Josh Hamner has been doing exactly what he needs to do to get his name out to the influential decision makers in the top levels of the stock car racing sport over the past 12 months – He has won races and championships. With a victory in the opening Blizzard Series Super Late Model event at Five Flags Speedway (FL) that began the route to the series’ championship last year, Hamner’s stock rose immensely in many “big-time” racing circles.
But Hamner knows there’s still more winning to be done and more eyes to open, which is exactly why he has added the entire 2009 ASA Late Model Challenge Series schedule to his already busy slate of Gulf Coast Championship Super Late Model events at Five Flags and Mobile International Speedway in Alabama. Hamner announced today he will pilot a brand-new WCIParts.com Ford Fusion Super Late Model out of the stables of family
friends Roger and Bobby Reuse throughout the Challenge Series season, which kicks off this weekend at the historic Milwaukee Mile this Sunday, May 17th.
“I’ve been told that if I want to get my name out there more, I have to race more outside of the South. We’re definitely doing that for our first race with the Challenge Series this year, going to The Milwaukee Mile,” laughed Hamner. “I still look at it like there’s no place in the country more competitive than the Southeast. You can’t change my mind on that. But, I haven’t been many places either, so I might go up there and change my mind.
“It’s an opportunity to run on some big tracks without having to go spend the money to go ARCA racing or something like that. For the money and to race in cars that I’m familiar with, the Challenge Series was my best bet.”
The ASA Late Model Challenge Series sports nine-race slate that visits many high-profile, high-speed tracks, including Milwaukee, Bristol Motor Speedway, Nashville Superspeedway and Gateway International Speedway, which will be an exciting proposition for the young Alabama native Hamner.
“I hope to use this as a good learning experience. I’m getting experience on those tracks in a car that I’m very familiar with. That takes a big learning curve out of the equation. When we go to these places, sure it will be a learning experience, but it’ll be learning in a car that I know like the back of my hand.”
While Hamner has never visited The Milwaukee Mile before this weekend’s event, he’s bringing along legendary short tracker and Crew Chief Freddie Query and a solid knowledge of racing at fast, flat tracks to a place at which he hopes to kick off the 2009 season with a bang.
“I’ve heard everyone say it’s flat, but that’s okay with me. I learned how to race on a flat track at Birmingham. We’ve run in the ASA Late Models before and had pretty good success there in the past. Plus, we’ve got a new Hamke (chassis) hot rod here for this deal. We’ve got Freddie Query going with us too, so we’re pretty excited for it. We’re not cutting any corners on anything. We put in a lot of hard work to get this thing ready.”
Hamner is also receiving the support of ARP Bodies, 51 Sports and Victory Circle Communications, as well as WCIParts.com for his efforts throughout the 2009 season.
