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ASA: Hansen Picks Up First Win For Ford in 2000; Wisconsins Veterans 25th Career Win at Salem

24 July 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

SALEM, Ind.--In the first win for a Ford powered by the new Vortec ASA 5700 engine, veteran Scott Hansen picked up win number one of 2000 and 25th of his career and the first for car owner Don Fanetti since 1996 in the Tecumseh 300 at Salem (Ind.) Speedway. Hansen admitted he was lucky, as in the final laps, the engine started to miss.

"I got pretty lucky there are the end when I think the engine was firing on only seven cylinders," said Hansen. "The crew helped me win this race. They had some of the best pit stops that I have ever been around in my life. I owe my crew chief, Craig Smokstad, and the rest of the team a big thanks for this win. It feels good."

Hansen led 125 laps, including the last 80 that helped him pull away from second-place finisher Mike Garvey. With the help of lapped cars, Hansen collected his fourth win in last seven visits to Salem Speedway by 4.333 sec. over Garvey.

"I was going to protect the bottom through one and two and the top side through three and four," said Hansen, driving the Structural Transport/Carter Brothers number 5. "If Garvey was going to get around me, he was going to have to have a great car and a good run."

Garvey came from his third starting spot up to second and survived an accident with several other cars at the races midpoint en route to his second straight podium finish.

"The long, green flag segment really helped us," said Garvey. "Passing was real tough tonight, we all had to stop because tires meant a lot tonight. Scott had the best car all night long and deserved to win."

Current points leader Gary St. Amant collected a third place finish after running mid pack until late in the event. Kevin Cywinski came from 20th to finish fourth, while Glenn Allen Jr. brought the GM Goodwrench Pontiac home fifth.

In the richest purse in Salem Speedway history, Hansen collected $25,150 of the record $239,050 posted awards, including $1,500 for leading at halfway, $5,000 for winning the race and $3,000 from contingency sponsor Ricart Ford of Columbus, Ohio. Five drivers swapped the lead eight times, with seven cautions slowing the race for 44 laps.

St. Amant holds onto a 192-point lead over Kevin Cywinski heading into the July 30 Glass City 300 presented by Jani-King. The race takes the green Sunday at 3 p.m. (Eastern) and will be telecast LIVE on TNN Sports.

Text provided by Jeremy Troiano

Editors Note: To view hundreds of hot racing photos and art, visit The Racing Photo Museum and the Visions of Speed Art Gallery.