Daytona, the main event for a new racing season is over! The snow in the Midwest is gone!  So it must be that time of year for Hansen Motorsports to go racing!
 
It seems that every year when we begin to prepare for the new racing season it's cold - and everyone (it seems) but the driver needs to wear a heavy coat!  When we finish in October everyone seems ready to 'hunker down' but not the Hansen team.  Between the numerous spells of cold this past winter, excitement reigns.  The Hansen Motorsports team has been prepping and is ready for another exciting year of competition. 
 
As is typical for race teams, the off-season is busy.  In addition to preparing race cars and making changes based on another year's results, we plan the 2009 race schedule.  We want to run as many ARCA races as possible -- and continue to look for corporate partners to assist.  We will also run in more races of the ever-more competitive ASA-Midwest Tour. 

The 2008 season was full of ups and downs ... something that happens when you work to a tight budget.  In spite of the occasional blown engine, we ended the season (and thus start the new season) with a new engine-building partner and additional insight to car prep and suspension tuning.  We intend to turn last year's lemons into 2009 lemonade.  We are continuing the search to find new corporate partners and sponsors and for the coming season. 
 
For 2009, we will run some of the major ARCA races in Michigan, Iowa, Chicagoland, and Kansas.  Todd particularly likes Michigan and Iowa and those will be our first two races.  We will continue to field a 10-member team/crew as a minimum  to run ARCA races.  We will return with crew members that are more experienced and seasoned...  Todd - our driver, our spotter, jack man, front tire carrier, and front tire changer, rear tire carrier and rear tire changer, fueler, vent man, and a scorer.

With the addition of a schedule that will include the ASA Midwest Tour, Hansen Motorsports will be busier and active than ever in the coming year.  ASA Midwest is a very competitive series with a majority of races in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa.  Skip Pollack (Manager of our shop's operations) and Dan Peterson (Car Chief) have been building both a new car and refurbishing an older one for the ASA series.  The've done a masterful job.  Todd's been equally busy in the off-season.  In addition to all his duties in and around the shop and preparing for the 2009 racing season, he continues to provide support for JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation) through a variety of appearances.  He will also be getting more active in 2009 to support organizations that promote awareness for the need for diabetes research and become more involved in programs that support 'safe driving for youth'.  Todd is also active in the active Hansen family business and pursues his outdoor sporting activities.  We are happy to also report Scott Hansen and Rob Grave who have been involved in the 2009 prep activities and will be back for the entire season. 

All-in-all the season is about to begin and we are excited.  It should be a competitive and fun season!  Look for ARCA and ASA season schedules on our web site.  Be sure to come see us at the race track.  Drop us a line when you can - we are always pleased to hear from fans!  Wish us luck! 

- Bill Hansen, Team Owner