. “They are pretty durable and the adjustments are very good.”
Hahn would also like to thank Griffith Truck & Equipment, Shriners Hospitals for Children, MDS Boring & Drilling, Griffith Sheet Metal, Intra Services, Inc., S&H Diesel Truck Repair, Atlas Truck Sales, Houston Truck Parts, Dependable Diesel and Wesmar Racing Engines for their continued support.
INSIDE LINE PROMOTIONS –
Inside Line Promotions specializes in affordable public relations, media management and merchandising services for sprint car teams. ILP Founder Shawn Miller leverages professional journalism with new media technologies and social networking to improve your exposure and your sponsors’ return on investment.
To meet the media relations needs of your team, contact Shawn at 541-510-3663 or sprintcarreporter@yahoo.com. For more information on Inside Line Promotions, visit http://www.insidelinepromotions.com.
Article Credit: Shawn Miller