Blake Hahn Takes Over ASCS National Points Lead With Hockett/McMillin Memorial Triumph

Bryan Hulbert - WHEATLAND, Mo. (September 24, 2019) Entering the weekend with a 148-point deficit, Blake Hahn put together a dream weekend with two victories in three nights to gain a 20-point advantage following the 9th annual Hockett/McMillin Memorial with the Lucas Oil American Sprint Car Series presented by the MAVTV Motorsports Network.

Picking up the win in Thursday's preliminary A-Feature, Hahn capped the weekend with the $10,000 score in Saturday's Hockett/McMillin Memorial finale.

"Everything came together better than I could have ever hoped. I've always wanted to win at Lucas Oil Speedway. We've been close before and always has something get in the way, but to get two wins and be the champion of the Hockett/McMillin, It was a dream come true, and having my family, especially my Nan and Papa there, it made the win really special for me. I can't thank them enough for what they've done to get me here. My Dad, and my Crew Chief, Dalton. He was spot on all weekend." explained Blake.

Asked about having the point's lead again, Blake replied, "Leading the points, it's important to the overall picture, but we're just focused on winning races and finishing well the rest of the season. The points will take care of themselves as long as we do our job."

Battling with Josh Baughman for the win on Thursday night, Hahn was able to rebound from being passed twice by the No. 17.

"The track was interesting on Thursday. I didn't realize the line moved down on three and four until Josh showed me the line, and when I tried to run down there, it missed it and let him get by before we had the restart and it was the opposite in one and two where I was able to get the lead back. Later in traffic, I just had to get to the bottom before he did, and it worked out where I was able to keep him from getting in front of me."

Having to come through a B-Feature on Friday, Hahn spent the first half of the A-Feature struggling before the track finally came to the car. From 16th on Lap 15, Blake ended up working his way through the field to seventh.

"I was worried at the start of that feature. I knew I had to get moving or I'd knock myself out of being locked in for Saturday, but once the track loosened up a little bit, the car really started working. Restarts were a big help too where I was able to get two and three spots at a time."

Earning the right of the front row, Blake was stalked for the first part of the race by Josh Baughman before the No. 17 saw his night cut short. Working into traffic, Hahn had to move around the track while Dylan Westbrook came charging after him. Hitting the slick through turn four on Lap 35, Hahn shot up the track and made contact with Westbrook; nearly taking both drivers out of contention as Westbrook went upside down.

"I thought I was going over when I hit Dylan. I just gunned the throttle and tried to keep the car upright. When I drove off, I was relieved, but I felt bad for getting into him. He was coming, and I never want to get into anyone and mess up their car. I just got into the slick at the bottom trying to get around a slower car, and the car just shot up the track."

Back to green with Mark Smith giving chase, Blake was able to pull away for the win.

"I don't think I took a breath the last five laps. I was worried about the car from the crash, and knowing I had Mark behind me on the restart, I knew if I slipped on time, it was his race to win. I'm not normally out of breath after a race, and I could hardly catch mine until I was out of the car."

Weather permitting, the next event for Blake is the Fall Haul at 34 Raceway in West Burlington, Iowa on September 27 and 28. Beyond that, Hahn is gearing up to defend his win at the COMP Cams Short Track Nationals presented by Hoosier Tire at I-30 Speedway in Little Rock, Ark. on October 4 and 5.

The 2019 season is Blake Hahn's 17th year of racing. Starting in Jr. Sprints at the Tulsa Shootout, Hahn has progressed through the ranks with over 90 victories across Micros, Midgets, and Sprint Cars. For continued updates on Blake Hahn Racing, along with his full 2019 lineup, log onto http://www.blakehahnracing.com.

2019 Season to Date:

Events: 48; Wins -8; Top 5 - 25; Top 10 - 31; Top 20 -40;

Coming Up:

September 27 at 34 Raceway (West Burlington, IA)
September 28 at 34 Raceway (West Burlington, IA)

Blake Hahn Racing Online Store:

You can now purchase your Blake Hahn Racing apparel online at http://www.blakehahnracing.com/shopping/

How To Follow Blake Hahn Online:*

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Blake-Hahn-Racing-139549836107030/?fref=ts
Website: http://www.blakehahnracing.com
Instagram: BHAHN52

The Sponsors:

DriveWFX.com, Lucas Oil Products, CSR Garage, Sage Fruit, Co., Speedway Vending, Semi Crazy Truck Wash, JR1, Triple X Race Co., Engler, Smiley's Racing Products, Hoosier Tire Southwest, Penske Shocks, Maxwell Industries, Best Graphics, Schoenfeld, Rod End Supply, Pizza Express of Oklahoma, and EFH.

Reutzel Secures All Star Title Again on Saturday after another Two-Win Weekend

Lonnie Wheatley, CLUTE, Texas (September 25, 2019) – Last weekend’s All Star Circuit of Championship set of events through Central Pennsylvania and Maryland was exactly what Aaron Reutzel and the Baughman-Reutzel Motorsports No. 87 Sprint Car team needed to secure a second consecutive All Star Circuit of Champions title.

With a Friday night win at Williams Grove Speedway and a Sunday score at Hagerstown Speedway to push his season win total 17 overall to go along with a podium finish in Saturday’s Dirt Classic at Lincoln Speedway, Reutzel and the Folkens Brothers Trucking/Dissolvalloy Downhole Revolution Triple-X team have all but finished off a second series championship in a row.

“All we have to do is show up on Saturday to win the championship,” Reutzel said of Saturday’s All Star portion of Eldora Speedway’s Four Crown Nationals in Rossburg, OH.

“That was the primary goal coming into the season and we’ve done it again,” Reutzel.  “Between Josh (Baughman) and everyone else on this team, I have a great bunch of people around me that make all this happen.”

Along with Saturday’s All Star Circuit of Champions finale, Reutzel will also take in a pair of World of Outlaws events this weekend beginning with Wednesday night’s card at Illinois’ Jacksonville Speedway and then Friday’s “Befour the Crowns Showdown” at Eldora.

Reutzel goes into this week’s events with at least one feature one over each of the past six weekends since racing to a top-five finish in the Knoxville Nationals aboard the Precision Catalyst/Hollywood Blasting & Coating/Beard Equipment machine. 

Reutzel wasted little time getting his first win of last weekend by wiring the All Star field at Williams Grove Speedway’s “Tommy Hinnershitz Memorial” for his 14th series score of the year and second in a row atop the storied half-mile Central Pennsylvania clay oval in Mechanicsburg.

After a heat race win, Reutzel drew the pole for the Dash and won that to secure the pole starting position for the feature before leading all 30 laps en route to the $6,000 payday.

“We actually missed it some in qualifying, but it worked out and put us front row in the heat race and then we drew the pole for the Dash,” Reutzel says.

From there, Reutzel took care of his end of the deal by keeping the field at bay aboard the Nattress Construction/Momentum Racing Suspensions entry.

“We were really good in the feature, we were low in three and four and running the top of one and two,” Reutzel explains.  “I got to lapped cars and I noticed they were starting to pull away some, then I heard someone down low.  I moved to the bottom and felt it starting to take some rubber and that was pretty much it.”

Moving on to Lincoln Speedway’s $20,000-to-win Dirt Classic on Saturday night, Reutzel set his 21st quick time of the year to kick off the night and then earned the front row outside starting position for the feature with finishes of first and fifth in twin heat race action.

Reutzel led the initial 24 laps of the main event before settling for third at the stripe.

“It was dead slick for the ‘A’, it was really good,” Reutzel says.  “When (Brian) Montieth got by, I was just biding my time.  When we got to lapped traffic, I wasn’t sure what I could do and what I couldn’t do.”

Reutzel found his opportunities and made one last bid at the win.

“I about had him once, but I got too greedy with the gas and spun the tires and let him back by,” Reutzel explains.  “I tried a Hail Mary on the last lap for the win but it didn’t stick and let Danny (Dietrich) by for second.”

Reutzel and crew finished out the weekend at Maryland’s Hagerstown Speedway on Sunday.

After a heat race win and a Dash win, Reutzel gunned into the feature lead from the pole position and led all 30 laps to score his 15th series win of the year and 17th overall.

“We had such a good car,” Reutzel says.  “We got out front and I never had go run harder than 80%, everything just fell into place and the car was perfect.  It’s nice to have those kind of nights.”

With the All Star Circuit of Champions title effectively locked up, Reutzel looks to add to the win column with this week’s racing action in Illinois and Ohio.

2019 Quick Stats:  76 races, 17 wins, 38 top-fives, 51 top-tens.

Next Up: 

Wednesday – World of Outlaws Sprint Cars at Jacksonville (IL) Speedway.

Friday – World of Outlaws Sprint Cars at Eldora Speedway (Rossburg, OH).

Saturday – All Star Circuit of Champions season finale at Eldora Speedway’s (Rossburg, OH) “Four Crown Nationals”.

Keep Track:  Keep track of Aaron Reutzel’s on-track action including schedule and results at http://www.aaronreutzelracing.com/, on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Aaron-Reutzel-Racing/117666254913127 or on Twitter at @AaronReutzel.  You can also e-mail Aaron at aaronreutzel@yahoo.com.

If you would like Aaron Reutzel Racing press releases e-mailed directly to you, send your e-mail address to Lonnie Wheatley at lonniewheatley@gmail.com.

Penning the recurring series of “The Wheatley Chronicles” articles on www.sprintcarmania.com, Lonnie Wheatley provides media, public relations and more for select tracks, drivers and events.  For more information, Wheatley may be contacted at lonniewheatley@gmail.com.