Hannagan Victorious at Hilltop Speedway

MILLERSBURG, OH (6-24-08) by Bryan Autullo – All Star PR Director 

The O’Reilly All Star Circuit of Champions finally dodged Mother Nature’s wrath to kick off the 26^th Annual Ohio Sprint Speedweek at Hilltop Speedway in Millersburg, OH.  Rain halted the action so far this week, but the sun shined down on the mountain as a huge crowd packed into Hilltop Speedway along with 48 of the best winged 410 sprint car drivers in the land. 

Randy Hannagan set the stage for the rest of his evening by ripping off the Kistler Engines quick time at 13.201.  The Penthouse Magazine sponsored 1x looked to be the car to beat from the beginning of the night. 

Hannagan started on the pole of the A-main by virtue of the All Star “Pick 6” redraw on the front stretch.  Mark Keegan would line up on the outside of row 1.  Dale Blaney and Byron Reed would make up row 2.  Lance Dewease lined up inside of Kenny Jacobs on row 3.  There were lots of heavy hitters with a shot at the win in the first 3 rows.

Mark Keegan jumped out to the initial lead, but Brad Haudenshild brought out the red flag on lap 1.  On the restart, Keegan looked unstoppable as he pulled away to a 10 car advantage. Hannagan held off Blaney as Reed charged up behind them and slipped past Blaney.  Rob Chaney got loose on the high side on lap 18 right in front of the leader.  Keegan slid sideways to avoid the 24h machine and stalled, bringing out a caution and ending his run for a Speedweek victory.  Hannagan inherited the lead on the restart.

Hannagan pulled away again on the restart, but lapped traffic slowed him down as Reed made one last challenge as the caution flew again on lap 38 for Duffy Smith negating any chance Reed had to make a run on Hannagan.  Hannagan would go on to the checkers ahead of Reed, Blaney, Dewease, and Tim Shaffer who started 18^th. 

“This is a momentum builder,” said Hannagan from victory lane.  “This win means a lot to me.  My mom is home battling cancer and this win is for her.  I need to thank all of my sponsors and my crew for all their hard work.”  Hannagan went on to say, “Keegan was the guy to beat tonight.  Blaney, Reed, and Dewease are all real tough and it means a lot to race with these guys and beat them.” 

The heat races were won by Tim Shaffer, Rob Chaney, Brandon Martin, and Craig Mintz.  The O’Reilly All Star Dash was won by Lance Dewease.  The Outerwears C-main was won by Aaron Middaugh.  Lee Jacobs picked up the UNOH B-main win. 

The All Stars travel next to Skyline Speedway in Stewart, OH for the next installment of Ohio Sprint Speedweek.  Follow the action at www.ohiospeedweek.com
 

Official Results:

MSD Ignitions A-main:  starting position [x] 

UNOH B-main

16-Lee Jacobs
W20-Greg Wilson
6D-Mike Dussell
22-Cole Duncan
22G-Ben Gregg
55-Dean Jacobs
D12-Jason Dolick
98-Dan Shetler
1w-Paul Weaver
20au-Troy Little
2H-Tim Hunter
0-Todd Kane
4K-Kody Kinser
34-Luke Hall
91-Aaron Middaugh
96au-Bruce White
69-Scott Curren
38M-Nick Mulheim

Outerwears C-main:

91-Aaron Middaugh
20au-Troy Little
96x-Ian Louden
16s-Lee Stark
27j-Cody Jacobs
97-Todd King
27-Bill Ault
3c-Cole Conley
56r-Ryan Myers
83-Brock Martin
20x-Brian Smith
9g-Chad Goff

Kistler Engines Qualifying: 

(full results to be posted soon)