August 16, 2009. Joey Hanssen driver of the #40 Prime Champ Dodge took another big step forward toward the rookie of the year title at round number nine of the NASCAR Canadian Tire series at Trois Rivieres, Quebec. Hanssen would produce a solid qualifying effort and claimed his third top-ten finish of the season.

With very little track time for practice and qualifying Hanssen made the most of his efforts. “As usual I had to learn a new track but also the team gave me a good car to work with” said the Prime Champ Dodge driver. “I wish we could have done another qualifying lap or two but it was more important to save the tires for the race” he added.

Hanssen would begin the race fourteenth in the Prime Champ Dodge and while some of the other competitors were charging right from the start, the eighteen year old worked to establish a smooth rhythm and maintain his equipment. “You have to brake so early for the corners, fifty or sixty meters earlier than normal just to save the brakes” he stated.

As the race moved on Hanssen would move the Prime Champ Dodge into the top-ten. “The car was good all through the race” said the driver and I was able improve my position right to the end” he added. “I was fighting with the #4 car and I passed him for eighth spot on the back straightaway, a lot of people kept their eyes closed, but it worked out and I got the spot. Unfortunately he got it back on the last restart but all in all I’m very satisfied” said the happy driver.

Hanssen would claim the ninth finishing position in the Prime Champ Dodge and proclaim the 100km event that was run in very hot and humid conditions “the hardest race of my life”. Hanssen had to push himself to see the race through completion. “My hands are burned, in the last ten laps I just kept telling myself, one more lap, keep going. But I’m really happy with the finish, especially with all the good names that were driving in this race. I’m very happy and looking forward to more success.

After nine races Joey Hanssen now leads the rookie of the year race by 101 points over the next closest competitor.

The 2009 NASCAR Canadian Tire Series gets back in action on Sunday August 30th at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve as part of the Nationwide series weekend. This years schedule will consist of thirteen races on ovals, road courses and temporary street circuits from coast to coast in Canada. All thirteen races will be seen on TSN.

By clicking the link here you can cast your vote for Joey Hanssen as the NASCAR Canadian Tire series most popular driver.

August 9, 2009. Prime Champ Dodge rookie driver Joey Hanssen tackled the latest challenge of the NASCAR Canadian Tire series this past Saturday night. The 200 lap race was run at the tricky paperclip shaped oval at Mosport Speedway just outside Toronto, Ontario. Hanssen struggled at first but as he found his way at the challenging track a broken lower ball joint would take him out of action.

As usual practice was used to get Hanssen comfortable in the #40 Prime Champ Dodge and trying to get the cars handling to his liking. The eighteen year old driver would start the 200 lap feature event from the eighteenth position. With a long green flag run to start the race he would have his work cut out for him. “The car was a little tight in the beginning” said the driver. “When the first caution did finally come out we made a pit stop and loosened the car up a little bit and it was much better” he added.

Though Hanssen had fallen a lap down he had a much better handling Prime Champ Dodge race car and set about making the most of his improved ride. “When the #17 car of DJ Kennington passed me I followed his line and saw what he did, he steered a lot with the rear of his car. I watched and got the feel and the lap times came down” said the driver.

With the improved pace Hanssen began to move the Prime Champ Dodge toward the front of the field. “We started to gain a few positions” said the driver. “We got up as far as tenth at one point and I was quite happy about that” he added.

Though his cars performance was much improved, Hanssen and the Prime Champ Dodge still had some troubles ahead of them. “There were some communication difficulties with the NASCAR officials and we ended up getting moved to the back of the field on a restart” said the disappointed young man. “The on the caution we had the ball joint break, the suspension was damaged and that was it” he shrugged.

Though a twenty first place finish due to a breakdown is disappointing Hanssen once again learned a lot during his night in the Prime Champ Dodge Avenger. “I’m quite happy that we learned a lot today” said Hanssen. “We learned a lot about the car adjustments and that you have to muscle these cars sometimes. When I followed DJ (Kennington) for a few laps I could really watch and see how to work the car” he added.

The 2009 NASCAR Canadian Tire Series returns to Quebec for round number nine as the feature race at the Fortieth edition of the Grand Prix of Trois Rivieres on Sunday, August 16th. This years schedule will consist of thirteen races on ovals, road courses and temporary street circuits from coast to coast in Canada. All thirteen races will be seen on TSN.

By clicking the link here you can cast your vote for Joey Hanssen as the NASCAR Canadian Tire series most popular driver.

July 30, 2009. Driver of the Prime Champ Dodge Joey Hanssen has experienced the highs and lows of being a rookie driver in the NASCAR Canadian Tire series. Round number seven at Auto Clearing Speedway in Saskatoon would be one of the tougher nights for the eighteen year old driver.

During practice Hanssen set about learning another brand new race track and for the first time experienced an oval with high banking which is very different from earlier events. “It’s tough going to a new track every week but that’s part of the learning process” said the driver. “I was driving it too soft into the corners at first instead of attacking the way you should on a track like this”.

Hanssen would start the Prime Champ Dodge from the fifteenth position in the 250 lap feature event and immediately look to gain positions “The start was really good” said Hanssen. “We climbed up into the top-ten I think and I was running really good, I was faster than the guys around me so I was climbing up” he added.

Not afraid to mix it up with stock car veterans Hanssen continue to nose the Prime Champ Dodge forward and is often the case on a one third mile oval track there was some contact with another competitor. “It’s too bad, we got a little bump from the #69 car and bent the toe and cut the right front tire, when the tire blew I hit the wall a bit so I had to pit” said the disappointed Prime Champ Dodge pilot.

The Prime Champ team quickly made the change and sent Hanssen back into the battle however the problems for the #40 car were more severe. After only a few more laps the right front tire was down again forcing Hanssen once again to pit lane. “Turns out when we bent the toe that the tire was rubbing on sway bar” said the driver.

Once again the Prime Champ Dodge team changed tires and also made quick repairs to prevent the tire from blowing but left the driver with a difficult car to drive. “The guys fixed the problem and the car was tough to drive. I could handle it” said the driver “but it wasn’t ideal” he concluded.

Hanssen would bring the Prime Champ Dodge home nineteenth but was disappointed with how events played out. “I could still pass some cars, if we hadn’t gone down a couple laps earlier we could have been a top-ten car for sure” said the driver.

The 2009 NASCAR Canadian Tire Series returns to Ontario for round number eight on Saturday August 8th as they challenge the Mosport Oval track that night. This years schedule will consist of thirteen races on ovals, road courses and temporary street circuits from coast to coast in Canada. All thirteen races will be seen on TSN. By clicking the link here you can cast your vote for Joey Hanssen as the NASCAR Canadian Tire series most popular driver.

July 25, 2009. Prime Champ Dodge driver Joey Hanssen heard from several sources that round number six of the NASCAR Canadian Tire series on the airport runways during the Edmonton Indy weekend would be to his liking as it was a flat track similar to the Go-Karts tracks he was used to racing on. A career best series starting spot and finishing position proved to be very much to his liking.

As a rookie driver in the series Hanssen tried to make the best use of his time to quickly get the Prime Champ Dodge acquainted with a new track. “Everybody told me I would like the track. We had a good car and it seemed to get better every time I went out. We picked up two seconds in practice and I was happy with that” said the driver.

Hanssen would continue to improve during qualifying for the 100km feature event. “Qualifying was a great job, we were second in our group, we wound up twelfth but it was our best qualifying of the year so I was really happy” stated the driver.

Not content to stay in the twelfth starting spot Hanssen looked to move the Prime Champ Dodge toward the front and had good battles going with both the #21 and #18 cars. “It was really fun in the beginning battling with those guys and I think I was a little bit faster at the beginning of the race” smiled the rookie driver. “In the middle section I was waiting for the car to tighten up a bit but then the full course caution came out, which was good because I got to close up on the #9 car” he added.

The competition throughout the field kept Hanssen busy looking for opportunities to keep the Prime Champ Dodge moving to the head of the field. “On the first re-start I left a little too much space and a lapped car got ahead of us so I had to fight to stay there but would lose contact with the #9” said Hanssen.

A late race caution and restart would give Hanssen another chance to improve his position. “I got hit from behind and almost spun out but then would have a really nice fight with the #95 car. We went into the corner and he was outside, I was on the inside. We both locked up and I came out ahead and that’s what it’s all about” he grinned.

Hanssen would cross the finish line and finish a career best ninth, his second top-ten finish of the season. “I’m happy with the race, finishing ninth, another top-ten and the learning process is really going a lot faster now. We don’t have a single scratch on the car, I just talked to our sponsors at Prime Champ and they’re happy too” he stated.

The 2009 NASCAR Canadian Tire Series season wraps up with a midweek race at Auto Clearing Speedway in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan this coming Wednesday July 29th This years schedule will consist of thirteen races on ovals, road courses and temporary street circuits from coast to coast in Canada. All thirteen races will be seen on TSN.

July 19, 2009. Rookie Joey Hanssen, driver of the Prime Champ Dodge Avenger in the NASCAR Canadian Tire series claimed his first top-ten finish a week ago and was ready for more success as the team rolled into Sun Valley Speedway for round number five. However it was a difficult night for the Prime Champ Dodge team to begin the string of three consecutive events in western Canada.

As usual the afternoon practice session is partly to get Hanssen acclimated to the track he has never seen before and make sure the car is sound. “This is the third different oval track we’ve raced at and none of them are alike so it takes a while to get used to it” said Hanssen. “

When the 300 lap race began Hanssen proceeded cautiously at first looking to get into a rhythm. “We did pretty good at the beginning we were a bit slower than I expected” said the Prime Champ Dodge driver. “Unfortunately because it was such a long green flag run we got a couple of laps down” he added.

The Prime Champ Dodge team would also suffer from some bad racing luck. “After we made our pit stop for fuel, we got a flat tire and had to make another pit stop and had to change tires really early in the race under green” said a disappointed Hanssen.

With new tires and adjustments the Prime Champ Dodge would take off. “After the trouble we had a really amazing run” smiled the driver. “We passed a lot of cars, just about everybody twice and the car felt fantastic until the other guys had their pit stops and got some tires”.

Trouble would however once again find the Prime Champ Dodge Avenger. “We had another flat tire coming so I came in again”. The handling on the Prime Champ Dodge became such an issue that the young driver from the Netherlands used common sense and get the car off the track before causing problems for others. “I almost lost it in turn three. I thought something broke; the chassis was on the ground so I stopped. It’s a bit disappointing to finish fifteenth but we’ll get ready and I look forward first to Edmonton and then another oval at Saskatoon” said Hanssen.

The 2009 NASCAR Canadian Tire Series season continues its swing through the west. Next stop is Saturday July 25th at the Edmonton Indy weekend. This years schedule will consist of thirteen races on ovals, road courses and temporary street circuits from coast to coast in Canada. All thirteen races will be seen on TSN. By clicking the link http://www.nascar.com/news/features/mpd.poll.canadian.tire.series/index.html you can cast your vote for Joey Hanssen as the NASCAR Canadian Tire series most popular driver.

July 13, 2009. Joey Hanssen the driver of the Prime Champ Dodge Avenger in the NASCAR Canadian Tire series recently celebrated his eighteenth birthday. He delivered himself a birthday present in round number four at the Autodrome St. Eustache with the first series top-ten finish.

After rain delayed the race until Sunday afternoon Hanssen would roll off from twentieth position for the 250 lap main event. The Prime Champ driver would once again take the methodical and consistent approach in his race strategy. “The car was really good and handling just the way I wanted it” said the driver. Hanssen would move slowly up through the field and soon was running just outside the top-ten.

As the race moved through the mid point and Hanssen made his scheduled stops for fuel Hanssen would continue to run toward the front of the field though he had gone a lap down. Just past the half way mark he would regain his lap through the NASCAR free pass rule and not relinquish it for the duration of the race.

Later in the race the cars handling would deteriorate. “After our pit stop the cars was not as I wanted it be” said Hanssen but it was still okay. In the late stages of the race Hanssen would face another serious obstacle as several competitors ahead of him collided. “We had a few problems about three quarters through the race when all three cars came together and I couldn’t avoid it. I got into a few people. I don’t know who I hit but it was messy back there” he joked.

The Prime Champ Dodge would suffer cosmetic damage to the front of the car and during several pit stops the crew would do make repairs and keep Hanssen in the fight. Joey would continue to run as hard as he was able to the checkered flag and be rewarded with a tenth place finish. “I thought we might be done because the radiator was bent but they guys did a good job and we continued. It’s a good result and I’m happy with that” he stated.
With the first top-ten result of the season Hanssen is pleased with how the Prime Champ team has progressed in a short period of time. “We’ve made a lot of progress with the team, the chassis adjustments, the learning process is pretty much on its way now. I know how the car reacts better to the changes. We’ll run more consistently and be fine for the rest of the year” he added.

The 2009 NASCAR Canadian Tire Series season now heads to western Canada for three events beginning Saturday July 18th at Sun Valley Speedway near Vernon, BC. This years schedule will consist of thirteen races on ovals, road courses and temporary street circuits from coast to coast in Canada. All thirteen races will be seen on TSN. For more information about Joey Hanssen the NASCAR Canadian Tire series go to www.NASCAR.ca

Attached Photo caption: The #40 Prime Champ Dodge at St. Eustache

June 16, 2009. Joey Hanssen the seventeen year old rookie of the year challenger in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series had a race that he’d like to forget in round number three of the series Sunday at Mosport International Raceway. After a frightening off course excursion only a few laps into the race Hanssen was alright afterwards complaining of only some overall soreness.

Hanssen piloting the #40 Prime Champ Dodge Avenger worked hard at practice and qualifying and was looking forward to his first road course event of the season. But after completing only three laps of the 200km feature event Hanssen suffered an equipment failure as he approached the high speed corner eight in the Prime Champ Dodge. The failure left Hanssen without braking ability and would send him crashing hard into the tire barrier and toward the concrete retaining wall.

NASCAR officials red flagged the event and stopped all other competitors on the front straightaway while track safety workers and NASCAR safety crews worked methodically to free the driver after what was an extremely hard impact. The extrication took sometime as safety crews worked carefully to ensure the drivers safe removal from the race car and assess any injuries.

Hanssen was first transported to the Mosport infield care center and then transported by ambulance to Bowmanville Hospital for further precautionary examination and x-rays. The good news is the Prime Champ driver while sore and uncomfortable was in good spirits and subsequently released after following successful completion of all tests.

Teammate DJ Kennington spoke to Hanssen after the race and was very happy to hear that the young man from the Netherlands was alright. “That was a hard hit and I’m sure that it really shook him up” said Kennington. “He tried to climb out but felt some pain so he did the right thing and waited for the safety crews to help him out of the car. He was worried about having been involved in wrecks in back to back races and I told him we can build as many cars as we need. The most important thing is that he’s alright”.

The 2009 NASCAR Canadian Tire Series season continues with round four on Saturday July 11th at the Autodrome St. Eustache. This years schedule will consist of thirteen races on ovals, road courses and temporary street circuits from coast to coast in Canada. All thirteen races will be seen on TSN. For more information about Joey Hanssen the NASCAR Canadian Tire series go to www.NASCAR.ca

June 7, 2009. Joey Hanssen once again showed his talent as a racer as he climbed behind the wheel of the #40 Prime Champ Dodge for round number two of the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series this past Saturday night at Delaware Speedway. While Hanssen is still hasn’t mastered the art of qualifying he is proving that he can race with Canada’s best drivers.

As practice began for the 200 lap feature event Hanssen turned as many laps as he could in the #40 Prime Champ Dodge or as it’s fondly referred to:“ the Mushroom Machine”. Though not among the leaders in lap times, Hanssen improved throughout the entire ninety minute session and was very consistent.

Starting back in twentieth on the grid it’s easy for trouble to find you and it happened on the opening lap with the #40 Prime Champ car as others ahead of him checked up to avoid contact, the accordion effect was too great and Hanssen had no time to avoid hitting the car ahead of him and his hood was bowed up hindering his visibility. “I thought oh man we’re done. I thought I hurt the engine or the radiator” said the seventeen year old driver. “We had to pit and got two laps down but it was just the hood and we got that out of the way all the guys did a great job with that”. From that point the team didn’t look back and focused on having a smooth race for the rest of it.

With his natural talent and knowledge he acquires with every race lap Hanssen moved the #40 Prime Champ Dodge Avenger around the track smoothly and consistently, taking his time to make up track position. “It took a long time for us to get a lap back and then be in position for the free pass but the car was good. It actually surprised me but it was just how I wanted it” he stated. “The team did a good job managing our pit stops for the rest of the race and we got back on the lead lap” he added.

Joey Hanssen would not be satisfied by just getting back on the lead lap and began moving the Prime Champ Dodge forward and eventually inside the top-ten and running ninth in the late stages of the race. Regrettably it was another restart late in the race that would finish their night early.

As the field moved toward the green flag Hanssen missed a shift going up through the gear box and was contacted from the rear by the #23 car sending him hard into the outside wall and severely damaging the car. “I missed a shift” admitted the driver. “It’s tough sometimes with these gearboxes going up to third and I was still shifting when I got hit but we went into the wall. The Prime Champ Dodge would be classified thirteenth.

Hanssen was of course disappointed that he night ended a little early but was already looking forward to his next race. “I’m getting a little sore now, but I’ll be fine by next week. I’m looking forward to the first road course race” he stated.

The 2009 NASCAR Canadian Tire Series season continues on Sunday June 14th on the road course at Mosport International Raceway. This years schedule will consist of thirteen races on ovals, road courses and temporary street circuits from coast to coast in Canada. All thirteen races will be seen on TSN. For more information about Joey Hanssen the NASCAR Canadian Tire series go to www.NASCAR.ca

STRONG DEBUT FOR JOEY HANSSEN IN PRIME CHAMP DODGE 

May 24, 2009.  Seventeen year old Joey Hanssen showed tremendous poised and maturity beyond his years in his debut outing behind the wheel of the #40 Prime Champ Dodge in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series this past Saturday night at the Autodrome St. Eustache.  Running for a good portion of the night in the top-ten Hanssen showed he has the skills to compete in Canada’s premier stock car racing series. 

The day however did not start the way the #40 team had hoped.  During the afternoon practice Hanssen experienced a problem under the hood.  Immediately recognizing there was a problem he shut the car off and alerted his crew.  The problem was serious enough to warrant an engine change before qualifying.  “I just realized that there was a problem, but it was too late and we had to change the motor” said Hanssen.  “But the team did a good job to get the car ready for qualifying and the race” he added. 

Hanssen would qualify the #40 Prime Champ Dodge seventeenth and but found he was struggling with an ill handling race car at the drop of the green flag.  “The car was just way too tight at the beginning” said the driver.  “We made a couple of pit stops during the cautions and made some adjustments and it got better and better” said the driver.  Indeed it did as the young man then slowly began to get a feel for the rhythm of race laps with some of Canada’s finest drivers and had no trouble holding his own and began to improve his position. 

The #40 Prime Champ team continued to work on the car throughout the 250 lap event and by the mid race point Hanssen had the car handling the way he wanted.  “The Prime Champ team did a good job with the car and it was much better.  I could make a few moves and got up as high as seventh place.  It was good, I was happy” smiled the driver. 

Hanssen would continue to show his learning skills until once again trouble found them late in the race.  “That last run late in the race I had the car I wanted but unfortunately we had more problems and the car just stopped.  It’s too bad I really enjoyed my first experience in the NASCAR Canadian Tire series.  I want to thank the team for working so hard to get ready and during the race.  I’m looking forward to the next event at Delaware” he summarized.     

The 2009 NASCAR Canadian Tire Series season continues on Saturday June 6^th at Delaware Speedway near London, Ontario.  This years schedule will consist of thirteen races on ovals, road courses and temporary street circuits from coast to coast in Canada.  All thirteen races will be seen on TSN.  For more information about Joey Hanssen the NASCAR Canadian Tire series go to www.NASCAR.ca

 #40 Prime Champ Dodge team pushing the car through Technical Inspection.

Photo Credit:  Todd Lewis  

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