Hamner Racing Engines Power Kyle Busch & Others to Snowball Derby Success

On Sunday, December 6th, NASCAR superstar Kyle Busch piloted his #51 Toyota into victory lane at the 42nd Annual Snowball Derby, the country’s most prestigious asphalt short track race. Busch’s victory cemented the driver’s place among the long list of racing legends to have won the Super Late Model event at Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, Florida.

Helping him to that victory was Hamner Racing Engines of West Blocton, Alabama, who supplied the power for Busch’s #51 Toyota Camry in the Snowball Derby and to several short track victories in 2009. HRE also powered Johanna Long’s track-record setting Snowball Derby pole qualifying run, Bobby Gill’s fourth-place finish and nearly half of the 2009 Snowball Derby field in addition to Busch’s winning car.

“Hamner Racing Engines has done a phenomenal job for us this year,” said Busch on the post-Snowball Derby edition of Speed 51 Radio, an Internet Radio talk show on RaceTalkRadio.com. “We came into this year not really having an engine program that I was proud of. We’ve spent money here, we’ve spent money there and I’ve been all over the place trying to find an engine program that I like to drive in. I think we’ve found it this year. That Hamner spec engine was awesome. Jeff Hamner and Josh Hamner, it’s fun to work with them. It should be fun anytime we can go run and some more Late Model races with that Hamner motor.”

Having a big-name NASCAR star pilot a car powered by one of his engines, longtime engine builder Jeff Hamner was humbled by the success.

“Kyle Busch and the entire KBM team is first class and we are proud to be a part of their Snowball success,” said Hamner, whose son Josh is an up-and-coming Super Late Model racer who has won in the Blizzard Series and ASA Late Model ranks in recent seasons. “I have personally thanked Kyle for not only using our engines but also for what he has done for short track Late Model racing. Seeing racers like Kyle Busch, David Stremme, Steven and Rusty Wallace, Brian Scott, Bill Elliott, Dave Blaney and others in the pits at these races really adds alot of excitement to it and I feel they are helping put people in the stands.

“Also, from a racer’s standpoint, they raise the bar and make us a little better at what we do. Hats off to them and hopefully we will see more of them.”

Hamner Racing Engines also powered 17-year-old phenom Johanna Long to the Snowball Derby pole and Bobby Gill’s fourth-place finish in the BDI Racing Chevy among the 15 HRE customers in the Snowball Derby field.

“Pole Night at the Snowball has become almost as big as the race,” added Hamner. “The field is so tight and everyone has so much pressure just to make the show that it really is exciting. For HRE to come out with the pole and a new track record was really great. Johanna Long does an excellent job for us and she nailed it that night as well.”

The 42nd Annual Snowball Derby weekend capped off a successful 2009 season for Hamner Racing Engines and its customers. HRE’s 2009 accomplishments included the Blizzard Series Super Late Model and Gulf Coast Championship titles with driver Johanna Long, a win in another prestigious SLM event, SpeedFest 2009 with Busch, driver John Wilkinson III’s championship in the Southern Super Stars series and Hamner’s son Josh’s victory in the ASA Late Model Challenge Series at Salem Speedway in Indiana.

“We went to the Snowball hoping for a sucessful weekend. I can safely say that things went better than expected, with the competition that was there and all of the different engine builders involved. Who would have thought that one of us would leave with the pole, a new track record, the win, most laps led, three of the top-10 finishers and engines in 15 of the 37 cars?”

Hamner Racing Engines began in 1995 after Jeff Hamner ventured out on his own after working for his dad in an engine-related business. With the help of former NASCAR Sprint Cup driver Gary Bradberry and their team operation, Jeff set up shop and began his own business with a goal of taking things to the next level by building and focusing on short track/touring series racing engines. The company gained exposure in 1996 by winning the Hooters Series Championship and NASCAR Southwest Tour title. After multiple race wins and championships, including a couple by Hamner himself using his own engines, Hamner moved to a new shop and focused on building race engines full-time. Since then, Hamner has won some of the most prestigious short track races and championships, providing power at an affordable price for up-and-coming racers, veterans and NASCAR stars in their short track racing efforts.

If you would like more information on Hamner Racing Engines, contact the shop at (205) 938-0338 and be sure to visit hamnerracingengines.com.