Josh Hamner wasn't planning on entering SpeedFest 2009 at Lanier National Speedway (GA) this weekend. But the allure of racing in the dead of winter was just too great for the young driver and his Wholesale Controls International team. Hamner filed a late entry into the event and will be driving the #38 Super Late Model in Sunday's 200-lap CRA Super Series feature.
“We're going to head on over there and see what we can do,” said Hamner. “It was a last minute deal for us, but we are tired of just working in the shop and need to have fast and have some fun. We're especially happy to go racing after the disappointments of Snowball Derby week - where we were fast, but had bad luck. Bobby Reuse is making it possible to go racing this weekend and we're going forward to it.”
Hamner has never turned a lap at Lanier, but he has been to the track before - working in the pits for the late Charlie Bradberry and Robert Richardson.
“I've been there a few times with Charlie and the Richardsons,” said Hamner. “I've just never raced there. It shouldn't be too hard to get used to it though. It is still your basic racetrack and unless they turn us around and make us turn right, I'll be fine. Some people say that it's a hard track to figure out a set-up for and others say that if you have plenty of motor, you'll go well. I'll just approach it the same as any other race and we'll adjust accordingly.”
SpeedFest will be a three-day event consisting of CRA Super Late Models and Georgia Asphalt Series Pro Late Models. The festivities start on Friday, January 23rd, with practice and qualifying on Saturday, January 24th, and racing action on Sunday, January 25th.
