We all know it is impossible to be in two places at once. This is the situation “The Hurricane” Randy Hannagan finds himself in this weekend. Therefore, we regret to announce he won't be making his annual trip to Tulare, California to run the Trophy Cup this weekend, which is one of the richest 360 races in the country.
The reason the California native will not be at the race is bitter sweet. Randy won the NRA Sprint Invader Championship for the second year in a row, but the series and Limaland Speedway owners are not backing down that he must attend the awards banquet or he forfeits his Championship and Track year end funds.
Last year the banquet was held in November, which allowed the Invader’s Champion to race, but this year they moved it up an entire month, right as most racing series and race teams are trying to finish out their season. Hannagan will be in attendance at the NRA banquet on Saturday. The day he should be powering around the Thunderbowl Speedway.
"I have raced the Trophy Cup year after year and to be told that if I don't show up to the banquet I will forfeit my winnings is really disappointing for me,” explained Hannagan. “I cannot deny my car owner, Dennis Yoakam the money that we worked so hard to win this year. It doesn't seem right I should be pushed to make a choice. After all, I race for a living. I am being forced into a position that I am really not happy about. The Trophy Cup is a race near and dear to me. It's near my hometown in California. I have many friends and fans out there. Dave Pusateri does an outstanding job of putting on this show year after year. The amount of money that gets donated to the Make-A-Wish Foundation every year is just amazing. It's one of the races I look most forward to being a part of each season. I am quite upset and am saddened that I am forced to make the decision to miss it this year."
“I'd like to thank my sponsors this year,” stated The Hurricane. “They are monumental in my winning a second consecutive NRA Championship.”
Hannagan could be celebrating two championships this weekend, but he had to give up the point lead because Limaland Speedway holds two points race the weekend of the famed Knoxville Nationals. Hannagan has made 18 appearances and has never missed a single year since being crowned the 1994 Knoxville Nationals Rookie of the Year.
"I think Dennis and I will take a hard look at what we decide to do next year based on the fact that I was asking to be allowed to go racing and told that I could not,” a disappointed Hannagan stated. “I wasn't asking to go on vacation, go hunting, or go fishing. I was asking NRA/Limaland to allow me to do what I do for a living. Obviously that didn't happen as I'm on my way to Lima, Ohio on Saturday. After that we will hit the Short Track Nationals in Little Rock, Arkansas next week. Then will be focusing on working to plan a trip down to the World Finals in Charlotte the following week.”
Randy Hannagan and Yoakam Motorsports would like to thank the following sponsors for making their 2012 NRA Sprint Invaders title possible: Starke County Co-Op Elevator Services, Medallion Refinish Systems, BMRS, FK Rod Ends, Kenny's Components, Gorby's Howard Johnson of Lima, Integra Racing Shocks, Lucas Oil Products, Stars and Stripes Tool, Team Indy Transport, Weld Racing, Simpson Race Products, Hank's Performance, Auto Meter, Kwik Change, Wings Unlimited, Santomauro Racing Products, Ultra Shield, Charlie Fisher, Dancer Logisitcs, S & S Volvo, Central Valley Meat, Schoenfeld Headers and Hoosier Tires.
- Admin Account on Oct 19, 2012
- Article Date: 10/19/2012