2006 Results
October 14th (ASA Challenge) - Andy gained a world of experience at the newly
developed Iowa Speedway, however mechanical problems inhibited much needed
track time at the fast 7/8 mile. As he drove into turn one during practice, the car
wouldn't turn and he went straight towards the wall. He slowed it down enough to
avoid any damage. The team worked diligently to the find problem as time was
winding down. The source ended up being a faulty steering rack and the team
changed it out in under 15 minutes. Andy wasn't sure how the car would feel after
the change but still managed to time in 5th during qualifying. After the inversion for
the line up he started the Northland Oil 250 in the 3rd position. Knowing fuel
mileage would be an issue, he pulled into the pits during the first caution putting him
toward the rear of the field. Fighting a loose race car he went one lap down just
before the halfway break at lap 125. After putting some wedge and spring rubbers
in the car he managed to move his way through the field to the 9th position in just
his second start in the ASA Late Model Challenge Series. Andy would like to thank
everyone involved throughout the season for their support and determination at the
races.
October 7th (ASA North) - Andy's first ASA Late Model North Series race came at
La Crosse Fairgrounds Speedway. It was his first time seeing the 5/8 mile track but
he took to it well. Throughout practice he ran as many laps as possible to get seat
time in the car and on the track. Unfortunately he qualified 21st and missed the cut
into the race. However he led every lap of the 25 lap Shootout Race to transfer to
the feature event. He started 23rd and worked his way to the 8th position despite a
loose race car. Andy would like to thank Long Haul Trucking and Mike Butz Racing
once again for giving him the opportunity to drive in the new series.
September 24th - It was a rough week in the shop as Andy and his father had to
switch engines in the car. Luckily B&B graciously offered a new engine for them to
use. This took up more time than the two had and took away from setting up the
car. However they made it to the track and were anxious to race. Andy's car was
tight at the beginning of the 100 lap feature but came around in the long run.
Unfortunately on lap 86 while running 6th, two cars got together on the backstretch.
He had nowhere to go and was collected into the wall in turn three. Andy is the
2006 I-94 Raceway Track Champion and will be finishing out the racing season in
the ASA Late Model Challenge Series.
September 16th - After finding the engine miss this week they changed a rocker
arm and hoped for the best. Andy started the race in 5th took 4th about 15 laps in.
They were fighting slim stagger with a tight race car but managed to hold the
position. It was not a disappointment however as Andy won the I-94 Raceway ASA
Super Late Model Championship at the age of just 17. It is Andy's first
Championship in a Late Model and he credits it to great determination and
consistency week in and week out.
September 9th - Andy ran smart all day with various problems. The car had been
stumbling all throughout practice and qualifying so they changed the spark plugs
and plug wires hoping to fix it. Going into the feature race however, the problem
was still there and he didn't have enough power to come out of the corner and
complete a pass. Even so Andy managed to maintain the 3rd position until the
checkers flew bringing him his 11th top 5 in 14 races and extending his point lead
with one race to go!
September 3rd (ASA Challenge) - Andy ran his first career ASA Challenge race
last weekend at Elko Speedway. He drove the 08 Long Haul Trucking, Roll-Tite
Trailers Chevrolet for Long Haul Racing. Qualifying was rained out so the starting
line up was determined by owner points and an inversion. This put Andy in the 11th
position. He made his way through several wrecks early and moved up to 8th with a
tight race car. After the ten minute halfway break the race was on again. Andy was
involved in an incident late in the race and decided to pit to make some changes.
The team did a great job of freeing the car up and Andy worked his way through the
field to finish 10th.
September 2nd - Cancelled due to rain.
August 26th - After another troublesome qualifying session, Andy was once again
starting the feature at the rear. He started the race in the 23rd position and quickly
moved forward, but as the race progressed the car loosened on entry. To
compensate for the loose condition, Andy cranked his brake bias inside the car for
more front break. When a late caution came out with 3 laps to go Andy found
himself in the 5th position. The green was thrown and he tried to take the 4th spot
but the car was too loose to make the pass and for the 10th time this season Andy
goes home with another top 5 finish.
August 19th - The "Tire Guy 150" came with more than one problem for the 42
crew. After cutting a tire down in qualifying Andy had to start 26th in the 150 lap
race. He worked his way up to 11th in 29 laps when a red flag was brought out
because of an overturned car. When the green came out again Andy's car began
to spit and sputter until it eventually came to a halt. The tow truck brought it to the
pits and it started up quickly, unfortunately he was sent to the back again. The car
seemed to be fixed as Andy worked his way back up to 5th only to stall again. Back
in the pits his father and crew did all they could and it fired up once more. However
Andy had to go to the rear once again and now he was 1 lap down. Despite his
fading brakes and loss of his spotter he still managed to work his way up to 9th
place and hold on to the point lead.
August 12th - This event was cancelled due to rain.
August 5th - Andy ran solid all day setting fast time and winning his heat race. He
started 9th in the feature and quickly worked his way to 3rd. It was a tight battle for
the lead when contact was made and Andy was sent to the rear of the field. He
kept his cool and picked his moves carefully as he worked his way back up to a 4th
place finish.
WIN! July 29th - The Governors Cup 100 was a race Andy Hanson wanted to win
and it showed throughout the night. After qualifying 3rd and winning his heat race,
Andy started the feature in 4th place. The car was too tight to move forward until
about 25 laps in. He worked his way to the front and took the lead from Trent
Snyder at lap 61. The race went without caution and Andy took the checkered in
race record time extending his point lead and attaining his 4th win of the season.
July 22nd - The day started out great with Andy earning his second fast time of the
year however a battery failure cost him a win in the heat race. Given the up and
down day, he decided to take the Jay Brothers Ultimate Challenge and start at the
rear. Rolling off 17th he knew it wouldn't be easy to get to the front. He exhibited
patience throughout the race and found himself in 2nd when a yellow came out with
4 laps to go. Unfortunately the car tightened up too much with the caution and he
couldn't keep the car down out of the corner and for the third time this season Andy
finishes 2nd.
July 15th- Another 2nd was all Andy could do with his car. He started 4th in the 40
lap race and quickly moved forward. However with the high track temperatures his
car lacked the forward bite he needed out of the corner to complete the pass for
the lead. There were few restarts to try the leader and Andy finished with another
top 5.
July 8th- The Minnesota Challenge Series race was at I-94 Raceway this week
and it went well for the Andy considering he was down on horsepower with a
cracked spark plug. Starting 9th in the 50 lap race wasn't the greatest because lap
traffic came into play, but he worked his was up to 4th before a late string of
cautions and red flags. The green came out with only 8 laps to go and Andy
worked his way by Tim Olson for 3rd and settled there.
WIN! July 1st- The biggest race of the year was accompanied with one of the
best finishes seen at I-94 raceway. Andy started 10th in the 100 lap race and used
the bottom to get to the front. On lap 78 he found himself in 2nd and raced wheel
to wheel with Josh Vadnais for the lead. Finally on lap 97 he made the pass and
pulled away only to see a yellow. For the second race in a row Andy had to deal
with a green, white, checkered finish for the win and he did so flawlessly bringing
home $4000 and his 3rd win of the year.
WIN! June 24th- The rain finally allowed a race at I-94 Raceway and Andy was
set on making the best of it. Starting in seventh place with several competitive cars
in front of him he knew he had his work cut out for him. He worked his way to 4th
before a yellow was brought out by the 2nd and 3rd place cars. He then found
himself in 2nd and wasted no time getting the lead. Andy never looked back as he
took the checkered flags for the second time this season.
June 17th- Two in a row for the rain
June 10th- This event was cancelled due to rain.
June 3rd- Hovering around 8th place for the first half of the race, Andy hoped to
save his tires for a late run at the lead. Running in 4th a late caution brought the
field together and Andy hoped to make the most of the opportunity. However when
he made his move to the bottom the car didn't stick and he lost a position to a car
on the outside finishing the race in 5th.
May 27th- Andy started 6th and quickly found himself in the lead. He held on for
most of the race until Trent Snyder muscled past. The car continued to free up in
the final laps as Andy crossed the finish line in 2nd.
WIN! May 20th- Andy started 7th in the 40 lap main event knowing he had a car
that could win the race. The green flag dropped with a caution soon after. When
the race presumed he started his march forward patiently and calmly passing the
cars in front of him. He acquired the lead at lap 21 where he then drove off to his
first victory of the 2006 season. Andy says the win came from better
communication between himself and his father as well as support from his whole
family.
May 13th- This event was cancelled due to rain.
May 6th- After starting 6th and working his way to the front, Andy was sent to the
back because of an incident on an early restart. While avoiding several accidents
throughout the remainder of the race, he swiftly brought himself to a 7th place
finish.
