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PERRIS AUTO SPEEDWAY

18700 Lake Perris Drive

Perris, CA 92571 (951) 940-0134

www.perrisautospeedway.com

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Scott Daloisio (909) 226-7768 or [email protected] or Kim Donner (951) 940-0134

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

EMMETT HAHN NAMED GRAND MARSHAL OF 14^TH ANNUAL BUDWEISER OVAL NATIONALS!

(MARCH 4, 2009, PERRIS, CA) Last Saturday night before a large crowd at the Sokola Shootout, Perris Auto Speedway promoter Don Kazarian announced that National Sprint Car Hall of Famer Emmett Hahn would be the Grand Marshal at the 14th Annual Budweiser Oval Nationals on November 6, 7 and 8.

In previous years, the Grand Marshal of the Oval Nationals has had a direct tie to Southern California racing. However, over the past few years, the Oval Nationals has turned into an event that has attracted drivers from coast to coast and Canada. Hahn, a former champion driver who runs ASCS (American Sprint Car Series) sanctioning body and who promotes the prestigious Chili Bowl for Midgets every January, has been a force across the country in open wheel racing for years.

“Emmett has done so much and given so much to open wheel racing over the years, we thought it would be nice to give something back to him,“ Kazarian said. “The American Sprint Car Series is very successful and what can you say about the Chili Bowl. It just keeps getting bigger and better each and every year. That comes from hard work and that is what they do in ASCS office Tulsa.”

“When I called and asked him he was very happy and excited,“ Kazarian said with a smile. “I am excited to have him as Grand Marshal, too.“

Now in its 18^th season, Hahn’s ASCS organization has a dozen regional series across the nation. In 2009, the series’ will crisscross the USA with more than 230 Sprint Car races in 25 states from Washington to Florida and Arizona to New York. In addition, the series also sanctions races in the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec and includes the Canadian National Sprint Car Championship.

Hahn, who has always been at the forefront of controlling the costs of racing, is developing a new affordable Midget racing series. The ASCS2 Midget Series, which will utilize the Chevrolet ECOtec engines, is in it final steps of development. The arrival of the new car is highly anticipated around the nation and it has already been accepted by the Capital Cities Racing Association in Sacramento, California. In addition 10 -12 ASCS2 Midget races are scheduled for Oklahoma and the surrounding areas later in 2009.

Hahn, who was inducted into the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame in Knoxville, Iowa in 2007, may be best known for his promotions and innovations, but he was also a very successful driver as well. He began racing Hobby Stocks in Tulsa in 1962, but by 1966 he was in an open wheel Super Modified. Hahn won the prestigious NCRA Hutchinson Nationals in Kansas three times. He won five straight Tulsa Fairgrounds Speedway championships from 1971 through 1975. He also won 16 of 22 main events, which were fully inverted, at Tulsa in 1975.

As well as the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame, Hahn, who was born in Pawhuska, Oklahoma in 1940, has been named Promoter of the Year in the annual National Sprint Car Hall of poll five times. In addition, the same poll awarded him the Outstanding Contribution to the Sport award in 2002. In 2004 he received the Bobby Isaac Award for outstanding contributions to short track racing. One year before being inducted into the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame, Hahn and Chili Bowl partner Lanny Edwards were both inducted in the National Midget Hall of Fame.

An avid golfer when not at the race track, Kazarian had another note for Hahn regarding his tenure as Grand Marshal of the Oval Nationals. “Tell him to be sure to bring his clubs.“

Advance tickets for the 14^th Annual Budweiser Oval Nationals are available now by calling 1-800-595-4849 or The PAS office at (951) 940-0134. They can also be ordered on the Internet at tix.com or perrisautospeedway.com.

For more information call The PAS at: (951) 940-0134.

Video and DVD productions of all USAC/CRA races at The PAS dating back to 2004 and including the last five Budweiser Oval Nationals are available from Jeff Kristensen’s Raceway Video. For more information on these productions you can call: (818) 618-9764 or visit the web site at: racewayvideo.com.

Perris Auto Speedway is on the Lake Perris Fairgrounds (home of the Southern California Fair), approximately one hour east of Los Angeles and one hour North of San Diego. To get to the track, take the 215 freeway, exit on the Ramona Expressway and go two miles east to the fairgrounds.

[email protected] is the only authorized Internet address to issue official media news released from The Perris Auto Speedway or Oval Entertainment.

Additional information for this release was obtained at the ASCS website (ascsracing.com) and the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame website (sprintcarhof.com)

I had heard of this on Sunday after the USAC race. Thought this was really interesting. I kind of likened this to if Rollie Helmling (while @ USAC) were to be the grand marshall while the SCRA sanctioned the Oval Nationals. That would of been strange too. Not saying anything is cooking in the pot, it just has an interesting vibe to it.

Here's a few pics of Hahn I've witnessed in his driving days :

Emmett Hahn from Tulsa, was one of the super modified pilots that ruled the 70's.

Tossing this one in for fun. Emmett used to kick this guys tail on the track all the time. Today, he still does it, but only when he screws up as the ASCS racing director. Just kidding Thomas

In the #92 from Ada, it's Tommie Estes, jr. Tommie went on to be a regular in the sprint cars.

Tommy Estes Jr. and the car for 1980 at the Shepherd Mall Car Show.

Photo contributed by Monte Cole.
Emmett Hahn in Zink #01 and Ron Fowler in Schippert #4(54). It didn't get much closer than this without wrecking.

Photo contributed by Monte Cole.
Emmett Hahn with the Joe Cox #33, from 1968.

Photo contributed by Monte Cole.
Jack Wickett #4 and Emmett Hahn #52 in very close quarters at Tulsa.

Photo contributed by Monte Cole.
Ray Crawford 55 and Emmett Hahn 52 duel it out on any given Saturday night at Tulsa

Photo contributed by Monte Cole.
Emmett Hahn and Ronnie Brotherton #1 race hard at probably Oklahoma City

From the collection of Monte Cole.
Jack Layne and the #44 and Emmett Hahn and #1 after getting together in 1971

Emmett Hahn in victory lane at the 1977 NCRA Hutchinson Nationals

Hahn in the Jack Zink #52

The size of that trophie is hilarious, you missed a good one Saturday.

Grady

. 

He probably needed all the trophies he won to be that small. Dude practically had to buy another house just to hold all his victory hardware.

starting trouble again huh John lol

ROB

Hey, all I did was post a few pics of the "Grand Marshall". No harm there. Go back to your pipe

You are absolutely right Rob, but so far he's been disappointed. He thought for sure I'd at lest say something about the Fox in the chicken coup, or I don't like Cali or AZ racing being ran by a corporation, no matter what one it might be etc...but I won't.

Kenny

Half the lies they tell about me aren't true. 

I bet that trophy weighs more than one twice its size does today!

Jeff Kristensen

Good point Jeff! You didn't have to worry about it falling over in the back seat of the pace car and cracking all to hell!

keep wishing for those 360s over here KOP... The way I hear things Hahn's sprint car group is not doing that well at Manzy.

"Ralphie, Senor, muchas gracias por una mas cerveza"  -
Scott Daloisio @ the PAS

I wouldn't take that bet, did you see the size of the right front tires on some of those cars.

Grady

. 

Jeff Kristensen

Considering that Mr Hahn is reportedly very unhappy with USAC over Osky switching sanctions, it might be a good idea to make sure that he doesn't get the keys to the pace car. It wouldn't be good for the kids to see Mr. Miller get run over.

I did not hear that!!!!

1) NEVER EVER did I wish for the PAS to become a 360 deal. You show me in ANY post where I said that and I will buy your house for 3 times market share . I will simply trust that you somehow misinterpreted me somewhere down the line.

2) People dont seem to understand that that "IF" they wanted to, ASCS DOES NOT have to be a 360 deal. They can start a 410 series and STILL be ASCS sanctioned. A series name does not obligate a group to engine size.

3) At one point, people thought ASCS had to be a winged deal. That was dispelled by the Arizona region as we now know it. This mistaken thought is much like the mistaken thought that ASCS cant be 410's. Hahn can make what ever class he wants under his banner.

4) Am I standing and cheering for ASCS to move in and take over? Lets just say one shouldnt be so quick to assume that is a given. I want whats best for west coast sprint car racing PERIOD! Even if it means the car owners putting their own sanctioning series back together. If ASCS does have a better plan for all involved, sure, then I would say they should go in.

5) Is USAC better suited to stay status quo? Ask the car owners and drivers. Their answers are the important ones. I believe you are affiliated with a team that would have an interesting take on that (as we have all seen here in the past).

Hey trip, you just fell into it..KOP has been waiting to say that for a long time...LOL He's fair that boy..He reminded me that the winged ASCS 360's have two more shows at Manzy this year, than they did last year...not a good sign in my opinion. I wouldn't trust him(Hahn) with a non wing 410 group in Southern Cal to save my soul.

Kenny

Half the lies they tell about me aren't true. 

The owners/drivers can do anything they like. But, if the track operators want to allign with an organization, then the car owners and drivers have only a few choices and one them is to park the cars.

All good points, yet I can't help but get this uneasy feeling whenever ASCS and Perris are mentioned in the same sentence. Peace.

"Ralphie, Senor, muchas gracias por una mas cerveza"  -
Scott Daloisio @ the PAS

Why?

Grady

.