Hansen Motorsports has arrived at the end of a successful 2008 season.  We continued the building process in 2008 and several changes were made that will add to the team’s potential for the future.  All team members are looking forward to 2009 with a new level of confidence and high expectations.

There’s no question that moving up to ARCA has proven to be a ‘challenging’ task.  The level of competition is incredible and gets better each year.  Car owners like Jack Roush, Bill Davis, and even Roger Penske are either entering drivers or supporting teams with technical and engineering support.  When you compete against this kind of competition you must ‘step up or get out’.  Our team is determined to keep on-task and continue to ‘step up’!

The past three years has been a period of fine tuning - and our operation is certain to be even more competitive in ’09.  Todd continues to prove he belongs at this level.  When the green flag drops ... he is a charger.  He has proven to be able to get through traffic and ‘pass cars’.  Todd has shown he is capable of starting anywhere in the lineup and with a car that is performing well he is right there at the top.

We also saw our share of instances where “stuff happens”.  We chalk them up to the “nuances of racing” … such things the occasional blown engine, an error in the pits, burned plug wires, and accidents.  These all have the capability of altering the entire outcome of a racing season. 

The attitude of the Hansen team is such that we learn from the negatives and turn them into “positives for ‘09”.  We believe we now have our engine program in good hands.  We established a relationship with Mad Croc Energy Drink as a sponsor (give it a try, you're sure to love it!)  We received some coverage on Speed TV.  We raised money for JDRF and are establishing a non-profit entity for the purpose of raising more money for JDRF and raising the awareness for the need for diabetes research.  Our charitable efforts will be formalized around the name we coined in 2008 -- "Speed the Cure".  Tony Mitchell of Gulfport Mississippi served as crew chief for 2008 and he provided a wealth of knowledge about ARCA racing.  Dan Peterson and Skip Pollack worked at fine tuning car set ups and our entire racing operation in Farmington.  They are integral to the overall growth and evolution of the team.   Scott Brandt and Rob Grave continued their work with the team and were instrumental in helping us compete.

Todd’s role in the community continues to grow.  Our efforts to support JDRF is driven largely by the fact Todd successfully manages his diabetes and can use that fact to demonstrate to other young diabetics that the disease does not have to limit life's choices.  Being a professional race car driver, a hockey player and a college graduate is an indication that diabetes does not have to stand in the way of life’s successes. 
 
Like many teams, the off-season will find us actively building cars and looking forward to the first green flag of the season.  Our key ARCA races will again include Michigan, Iowa, Chicago, and Kansas.  Along the way we plan on doing a lot of other racing.  We are actively seeking additional sponsors and feel we are close to further success in this area.  All in all, things are really looking up.  Please view our “Photo Gallery” for a season of images … we made lots of new friends in 2008.