8/2/2016
Blake Hahn
Blake Hahn Earns Third Lucas Oil ASCS Win of 2016 At Park Jefferson
(Image Credit: Jeff Bylsma)
SAPULPA, Okla. (August 2, 2016) Slower traffic played to Blake Hahn’s advantage this past Thursday night as the Lucas Oil Products / Smiley’s Racing Products No. 52 was in Victory Lane for the third time this season with the Lucas Oil American Sprint Car Series presented by the MAVTV Motorsports Network. Overall, Blake has five wins on the season between ECOtec Midget and ASCS competition.
What was the first of three nights of racing on the weekend, Hahn added another top-five the following night at the Jackson Motorplex in Jackson, Minn., followed by a top-ten showing in the Lucas Oil ASCS debut at the Badlands Motor Speedway in Brandon, S.D.
Overall, it was a great weekend. I am a little bummed because we really should have had another win, at Jackson, but I can’t complain. We have great momentum going into Knoxville,” said Hahn.
On his win at Park Jefferson International Speedway, Hahn carried on a theme. In sweeping the Grizzly Nationals, it was the series debut event at the Gallatin Speedway. Fast-forward to July 28, and again, Hahn topped another debut facility.
“This was my first time to Park Jefferson as well and I really thought the track was going to be totally different than what it was. I was guessing hammer down when I got there because there was standing water before Hot Laps, but when we got out there, it was dusty dry so we had to really tighten the car up for our Heat Race.”
Coming from seventh to fifth was enough to put Hahn into the redraw, where he drew the outside of the front row. Chasing Josh Baughman from the start, the trick was not missing the bottom.
“If you missed the bottom, you were screwed so I was just careful and worked on hitting my marks, but I didn’t want to let Josh get away from me either,” explained Blake. “When we got to the slower car, it was almost like he hesitated and when he did, it walked him up the track and I was able to turn under him for the lead. I just went back to hitting my marks and it paid off.”
Making the drive to the newly redone Jackson Motorplex on Friday night, Hahn started off strong with a Heat Race win.
“They had a really good field of cars at Jackson, so the draw was really going to be important. We drew the fourth spot in our Heat so I felt pretty good. Everyone was getting tight in the center of three and four, where we had the car free enough to rotate and that got us to the front.”
With the inversion putting Hahn on the front row with Bryan Clauson, the start saw Hahn getting the jump he needed to put Clauson into the runner-up spot, but the lead was short lived as Blake hit a slick spot in the second turn, and looped the car in the early laps.
“When I spun, I was angry because we had a fast racecar and I felt like that was our race to win. I think I ended up going back to seventh once I got it going again,” stated Hahn of the spin.
“The car was great in the feature. The driver just messed up, but the cautions and drivers in front of me racing with each other really help get us back to the front. The race between me and the No. 23 got close a few times, but it was clean. He messed up off turn four on the final lap, so we were able to sneak by for second at the end so overall, not a bad night. The goal was to just get laps for the Jackson Nationals, so to walk away with a second after the spin, I was still pleased.”
Taking Saturday to regroup, Hahn returned to the Badlands Motor Speedway with the Lucas Oil ASCS presented by the MAVTV Motorsports Network.
“Badlands is a fun track. It’s a technical track. Like I said after my last race there, it really reminds of Port City so you have to be careful of your passes.”
Finishing fifth in the Heat Race, Hahn lined up 15th in the A-Main, eventually coming up to an eighth place finish, “The track started getting narrow in the feature, so passing just got harder and harder, but again, we were able to pass cars. We certainly would have liked to finish closer to the front, but the car loaded up in one piece.”
Coming up next for Hahn is the 26th Arnold Motor Supply 360 Knoxville Nationals presented by Great Southern Bank where the No 52 is scheduled to qualify on Friday, August 5.
“Knoxville is one of those tracks where you have to be on your game at all times, and the last couple years, we’ve been good going in, only to have something happen, so we’re hoping we have all that out of the way and we can make the show this year.”
Blake would like to give a special thanks to his crew for their continued help and support, as well as congratulate his Grandfather, Emmett Hahn, on his induction into the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame this Thursday.
To keep up on everything happening with Blake Hahn Racing, fans can follow the Oklahoma racer at http://www.blakehahnracing.com.
Season to Date:
Events: 42; A-Features: 40; Wins 5; Top 5 - 16; Top 10 - 29; Top 15 – 35; Top 20 – 39
Blake Hahn Online:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Blake-Hahn-Racing-139549836107030/?fref=ts
Website: http://www.blakehahnracing.com
Instagram: BHAHN52
Sponsors:
Lucas Oil Products, CSR Garage, Speedway Vending, Semi Crazy Truck Wash, JR1, Wesmar, Triple X Race Co., Engler, Smiley’s Racing Products, Hoosier Tire Southwest, Penske Shocks, Maxwell Industries, Best Graphics, Schoenfeld, Rod End Supply, Griffith Truck and Equipment, Pizza Express of Oklahoma, and EFH.
Submitted By: Bryan Hulbert