Garrett Dale Hansen

Birthdate: March 28, 1985
Hometown: Manhattan Beach, California
E-mail: midgetracerG@hotmail.com
Website: www.garretthansen.com
Education: Graduated from Palos Verdes Peninsula High - June of 2003,
Currently at California State University - Long Beach, concentrating on a Mechanical and AeroSpace Engineering degree.

The Early Years
Garrett began racing in late 1997. After spending time in Go-Karts in miscellaneous parking lots with his father; they decided to pursue racing in a more organized fashion. Garrett started racing Quarter Midgets because his father, Gary, and his uncle, Bob, began their previous racing careers in Quarter Midgets.
After Novice Training Classes, and Novice Racing were complete, Garrett began competing in the Senior Super Stock Class at the Pomona Valley Quarter Midget Club. Before the end of the 1997 racing season, Garrett had gained his first main event win.

In 1998, Garrett moved up to add the Light Modified division while continuing to run his stock class as well. He was definately hooked on racing after he ran his “Mod;” the speed and competition made him never want to get out of the seat. During 1998 Garrett won numerous main events in both the Stock and Mod Class and eventually went on to win his first two club championships in the same year.

After such a successful 1998 season, Gary and Garrett decided to jump up another class to Light B Modified for 1999. This jump was definitely a bold move since the speed was much greater and the competition was more experienced. Despite the change, Garrett continued his success from the previous season and immediately began winning heat races and main events. The end of the 1999 season saw Garrett finish as a champion, this time in the B Modified class.

For the 2000 racing season, Garrett moved up a final time in Quarter Midgets to compete in both the Heavy AA and Heavy B classes. Garrett furthered his success, winning California State Monza main events, as well as Southwest Series (Arizona-California) main event races. During 2000, Garrett set several track records along with championships for both Heavy AA and Heavy B in both the California Monza Series and the Southwest Series.

During 2001, Garrett and his Dad set some new goals; to win at least one Grand National Championship. Garrett ran a more limited race schedule during 2001, only attending the most competitive races, with the focus on trying to beat the best of the best in preparation for the National events. In the process of fine tuning his cars and racing skills, Garrett set track records at every track that he visited in 2001. Several of his records continue to stand today. At the first Grand National event, Garrett and his small team, which consisted of a friend by the name of Jay Gradia and his dad, were well prepared. After qualifying into both A-main events, he went on to win National Championships in both Heavy B and Heavy AA at the Western Grand Nationals in Madera, California. A week later they traveled to Pennsylvania to compete in the Eastern Grand Nationals. Once again, Garrett qualified into both A-mains. Mechanical woes prevented a possible win at this event, when his engine blew while leading the Heavy 'AA race. After the Eastern Grands, Garrett went on to Terre Haute, Indiana to compete in the Dirt Grand Nationals. Having never been on dirt before, he picked up the driving style quite quickly. After making both A-mains once again, Garrett finished a close second in the Heavy B race, and won his third Grand National Championship in the Heavy 'AA race.

USAC Years
In 2002, Garrett retired from Quarter Midgets, and began racing the first inaugural year of the USAC Ford Focus Midget Series as the first emancipated minor to compete. This was a big jump for him, having him move from a 325 lb Quarter Midget car to running a 1000 lb Midget Chassis. Despite the seemingly big jump, Garrett quickly adapted to the car and finished 3rd in his first ever Focus Midget race. During 2002, Garrett achieved three victories on both dirt and pavement at Perris Auto Speedway, Orange Show Speedway, and Santa Maria Speedway and finish fourth in the championship points, receiving the USAC Hard Charger Award.

Gary and Garrett decided to move up to racing a USAC Western States Midgets for 2003, along with a limited Ford Focus Midget Schedule. Garrett achieved a victory in Arizona at Manzanita Speedway. They went back east to compete on a national level in the midget and showed great efforts at both Eagle Raceway in Lincoln, Nebraska and the Belleville High Banks in Belleville, Kansas. However Garrett experienced engine failures at both events.
Garrett ended 2003 by winning USAC Western States Midget Rookie of the Year honors.

For the 2004 racing season, Garrett participated in the Western States Midget Series competing on both dirt and pavement.
He posted 2 wins at Ventura Raceway, 3 Quick Times including the Eagle Raceway event before Belleville,
8 top 10 finishes, and 3 top 20 finishes in the Midget.

In 2005, Garrett got the chance to run some 360 Sprint Car races for friend, John Wells. He won three Sprint Car races at Ventura and one USAC  Midget race at Tucson USA Race Park. There were also 4 Fast Time Awards for the year. He also ran the Sprint Car at the Dirt Nationals at Hanford.

In 2006, Garrett ran a limited Midget schedule but managed to finish in the top 10 in the USAC Western States Midget Series. Garrett collected 4 wins, earning him the most wins of any Midget driver in the series.
In October, Garrett made his debut in a 410 non-wing Sprint Car, running his first race at Perris Auto Speedway.
In his second race, at his favorite track at Seaside Park's Ventura Raceway, he finished 5th. He competed at the
2006 Oval Nationals running 3rd in the B Main and finishing 14th in the A Main on Saturday night.

For 2007, Garrett competed in California's Premier Sprint Car Racing Series, CRA. He started out with an Ellis Chassis, but quickly moved to a new Eagle Chassis equipped with a Kissler Engine. On February 17th, in only his 6th time running the series, he got his first win! This was against a steller field of vetern CRA drivers. He added 2 Fast Qualifying awards to his resume along with a 13th finish in total points for the season. Along with the Sprint Car success, he won 2 Midget main events along with testing a new Ford Focus car for a friend. He jumped in the Focus Car and won the main at Ventura Speedway.

Garrett's first race for 2008 will be the annual Chili Bowl event in Tulsa, Oklahoma, January 8 - 12, 2008.

Sponsors:
Hansen’s Welding
Fontana Automotive
Simpson Race Products
DMS Race Products
Weld Wheels
Kenny’s Components
Advanced Racing Suspensions
La Villa Restaurant

In his little spare time, Garrett enjoys surfing, snowboarding, and spending time with his family. He works nearly full time on his racecars and also part time for his father in their metal fabrication shop and small engine company Hansen Racing Products.

Contact Info

Garrett Hansen
358 West 168th Street - Gardena, CA 90248
(310) 505-6301
E-mail: MidgetracerG@hotmail.com