Ohio Speedweek: Hurricane on the Hill! 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 26th 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.
When the green flew again, Hannagan checked out and put a half straightaway between him and second place Reed. When the caution flew on lap 25 for a slowing Lee Jacobs, Hannagan led over Reed, Blaney, and All Star points leader Lance Dewease.

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 18th.

“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]

1. 1X-Randy Hannagan[1]
2. 5-Byron Reed[4]
3. 2-Dale Blaney[3]
4. 30C-Lance Dewease[5]
5. 45-Tim Shaffer[18]
6. 7K-Blake Feese[7]
7. 59-Kenny Jacobs[6]
8. 6D-Mike Dussell[12]
9. 11B-Brock Mayes[16]
10. 5B-Chad Blonde[24]
11. 83G-Phil Gressman[23]
12. 15C-Chris Andrews[14]
13. W20-Greg Wilson[22]
14. 24H-Rob Chaney[20]
15. 22-Cole Duncan[13]
16. 38K-Duffy Smith[8]
17. 11M-Brandon Martin[15]
18. 20E-Brian Ellenberger[9]
19. 16-Lee Jacobs[11]
20. 28-Brian Paulus[17]
21. X-Mark Keegan[2]
22. O9-Craig Mintz[21]
23. 4-Danny Smith[19]
24. 10J-Brad Haudenschild[10]