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 that they should 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.
Soon after his novice training classes, and novice races were over, Garrett began competing in the Senior Super Stock Class at the Pomona Valley Quarter Midget Club races. Before the end of the 1997 racing season,
Garrett had gained his first main event win.
In 1998, Garrett moved up in class to the Light Modified division and continued to run his stock class as well. Garrett was 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 into the Light B Modified class for 1999. This jump was definitely a bold move since the speed was much greater and the competition was more experienced.
Despite the difficulty change, Garrett continued his success from the previous season and immediately began winning heat races and main event races. The end of the 1999 season was much like the end of the 1998 season in that Garrett finished as a champion, but this time it was in the B Modified class.
For the 2000 racing season, Garrett and his father decided to move up a final time and compete in the Heavy AA class and the Heavy B class. Garrett furthered his success even more and began winning California State Monza main events, as well as Southwest Series (Arizona-California) main event races. During 2000 Garrett set several track records, and swept championships for both Heavy AA and Heavy B in Both the California Monza Series and the Southwest Series.

During 2001, Gary and Garrett set some new goals, which were 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. By the time the first Grand National event came around, Garrett was well prepared. After qualifying into both A-main events, Garrett went on to win National Championships in both Heavy B and Heavy AA at the Western Grand Nationals in Madera, California. Soon after the Western Grands, Gary and Garrett traveled to Pennsylvania to compete in the Eastern Grand Nationals. Once again, Garrett qualified into both A-mains. Problems with the car prevented a win in the Heavy B race, and in the Heavy AA race, Garrett was leading when his engine blew up. After the Eastern Grands, Garrett went on to Terre Haute, Indiana to compete in the Dirt Grand Nationals. Having never been on dirt before, Garrett picked up the driving style considerably 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 A race.

USAC Years
In 2002, Garrett retired from Quarter Midgets, and began racing in the first inaugural year of the USAC Ford Focus Midget Series as the first emancipated minor to compete. This was a big jump for Garrett, since he went from racing a 325lb car to running a 1000lb car. Despite the seemingly big jump, Garrett quickly adapted to the car and finished 3 rd 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 and received 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. Gary and Garrett went back east to compete on a national level in the midget and made 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.
Garrett 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 won three Sprint Car races at Ventura for John Wells, and one USAC  Midget race at Tucson USA Race Park. There were also 4 Fast Time Awards for the year. Garrett also ran a Sprint Car for John Wells where he won a main event at Ventura, and ran 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.

Garrett's first race for 2007 will be the annual Chili Bowl event in Tulsa, Oklahoma, January 10, 11, 12, 13.

Sponsors:
Hansen’s Welding
Fontana Automotive
Simpson Race Products
XRP
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