Truck: Kentucky race notes

Veteran Paul Hahn Hurries to ARCA Truck Triumph on Tough Kentucky Quarter-Mile

SPARTA KY (5-10-08) -- Canton, Michigan's Paul Hahn steered the no. 7 Hahn's Powder Coating-Fox Auto Parts-Howe Racing Chevy Colorado to victory lane Saturday afternoon at Kentucky Speedway, earning his 16th career ARCA Lincoln Welders Truck Series triumph in the Lincoln Welders 100.

After following race leader Rob Jones for much of the way, the former series champion slipped underneath Jones for the lead in turns one and two on lap 59 and led the final 41 circuits.

"We actually got lucky on this one," said Hahn from victory lane. "We were losing power the entire race. The motor was hot and I had to run the fan. It finally lost all power at the finish. We just made it. All the guys did a real good job out there. Rob (Jones) slipped up high and I was able to get underneath him. I'd like to thank my crew -- my dad, Rex, Steve; they earned this one. This is a tough little track; it's hard on equipment."

After leading the first 59 laps, Jones, in the R&B Contractors Chevrolet, finished a career-best second, five lengths away from Hahn.

"I'm disappointed we didn't win it, but I'm still real glad we finished second. Our right-front was completely worn out. I lost my brakes halfway in. I'm worn out. I was very glad to see the checkered flag. We were actually lucky to finish second. I'd like to congratulate Paul; he raced me clean all the way. It was great racing with Steve (Christman) too. He's one heck of a wheelsman."

Steve Christman, in the Bagman Racing Chassis-R&B Fabrications Chevrolet, swapped the second position back and forth much of the way with Jones before settling into the third finishing position.

Nick Gullatta, who earned the 2BKool Pole Award earlier in the day, finished fourth in the Thomson Automotive-Mr. Heater-Enerco Chevrolet.

Norm Weaver, in his own Dan Cava Toyota-Safety Clean-Lifeguard Medical Toyota, battled back from an early off-track excursion to finish fifth.

Two-time series champion Robbin Slaughter finished sixth in an unsponsored Chevy with Mike Young, the last truck on the lead lap, trailing in seventh in the Dave White Chevrolet. Slaughter also earned the Ed & Company Hard Charger honors.

Ashley Hawkins, Ron Wells and Duane Bischoff finished eighth, ninth and 10th respectively, all one lap down.

The next race for the ARCA Lincoln Welders Truck Series will be the Champion Credit Union 50 at Toledo Speedway Saturday afternoon, May 17th. The 50-lap race serves as the show-opener for the next-day ARCA RE/MAX Series Hantz Group 200 presented by Federated Car Care.

-credit: arca