LMS: Keeton Hanks Racing enters Snowball Derby

Keeton Hanks prepares for the Snowflake 100 with an eye towards the 2006 season in the ASA Late Model Series.

Auburn, Kentucky (11/29/05): Keeton Hanks Racing will be making their first ever appearance at the Five Flags (FL) Speedway in Pensacola, Florida this weekend as part of the 38th annual Snowball Derby to be held on December 1-4. This will be the last race of the 2005 season for Hanks and his Auburn, Kentucky based family racing team as they will take part in the 6th annual Snowflake 100 to be held on Saturday December 3rd.

"I'm looking forward to my first Snowflake appearance. It will also be my first race at Five Flags Speedway and will conclude the 2005 season for me. It's a good race to end the season with and get us prepared for 2006, which I'm looking very much forward to." Stated Hanks. "I'm very happy with the way testing went, I think we were able to get some good speed out of the race car and it handled really good. I have set some high goals for the race weekend, I want to set fast time and win the race. It would be huge to be able to achieve those goals!" He added.

For the 6th annual Snowflake 100, Keeton Hanks Racing will team up with Total Performance Race Products located in Nashville, Tennessee as a primary sponsor for the Snowflake. Total Performance will be on the hood for the Snowflake. In addition, Hanks will unload their primary ASA Late Model Series machine for the event which will be sporting a special paint scheme just for this race!

Hanks also recently announced the hiring of Chuck Moores as Crew Chief for the 6th annual Snowflake 100 as well as the upcoming 2006 season. "I'm very pumped up about making our first appearance at the Snowflake." Added Moores. "Keeton and I are each going down there with the same mind-set and goals, so I think we will have some great success." He added.

In addition and just for the Snowflake, KHR hired Bobby Hamilton Racing 2 as the pit crew for the Snowflake 100 as well to give Hanks the maximum opportunity for a win in what is becoming one of the fastest growing and premiere end of the season event in the country in addition to the well established 38th annual Snowball Derby.

As for the 2005 season, Hanks had a solid rookie season in the ASA Late Model Series. His first season in a full bodied Late Model, with one top five and four top 10 finishes which helped him finish 12th in the final overall points standings as well as seventh in the final Pat Bourdow Memorial Rookie of the Year title chase. Hanks' season high finish was a fourth place showing back on June 18th at the I-70 (MO) Speedway during the KC Star 100.

For the 2005 season, Hanks carried sponsorship on the side of his Chevrolet Monte Carlo from the family owned company, Hanks Construction Company. Additional support also came from Mother's Polishes-Waxes, and Cleaners, Lava Hand Cleaner, A.R.P. Aluminum Racing Products, Parrish Auto Parts, T.P.M. Environmental, Franklin Transmissions, Simpson Performance Products, and M.P.H. Promotions, who all sported decals on the side of his Randercar Chassis this season. In addition, Keeton and his family continue to be heavily involved with the Shriners Hospitals for Children across the country.

After the Snowflake 100, the Keeton Hanks Racing Team will look ahead to the 2006 season and is actively seeking sponsorship for a full run in both the ASA Late Model Challenge division as well as the ASA Late Model Series Northern Division. In addition to select shows in the ASA Late Model Series Southern Division with two of the Southern Division events at Keeton's home track of Beech Bend (KY) Motorsports Park. Saturday April 29, 2006 and Saturday July 15, 2006.

-www.keetonhanksracing.com