10 to Go with Jason Hansen
This week’s 10 to Go is with driver of the No. 51 Charger, Jason Hansen.
How did you get started racing?
Jason Hansen: Go- karts. I did enduros for a good nine years and then this is my first year in the Chargers.
How old were you when you started racing and how long did you race go-karts and enduros?
Hansen: I was eight and I raced the go-kart for four years. I still do go-karts, I’m doing a race in January in Atlantic City [New Jersey] and the enduros I still do, the enduros are fun. I have fun in both that’s why I’m here just for fun.
What do you like about racing the Charger car?
Hansen: A little bit faster, a little bit competitive, a lot more banging it’s just an all around fun time.
What do you like about racing at Riverhead Raceway?
Hansen: It’s close to home, [my] home track. I do go away with this car, my initial first start in [the Charger] was at Thompson but, this is definitely a home track, I like it here.
Do you see yourself moving up in divisions?
Hansen: I’m buying a Late Model next year and a few years from now I’m hoping to own a Modified.
Do you have any superstitions?
Hansen: I come here early, go to Spicy’s BBQ and get a bucket of chicken.
What would you say has been the best moment in your career?
Hansen: Purchasing [the Charger] car. It was owned by Jeremy McDermott, this was his first ever Charger car he ever built 20 years ago. This car was built in ’82. This car has a lot of history in it.
What has been your worst moment in your career?
Hansen: Hitting the wall a few weeks ago. That hurt a little bit but, now I know what to expect. Believe it or not I thought I had to put a new front clip in this car but, we ended up spending 5 hours putting it in a straightener machine, straightened the frame and now it’s square.
What’s it like to drive a car with a lot of history behind it?
Hansen: Weird. It feels weird. The old technology to what it is now. I put a lot of new technology into the car and it just doesn’t like it. The motor in the car is 15 years old, we pulled it from under a bench, put a carburetor on it, put an air cleaner on it, put it in the car, and I ran it at Thompson and I’m running it here.
What’s it like racing at Riverhead Raceway after coming here for so long?
Hansen: Racing the enduros is where I started and I raced the 8 cylinders and the 6 cylinders up until last year. The biggest thing is I wanted to get a top 10 points finish, I finished 12th. I told people if I finish in the top 10 I would buy another car. A lot of people can’t understand how I can drive a 25-year-old car with a 15-year-old motor that hasn’t been refreshed or even looked at. I spend a lot of time with this car.
Source: Brenden Madonia/LongIslandJam.com