Todd Hanson Adds Name To BRP CanAm Winners List

Smethport, PA... Todd Hanson became the third first time BRP CanAm Series winner in the past three events when he won the Southeastern Transmissions of Olean sponsored McKean County Fair Classic at McKean
County Raceway [MCR] on Thursday [August 17]. The Franklinville, NY racer has entered only two BRP CanAm events in 2006. His outstanding two race record in his LB Tiling & Excavation Monte Carlo is tonight's
win and second at Cayuga County Fair Speedway in July!

Hanson's victory in the F/A Products - Clevite Engine Parts heat race number three earned him an opportunity for the redraw. When Hanson came up with Brad Penn Racing Oil Pole Award chip number five behind Larry Knowles, Randy Hall, Jon Rivers, and TJ Shaw he [and most others] didn't think he had a "prayer for the win."

Knowles has been very strong in recent events with his new CAT Rental Stores GTO. Hall, the Series point leader, was fresh of a win at Genesee just four days earlier. Hall's Duggan & Duggan Construction Camry has been fast all year with several wins at MCR in weekly competition. Rivers, second in Series points, is having a banner year in his Pro Speed Rocket Monte Carlo with a win at Merrittville and heroics at Genesee. TJ Shaw is the defending MCR champion is always fast. With Shaw's Mastel Ford Taurus on the front row for the start many thought that the Portville, NY speedster would win his first BRP CanAm event.

Larry Knowles won the drag race at John Powell's green flag and the chase was on. Behind Knowles there was some absolutely incredible dicing going on. The fast and wide 1/3rd mile had been prepared to perfection and the drivers put on a hold on to your seat show.

Knowles slipped just a tick as he negotiated turn four on lap seven and Hanson found just enough room to poke the nose of his CRS Monte Carlo under Knowles's car and with that car #58 showed #1 on Tommy Elder's score board. Elder did not need to change the top spot for the remainder of the 30 lap contest. However, Elder did have lots of work recording the others on his top five score board.

The top ten cars ran nose to tail two and three wide for almost every lap. Rich Michael's Benson Construction Shaw Monte Carlo worked better on the extreme top of the track than anybody else. However, the top is the longest and roughest way around. The Ischua, NY driver would gain and lose spots each lap in a very entertaining display of skill and bravery.

At the half way point the top ten order was Hanson, Rivers, Hall, Shaw, Michael, Knowles, Patterson, Miller, Rice, Wonderling and Cobb. Three laps later the second and final caution was displayed when Shaw's car broke.
During that slow down period Todd Rice headed to pits with terminal engine problems in his beautiful McKiernan Towing and Rescue Taurus.

When racing resumed the dicing continued with Michael dancing with the devil on top, Rivers hugging the bottom, Hall trying to find a traction advantage anywhere on the track and Hanson working up a big sweat while driving a perfect race in the top spot.

Hall passed Rivers for second on lap 26 and Hanson's sweat level increased. What Hanson could not see was that Hall had his hands full of Michael who had moved past Rivers on lap 27. The second place battle between
Hall and Michael was a replay of what these two great race cars drivers have been doing for several years in their IMCA Modifieds only tonight they were wheeling their CRS and Carley built late models.

At the checkered flag Hanson had his first ever BRP CanAm victory. "This was a great race. I only wish that we could race all of the BRP events. It is a great Series, but we just cannot do them all. Maybe will now be able to make Merrittville on Saturday. The car was perfect, the track was racey, we got out front early with a lot of luck, and we got this incredible win. This is a dream come true. Thanks to my wife, my girls, the crew and all [their] girlfriends who allow us to do this," shared Hanson from victory lane with the lights of the Fair midway showing over the grandstand on a perfect night of racing. Most perfect for Todd Hanson who became the 19th different race winner in the 38th BRP CanAm event in the Series which started in 2003.

Notes:

• Brad Penn Racing Oil Pole Award winners were Steve Dixon and Larry Knowles
• F/A Products - Clevite Engine Part heat race winners were: Todd Rice, Todd Hanson, Bruce Miller, and Jeremy Wonderling
• Ed Carley Motorsports B-Main winner was Paul Grigsby
• DART To The Front Hard Charger was Paul Grigsby from 21st to 11th
• Suzuki Motorcycle & ATV Dealers Hard Luck Award recipient was Jon Lichy
• 2003 & 2004 BRP CanAm champion Bob Dixon made his first 2006 start in Dean Fitzsimmons's Shaw Monte Carlo
• Tom Schnars and Dennis Peters made their first 2006 Series starts
• The next event is Saturday August 19 at Merrittville Speedway; then Black Rock Speedway on Friday September 8 for the Bull Hill Vineyards 360 Nationals
• Derrick Francis won the companion street stock race. Francis is the son-in-law of two time Series Champion Bob Dixon and a former member of the Scio Speed Society.

Southeastern Transmissions A-Main Finish: TODD HANSON, Randy Hall, Rich Michael, Jon Rivers, Larry Knowles, Jeremy Wonderling, Bruce Miller, Neil Patterson, Matt Cobb, Bob Babbitt, Paul Grigsby, Steve Dixon, Tim Schram, Ron Baker, Junior Peters, Jeff Chesebro, Bob Dixon, Ron Hurd, Rick Baker, Joe Watson, TJ Shaw, Todd Rice, AJ Young, Shuan Freeland, Junior Green, Jon Lichy DNQ: Tim Dunham, Dennis Peters, and Tom Schnars

Marketing Partners for the 2006 BRP CanAm Series include: Bicknell Racing Products, Bob Mullen's Pro Speed, Brad Penn Racing Oil, Can &  Bottle Return of Delevan, Clevite Engine Parts, Cool Edge Web Designs, Cousin's Designs, DANA Corporation, DART Machinery / DART Heads, DIRT MotorSports, DSE1 Race Engines, East Coast Speed.com, Ed Carley Motorsports, F/A Products, Hoosier Tire of Canada, LEAF Racewear, Lias Tire - American Racer, Mohawk Speed Shop, Signs Plus of Kanona, Southeastern Transmissions, Suzuki Motorcycle & ATV Dealers of NY & PA, the Young Family, and the host tracks.

The 2006 BRP CanAm Series will visit Black Rock Speedway, Canandaigua Speedway, Cayuga County Fair Speedway, Genesee Speedway, McKean County Raceway, Merrittville Speedway, Ransomville Speedway, and Woodhull Raceway for 12 point events in 2006. The 2006 Series will conclude at Black Rock on Saturday October 7 with a $10,000 non-point affair.

For complete BRP CanAm Series news and information see www.brpcanamseries.com.