Special from Angola Motor Speedway

Hantz Survives, Takes Angola MERS Opener

Driver Scott Hantz battled a tough field all night, got the chrome horn on three different occasions, but still managed to win the Main Event Racing Series 100 lap feature 2010 opening event at Angola (IN) Speedway. Dubbed the “Hurricane” at his hometown track, by his legions of fans, Hantz pushed to the front on lap 90 getting the lead and held off a hard charging Jimmy Carter for the last ten laps to secure the victory. Fast from the time he unloaded his familiar trademark No. 72 Super Late Model, Hantz journey to the winners circle was eventful to say the least. 

Qualifying sixth quick and through the inversion of eight, Hantz would start inside row two, Nascar star Rich Bickle on the outside, behind the front row of Stroh, IN. #9 Jeff Parr on the pole and Mike Stacy. The night almost ended early for Hantz when on lap seven he got turned coming off turn two by Mike Kugler spinning the 72 car through the infield grass and stopping just short of an infield guardrail. Rejoining the field in the third position racing resumed with Stacy on the point. It did not last long as right away Parr nudged under the leader and took command. As Parr would set pace, survive several restarts, and maintain the lead Hantz's night was just getting started. By lap 47 Hantz found himself on the end of another chrome horn, this one owned by Stacy. Again Hantz got his position back and continued on. As the race went past the halfway point tempers began to flare and the yellow flag became a frequent visitor to the Indiana oval. Meanwhile, Hantz stayed right in the leader Parr’s tracks with Carter, Bickle, and the field in tow.

At lap 70 Hantz would start making his way inching to the leader’s quarter panels. Getting pinched off on the inside preferred lane, Hantz was forced to the outside where he would set sail. Finally able to get side by side with the leader Hantz found himself in a paint trading duel as the battle continued lap after lap. Every time Hantz would get the run that looked like the lead would be his a caution would fly. Hantz was finally able to muscle his way to the front on lap 90 and get the lead for the first time all night. Fellow FLF Racecar driver Carter followed through to get the second position and went after Hantz for the lead. At one point Carter seemed to have the run he needed but when the two leaders got together Carter had to get out of the gas to regain his composure giving Hantz the cushion he needed for the last five laps. With a car that did not have one straight piece of sheet metal left Hantz took the win over Carter at the line followed by Harold Fair Jr. in third, Brent Jack fourth, and Derrick Griffin rounding out the top five.

“Well we spent most of the winter refreshing this body, it was a brand new body,” noted winner Hantz. “Every panel on it is bent, I was actual being pretty cautious out there tonight but some of the guys where rough on me. This has been my home track for 25 years; the car really started sticking the last ten laps. Jeff Parr wanted to win badly, and he was going to do anything to win. I drove by him on the outside and he just run me almost clear off the track a couple times, slamming me in the door. I just wanted to race. I got spun out twice, it was just good hard racing they both admitted fault and I thank them for that. It was ridiculous. Some of it may have been my own fault on one of those restarts I got rear ended because I missed a shift; the handle on the shifter broke off in my hand. I was a little tight in practice today, and tight in the race as well,” finished Hantz.

This Saturday Night May 22nd at 7:00 PM. The Angola Motor Speedway will play host to another twenty dollar car load night with the first ever figure 8 Trailer Races. The Superior Auto Modifieds will be in action along with the USST Truck series, Mini-Stocks and Jonny on The Spot Front Wheel Drives. Superior Auto and Tri-State Line-x night will also feature the world famous spectator drags. Don't miss it and visit www.angolamotorspeedway.com or call 260-665-8686.