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RICHWOOD, Texas - Following the sale of much of the Clack Motorsports Top Alcohol Funny Car equipment, team driver Will Hanna enters the remainder of the season as a 'free agent' driver. After breaking into the 5.60's at the recent ACDelco Gatornationals, Hanna plans to diligently pursue another ride for the 2008 season or sooner.
Hanna, 27, of Richwood, Texas, received news earlier in the week that Team Owner Harry Clack had made the decision to sell the race team to focus on his new business venture, a sports bar/resturaunt, The Big Easy Daiquiri Factory in Orange Beach, Ala.
"I completely understand and respect Harry's decision to focus on his new business," said Hanna. "There is no ill will on either side, it was just a business decision on Harry's part. I wish him the best and hope to see him back on the scene when his business allows. He took a big chance on a rookie and stuck with me while I was developing. We made great strides the past two races, but business trumps racing in the absence of a major sponsor. I really enjoyed the two years we raced together and I'll always be grateful of the opportunity Harry gave me."
Prior to driving, Hanna Crew Chiefed Jason Cannon to a 2003 Division 2 Championship in Top Alcohol Dragster. While he's searching for another ride, Hanna will return to turning wrenches for Australian Top Alcohol Funny Car driver Steve Harker.
"I went to work for Steve last year after we had finished running our car for a few races," explained Hanna. "I learned a great deal from him last year, and he was a big part of our success this year. I'll be racing with him the rest of the year. The goal is to take some of the pressure of between round maintenance off his shoulders and let him focus on driving and tuning. They're great people to work for, we have good team chemistry, and I look forward to helping them win races."
Despite coming out of Top Alcohol Funny Car, Hanna hasn't ruled out other categories, including Pro Mod, Competition Eliminator, Outlaw 10.5 or Top Dragster/Top Sportsman.
"I've driven and crewed in the alcohol ranks the last few years, but I'm not ruling other classes out," stated Hanna. "Those Pro Mods and Outlaw 10.5's look a little evil like an Alcohol Funny Car, so I think they would be fun to drive. I come from bracket racing and miss the aspect of driving the stripe you don't have in heads-up, so I would jump on a good Comp Eliminator or Top Dragster-Top Sportsman ride if it presented itself. I'm not looking to get out of the alcohol classes by any stretch, I'm just not ruling anything out."
"So right now I'm putting the feelers out and seeing what's out there," Hanna continued. "Along with trying to find a team to partner with, work has already began to bring marketing partners to the table for next year. We had some great associate sponsors in Goodridge and Valvoline; I appreciate their support and hope to stay associated with them in my future endeavors."
When not at the track, Hanna stays busy with his Media/Marketing firm Pro Race Communications which provides PR and Marketing Consulting to race teams. The company also owns and operates the popular racing websites InsideTopAlcohol.com, InsideCompRacing.com and InsideFastBrackets.com. Hanna holds a Bachelors in Business Administration in General Business from the University of Houston-Clear Lake, and served three years in the U.S. Army as a M1A2 Abrams Tank Driver. He can be reached via email at [email protected].
Hanna working towards 2008 as a free agent
RICHWOOD, Texas - Following the sale of much of the Clack Motorsports Top Alcohol Funny Car equipment, team driver Will Hanna enters the remainder of the season as a 'free agent' driver. After breaking into the 5.60's at the recent ACDelco Gatornationals, Hanna plans to diligently pursue another ride for the 2008 season or sooner.
Hanna, 27, of Richwood, Texas, received news earlier in the week that Team Owner Harry Clack had made the decision to sell the race team to focus on his new business venture, a sports bar/resturaunt, The Big Easy Daiquiri Factory in Orange Beach, Ala.
"I completely understand and respect Harry's decision to focus on his new business," said Hanna. "There is no ill will on either side, it was just a business decision on Harry's part. I wish him the best and hope to see him back on the scene when his business allows. He took a big chance on a rookie and stuck with me while I was developing. We made great strides the past two races, but business trumps racing in the absence of a major sponsor. I really enjoyed the two years we raced together and I'll always be grateful of the opportunity Harry gave me."
Prior to driving, Hanna Crew Chiefed Jason Cannon to a 2003 Division 2 Championship in Top Alcohol Dragster. While he's searching for another ride, Hanna will return to turning wrenches for Australian Top Alcohol Funny Car driver Steve Harker.
"I went to work for Steve last year after we had finished running our car for a few races," explained Hanna. "I learned a great deal from him last year, and he was a big part of our success this year. I'll be racing with him the rest of the year. The goal is to take some of the pressure of between round maintenance off his shoulders and let him focus on driving and tuning. They're great people to work for, we have good team chemistry, and I look forward to helping them win races."
Despite coming out of Top Alcohol Funny Car, Hanna hasn't ruled out other categories, including Pro Mod, Competition Eliminator, Outlaw 10.5 or Top Dragster/Top Sportsman.
"I've driven and crewed in the alcohol ranks the last few years, but I'm not ruling other classes out," stated Hanna. "Those Pro Mods and Outlaw 10.5's look a little evil like an Alcohol Funny Car, so I think they would be fun to drive. I come from bracket racing and miss the aspect of driving the stripe you don't have in heads-up, so I would jump on a good Comp Eliminator or Top Dragster-Top Sportsman ride if it presented itself. I'm not looking to get out of the alcohol classes by any stretch, I'm just not ruling anything out."
"So right now I'm putting the feelers out and seeing what's out there," Hanna continued. "Along with trying to find a team to partner with, work has already began to bring marketing partners to the table for next year. We had some great associate sponsors in Goodridge and Valvoline; I appreciate their support and hope to stay associated with them in my future endeavors."
When not at the track, Hanna stays busy with his Media/Marketing firm Pro Race Communications which provides PR and Marketing Consulting to race teams. The company also owns and operates the popular racing websites InsideTopAlcohol.com, InsideCompRacing.com and InsideFastBrackets.com. Hanna holds a Bachelors in Business Administration in General Business from the University of Houston-Clear Lake, and served three years in the U.S. Army as a M1A2 Abrams Tank Driver. He can be reached via email at [email protected].
