CAMS Offices (Sports House) Cnr. Caxton & Castlemaine Streets, Milton Q 4064. Meeting Start - 7.45pm approx. Pre Meeting Drinkies and Feed up at the Paddo Tavern as usual.
White Lake, Michigan – October 14th, 2009 – Andrew Hagen has completed his first full season of oval racing in the USA with Brad Keselowski Racing. Hagen competed in seven Super Late Model events throughout Michigan and Ohio on ˝ mile ovals. This year was an opportunity for Hagen to get accustomed to oval racing after leaving his road racing background and setting his sights on the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.
In his rookie season Hagen led four out of the seven races for a total of 106 laps lead. With three top fives and an impressive run at Toledo Speedway in which Hagen led most of the race and eventually finished second, it was an impressive debut season for the young Australian. Hagen culminated his season with the ‘21st Glass City 200’ at the high speed Toledo Speedway. This is the largest event on the Super Late Model calendar, and has history dating back more then 20 years. Hagen was the first Australian to ever compete in the event which was held on October 3rd.
Hagen posted a time of 15.4 seconds in qualifying, but in the intensely competitive field of 34 Supers, it was only good enough for 16th place. Throughout the race, Hagen was making progress, passing cars and moving towards the top 10, when an incident in Turn 2 on Lap 65 involving several cars blocked the track. Hagen made contact with his right front suspension, but was able to continue the race. Hagen nursed his damaged car to the 101 lap break where the team decided that the damage to the car was too great to continue, and Hagen was forced to pull out of competition and settle for a 20th place result.
Hagen used 2009 as a platform to get experience in oval racing in a highly competitive series before setting his sights on moving up the ladder. For the 2010 season Hagen will once again compete in the Super Late Model series with Brad Keselowski Racing, where he will continue to gain experience, he is also aiming to compete in selected ARCA races.
A new website has been created in preparation for next season, it is constantly being updated with news, info, and the exciting on board footage captured from Hagen’s car, so be sure to check out www.andrew-hagen.com for all the latest information.
Andrew Hagen on his season: “I had a great year in my first season of living and racing in the USA full time. I owe a lot of this to Brad Keselowski and my crew chief Ron Keselowski. I wanted to bring these guys a win, and we came really close at Toledo, but regardless I feel like it was a successful season. I learnt a lot in my transition from road course racing, and can’t wait to work with them again in 2010 and continue to improve and grow. I have to thank everybody back in Australia for supporting my career and I can’t wait for 2010!”
