2006 racers at a glance: Randy Hannagan

2006 World of Outlaws Sprint Series Racers At A Glance: Randy Hannagan

Norman, OK -- Nov. 23, 2005 -- Randy Hannagan is back. Not that he ever strayed too far away, but in 2006 Hannagan returns full-time to the World of Outlaws Sprint Series, where in 1995 he was the Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year.

After competing in nearly 100 events in 2005, Hannagan and his Terry Hannagan Racing team proved they could once again run up front with the world's greatest sprint car drivers. He won the pole in July for the prestigious Don Martin Memorial Silver Cup and posted two top-fives and four top-10s in limited Outlaws competition. In addition, Hannagan earned six victories with several other touring series, including one in Australia, and finished fourth in points with the All Star Circuit of Champions.

Hannagan, 38, grew up racing in San Jose, Calif., before shifting with his team to Pittsboro, Ind., in 2001. Once he was in the Midwest, Hannagan continued to race on the Outlaws trail, but he expanded his touring schedule to compete in races sanctioned by five different series last year.

Still, he kept his eye on a return to the Outlaws. After all, from 1982 when he was racing karts as a 14-year-old in San Jose with his brothers to 1993 when he was a champion in two divisions at San Jose Speedway and a World of Outlaws winner to 1994 when he was the Knoxville Nationals Rookie of the Year to 1995 when he was the Outlaws' top rookie to 1998 when he was the King of California and to 2001 when he was an Outlaws winner while setting track records, Hannagan never lost sight of his goal to be a champion with the World of Outlaws.

Now, with the confidence that comes from knowing his equipment and horsepower can put him in Victory Lane, Hannagan is geared up for 2006 and a run at the World of Outlaws Sprint Series title.

"I think it just means we got our team back up to a winning stature where we can be competitive again as a race team," Hannagan said. "I think it's a good opportunity to showcase our race team and the potential of our team."

Hannagan certainly displayed how well he and his team can run with the Outlaws by hanging in the top five after winning a Dash and the pole in the Silver Cup at challenging Lernerville Speedway and racing his way to another top-five at high-speed K-C Raceway on a night that saw the track record be demolished.

"Anytime you can run in the top five with the World of Outlaws, it's a confidence booster and it shows that you can run up front," Hannagan said. "Being consistent and running up front is a different thing. You can see where the guys who have been consistent do run up front.

"I think we're closer to finding that consistency than we have been in the past four years. In 2001 we were really consistent before I got hurt [in a crash at Calistoga Speedway]. We tried to use 2005 as a momentum builder going into 2006."

Hannagan is confident he and his team will be successful after the success they had in 2005.

"I'm looking forward to doing it again because we've got the motors and the equipment to run up front," Hannagan said. "I've always had the equipment, but our motor program hurt over the last three years. We're definitely going to bring that up this year. I think that's going to make the biggest difference."

With his commitment and confidence for 2006, don't be surprised to see Hannagan, known as Hurricane, blow right into Victory Lane quite often next season.

For more information on Randy Hannagan, go to www.randyhannagan.com.

-woo-